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Are Sat phones etc really needed? Are Sat phones etc really needed?
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Communications Connecting - internet cafes, laptops, smart phones - how to connect, use, which one, and intercom/radio systems.
Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 5 Nov 2008
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Really depends what's your "travel style" - how you travel and where.

I like to spend my time in remote places, away from dense civilization. In remote places I see sat-phone as an "insurance", to call for help.

World's GSM coverage:


As you can see, in the "third-world" (Africa, Asia, S-America & Australia), GSM coverage is only in the bigger cities thus the GSM is basically useless for real adventure travellers spending their time off the beaten track if there's really an emergency.

I always have a scenareo in my mind I crash in the middle of nowhere, get an illness etc million scenareos it'd save your life. At least one of us (I travel 2-up) can call for help.

With Iridium phone you don't even need to have a SIM card to call 911 - you can just buy (a cheaper second hand-) phone for the emergency calls only

Like with any "insurance", you won't notice a need for it until you really need it...

If you travel in western-world or in very civilized parts of the world - sat-phone is not needed.
Last edited by Margus; 6 Nov 2008 at 12:36.
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  #2  
Old 6 Nov 2008
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Originally Posted by Margus View Post
As you can see, in the third-world (Africa, Asia, S-America & Australia), GSM coverage is only in the bigger cities .......
I'm only half Australian, but even I take offence at the Third-WOrld classification.

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I always have a scenareo in my mind I crash in the middle of nowhere, get an illness etc million scenareos it'd save your life. At least one of us (I travel 2-up) can call for help.
But, to quote a memorable line from the 80's - Who you gonna call? Nice as it is to be able to give your mum your last words over the phone, can she give you much help when you're in Sub-Saharan Africa?
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Old 6 Nov 2008
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Originally Posted by Alexlebrit View Post
Who you gonna call?
YouTube - Ray Parker Jr - Ghostbusters


BTW: No sat phone for me.
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Old 6 Nov 2008
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Well if you're insured that's different, what I was getting at was that a Satphone is only as good as the number you call.
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Old 7 Nov 2008
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On my last trip to a HU meeting my mom and dad had a fit and beged me to get a cell phone worked about half of the time and dint work when I got to the meeting. That was in the USA.

good thing its small and light.
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Old 9 Nov 2008
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Originally Posted by Alexlebrit View Post
Well if you're insured that's different, what I was getting at was that a Satphone is only as good as the number you call.
i'd swear i remember a story in the news last year of someone in a boat off sinagpore (or somewhere else the other side of the world) texting his gf back in the UK that they were sinking, she called the coastguard & got the message relayed to where he was & he was rescued.

so even a normal phone could save your life i guess. mind you so could not going out in a boat without flares etc.
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Old 9 Nov 2008
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Yup I remember the exact same story, so it does go to show, that it's all possible, if you know someone, who can ring someone.
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Old 6 Nov 2008
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...As you can see, in the third-world (Africa, Asia, S-America & Australia...
Australia, third world... love it.
Most Kiwis would agree with you.
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Old 6 Nov 2008
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Sorry guys, absolutely no offence was ment - what I mean under "third world" is the lack of GSM-coverage in this post

In fact personally I like so called "third-world" more than the western-world.

I put "third-world" into those thingys then not to confuse people

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Originally Posted by Alexlebrit View Post
Who you gonna call?
Quite short-sighted "memorable line" then, it's not 80s anymore with wired telephones and nearly non-existant travel insurances. With todays network, many insurance companies have (medical) evacuation insurance covered to the most remote parts of the world (that otherwise would cost a fortune for you to get evacuated if really neccessary). If you have it done before your trip - you'll know exacly where to call and who's your momma

Anyways, like life, it's your own risk-and-reward balance. Some say sat-phones take away the real (risky) adventure, others say it has saved their life when sh*t really happends. Take your pick.
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Old 6 Nov 2008
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Sorry guys, absolutely no offence was ment...
Makes no difference to me... I ain't Australian... thank god!

I know where you're comming from folks. Some valid scenarios have been raised here, and I realise that these devices have their place. As has been mentioned before, it all depends on where I'm going, what my objectives are and who's going with me (am I responsable for them?). But in general, if it's just me, I think I'll go without. Maybe that's foolhardy, but then as far as a lot of people are concerned, most of the things I do are foolhardy.
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