Less Than Favourable Review of the ISatPhone

[Feuer Frei!]

We have used the Iridium phone (9505) during our yacht deliveries for many years. We've always been happy with the phone, but as the Iridium's screen packed up last year and could not be repaired, we were in the market for a new satellite phone. This was around the same time that Inmarsat launched their new IsatPhone Pro. The deal could not be ignored as the phone's price was less than half than a new Iridium. Inmarsat also claimed that their coverage is the same as Iridium's (minus the polar regions). So we bought the IsatPhone Pro and have since then used it on two yacht deliveries. One from the Caribbean to Australia and on another from Martinique to Portugal.

READ ON FOR FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION (http://www.yachtdeliverynews.com/2011/08/satellite-phones-test-inmarsat-versus.html)

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

"Less Than Favourable Review" quite a understatement in my opinion. :doh:

[Gerald]

I can use satellite phones, without any conflict .... the one who gets the bill to pay between $ 8-10 per minute, :o

[Rockstar]

My primary comms are Marine and Ham bands because there is always someone available to talk to and get information from. There are daily social cruising networks to get the latest gossip, weather fax is free too. You can also send email and get GRIB files relatively cheap with a Pactor modem once you get past intial costs.

I do have a Iridium satphone for back-up and emergencies. But costs are to prohibitive for casual use. Never tried an yother phone most everyone I know usues an Iridium and speak well of it.