David, I've had really great luck with Iridium phones and SPOT trackers (although SPOT is no substitute for a phone) in the middle of nowhere Montana. On the contrary, I've had terrible luck with Global Star and don't recommend you go that route, particularly when Iridium phones are light years better.
Best of luck, Kristy Kristy Bly Species Restoration Specialist World Wildlife Fund Northern Great Plains Program 320 Meadow Lake Drive Columbia Falls, MT 59912 Phone: 406.600.6728 [email protected] www.worldwildlife.org/ngp -----Original Message----- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of David Anderson Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2013 1:10 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [ECOLOG-L] satellite phones for Alaska Does anyone have experience with satellite phones, preferably in Alaska (Seward Peninsula). There are different companies (e.g., Iridium, Global Star, SPOT) that differ in pricing for phones and service. I need to know if one brand provides a more reliable service than another *in Alaska*, if there is some tradeoff for price, or if there are differences in customer service. Also, phones can be bought off the Internet or from a dealer, and not sure if this makes a difference. I have heard that sat phones are reliable, and that they are totally unreliable, and that this depends in part on where the company has their portal/gateway, but I need more input. If you have had particularly good or bad experiences with a particular brand or retailer/service provider, that would be extremely helpful (lawyers: I didn't say that!). Not sure - email off-list or there may be others interested. Thank you. David -- David L. Anderson, Ph.D. | Research Biologist The Peregrine Fund <http://www.peregrinefund.org/index.php> 5668 West Flying Hawk Lane, Boise, ID 83709 USA 208-362-8266 office *Conserving birds of prey worldwide*
