Quote:
Swingshiftworker previously said:
I've got nothing against HAM (or HAM operators, who provide a great service domestically and internationally), but I think that a SAT phone is a much better option for emergency use, because it can be carried in your car (or on your body) ANYWHERE without the need for any special training or licensing.
It's a bit expensive ($1,400 for a new Iridium), but the prices are dropping and with an "emergency service" plan ($30 a month with no included minutes and charges of $1.39/min) or a prepaid sim card (typically about $150 for 75 mins good for a month) is within the financial reach of most of the people (as evidenced by the mods discussed) on this forum. So, if like me, you don't see becoming a HAM operator as something you'd want to do, check out the Iridium SAT phone as an option.
Just my 2 cents on the topic.
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Cost is a big factor in that, HAM radio is cheap plus there are some other very cool benefits too it as well.
I spend most of my day dealing with satellites and am yet to be impressed with any service offered out there. I would love to have a sat phone in my truck with constant internet, but that service isn't practical yet (the company i work for spends over $500,000 a month on sat service). For the time being the Spot Messenger is my solution. When sat service is reliable (CO has a very large amount of dead spots) and affordable that will be added to my truck. HAM radio has some very cool things that you can do with it too, it's not all about emergency communications. Turns out it's a fun hobby too
