Has any one used these phones in the gulf? I have heard that service isn't that great. looking to use for emergencies and not sure if reliable. They are affordable compaired to other phones but not sure if I want to put my life on the line for a shitty phone. The one I am looking at is the gsp 1600. Thanks for any and all feedback. Tom

i have one and it sucks. Last summer it was hard to get a call out anywere in the Gulf. They were saying it was going to improve when more satillite got up but I have not tried it in about 6 months. I hope it improves as don't want to have to buy the other one as it is more money. I would not trust it on my life call if that is the question you are asking.
Mike

i had one that i only used a couple of times in the bahamas, but it was a total piece of crap. it took 20 minutes to get a call thru, and then i had about 30 seconds until it lost service.

Totally worthless. Cancel your subscription if you have one. I cant even call from here at my house on a clear night. You would die long before that thing ever made a connection for you in an emergency. I heard that they might be giving some credits for them if you upgrade to the Iridium, the one that works nowadays.

has anyone tried trading it in and up grading to the Iridium phones. What did you get for your old phone and what was the total cost of the new one.

Totally worthless. Cancel your subscription if you have one. I cant even call from here at my house on a clear night. You would die long before that thing ever made a connection for you in an emergency. I heard that they might be giving some credits for them if you upgrade to the Iridium, the one that works nowadays.

Agreed. I have one and on my last overnight grounds trip, I was able to make one call. That call lasted for about 45 seconds...

Welcome to the planet Tom

I've had one of these phones for about 5 years. The first several years, there was only one time when the phone wouldn't "lock" and function normally. The service was fantastic and the cost very reasonable. Since then, it's gradually gotten worse and now, it's a crap shoot to ever get a call through. Don't even bother with calling thier customer service, that's as frustrating as their phones.

I use the Iridium Motorola 9505A Satellite Phone as part of the project I work on. We have had no issues both in country and in remote parts of the world. Startup cost is a bit high but I did not think 75 minutes for $150 was that bad.

What are the cost of some of the other phones and service?

John Brady

Panama City, Fl

http://www.landfallnav.com/iridium9505a.html
http://www.allroadsat.com/postpaid/

I have used Iridium phones in the arctic, latitudes of 50-55 deg N or so as well as in S America at latitudes of 5 deg S and they worked fine for me (the odd lost call but better than my cell service). For short term projects I have leased them as well as my firm has a few. Costs are not too bad - cannot say about the GOM

PIECE OF SHITTTTTT! I got my GPS 1600 from McKay Marine (use to be anyway). Used it once from grounds on the HolySpearit a few years ago. Never got a signal again. Then I got the letters about their satellites falling out of the sky and went to see Ron at McKay and they say it Should work...I said I wanted to take his ass out 100 miles and throw him overboard with it and see if he can call help...Had to threaten with attorney to get 1/2 my money back as well as 1/2 my yearly plan $. Get Irridium or don't bother...pay the difference if you want a reliable phone!!!

yep POS fosho Just got my Iriduim and hey It works. It will cost you a arm and a leg and maybe even a left nut, BUT if you need it..... it WILL work.

I paid $2000 with new phone and 500 pre paid mins. I think the phone was 1350 and the mins were 617. plus tax and shipping.
I pulled it out of the box made a quick call to see and bingo took 20 sec from turing on the phone to making the call.