R_Lefebvre
Expedition Leader
Just looking for some experiences people have had with this Sat phone system.
I'm not going on any international trips, and not looking for an "expedition" phone... I'm just looking for a damn cell phone that works where I live. I live in a rural area half-way between Toronto and Montreal, and for the most part cell phone coverage is restricted to close to the 401 corridor. Anytime I go north of the 401, within 15 minutes, coverage is spotty at best. It's maddening. You can be driving along, waiting to make a call, no bars... wait, wait, bingo 4 bars, quickly dial, "Hello?" <dead> no bars. ******?
Basically, any weekend we head up north which is at least half the time during the summer, we have no coverage at all.
Also, because I live in Canada and we have a cell phone Oligopoly, cell phone service is crazy expensive. Currently I'm paying $61/month all-in for a "family plan" that included 2 cheap phones that share 200 minutes/month. There is no caller display or voice mail, no data, no nothing. Actually... my wife took a picture and sent it to me last month, not knowing any better, and it cost us $10. Can you believe that?! I never ever text message, or mobile data anything. The contract will be up in May, and I don't even think we could renew it for that low of a price. Probably closer to $80 now.
So by comparison, the Globalstar Freedom 150 plan at $65/month doesn't seem that bad. (but are there extra fees...?) I notice on the US site they don't list any fees. I noticed on the Globalstar Canada website that the equivalent Latitude 150 plan costs $75, and then there appears to be another $12 in fees...
They also seem to have a teaser rate. Unlimited calling for $35/month, but then what happens after it expires? (March in the US, September in Canada).
So, for the way we use mobile phones, just for quick calls mostly, but we want actual service outside of urban centers... would this work or is it silly?
My current contract will be up in May, but apparently I have a $200 credit with my current provider to get a new phone now, not sure if that means I'll be locked in for a longer period. Just trying to figure out if I want to use it.
I wouldn't mind at least upgrading my POS phone to one of the Sanyo tough phones. But even that is like... $350-200 is $150 which is nuts. I'd love one of the Sonim tough phones, but don't think I can get or use them in Canada.
I'm not going on any international trips, and not looking for an "expedition" phone... I'm just looking for a damn cell phone that works where I live. I live in a rural area half-way between Toronto and Montreal, and for the most part cell phone coverage is restricted to close to the 401 corridor. Anytime I go north of the 401, within 15 minutes, coverage is spotty at best. It's maddening. You can be driving along, waiting to make a call, no bars... wait, wait, bingo 4 bars, quickly dial, "Hello?" <dead> no bars. ******?
Basically, any weekend we head up north which is at least half the time during the summer, we have no coverage at all.
Also, because I live in Canada and we have a cell phone Oligopoly, cell phone service is crazy expensive. Currently I'm paying $61/month all-in for a "family plan" that included 2 cheap phones that share 200 minutes/month. There is no caller display or voice mail, no data, no nothing. Actually... my wife took a picture and sent it to me last month, not knowing any better, and it cost us $10. Can you believe that?! I never ever text message, or mobile data anything. The contract will be up in May, and I don't even think we could renew it for that low of a price. Probably closer to $80 now.
So by comparison, the Globalstar Freedom 150 plan at $65/month doesn't seem that bad. (but are there extra fees...?) I notice on the US site they don't list any fees. I noticed on the Globalstar Canada website that the equivalent Latitude 150 plan costs $75, and then there appears to be another $12 in fees...
They also seem to have a teaser rate. Unlimited calling for $35/month, but then what happens after it expires? (March in the US, September in Canada).
So, for the way we use mobile phones, just for quick calls mostly, but we want actual service outside of urban centers... would this work or is it silly?
My current contract will be up in May, but apparently I have a $200 credit with my current provider to get a new phone now, not sure if that means I'll be locked in for a longer period. Just trying to figure out if I want to use it.
I wouldn't mind at least upgrading my POS phone to one of the Sanyo tough phones. But even that is like... $350-200 is $150 which is nuts. I'd love one of the Sonim tough phones, but don't think I can get or use them in Canada.
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