If communication to the mainland or shore is important, then a satellite phone is the solution as compared to having a cellular phone out in the open sea, there is simply no coverage for cellular phones miles out at sea.
This article will be about the best satellite phones for offshore sailing, it will also be about the companies that provides satellite services and their coverage, different companies have different coverage in different continents and countries.
With the above being said, it is not only about the device itself, but also the coverage that it’s company gives.
The companies selling it’s satellite services also sells it’s own device (if you get what is being meant here).
There are basically three main companies that provides offshore services, they come with their different coverages, the companies being Inmarsat, Iridium and Thuraya.
Without further ado, here are the best satellite phone for offshore sailing.
Inmarsat IsatPhone Pro2 handheld satellite phone
The IsatPhone Pro2 satellite phone looks like your standard button phone ( the simpler the better) what is needed for offshore sailing communication is a phone that works and is reliable.
Calls, SMS and GPS services are provided during offshore sailing with this satellite phone.
IsatPhone Pro 2 has a 8 hour battery time and a global coverage of their reception which does not include the polar regions.
Global coverage is guaranteed by inmarsat’s satellite service, which means, if it’s in the Pacific, Australia, Americas or Africa or the Caribbean, Inmarsat has got you covered with the IsatPhone Pro2 device.
Pros
- No problem connecting to satellite
- Decent battery life
Cons
- No drawback
Iridium 9575 Extreme Satellite Phone with Prepaid and Postpaid SIM Cards
The Iridium 9575 operates on the Iridiums network (obviously), has a standby time of 30 hrs and a talk time of 4 hrs. It also has 2 way SMS option. It has a GPS emergency location button which pings out your location in an emergency.
The phone’s interface is still primitive compared to the standard Android screen that we have standard on phones nowdays.
Iridiums 9575 phone has excellent water and dust proof protection as it is ‘jet water resistant’.
The Iridium’s satellite network is worldwide, and so it would make a good offshore sailing communication device
Pros
- Works well for offshore sailing.
Cons
- Unreliable GPS
- Primitive interface
Thuraya X5 Touch all_carriers 32GB Satellite Phone
Thuraya is another satellite company that provides, satellite communication, but does not have worldwide coverage as it does not cover the North/South America and surrounding regions.
The X5 is not built like the conventional satellite phone as it has a touch screen and an Android operating system and has all your apps like Gmail, Messenger and Viber. X5 also has cellular network capabilities and can connect on 4G, 3G and 2G network while it aalso connects to the satellite network.
As for protection from the element, it is IP67 and is dust proof and water proof, it is unlocked for all networks
Pros
- Has Android and touch screen
Cons
- Not a full satellite phone
- Does not cover North/South America and surrounding regions
Tips for choosing a satellite phone for offshore sailing
Choose worldwide coverage
Choosing a satellite network that has worldwide network is something to consider when choosing a satellite network, with the network comes the device that is purchased separately. With the 3 main networks being Iridium, Thuraya and Inmarsat.
Inmarsat satellite coverage
Inmarsat covers the whole globe except the polar regions, which is North and the Southern most part of the globe. They have data and voice communications using 3 geostationary satellites
Iridium satellite coverage
Iridium’s satellite network boasts a truly worldwide network coverage with voice, data and gps based location services. There are a total of 80 satellites with 66 that are in constellation, providing a truly worldwide coverage, as they claim.
Thuraya satellite coverage
Thuraya, a less popular satellite company with only 2 satellites in geosynchronous orbit, they do not cover the North and South Americas.
Globalstar
Globalstar is another company providing voice, data and commercial IOT solutions for businesses, but they cover continents and so their satellite phones would not make phones for offshore sailing.
Will a satellite phone work in the ocean?
As satellite phones rely on satellite phones to communicate with other phones and not cell towers that are erected on land, they just need a line of sight between the satellite phone and the satellite that it in orbit.
Unlike the traditional phone that needs a cell phone tower to be in proximity, satellite phones are different.
Line of sight between phones and satellites can happen anywhere, inland or out at sea, this is the beauty of satellite phones and it is what makes them the perfect solution for offshore sailing communication.
What is better Iridium or Inmarsat?
Although there is more to a satellite phone service than just coverage, there are other factors that comes into play, for the perfect satellite service, such as plans pricing, customer service, reception etc.
But in the context of this article, which is primarily about offshore sailing, Iridium has more coverage, which is the better option for offshore sailing, this is not even considering the plan costs.
Can you use a satellite phone on an island?
A satellite phone will almost always work on island, provided that the company provides reception in the area that the island is in, which for Iridium and Inmarsat, is a yes.
As long as there is a line of sight between the phone and the satellite that is in orbit and not forgetting coverage in the area, a satellite phone can be used on an island if not, all islands.