QUESTION ABOUT SAT PHONES

[Fish Tale Charters]

I saw some guys talking about SAT phones on a previous thread. I don't know anything about them. I am making plans for a new boat for next year. A Sat phone is part of the plan.

My question is, do they work inside of a wheelhouse/cabin. Will they get a signal to make calls as well as get calls inside, or do you need to be out in the **** pit? If they work inside that is great, but if they don't what can you do to get a signal for use in the wheelhouse?

Last if you have a SAT phone is a single side band radio needed? Your input will be helpful.

[Squidnation]

In my experience you need to be outside to get a good signal. But I have taken the phone inside once the call was connected and it stayed connected.

[JD5652]

Sat phones need a clear view of the sky in order to operate effectively. Just like cell phones....sat phones are "line of sight" technology based. You can purchase external antennas that a mobile sat phone can be plugged into so that you can operate them inside the bridge, wheelhouse....etc.

As far as having a Sat phone AND SSB...IMO it depends on where you fish and in what conditions and how anal you are about safety......I have both a Sat phone and SSB....I do fish 100+ miles from shore and I'm pretty anal about safety....a lot of people have "abandoned" SSB's for sat phone technology.

[Fish Tale Charters]

Squidnation & JD thanks for the info.