The best satellite communicators for global coverage

The Iridium Extreme is one of the very best ruggedized satellite phones on the market. It is an upgrade to the Iridium 9555 with the addition of Mil-Spec ruggedness, the addition of an SOS button, and the ability to track and share your GPS location. Running on the 66-satellite Iridium constellation, it has access to true global coverage. The Iridium 9575 is fairly easy to use and connects quickly (in most circumstances) with the satellite network. Keep in mind that you’ll need a clear, unobstructed line of sight between the phone and the connecting satellite. The unit features a large backlit daylight readable display, an extendable antenna, and a familiar phone keypad. Making calls is a snap and very intuitive. Sending texts is another matter, because you’ll feel like you stepped into a time machine and were handed an early 2000s cell phone — so get ready to press a lot of keys multiple times to get the letters you need. It’s super clunky to text. For receiving calls and texts, the unit must be on and pointed to the sky.

The Iridium 9555 comes with an enhanced battery that provides four hours of talk time or 30 hours of standby mode before it needs recharging. It also supports location-based services like GPS, online tracking, and Google mapping. Note: The device itself does not navigate. The unit is weather-resistant to IP65 and MIL-STD 810F ratings. The internal memory supports 100 phonebook contacts, and the one-touch SOS button plugs you directly into the GEOS 24/7 emergency response center. This device is ideal for people who absolutely must have voice communications in the backcountry, but it also comes with a hefty unit cost of $1,350 and an expensive service plan starting at $50 per month.

When in the backcountry, it’s essential to know where you are and where you want to navigate. It’s also essential to be able to communicate with people back home — out of convenience or in an emergency. Rather than carrying a GPS receiver and a satellite communication device, Garmin combined both functions into one with the inReach Explorer+. This rugged, waterproof hand-held satellite communicator features a one-push SOS button that will connect you with a real human being at the 24/7/365 GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Center. While it does have GPS navigation, know that this is first and foremost a communication device and there are better GPS units on the market.

The inReach Explorer+ has the ability to set up preloaded messages so you can send them with a click. It’s worth preloading messages before your trip because composing texts with Explorer+ is really clunky and slow since it doesn’t have a dedicated keyboard. You can pair Explorer+ with your smartphone via a Garmin app that makes composing texts much easier. If you decide to bring both devices on your trek, plan for additional battery recharging needs. You can also get weather reports and GPS track and share your location with your family and friends. Pairing the device with your smartphone lets you download maps, NOAA charts, color imagery, and more. The inReach Explorer+ comes preloaded with DeLorme Topo maps with onscreen GPS routing. The Explorer+ also has a digital compass, barometric altimeter, and accelerometer. If you’re not interested in the preloaded maps, you can opt for the inReach SE+ for about $50 less. Regardless of the model you choose, you’ll also need to sign up for a satellite airtime plan which starts at $14.95 per month.

Out of the box, there is a slight learning curve to the device, but it’s not too hard to figure out. The Explorer+ comes with a USB cable, a carabiner clip, and instructions. A backpack tether, flotation lanyard, and belt clip are available for an additional cost. If you don’t care about the navigation features, the much smaller inReach Mini2 might be a better option for $150 less. The Explorer+ is a great device for people who want an all-in-one SOS, satellite text, and navigation device.

I absolutely loved the Somewear Labs Global Hotspot for its ease of use and its ability to connect quickly with the Iridium network. Out of the box, all I had to do was quickly create an account via its website, download an app to my smartphone, and I was in business. Within a few minutes, I was locked on to the satellite network and sharing texts with my father-in-law. What it lacks in on-device capability, the Global Hotspot makes up for in a simple-to-use app and overall affordability.

Onboard the device itself is a one-touch SOS button with LED indicators confirming the SOS was sent and another confirming the SOS was received. All SOS calls go to the 24/7 monitored GEOS emergency response center. When paired with a smartphone via the Somewear Labs app, the device really shines with a clean text function, real-time location sharing, and on-demand real-time weather reporting. The battery will support more than 1,000 messages per charge and last 10 days when set on 10-minute interval tracking.

It also ranks among the very toughest and weather-resistant devices — complete with a MIL-STD 810 rating. It’s built for all seasons and will withstand -4F to 140F temperatures, and the GPS tracking is accurate up to 2.5 meters. If you drop it in the water, don’t fret. It floats and is water-resistant up to two meters for 30 minutes. Recharging is easy via the Micro USB charging cord (included). The unit costs less than $300 and the service plans start at about $9 per month. This device is ideal for budget-minded explorers who want reliable two-way texting and a clean user interface.

The Inmarsat IsatPhone2 costs less than half of the Iridium Extreme, has double the battery life, but also weighs about twice as much. Of note, Inmarsat provides reliable satellite communication service, but it also has fewer satellites placed much higher in orbit than Iridium. What does this mean for you? It may be harder for you to acquire line of sight with a satellite in more vertical terrain or under significant tree canopy. The IsatPhone2 provides dependable connectivity and high-quality voice transmission, all packaged into a rugged exterior. It’s designed to withstand -5F to 132F temperatures and is dust-, splash-, and shock-resistant to IP65 and IK04 ratings.

The phone is easy to use and comes with a clear quickstart guide. The IsatPhone2 supports voice, text, and email messaging. Like the Iridium Extreme, voice is much easier and intuitive to use than text, which is super clunky using the phone keys and old-school T9 method. I like the tracking feature which allows you to send your GPS location to friends and family. For an additional $20 fee, you can enable automatic tracking. Perhaps the best feature of this phone is the extended battery life — 8 hours in talk mode and 160 hours on standby. You pay for that capability with additional weight.

At 11.2 ounces, I wouldn’t want to take this brick backpacking. It’s Bluetooth-enabled for hands-free use, and the SOS feature is connected to the GEOS 24/7 emergency center. The phone costs about $750 and service plans start around $45 per month. This phone is a great option for budget-conscious users who absolutely must have voice connectivity.

While Globalstar no longer holds inventory of new GSP-1700 phones, they do continue to sell certified pre-owned models for less than $300. The GSP-1700 is fairly small and sleek as satphones go, and it’s fairly packable. It features super clear CDMA digital voice quality and fast data rates of up to 28 KB/s.

The GSP-1700 will also support email and text. The antenna on this device is better integrated than many other models and neatly tucks out of the way. Like the Iridium and Inmarsat phones, the GSP-1700 works easily in voice mode, but struggles in text mode, since the interface is the old-school telephone keypad T9 format. Dialing 911 on this phone connects you directly to the GEOS 24/7 emergency response center.

The rest of the phone functions are pretty basic — offering a mailbox for voice and text messages, a 99-entry address book, and a call history log. The display is adequate but smaller than its competitors, but it is backlit with a four-line, 12-character LCD screen. It displays volume, signal, and battery strength indicators and also features a lumniated keypad. Like other cell phone service plans, the monthly cost is expensive, starting at $99 per month, but the unit cost is about 1/4th of the Iridium Extreme. This may be a good option for budget-minded individuals who have a need for basic satellite voice communication.

While very expensive, the Thuraya X5 Touch represents the next leap in satellite phone technology. Unlike its clunkier old-school competitors, this is the first phone to run on the Google Android OS.

It features a large 5.2-inch HD screen made of tough Gorilla glass that works when wet or when you’re wearing gloves. It’s also fully ruggedized to IP67 and MIL 810 standards. It’s fully dust- and water-protected, and tested to withstand shock, vibration, and extreme temperatures.

The X5 will run in satellite and GSM mode seamlessly over Thuraya’s L-band satellite network and 2G, 3G, 4G, and LTE networks. It has two nano SIM card slots, as well. The X5 Touch also has advanced navigation and tracking over the GPS, BeiDou, and Glonass systems. You can send location updates on pre-set time intervals, distance traveled, or when moving inside or outside a pre-set geofence. It also offers decent battery life at 11 hours of talk time or 100 hours of standby mode between charges.

Like the Iridium Extreme, the X5 has a dedicated SOS button for when the shit hits the fan. Even when the phone is switched off, all you have to do is press and hold the SOS button for three seconds to activate help. The X5 also features front and rear cameras so you can take and send photos and videos. The phone’s memory is expandable via a Micro-SD slot up to 32GB. Be sure to check the coverage area — Thuraya primarily supports Asia, Europe, most of Africa and Australia, and doesn’t cover North or South America. While this phone isn’t for all users and is super expensive, it does represent the next leap in satellite phone technology. I expect to see other phone manufacturers follow Thuraya’s lead in the future.

Many two-way satellite text devices require pairing with a smartphone to be fully functional. This places additional charging requirements and additional weight to backcountry adventures. What I love about the Globalstar SpotX is that it truly is a fully stand-alone unit with a super ergonomic user interface.

The integrated keyboard makes composing and sending texts a snap, and it also features a large LCD display. The face of the unit features an integrated one-touch SOS button and the device has the ability to store up to 14 pre-programed messages for select-and-send one-touch use, which is super convenient. The check-in feature allows you to quickly alert friends that you’re OK and you can share geo locations on a 2.5-, 5-, 10-, 30-, or 60-minute interval. The large antenna adds to the bulk of the device, so it’s not the most pocketable of satellite text messengers on the market.

While the SpotX doesn’t have true global coverage like the Iridium network, it will be sufficient for most users’ needs — with coverage of all of the continental United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Australia, and portions of South America, Africa, and Asia. Another chief user complaint is the long send time. It can take up to five minutes to send a text message, so don’t expect normal cell phone texting performance. This device is best for users who desire a traditional QWERTY keyboard and don’t care about carrying a larger and somewhat bulkier satellite communicator.