> I carry a satellite phone (Globalstar) not only for kayaking but for a > variety of reasons. I go to Baja (Bahia San Luis Gonzaga) three or more times a > year. I have no other phone at the house there and it's handy if I have vehicle > problems on the way. I also go birding internationally to remote areas I thought of them, many times. They cost from $600 (? not sure), + substantial annual fees and/or airtime fees or whatever they charge. Waterproof units cost even more (there were some, if I recall it right). Those ones that I saw, were larger than latest PLB models, somehwat awkward to carry always on you (and what's not on you, is not with you - when you have to abandon the ship in a rush). Considering some problems with "waterproof" VHF and GPS units, I would suspect that "waterproof" satellite phones will have similar or even more weak spots. (PLB is easier to make completely waterproof, since it doesn't need numerous buttons to operate it). These phones are not a substitute for PLB, of course - you can't talk over the PLB. In Baja (south of Bahia Gonzaga and north of Mulege) I couldn't pick anything on any VHF channels that I scanned. There was no need, but it felt uncomfortable. Most of mexican fishermen in small "pangas" (if not all of hem) don't have VHF, and I didn't see any larger ships. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Sun Dec 05 2004 - 12:47:02 PST
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