Rent
22 results
Rent
22 results
Satellite Equipment Rental for Any Trip, Any Coverage
You need a satellite phone, a push-to-talk radio or a portable internet terminal for a trip that starts soon, not a purchase to own for years. Satmodo rents pre-tested Iridium and Inmarsat equipment by coverage area, ships it to arrive on your date, and takes it back when the trip is over.
The date you choose is the day it arrives. Pick the day you want the equipment in your hands, not the day you leave. Your rental starts the day you receive it and ends the day we get it back, so leave yourself a day or two to test everything before you travel.
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What you can rent
Everything here can be on its way today. Every unit is pre-tested and activated before it ships, so it works the moment you switch it on, and the rental clock does not start until it is in your hands.
Satellite phones
A handset that works where there is no cell signal at all, with the airtime bundle sized to the trip rather than to a round number.
Push-to-talk radios
A whole crew on one channel, with no towers and no repeaters to set up. Priced on a monthly talkgroup rather than by the minute.
Portable satellite internet
Email, weather files and a working laptop from a site with no infrastructure. Carried in, set up in minutes, sent back when the job ends.
Start with where you are going
Coverage decides the device, not the other way round. A handset, a radio and an internet terminal solve three different problems, and the wrong one leaves you holding something that cannot do the job from where you are standing. Match the description below to your trip and it leads straight to the right equipment.
Domestic US trips
Cell coverage runs out long before the trailhead, so a trip that never leaves the country still needs a handset. We rent Iridium for it, which means the same phone works overseas if the next trip goes further.
Worldwide voice
The Iridium 9555 runs on 66 low earth orbit satellites for pole-to-pole coverage, anywhere on the planet with a clear view of the sky, whether that is a mountain range, an ocean crossing or a stretch of desert with no cell towers at all.
Worldwide voice and GPS
The Iridium Extreme 9575 adds a programmable one-touch SOS button, SEND compliance and GPS with online tracking and geo-fencing, on the same worldwide Iridium network. Pick this one when someone at home needs to see where you are, not just hear from you.
Worldwide data
Inmarsat BGAN terminals move data almost everywhere except the extreme polar regions. They are not broadband; plan for email, weather files and small attachments, not video calls or streaming, and choose the terminal sized to what you actually need to send.
Maritime data
The Cobham SAILOR Fleet One is a maritime entry-point terminal with a single voice line, built for a boat rather than a backpack, for the crew that needs a working line and basic data offshore without carrying a full BGAN rig.
A team on one channel
Iridium push-to-talk works like a radio channel instead of a phone call, so a whole crew hears the same transmission at once, on a network the military has used for years and that is now cleared for civilian rental.
Three kinds of rental, three different jobs
Nearly every rental here falls into one of three shapes. Start with the one that matches the problem rather than the product name.
A handset, for one person at a time
A satellite phone dials a number and reaches one person, anywhere with a clear view of the sky. The rental most trips actually need.
A radio, for a whole crew at once
Push-to-talk puts everyone on one channel with a single button press. No towers, no repeaters, and priced on a talkgroup rather than by the minute.
A terminal, for a working laptop
Portable satellite internet for email, weather files and file transfer from a site with no infrastructure. Carried in, set up in minutes, sent back when the job ends.
How a Satmodo rental works
Every rental runs on the same clock: it starts the day you receive the unit and ends the day Satmodo gets it back. Shipping time in either direction is not charged as a rental day, so a unit that spends two days in transit each way does not cost you those four days. Every device is pre-tested, activated and verified before it leaves the warehouse, which is the difference between opening a box that works and opening one you have to troubleshoot from a departure lounge.
Pick your device by coverage
Match the phone, radio or terminal to where you are actually going, not the one with the most features on the box.
Choose your airtime bundle
Add the minutes or data allowance the trip needs, sized to how you will actually use the device rather than a round number.
Select your dates
The date you enter at checkout is the delivery date, not your departure date. Pick the day you want the unit in hand, with room to test it first.
Add accessories and features
Car charger, USB cable, jump starter, data kit, magnetic mount, Pelican case, insurance and a US number where it applies, all by the day rather than locked into the base kit.
Enter billing and shipping
Ship it to arrive on your date, or collect it from the San Diego warehouse. Both are available on every rental, so pick whichever fits how the rest of your trip is arranged.
What arrives with a phone rental
Every satellite phone rental ships with the same base kit, and it is built around the assumption that you will use the phone away from an outlet. Two batteries means a spare when the first one runs down, not a scramble to find power the day before a crossing.
Add to that by the day if the trip calls for it: a 12V car charger, a USB charging cable, a jump starter battery pack, a data kit, a magnetic mount or a Pelican hard case. A US number can be added to the Iridium handsets and the IsatPhone 2, so people at home can call a normal-looking number instead of dialling a satellite prefix. Push-to-talk runs on a talkgroup rather than a dialled number, so a US number does not apply to it.
Push-to-talk radios and internet terminals ship with their own kit rather than this one, and what is in the box is listed on each product page. If you want it confirmed before you book, call (800) 279-2366.
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Canvas carry bag
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Two fully charged batteries
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Wall charger
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International adapters
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Quick cheat-sheet guide
Should you rent or buy?
Rent when
It is one trip, a testing window before a bigger purchase, or a device that only needs to work for a defined stretch, a crossing, a storm season, a single expedition. Renting also makes sense when a feature like GPS tracking, an SOS button or a PTT talkgroup matters more for this one trip than owning hardware you would otherwise use twice a year and store the rest of the time.
Buy when
You are off-grid or on the water several times a year, a crew or family needs the same handset every season, or you want your own number and call history on the account rather than a rental's. If that describes you, renting first is still a reasonable way to confirm the device fits before you commit, and Satmodo sells the same Iridium and Inmarsat hardware outright.
Which network reaches where you are going
Iridium
66 satellites in low earth orbit give pole-to-pole coverage, the only network here that reaches the far north and the far south as well as everywhere in between.
Inmarsat
Geostationary coverage that reaches everywhere except the extreme polar regions, the network behind the BGAN terminals and the IsatPhone 2, built for a fixed or slow-moving position with a clear view of the sky toward the satellite.
Starlink
Satmodo rents Starlink separately, with its own coverage detail and its own page, since it is a different kind of service from the voice and BGAN equipment above.
Before you travel
Test the phone the day it arrives, not the morning you leave. Test your satellite phone before you go outside, with a clear view of the sky and away from anything overhead, a roof, a tree canopy, a parking structure. Fully extend the antenna and keep it vertical while it registers and for the whole call. A problem you find at home is an inconvenience; the same problem found four days into a crossing is not.
Keep it switched off between tests and between calls. A satellite phone battery holds its charge for months if the phone is left off, so the two fully charged batteries in the kit should still be full when you land, even if the flight and the layover took two days.
Coverage is only half the question. Some countries restrict satellite phones outright, and the rule is enforced at the border by customs, not by the network reaching or not reaching the handset. A phone that works perfectly can still be confiscated if the country you are entering does not allow it:
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| Country | What applies |
|---|---|
| India | Inmarsat is the only network permitted, and a permit is required before the trip. Arriving without one risks imprisonment and confiscation. |
| Sri Lanka | A permit is required. Arriving without one is costly and the phone is confiscated. |
| Cuba | Forbidden without a permit from the Cuban Ministry of Informatics and Communications. |
| Sudan | Bans most electronic devices. |
| North Korea | Not permitted. |
| Nigeria | Banned in certain areas. |
| Myanmar | Check before travelling; communications have been restricted in the past. |
| Chad | Restricts both use and possession. |
| Russia | Registration is required before entry. Satmodo assists with this. |
| Iran, Libya | Rules are unclear and change; research is required before you travel. |
Why rent from Satmodo
24/7 US support
Call (800) 279-2366 any hour, any day, whether it is a booking question before you leave or a problem with the device once you are already on the trip.
Same-day dispatch
Most orders ship the same day they are placed, with priority US shipping, so a rental booked this week can still make a departure only a few days out.
Every device pre-tested
Pre-tested, activated and verified before it leaves the warehouse, so it works the moment you switch it on instead of needing setup once you are already travelling.
Rated by real renters
4.8 out of 5 from 451 reviews on Shopper Approved, from people who rented the same equipment for the same kind of trip.
Questions people ask before they book
When does a Satmodo rental start and stop?
It starts the day you receive the unit and ends the day Satmodo gets it back. Shipping time in either direction is not counted as a rental day, so time in transit does not eat into your rental period, and you are not paying for days the device spends with a courier.
What date do I pick at checkout?
Pick the delivery date, not your departure date. The date you enter is when the unit needs to arrive in your hands, whether it is shipped or collected, so build in a day or two before you leave to test it and sort out anything before you are relying on it.
What is included in a satellite phone rental?
Every phone rental ships with a canvas carry bag, two fully charged batteries, a wall charger, international adapters and a quick cheat-sheet guide. Accessories such as a car charger, data kit, magnetic mount or Pelican case can be added by the day if the trip needs them.
Is there a deposit, and what happens if the rental is damaged?
Rental insurance is available as a per-day add-on on every rental, and it is the way to cover accidental damage during the trip. Add it at checkout alongside your device and airtime bundle, and call support if anything happens to the unit while it is in your care.
How fast can a rental arrive?
Most orders dispatch the same day they are placed, with priority US shipping. Enter the date you need the unit and Satmodo ships to arrive on it, or you can collect the same pre-tested unit in person instead if that is faster for your schedule.
Can I collect my rental in person instead of having it shipped?
Yes. Collect from Satmodo's San Diego warehouse at 8925 Aero Place Unit 200, San Diego CA 92123. Shipping and in-person collection are both available on every rental, so pick whichever fits your schedule better, including a last-minute pickup before a flight out of San Diego.
Can I extend a rental while I am already travelling?
Yes. Rentals are priced as a first-seven-day rate plus a per-extra-day rate, so adding days to a trip that is running long is a matter of extra days, not a new booking. Call (800) 279-2366 to add days to a rental already in progress.
Should I test the phone before I travel?
Yes, the day it arrives, not the morning you leave. Test your satellite phone before you go outside with a clear view of the sky, so a problem shows up while there is still time to fix it, not on the trip itself.
Should I rent a satellite phone or buy one?
Rent it if this is one trip, a defined season, or a chance to try a device before committing to it. Buy it if you are off-grid or on the water several times a year and want the same handset and your own number every time. Satmodo sells the same hardware it rents.
What happens if I use more minutes than I bought?
The service keeps working. Going over your prepaid minutes does not switch off the phone; the extra usage is simply billed at the standard rate, so a longer call than planned during an emergency or a busy day will not leave you cut off mid-trip.
Does the service ever get cut off mid-rental?
Not for running over your minutes. Exceeding the prepaid allowance results in standard-rate billing for the extra usage, not a shutoff, so a busier day than expected will not leave you without a working device when you actually need it most.
Which countries restrict satellite phones?
India, Sri Lanka, Cuba, Sudan, North Korea, Nigeria, Myanmar, Chad, Russia, Iran and Libya each have some form of restriction, permit requirement or outright ban. See the country table above before you travel; satellite phones are legal in the United States and in most other countries.
Can I call 911 on a rented satellite phone?
This depends on the network and the device, and it is not something to guess about in an emergency. Read Satmodo's help centre article, Can you call 911 on a satellite phone, before you rely on your rental for one.
Do I need a permit to bring a satellite phone into another country?
It depends on the country. India and Sri Lanka require a permit before you arrive, Cuba requires one from its Ministry of Informatics and Communications, and Russia requires registration on entry, which Satmodo assists with. Check the country table above for the destination on your itinerary.
What do I do if the phone will not connect?
Go outside to an open view of the sky, away from buildings, trees or a vehicle roof. Fully extend the antenna and keep it vertical while the phone registers and for the whole call. Most connection problems are an obstructed sky, not a faulty unit, so moving to open ground solves it.
Can I add a US number to my rental?
Yes, on the Iridium handsets and the Inmarsat IsatPhone 2, so people at home can dial a familiar-looking number instead of a satellite prefix. Push-to-talk radios run on a talkgroup rather than a dialled number, so a US number does not apply to a PTT rental.
What accessories can I add to a rental?
A 12V car charger, a USB charging cable, a jump starter battery pack, a data kit, a magnetic mount and a Pelican hard case are all available by the day, on top of the standard kit that ships with every phone rental.
Is it legal to use a satellite phone?
Yes, in the United States and in most countries. A short list of countries, including India, Cuba and North Korea, restrict or ban satellite phones, and the rules are enforced at the border rather than by the network, so check the country table above if your trip includes one of them.
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