Satellite Phones
6 results
Satellite Phones
6 results
Rent a Satellite Phone or Radio, Matched to Your Network
A satellite phone rental only works if the network reaches where you're going. Iridium runs pole to pole on 66 low earth orbit satellites, and Inmarsat covers the globe from geostationary orbit except the extreme poles. Get that right first and the minutes, accessories and add-ons are easy from there.
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.
Available now
What you can rent
Every unit is pre-tested and activated before it leaves the warehouse, so it works the moment you switch it on. Most orders ship the same day, and you can collect in San Diego if that beats waiting on a courier.
Which Network Should You Rent?
If your route touches true polar latitudes, high-altitude backcountry, or open ocean far from any base station, Iridium is the network built for it. It runs on low earth orbit satellites circling pole to pole, so there is no coverage edge to fall off.
Inmarsat covers nearly the same ground from geostationary satellites, and it's the network India requires by law. If your trip is general international travel, coastal work, or a country where Inmarsat is the mandated choice, start there.
Both reach almost anywhere, so the deciding factor usually comes down to the handset, not the satellites overhead. Iridium runs the 9555 and the Extreme, Inmarsat runs the IsatPhone 2. Look at what each handset actually does, an SOS button, GPS tracking, battery life, before you pick a network on reach alone.
Still not sure which network your itinerary falls under, especially anywhere with country-specific restrictions? Ask before you book rather than guessing at the border.
However you choose, rates run as a first-seven-days price plus a per-extra-day rate after that, so a weekly satellite phone rental and a ten-day rental aren't simply scaled by the day count. Compare the actual devices on each network's own page below rather than guessing at it from here.
Iridium
Pole to pole on 66 low earth orbit satellites. The network for polar routes, ocean crossings and anywhere else that simply does not get reached.
Inmarsat
Worldwide except the extreme poles, the longest battery in the fleet, and the only network India permits, with a permit obtained before you travel.
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| Iridium | Inmarsat | |
|---|---|---|
| What it reaches | Worldwide, pole to pole, on 66 low-earth-orbit satellites | Worldwide except the extreme polar regions, from geostationary satellites |
| Best for | True remote and polar travel: expeditions, high-latitude sailing, anywhere else simply doesn't reach | General international travel, maritime work, and the only network India permits by law |
| Not for | India, where local law permits only Inmarsat | Trips into the extreme polar regions |
| See Iridium phones | See Inmarsat phones |
How Many Minutes Do You Actually Need?
Rental airtime bundles are priced by the minute, and most first-time renters buy more than the trip actually needs. Buy for how you'll use the phone, not for how long the trip lasts.
The rental length and the airtime bundle are two separate decisions. You might rent the phone for two weeks and only need a modest bundle if you're checking in once a day, or the same two weeks with a much larger bundle if a whole crew is relaying updates through the day.
Whichever bundle you pick, running over it doesn't cut the phone off. Extra usage beyond the prepaid minutes is billed at the standard rate, and the phone keeps working for the rest of the rental.
Solo traveller, one call a day
Checking in with someone once a day, morning or evening, from a trek, a sail, or a remote job site. A short daily call adds up to far fewer minutes than people expect over a one or two week trip. Even with extra talking on a rough-weather day, that pattern rarely needs a large bundle.
A crew coordinating through the day
Several people relaying position updates and logistics back and forth across a shift. That back-and-forth chews through minutes faster than a single daily check-in, so size the bundle around the crew, not the trip length. Add in a weather call or an equipment problem and the minutes disappear faster than the days on the calendar.
What's in Every Phone Rental
That kit ships with the phone, standard, no matter which handset or network you pick, and there's nothing extra to remember to pack.
Add a 12V car charger, a USB charging cable, a jump starter battery pack, a data kit, a magnetic mount or a Pelican hard case by the day if the trip calls for it, and rental insurance is available as a per-day add-on on every booking too. It's worth adding if the phone is heading somewhere it could get dropped, soaked or lost, a dry bag or a truck bed, more than if it's sitting on a desk for two weeks.
Want people to reach you on a normal US number instead of dialling in from overseas? A US number can be added to the Iridium handsets and to the Inmarsat IsatPhone 2. It can't be added to a push-to-talk radio, which runs on a talkgroup rather than a dialled number.
✓
Canvas carry bag
✓
Two fully charged batteries
✓
Wall charger
✓
International power adapters
✓
Quick cheat-sheet guide
Rent or Buy a Phone?
The satellite phone rental cost comes down to the network, the handset, how many days you need it, and which per-day extras you add. None of that is a reason to guess: renting once tells you exactly what a trip like yours actually requires before you commit to buying.
If this is a single trip, a seasonal job, or a one-off crossing, renting is the obvious call. Every unit is pre-tested, activated and verified before it leaves the warehouse, so you're not the one troubleshooting it the night before you leave.
That matters most if you're the person who booked this nine days before departure and doesn't want a learning curve on top of everything else. A rental arrives ready to use, so the only thing left to do is find an open view of the sky and place the call.
If you're already planning your third or fourth trip this year, or a phone is becoming a permanent part of your kit rather than a once-a-year insurance policy, that's a different conversation. Buying starts to make more sense the more often the phone leaves the shelf, and a rental at that point just delays a purchase you're going to make anyway.
If that's you, rent this once to confirm which network and handset actually suits how you travel, then buy the one you'd reach for again.
Before You Travel
Some countries restrict or ban satellite phones outright, and the rules vary by network and by country. See the full country-by-country list on the main rental page before you book, not after you land.
Test the phone before you go. Get an open view of the sky, extend the antenna fully, and confirm it registers and dials before the trip starts, not during it. Once it registers, dial the country code, then the area code, then the number, green key to call, red to end. It's a different rhythm from a cell phone, worth getting used to before you actually need it.
Then leave it switched off when you're not using it. A satellite phone battery holds its charge for months if the phone stays off between calls, so there's no reason to run it down before you need it.
Questions people ask before they book
Can someone call me on a rented satellite phone?
Yes. Every rental has its own number people can dial. If you'd rather give out a normal US number instead of an international one, add a US number to an Iridium handset or the Inmarsat IsatPhone 2 when you book. It isn't available on push-to-talk radios, which run on a talkgroup rather than a dialled number, so there's no line for a caller to reach.
How long does the battery last?
It depends on the handset. The Iridium 9555 and the Iridium Extreme both run about 4 hours of talk time and 30 hours on standby. The Inmarsat IsatPhone 2 runs longer, about 8 hours of talk time and 160 hours on standby. Keep it switched off between calls and a charge stretches across most of a week-long trip, since standing by costs almost nothing next to an active call.
Does a satellite phone work indoors?
No, not reliably. It needs an open view of the sky to reach the satellite network, so walls, roofs and dense tree cover will block the signal. Step outside, away from buildings and overhangs, extend the antenna fully, and keep it upright while you place the call. A window or a doorway usually isn't enough of a view.
Can I text from a rented satellite phone?
Yes, on the Iridium handsets. Iridium runs its own text messaging portal for sending and receiving messages when a full call isn't practical or the signal is marginal. It's a separate system from a regular phone's texting, and it's worth testing before you rely on it in the field.
What's the difference between the Iridium 9555 and the Extreme?
Not battery life, they're identical: about 4 hours of talk time and 30 hours on standby on both. The Extreme adds a programmable one-touch SOS button and GPS with online tracking and geo-fencing, which the 9555 doesn't have. Choose the Extreme if you want an emergency button and location tracking built in, and the 9555 if you just need a phone.
Which network should I rent for my destination?
It depends on where you're going. Iridium and Inmarsat both cover almost anywhere worldwide, but a handful of countries restrict which network you're allowed to use. India, for example, permits only Inmarsat and requires a permit first. Check the destination before you book, or call (800) 279-2366 and we'll confirm it for you before you buy the wrong bundle.
How many minutes should I buy?
Fewer than you think, in most cases. A solo traveller checking in once a day typically needs far less than a crew relaying updates back and forth throughout the day. Size the bundle to how the phone will actually get used, and remember that going over it doesn't cut you off, it's simply billed at the standard rate.
What comes in the box with a phone rental?
A canvas carry bag, two fully charged batteries, a wall charger, international power adapters and a quick cheat-sheet guide. That's standard on every phone rental regardless of network or handset. Anything beyond it, like a car charger, a data kit or a hard case, is available as a per-day add-on, along with rental insurance.
Can I add a US number to a rental?
Yes, on the Iridium handsets and the Inmarsat IsatPhone 2. It gives callers a normal US number to dial instead of an international one, which matters if you want family or coworkers to reach you without an overseas call. It isn't available on push-to-talk radios, since those run over a talkgroup rather than a dialled line.
What happens if I go over my rental minutes?
Nothing shuts off. Going over your prepaid minutes doesn't end the service. The extra usage is simply billed at the standard rate and the phone keeps working for the rest of the rental. It's worth sizing the bundle close to what you'll actually need, but it isn't a hard cap you can get locked out by.
Loading...