That’s a great question. We’re sure that you’re probably not the first person to wonder why a small, handheld piece of technology that’s capable of instantly connecting you to anyone, literally anywhere, at any time, isn’t used by...well, everyone.

There are many people that do use satellite phones on a daily or near-daily basis, such as military and political officials working in remote places — or, as they’re known, geographically “difficult” places. At Outfitter Satellite, our comprehensive selection of satellite phones for sale are designed for hardcore mountaineers and wilderness explorers, marine workers, international travelers, and others who simply need a reliable line of communication no matter where they are.

Why Our Satellite Phones For Sale Aren’t Necessarily For Everyone

The truth is that satellite phones, or sat phones, aren’t the most “efficient” form of communication for everyday use, and there are several reasons that support this claim. Let’s take a brief look a few of them.

There’s A Time Delay (Lag)

We’ve all experienced it before with standard cell phones. You’re having a conversation, and it sounds like you’re echoing or the other person on the line is trying to talk over you. In truth, more often than not, this is due to lag.

Satellite phones are even more prone to lag than standard mobile phones. The geostationary satellites that our devices communicate with are more than 18,000 miles above the Earth’s surface, and even with the latest satellite technology, that trip takes quite a while.

They’re Expensive

Maybe you pay between, say, $25-50 a month for your phone bill. Heck, maybe you even pay more than $50. Imagine paying that much for one conversation. It’s not unheard of for satellite phones to cost about $2 per minute, although we offer rental plans with bundled minutes at cheaper rates.

Now, you can’t put a price on a life-saving call to the outside world, but there’s no doubt that talking on a sat phone is incredibly expensive compared to talking on a standard cell phone.

You Might Have To Step Outside For Your Call

In many survival scenarios, you’re probably already outdoors with a relatively uninterrupted line of sight between your sat phone and the satellite that it’s linking with. However, for those using a satellite phone indoors, you may have to step outside for a clearer connection. Naturally, that’s going to be a dealbreaker for most conventional cell phone users.

They’re Not Allowed In Certain Countries

Politics tends to complicate matters, and even sat phones are exempt. In certain countries, it’s unlawful or outright illegal to use a satellite phone as a member of the general public.

Prepare For Your Trip With A Satellite Phone From Outfitter Satellite

If you’re going to be away from any type of cell phone coverage, then it pays to secure your line of communication with the outside world — even if your conversation is a little more expensive than usual. From mountaintops to the middle of the Pacific Ocean, stay in touch by shopping with our satellite phone company.