Moosie and I got on the subject of satellite phones, a subject I don't know a great deal about, other than they can be expensive, but nonetheless an invaluable asset to a remote hunters inventory.
Here is what I do know...Brand new phones will cost in upwards of $1K just for the phone. This isn't counting the service fees and steep by the minute charges ($1.99 a minute seems to be the norm).
The best phones I have heard of are the Motorola Iridiums. I don't know their advantages or disadvantages over some of the less expensive phones (i.e. globalstar, kyocera, etc). But I'm sure the "get what you pay for" rule applies.
Someone going on a journey in the bush has several options. An emergency beacon locator, vhf radio, cell phone (very iffy), or a satellite phone. If choosing the satellite phone you can buy new, used, or rent. If your buying used, a good place to start looking is ebay. I would venture to say by the time someone spent $300 (or more) for a three week hunt in the Alaska bush (moosie), you could of purchased yourself a used phone for the same amount. Then you'll always have it for those repeated trips to AK, then to Africa, Canada, etc, etc. Get the phone activated for hunting season and use it only when you need to and you should be able to keep the phone charges down pretty low.
Moosie
I wouldn't rent from AK, they will stiff you. Here is a site you can check out if renting is on your mind...
http://www.gpsphones.com/ Like I said though, ebay looks like it has some good deals. Might be getting one myself.
vis
