Never Worry About Cell Service Again…
Related: Other Riding Essentials
Why do you need a Globalstar GSP-1700 Satellite Phone for Sea Doo riding? Many Sea Doo tours cruise along populated waterways in areas where cell service is readily available. So do recreational boaters. That being said, service is primarily targeted to places where the most people live travel and work. So it’s not unusual for experienced Sea Doo riders and jet ski beginners to discover no service zones on their PWC adventures.
And if your self guided Sea Doo, jet ski or waverunner PWC adventure takes you on to more remote lakes or rivers or far from shore, cell service may be spotty at best. So how do you stay in touch to communicate easily with family and friends? Or to reach out for assistance in an emergency while Sea Doo riding?
Globalstar GSP-1700 Satellite Phone Advantages
I always carry my Globalstar GSP-1700 Handheld Satellite Phone. Its reliability gives me great peace of mind. Best of all, using my sat phone in an emergency means no uncertainty. I can call multiple responders, know who I’ve reached and when they’re coming. With my sat phone, I can even give them all the pertinent information they need, and they can even call me back. I can also call any family or friends to let them know what’s up. What’s more, I can use my live unit to provide my location to first responders or provide additional information regarding an emergency situation. And in the rare case when we’re staying overnight at remote outfitter with no land or cell service, I can also call home to confirm we’re okay.
Globalstar GSP-1700 Satellite Phone Cost
Not so long ago, a satellite phone was expensive – costly to buy and pricey to operate. But my GSP-1700 unit retails at about $500 and plus the cost of a basic plan. There are no extra charges if I never use the phone except for urgencies and emergencies. And if regular Sea Doo riding buddies share the cost of having a shared Globalstar satellite phone on Sea Doo tours, you’re really looking at peanuts dollar wise. Especially compared to the alternative of being totally out of touch and having to ride a long way for help when timing may be critical. What’s more, if you’re involved in other powersports, like I am with snowmobiling, you can use your sat phone year round and amortize your cost over other riding seasons.
Globalstar GSP-1700 Satellite Phone Operation
Globalstar sat phones use a second-generation constellation consisting of 32 Low Earth Orbit satellites. They provide comprehensive coverage throughout snowbelt North America. So your Globalstar satellite phone will work virtually anywhere you ride. There’s no perceptible voice delay, excellent clarity, and thanks to multiple satellites, minimal call interruption.
Powering Your Sat Phone
The Globalstar GSP-1700 sat phone isn’t much bigger than a cell phone. But it is still highly portable – pretty stylish too, with no more of that bulky industrial look satellite phones were once know for. This is good news for jet ski riders when space is at a premium. Just be sure to keep it dry. Each battery is rated for four hours talk time and 36 hours in standby mode. So if a couple of Sea Doo riders carry fully charged extra batteries, your sat phone will have plenty of juice to make multiple calls and be left on in an emergency. Just remember to recharge the batteries every night as needed. Alternatively, if you have a 12-volt plug in on your ski, you can keep your sat phone powered.
Using Your Sat Phone
There’s no rocket science to operating a sat phone on a Sea Doo tour or while recreational boating. Find an outdoor location with an unobstructed view of the sky. Raise the antenna and point it up. Turn the unit on. Wait for connection and dial just like on any other kind of phone. To maintain optimum connection, don’t be moving around while talking; keep the antenna pointed in the same direction and at the same angle.
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The tips and advice in this article are the opinions of the author, may not work in every situation and are intended only for the convenience and interest of the reader, who has the personal responsibility to confirm the validity, accuracy and relevancy of this information prior to putting it to their own use.