Canada’s SPOT Global brings the satellite phone down to Earth


Canada&#8217;s SPOT Global brings the satellite phone down to Earth

Traditionally expensive and unwieldy, satellite phones can make and take calls in places where lesser phones couldn’t possibly find a signal.

Photograph by: Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla/WhatsYourTech.ca


Traditionally expensive and unwieldy,satellite phones can make and take calls in places where lesser phones couldn't possibly find a signal.

This powerful global connectivity tool used to come at a high price and large and heavy form-factors with enormous antennas and batteries needed for transmission.

Thanks to Spot Global, a subsidiary of Globalstar, the satellite phone might just be making a comeback, but this time as a tool for adventurers, hikers, mountain climbers, sailors and campers who need a reliable back-up for when their iPhones, Androids or BlackBerrys lose cellular signal completely.

Unlike smartphones and cellular phones that require connection to cell towers, satellite phones need to connect to satellites orbiting the earth in order to receive and transmit voice and data.

A direct line of sight is critical for a connection, that's why clouds, tall buildings and mountains can get in the way of getting a good connection.

"Our satellite voice and data solutions are relied upon by organizations that need dependable connectivity for day-to-day communications, asset monitoring and tracking communications in remote areas beyond cellular and landline service, such as oil and gas, forestry, mining and commercial fishing," says Jim Mandala, Vice President and General Manager, Globalstar Canada Satellite Co.

The design of SPOT Global's Phone is a far cry from any of the recent smartphones in the market. It has a low-resolution greyscale screen, a large keypad and a generally rugged plastic case. While it fits nicely in the hand, the large retractable antenna and the large battery give it some girth.

Small enough to fit most cargo pants pockets and backpacks, the SPOT Global Phone is relatively light. It does come with a comically large charger, something that looks like a power brick for a laptop and this adds to the overall bulk of what you have to carry.

Still, despite its Fisher-Price looks, the SPOT Global Phone is a serious tool and one that can spell the difference between being completely isolated and being connected when you need it the most, and that's priceless.

SPOT Global Phone features 4 hours talk time, 36 hours standby, 911 emergency access, Data capable enabling email and file transfers and is backed by Globalstar's fleet of low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellites.

From my experience, getting a good satellite signal varied between cities like Toronto, New York and San Francisco, and even in a wide-open space like the Canadian Tire Motorsport Track in Clarington.

There were instances where it took around 15 minutes to get a signal. There are many factors that could have impacted connectivity, considering that satellites are a moving target and cloud cover is also a deterrent to establishing a good connection.

Granted, this isn't a device designed for long conversations or high-speed connectivity, users who invest in a satellite phone will need to consider the difference from what they are used to.

Call quality is just as good as most cellular phones, but there were instances when background noise such as wind and traffic sounds eclipse the voice.

This is all really secondary to the fact that the SPOT Global Phone gives anyone unprecedented access to communications when they are off the grid. This gives it various applications in consumer as well as industrial settings.

The SPOT Global Phone retails at $499 CDN plus a required subscription service that starts at $24.99 per month or as low as 25 cents per minute. The phones will be made available in major retail outlets including London Drugs and Mountain Equipment Co-op as online.

SPOT Global Phone


Photograph by: Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla/WhatsYourTech.ca

SPOT Global Phone
SPOT Global Phone

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