I have heard mixed ideas about using Sat Phones above the arctic circle. I'm sure there are members out there who are experienced in the use of satphones in the high latitudes. I am currently experimenting with two - the Iridium and the SPOT phone, but would like to make a final decision before embarking on a monthlong fishing float trip to Tuktoyaktuk next summer. Testing in the southern latitudes of Canada is hardly a good test...

I've had both iridium and Globalstar which is I think the system spot uses- up to the northern tip of Northern Quebec/Labrador with no issues. I think either would work with the slight advantage to Iridium. They both worked, most conversations seem to get dropped after 2.5 minutes, that was a few years ago. I was able to file all my flight plans with no problem with navcanada, just sometime took a few calls.

Brad

Iridium sat phones work well world wide.

Globalstar not so much. I used Globalstar phones from about 60 north to the north in Alaska. Coverage was very unreliable that far north. That said, their coverage is somewhat unpredictable, depending on east/west area as well.

In addition, in the north, any obstruction, like a mountain, that lies just to the south of the phone can block the signal. Finally, in areas of marginal coverage, they drop calls regularly. They’ve never had enough satellites.

Iridium just works. If you’re headed north, buy an Iridium phone.

MTV

In Alaska it's Iridium all the way. Take a look at the coverage maps.

https://www.globalstar.com/en-us/coverage-maps

https://www.groundcontrol.com/us/knowle ... -tracking/

Iridium works great. DENNY

When I flew medevac for a very large company all aircraft had sat comms/trackers, as I recall they were iridium based, not as north as you, but I’d wager they did a fair amount of research as their bases were in nearly every state, including AK, and a few other nations

Iridium works north of the Brooks Range. Everyone I know here that operates in the NW uses an Iridium-based system, including the Spidertracks, which we have in our aircraft (and do work well). https://www.spidertracks.com/blog/spidertracks-iridium

Durango Skywagon wrote:I've had both iridium and Globalstar which is I think the system spot uses- up to the northern tip of Northern Quebec/Labrador with no issues. I think either would work with the slight advantage to Iridium. They both worked, most conversations seem to get dropped after 2.5 minutes, that was a few years ago. I was able to file all my flight plans with no problem with navcanada, just sometime took a few calls.

Brad

He's going to be 500 miles north of where you were. Globalstar likely won't work for his intended usage
https://www.globalstar.com/en-us/coverage-maps