Backcountry communication

[Bmcox86]

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,126166.0.html

[skagitsteel]

Satellite phone: you KNOW your message got through.

PLB: you're ALMOST CERTAIN your message got through.

All others: you HOPE your message got through.

I was thinking sat phone is probably more reliable

I was concerned about reliability of the messaging on the In reach.  I have read it can take 45 minutes to transmit messages.  I understand for some being in the back country is about not being connected, for me most of my trips are day trips into the back country during the week and i need to be reachable by four or five crew leads.  Texting works great and is easy to do while glassing when there is cell service.  In reach looks cheaper but I will pay for sat service if it is that much more reliable.  Anybody text much from a sat phone?

[Bmcox86]

I'm not sure about text messages, I know it's not cheap, phone calls are an average of $7-12 a minute.

[actionshooter]

I don't see how there is a difference in reliability between Sat phone and the Inreach, they are both Iridium and same satelites.   
  I guess there is some instant gratification if someone picks up when you can make a call.

[skagitsteel]

I think I will probably try the in reach 1st to see how it works.  Phone calls are nice but my main thing is knowing what my crews are up do, can do that just fine by texting.   

[WAcoueshunter]

I'm not sure about text messages, I know it's not cheap, phone calls are an average of $7-12 a minute.

The max rate for the company I used was $1.85/minute, without buying any minutes upfront.  Buying minutes upfront brought the price down, but I think the minimum bundle was like 25 minutes.