Satellite Communicator with Data?

[phildobaggins]

Hey guys, I afford my gear by being a systems administrator, and I also do helpdesk stuff for a medium sized business.

The last two years, I've risked it for the biscuit a few times in some no cell service areas. But I need to stop for my own stress levels. I thought about hiring another employee, but in all honesty, I really don't need one until that one time I need one. I can do 99% of my work remotely, and yes, I do lug around a 5lb laptop in my hunting bag and normally hotspot from my cellphone with success in the mountains all of the time.

NOW. I've seen a bunch of different satellite communicator devices but haven't seem to find one that would support a data plan and enable me to use my laptop via satellite in the deepest draws.

Anyone here have any thoughts? I saw a promotional email from Sportsmans Warehouse this morning about $50 off a ZOLEO Satellite Communicator, which got me thinking about this again. Would love to have this failsafe for that ONE time I really need to get that text and do some (super) remote work.

Any insight is helpful!

[Stein]

Sat phone is the only way I know of that you can get a hotspot.  Probably pretty slow and surely not cheap.

[brokentrail]

@phildobaggins  If you find something that works for you, let me know.  I am in a similar boat during vacations/hunting trips hoping their isn't a network emergency that I'm needed for.

[kselkhunter]

The Iridium GO! is a satellite WiFi hotspot....but they did a bad job in the implementation.  You can't get normal web access, just limited.  And emails have to go via an Iridium email address instead of your normal.  If you're a system admin, you likely won't be able to get to the IT systems you'd need via the GO! It's a cool concept, but poorly implemented.   If you can live with re-directing emails via the Iridium email for the week or two that you're out, then it "might" work. 


Otherwise look into the various satellite phones, and what their options are for "hotspots" and if they function how you'd want.  I think you'll have similar issues as the GO! though regarding not being a true wifi hotspot.


Are you in the backcountry miles from a road on your trips?  If so, you're limited to satellite phones, text messengers (ie InReach), and the GO!.   If you are vehicle based on your trips or can pack back to your vehicle every few days to check in, then you could look into a cellular booster from Surecall or WeBoost or Wilson, etc.   You still need a cell signal for those, as they basically amplify weak signals.   But they can be quite effective and providing stronger signals.


Hopefully once Starlink and Kuiper are at full deployment we'll see some mobile satellite hotspot options become available for those networks. The lower latency and higher speeds of those LEO constellations will allow for better options if they can work out mobile options (power draw is a concern....as is shrinking the satellite receiver down to a mobile device size).   But I think such options are still a few years away from being reality.

[phildobaggins]

@phildobaggins  If you find something that works for you, let me know.  I am in a similar boat during vacations/hunting trips hoping their isn't a network emergency that I'm needed for.

If I find something, I'll definitely post back! I'll pay good money for the right device -- still cheaper than an employee

Are you in the backcountry miles from a road on your trips?  If so, you're limited to satellite phones, text messengers (ie InReach), and the GO!.   If you are vehicle based on your trips or can pack back to your vehicle every few days to check in, then you could look into a cellular booster from Surecall or WeBoost or Wilson, etc.   You still need a cell signal for those, as they basically amplify weak signals.   But they can be quite effective and providing stronger signals.


Hopefully once Starlink and Kuiper are at full deployment we'll see some mobile satellite hotspot options become available for those networks. The lower latency and higher speeds of those LEO constellations will allow for better options if they can work out mobile options (power draw is a concern....as is shrinking the satellite receiver down to a mobile device size).   But I think such options are still a few years away from being reality.

Yea, I can be up to 20 miles from the nearest road at times. I may just opt to get one of the text message devices and try to guide someone in the event of an issue. But, it's always easier just to fix it yourself immediately  I had seen some of those boosters on Camofire in the past, but the fact it's only useful in the truck is a bit of a downer. I totally forgot about the potential opportunities that Starlink could present me, dang! Now I'm a little optimistic. Hadn't heard of Project Kuiper until now, either.

Thanks for the input folks, I'll be sure to share any good information I find on this thread to help anyone else in my boots out.

[phildobaggins]

Oh yea, and the Iridium GO looks like it has potential although probably wouldn't quite fit my needs.

Last weekend I was Kokanee fishing and got a text about a printer of all things. Trolled right into No Service and had to boat out about 15 minutes to get service, get on my hotspot, remote in, make a phone call, all for them to say "oh yea we got it working".

Everything is an emergency in IT. 

[kselkhunter]

I'm also a backcountry hunter, and run my own business.  I have an InReach and key people/partners have my number should something urgent arise.  If I have something really critical going, I'll also rent a satellite phone so I can have a conversation...satellite phone rentals are not too expensive.  I've had to pack off the mountain a couple of times over the years for a critical issue, but most of the time can manage with just the InReach. 

But currently there is no real option that is packable that would provide reliable wifi connection in the backcountry that would be sufficient for doing remote IT work in the backcountry.  As mentioned, hopefully in a few years there will be devices for Starlink/Kuiper networks.   Power consumption is a concern so would need a solar panel charger for whatever device it ends up being as well.

[phildobaggins]

I'm also a backcountry hunter, and run my own business.  I have an InReach and key people/partners have my number should something urgent arise.  If I have something really critical going, I'll also rent a satellite phone so I can have a conversation...satellite phone rentals are not too expensive.  I've had to pack off the mountain a couple of times over the years for a critical issue, but most of the time can manage with just the InReach. 

But currently there is no real option that is packable that would provide reliable wifi connection in the backcountry that would be sufficient for doing remote IT work in the backcountry.  As mentioned, hopefully in a few years there will be devices for Starlink/Kuiper networks.   Power consumption is a concern so would need a solar panel charger for whatever device it ends up being as well.

Thanks, I really like the InReach. I think I'll grab one of those for the time being. Thankfully I've only needed to pack out once, but I was elk hunting in Oregon and drove 9 hours home to find out that the guy who was on the phone with me was looking at the wrong switch when we were on the phone. Now I've got redundancies for my redundancies 

All my key people are also outdoorsmen and are generally with me LOL

Looking forward to the potential with the new satellite networks.

[pickardjw]

I'm no help with a backcountry hotspot, but if you're comparing zoleo vs inreach make sure to check out the plans before you commit. Comparisons seem to boil down to:

Zoleo: better plans and a way to "pause" your service for minimal fees, better battery life, and you can get unlimited weather info via the app BUT no screen, need a phone to send messages other than daily check in or SOS.

Inreach: plans are a little pricier and no pause feature, weather report counts towards your monthly messages, worse battery life BUT you can send messages without a phone.


If my comparison sounds biased, I did just purchase a Zoleo so it probably is.

[Shoofly09]

you can send a message with an in reach mini without a phone, but it is a PITA

[Magnum_Willys]

You can pause most inreach plans but not discounted annual plans.

Full boat unlimited texts annual is $52/mo

[brokentrail]

Oh yea, and the Iridium GO looks like it has potential although probably wouldn't quite fit my needs.

Last weekend I was Kokanee fishing and got a text about a printer of all things. Trolled right into No Service and had to boat out about 15 minutes to get service, get on my hotspot, remote in, make a phone call, all for them to say "oh yea we got it working".

Everything is an emergency in IT. 

and 9 times out of 10.... It must be the network 

[phildobaggins]

I'm no help with a backcountry hotspot, but if you're comparing zoleo vs inreach make sure to check out the plans before you commit. Comparisons seem to boil down to:

Zoleo: better plans and a way to "pause" your service for minimal fees, better battery life, and you can get unlimited weather info via the app BUT no screen, need a phone to send messages other than daily check in or SOS.

Inreach: plans are a little pricier and no pause feature, weather report counts towards your monthly messages, worse battery life BUT you can send messages without a phone.


If my comparison sounds biased, I did just purchase a Zoleo so it probably is.

Thanks for the input man. How much have you used the Zoleo? The price is tempting for sure. I don't need a screen, or the maps, or the weather that the InReach offers, but it is sexy and imagine it's got a good reputation for a reason.

[phildobaggins]

Oh yea, and the Iridium GO looks like it has potential although probably wouldn't quite fit my needs.

Last weekend I was Kokanee fishing and got a text about a printer of all things. Trolled right into No Service and had to boat out about 15 minutes to get service, get on my hotspot, remote in, make a phone call, all for them to say "oh yea we got it working".

Everything is an emergency in IT. 

and 9 times out of 10.... It must be the network 

This line of work is so awesome, yet so terrible. I had to re-learn good self control about two years ago.

[Bushcraft]

InReach handles 95% of the correspondence if you've trained and trust others to do their job(s).

Sat phone for 4% of the time that you need to put out a fire ASAP.

Wear out some boot leather for the 1% of the time you need scrap everything to haul ass to the trailhead.

Part of me can't wait for something better. The rest of me just wants to enjoy my vacation.