Thanks Joe...... :thumbup

Options and competition are good things. I like quality and had looked at the irridium phones but I didn't like the service plans. I dunno, maybe they are all this way but it seemed (and I only looked briefly so I could be mistaken) that after you bought the phone you could only sign up for designated time blocks (as in the month of july) as opposed to "buying minutes" and using them whenever you felt like. Plus there was an activation fee to initiate service  :P. I thought I could just buy the phone and when I used minutes I would be billed.

The charter boat captain I fish with has Globalstar.......the phone was not expensive and he says his monthly charge was less than many cell phone plans  (I could of swore he said $50 a month),

Of course now that I feel like I am "new and improved" it is easy to look askance for the need of a SAT phone. But I will definitely be looking into the SPOT phone and doing some comparisons. Besides since I have lightened my kit I have room for some more gear  :D