| Globalstar |
Handheld phone $600-700 Onboard system @2200-2700 |
About 200 miles offshore and the Caribbean |
9.6 kbit/s |
$50 monthly and $1/minute but lower cost per minute with different plans. Free SMS Incoming messaged |
Globalstar is a region system that provides excellent voice quality and reasonably fast data access. About the lowest priced equipment of any system |
| Inmarsat-B |
Expensive. You’ll probably need an installation quote |
Global except for small regions near the poles |
9.6 kbit/s standard 64 kbit/s Hi speed |
Rates vary with peak times: voice–anytime: $2.27/ min Hi speed data anytime–$7.35/min |
Big and heavy. Designed for larger vessels |
| Inmarsat-C & Mini C |
$3500 - $4000 includes built-in GPS |
Global except for small regions near poles |
600 pds |
$0.16 – 0.20 for 256 bits 100 word email for $2.50 – $3.10 |
Slow but very reliable email system with regional weather 4 times a day. GMDSS compatible system |
| Inmarsat-M & Mini M |
$5000 - $6000 |
Good coverage or all major shipping routes |
2.4 kbit/s |
$1.50 – $1.90 per minutes for all services |
Combination voice and data combined with small, light installation makes this system popular with yachts. There are a few holes in the coverage |
| Inmarsat Fleet F77 |
$20,000 - $24,000 |
Global except for small regions near the poles |
128 kbit/s, |
Vooice – $1.60 - $2.20/minute Data $3.50 - $4.00 Megabit 128kbit/s data - $12.50/minute 64 kbit/s data - $7.00/minute |
The network of choice for the ocean going office. Big and expensive but versatile enough to handle everything from internet browsing to video. Data speed 64 kbit/s without spot beam coverage |
| Inmarsat Fleet F55 |
$12,000 - $18,000 |
Global except for small regions near the poles |
64 kbit/s |
Voice - $1.60 - $2.20/minute Data $3.50 - $4.00 Megabit 64 kbit/s data - $7.00/minute |
A lower cost alternative for the ocean going office. Slower data rate than F77. Data compatibility requires access to spot beam. Voice only otherwise |
| Inmarsat Fleet F33 |
$9,000 - $11,000 |
Global except for small regions near the poles |
9.6 kbit/s,/td>
| Voice - $1.60 - $2.20/minute data $3.50 - $4.00 Megabit 9.6 kbit/s data - $3.00/minute |
Small and light. Good choice for smaller vessels. Slowest data rate in the Fleet family but still fast enough for Internet access. Data transfers require access to a spot beam. Voice only otherwise |
| Inmarsat BGAN |
$450 - $2600 |
Global except for small regions around the poles |
up to 492 kbit/s |
Basic plan $40 monthly voice $0.99/minute Data $6.50 - $7.00 a minute |
Portable phones and terminals require a steady platform. Not all phone models can operate at the highest data speeds |
| Iriduim Satellite |
Handheld phone $1400 - $1900 Below decks unit $3200 - $3400 |
Global |
2.4 kbit/s |
Basic plan $38 - $40 monthly and $1.49/ for voice and data |
Virtually complete global coverage. Slow data rate but ok for email. Reasonable equipment costs |