How to keep a satellite phone in top shape

Services such as Iridium and Inmarsat, and future services such as Starlink’s satellite-to-cell system can all fill the gap when boat-to-shore communications are needed.

However, for your satellite phone to work, you need to ensure it is in good shape.

How do you do that? Let’s look at each step that will help you get the best out of your handset.

A satellite handset isn’t mucus to anyone if it is tucked away in a forgotten drawer somewhere on the boat.

It is best to stow it somewhere where it is visible to everyone on board – no point in only one person knowing its whereabouts – and readily accessible.

Some satellite phones come equipped with SOS buttons that you can push to flag an emergency that can be relayed to land-based rescue services.

The SOS signal is constantly monitored, so if you need to push the button the distress call will be heard.

Credit cards expire and roll over, so it pays to check your subscription to your satellite service to ensure your service plan is still current.

Note, too, that if your plan is not current you will not be allowed to test your satellite phone to check that it is working correctly.

Your satellite phone handset will be much more than just a means for you to call a landline from almost anywhere in the world.

Handset providers are constantly refining their products to improve how they work and add extra services to make them more attractive to use.

Importantly, they may also need to tweak the handset’s firmware from time to time to fix bugs.

It pays to regularly check and see that your phone handset is running the latest software. Note, too, that if your sat phone handset connects to an app on your smartphone, updating the app may not also update the handset.

Rechargeable batteries don’t last forever, and as time goes by they hold less capacity compared with when they were new.

A good test is to fully charge your satellite phone, and then switch it on. Note how quickly the phone loses bars of charge, and if it lasts for several hours rather than a day it may be time to swap the battery out for a new one.

Also test the handset by charging it fully, leaving it switched off for a few days, and then checking how much charge it has lost.

Depending on your service provider, there may be a free phone number you can tap to test that your satellite phone handset is in working order.

It’s also a good test to ensure your subscription is current; if it isn’t, you won’t be able to use the service’s test number.

It’s a bit of a no-brainer, but keep all the cables and adapters you will need to recharge or manage your satellite phone handset with the device.

It pays to think about redundancy, too, so ensure you have options to recharge it using either 12-volt or mains power should one or the other fail.