Sparkey, it's an insurance policy. But, it is nice if you're fishing while a friend is working, and call and say "Guess what just happened buddyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy". But, for most part mine is shut off in a waterproof bag.

John B, I go to some remote places too. Verizon has been pretty close to always having some sort of signal (even in the areas they claim they have NO signal on their maps).

I had friends who had satelite phones. They were big with some of the whitewater crowd, and we even were offered discount contracts through our NWRA magazine. But, you DON'T wanna know what it costs. You have a multi mode phone, but you're talking DOLLARS per minute if it switches to satellite. Which, if it's life or death I can see where it's handy. I know the plan they sold there were only TWO places on earth you wouldn't get coverage, guaranteed. But at a high price. If I remember right, it was $60 a month for the use of phone (had to pay $1800 for the phone first back then, dropped to about $800 last time I checked), with ZERO air time included. If you wanted some general service, ran up to over $100 a month for so many minutes (like 60) then again like $5 a minute for satellite service on top of that. But, I haven't priced them since my last NWRA newsletter, that was like 5 years ago or so. Hopefully they came down. But I doubt that much. If it where you'd see them more then you do now.