Staying In Touch

Staying in touch with loved ones while on the road has become much easier thanks to cellular phones. However, cellular coverage remains limited in many parts of North America, particularly when traveling through rural areas. Enter the satellite phone, which works where cell phones don't. Further, satellite services allow you to access the internet, so you can send and retrieve emails, download maps to campgrounds or other destinations, or find information on local attractions.

Where cell phones depend on land-based antennas to pass their signals along, satellite systems communicate directly with orbiting satellites, allowing dependable connections long beyond the range of terrestrial antennas. Because you're never out of range, satellite phones offer very real safety benefits and everyday conveniences to anyone traveling in an RV. Fortunately, there are many options for Canadians to choose from in this growing market.

Globalstar introduced its satellite phone service beginning in the fall of 1999, with full commercial service launched in Canada by February 2000. Offering attractive satellite call rates, Globalstar uses a group of 48 low earth satellites to provide static-free signals with no perceptable voice delays. The Globalstar tri-mode mobile satellite phone is built by Qualcomm, one of the world's leading mobile phone manufacturers, and can function on regular analog cellular service, digital cellular networks, or Globalstar's satellite network so you don't need a separate cell phone. With GlobalStar's Direct Internet Access, you can connect your satellite phone to your laptop computer or a digital assistant (PDA) to send or receive e-mail, or surf websites regardless of where you are. Operating at a transfer speed of 9.6Kbps, it is slower than normal land-line internet access, but the fact you can check email or dial up a particular website while you're miles from nowhere is quite remarkable in itself. Customers with tri-mode handsets can send and receive 19-character text messages within countries where GlobalStar service is available. Service starts at $49.95 per month for 30 minutes with additional minutes charged at $1.59. For 150 minutes per month, the basic cost is $99.95 plus $1.19 for any extra minutes. Just like cell phones, there is a monthly charge of $6 for a government licensing fee.

If you purchased a new tow vehicle in the past few years you may already be familiar with the OnStar service included with many General Motors trucks. Today this service is available on many new motorhomes as well. OnStar has signed a distribution agreement with RiverPark Inc. of Elkhart, Indiana, to provide its safety and security services in motor-homes, enabling RV travelers to locate everything from campgrounds to points of interest at the touch of a button.

OnStar, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors, incorporates a Global Positioning System (GPS) and sophisticated wireless technology in order to offer some additional features. This includes the system's ability to immediately locate a stolen vehicle or RV, dispatch emergency services or roadside assistance, perform remote diagnostics, and provide route support and convenience services. Drivers can make and receive hands-free, voice-activated phone calls through a nationwide network, or check on weather and traffic advisories.

OnStar offers a variety of service subscription plans. The basic Safe & Sound package at $289 per year, or $24.95 per month, provides emergency help, door unlock service, remote diagnostics, stolen vehicle locator and hands-free personal calling in many areas. An upgrade to OnStar's Directions and Connections service plan ($579 per year, or $48.95 per month) provides additional travel services such as route support and emergency services.

Sea Tel Inc. provides an airtime service for satellite phones called Wavecall. The service, which functions anywhere in Canada and the continental United States, operates on GlobalStar's satellite system. Users enjoy features such as voice mail, free ISP service to access the internet, and discounted airtime packages. The WaveCall system allows a customer to plug an ordinary household telephone into the antenna equipment with a standard phone cord. The data connection is just as simple, so there's no modem or network card irequired. Their earth station gateways in North America are equipped with a dedicated high speed Internet connection which allow the customer to use Globalstar as an internet service provider (ISP), or to log online using their regular home ISP.

Many RV enthusiasts are familiar with the KVH satellite antennas used for the reception of ExpressVu television programming while they are on the road. KVH is also a leading player in the mobile voice and internet communications business, and sells a number of products in its Tracphone line. Using the Inmarsat mini-M satellite service, KVH's Tracphone systems offer voice, fax, data, and e-mail transmission, with a wide range of service plans available.

Ottawa-based Mobile Satellite Ventures owns and operates a satellite network which provides a wide range of mobile communication services, including voice, dispatch radio, circuit-switched and packet data. For Rvers, the coverage area extends to North America, Hawaii, Central America and the northern portion of South America. The system will be able to provide point-to-point voice services, and data services at rates up to 160 kilobits per second, enabling for the first time high-speed mobile Internet service anywhere you go in North America. Although not as fast as fixed broadband service, it will be as fast as any mobile Internet or data service. See your local dealer for pricing on service packages. (Top)