Similar communications have been available in a reasonable sized package through Amateur radio for a while. There are several amateur satalites in orbit providing global coverage and a reasonably light radio can access them for free (providing that you have a valid ham lisence in the countries that you are traveling.) In most countries emergency use of amateur bands doesn't require a lisence - as long as it is a true emergency. The only difference is that with Ham you aren't guarenteed that anyone is listening. This requires registering call-in times before heading out and pre-arranging frequencies. This is a normal precaution if you are doing anything that might drop you into a wilderness survival situation. <br><br>The problem with the sat-phone, ham radio, cell-phone as a survival tool has nothing to do with the utility of the tool but rather the dependence on the tool. All of these tools can become useless from rough handling ( as you might experience in an off-airport landing) or dead batteries which almost always occur when you need to depend upon them. If you are fully prepared to survive without an electronic device then adding such for convenience and comfort with the added benefit that they might actually facilitate rescue is great. The reverse logic - I don't need any provision for shelter since I have my sat-phone and can call in the calvary when I'm lost - is fatal everytime.<br><br>Thanks for the update on the costs of sat-phone coverage. How is the network? Is the coverage truely global? How many satalites do they have aloft? What is the carry weight and battery life of the unit you have? What is the transmitting power of the phone? How hot does you ear get when you have that much radio-power transmitting right next to your head? As a HAM I am very interested in as many technical details as you can provide.