Magellan GSC 100 GPS Communicator

[s/v 'Faith']

Does anyone have one? Use one? I understand they now charge a flat $30 a month for unlimited satellite text messages.

Any one have experience with one?

Magellan GSC 100 GPS Communicator

[s/v 'Faith']

I found a manual online in case anyone needs one.

Here is a Data Sheet on the unit.

[Alecadi]

Originally Posted by s/v 'Faith'

Does anyone have one? Use one? I understand they now charge a flat $30 a month for unlimited satellite text messages.

Any one have experience with one?

Magellan GSC 100 GPS Communicator

This device is priced at 1,150 USD.....
Don't see the advantage over a real phone where you can also text , data and have the full use of a phone...

[s/v 'Faith']

Originally Posted by Alecadi

This device is priced at 1,150 USD.....
Don't see the advantage over a real phone where you can also text , data and have the full use of a phone...

They retail for about $400 now, and can be found for less then $100...

I thought someone here might have had some experience with one.

[s/v 'Faith']

Update;

I went ahead and picked up one of these off of ebay. It was pretty cheap, and boots up and finds the satellites (both orbacomm and GPS) ok.

I found a service provider, Summit Communication Services. They have been very helpful, and have very cheap plans available. I will update once I get this going, have service scheduled to start on 1 May.

[DotDun]

Look forward to hearing your experience with it...Thanks!

[CeesH]

Originally Posted by DotDun

Look forward to hearing your experience with it...Thanks!

+1

Thanks.

CeesH

[Travis McGee]

I'm glad that I didn't get rid of mine! I bought one from Orbcom circa 1999, and used it sailing from Guam to California. Worked great, and text has some advantages over voice. If you want to transmit a long part #, for example, text comes through 100% clearly, instead of repeating a 12-digit part number over and over on voice. Plus, you keep a record of each text for your voyage logs later on. Plus, nobody has to be home at the receiving end, since it will just drop an email into their box. Really, it's a terrific option for staying in touch with home or with user groups. At $30 per month, I will sign up again for sure.

Make sure you get a new battery pack if yours is a few years old. My only complaint was sailing from Panama to FL the last time, the pack would not hold a charge. Very frustrating. But that was my fault for not buying a new battery pack for the device.