Just reading this again.. Back in the day, there used to be a a sat based payphone that took credit cards (voice only, no data).
Cost was something like $10-15 a minute. A few years ago when I was out there, I don't
recall seeing it, but it could have been moved.. Anyone know if it's still there?
BTW, don't rely on the VHF repeater. It was sitting on a corroded metal post in the middle of the ocean halfway out there from
Key West, and would "occasionally " be fixed whenever it broke.
So, yes.. A satphone of your own is what you'd want. On the plus side, the smelly, rusty, rough looking boats that seek shelter there might be interested in swapping fresh grouper and shrimp for some airtime, although the absolute best currency is a case of bud.