PSA: That fancy sat phone rental service I was skeptical about actually saved my ass on a pipeline job near Galveston last month.

I used to think renting a sat phone for offshore work was a total waste of money. $150 for a week seemed like a ripoff when my crew chief just used his cell. Then I got stuck on a leaking valve 3 miles offshore with no cell signal for 6 hours while the tide was coming up. The rental unit had SOS texting and GPS pinging to dispatch. My supervisor finally stopped laughing at me after I messaged him. Now I rent one every job, no question. Has anyone else found a piece of gear they swore off until a bad day changed their mind?

2 comments

2 Comments

nina1474d ago

Just another way for companies to nickel and dime us for something we never needed before.

perry.karen1d ago

I got a Smith & Wesson flashlight that way - thought it was overkill until I had to signal a barge at night and my cheap one died in the rain. Now it's always clipped to my vest, no excuses.