TESTED: Qualcomm GSP 1600 Globalstar satphone

I took this new satellite phone up to the roof with plenty of trepidation. Curiously, there was no operator’s manual in the box—just a short “reviewer’s guide”—so right there I was suspicious. But no matter. As most of you would, I didn’t even look at the guide. I just turned the phone on and waited for the error messages that never came. Within about 20 seconds of powering up, the phone had actually acquired a satellite signal and it looked like it was ready to go. Astonished, I called my wife. She answered, and the voice quality was at least as clear as my digital cellphone. “Aha!” I thought! This is a tri-mode phone with cellular and landline capabilities, and I bet it’s set on cellphone! Nope. Satellite. Now I was impressed. I also learned why there was no operator’s manual, because if you know how to use a modern cellphone, you already know how to use the Globalstar phone. Just slightly larger than my Qualcomm cellphone, the GSP 1600 is lightweight and actually has two antennas—one large, flip-up wand for satellite services, plus a smaller whip antenna for cellular service. It was a simple matter to work my way through the menus to change service, and the menus that adjust things like ringer volume and type were straightforward. The phone can hold 99 names and numbers in memory, and given this units’ ease of use and clear-as-a-bell voice quality, I give it the highest marks overall. And by the way, as I went repack the phone in its case, that’s when I found the manual.