I have a hand held on my boat and boy is it handy. At times we are more than 100 miles offshore and call home like you were right next door. It does take them a while to lock into a satalit, and watch for any over head obstructions like heavy tree cover, or evan sometimes heavy cloud cover, rain, snow. They can interfere. Another nice thing, I happened to be out of the country in the third world when 9/11 happened. Could not get a phone line out to call home and check in. Pulled my sat phone out stood in the midle of a park and got a hold of all my loved ones. Watch your minuts though, they may take your first born son.