The Importance of Satellite Phones and Digital Security with Chris Hoar

0:01Boom! Shake the room, Fire Nation. JLD here and welcome to Entrepreneurs on Fire. Brought to you by the HubSpot. Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals with great shows like Success Story Podcast. Today, we'll be breaking down the importance of satellite phones and digital security. To drop these value bombs, I have brought Chris Hoare in the EO Fire Studios. Chris arrived in the US in 1996 and founded Satellite Phone Store, now Convergence, a web three startup changing how data is stored. And today, Fire Nation, we'll talk about the satellite phone and its benefits.

0:34We'll talk about why satellite phones are great for security and so much more. And a big thank you for sponsoring today's episode goes to Chris and our sponsors. The Hustle Daily Show, hosted by Juliet Bennett-Ryla, Rob Litters, Ben Berkley, and Mark Dent, is brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals. The Hustle Daily Show brings you a healthy dose of irreverent, offbeat, informative takes on business and tech news, like a recent episode on Hackers vs. Casinos, where the hosts talk about MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment and the devastating potential of cyber attacks.

1:07Listen to The Hustle Daily wherever you get your podcasts. Don't be the bottleneck to your organization's growth. Accomplish more with Belay. To get started, schedule a free delegation consultation with Belay in just 30 minutes. See how their flexible staffing solutions can grow your business and free you up to lead. Text FIRE to 55123 to schedule your delegation consultation today. Chris, I am excited to chat today about Well, the importance of satellite phones, the importance of digital security, Fire Nation is aware that every single day it seems we lose a little bit of our safety, a little bit of our security, a little bit of our privacy.

1:49And I want to talk about ways we can go about reclaiming some of that. So let's talk about it. What is a satellite phone and what is its benefits? So a satellite phone is very similar to a cell phone, except for the way that it operates. It communicates directly with satellites in the sky. It does not need or go through a cell tower to operate. The phone literally connects directly to a satellite in the sky, sends your call or text message up to that satellite, and then it's rerouted back to the ground to any other phone or device that you choose. And calls and texts come in the same way. The number one benefit of a satellite phone is that it will work when cell phones don't and where cell phones don't.

2:38John, only 7 % of the planet is actually covered by cell towers. So I know it looks like a lot when you see those maps on TV and all those dots. But anyone who's driven from L.A. to Vegas will tell you that there are plenty of dead spots along the way. and you do not want to break down in Death Valley at 130 degrees with no way to call for help. Well, I can tell you, I just spent five days in the tobacco root trails of Montana, outside of Bozeman, and we were hours and hours and hours away from any kind of cell phone coverage. I can guarantee you that. And same exact kind of scenario, you don't want to have a bear attack and be injured in some way, shape, or form and not have access to communicate with the outside world.

3:31So there's just a lot of scenarios, Fire Nation, where man, is it a benefit to be able to reach out and talk to somebody. Now, pretty interestingly enough, when I was doing some research for this call, I realized that everyone in the Senate was just issued a satellite phone for quote unquote emergencies? Why now? That's a great question. And there's been a lot of speculation as to that. I mean, satellite phones have been around for 30 years at this point. And I would like to think that our government would always have the people who make the most important decisions fully equipped to be able to communicate no matter what.

4:13I mean, we've been under threat of nuclear attack my whole life. and many other kind of things that we've witnessed. And clearly there's a lot of danger out there. So why now? I mean, if I had to speculate, I would say that there is increasing concern over the security of our communications networks and our utility networks in general. Ransomware demands and attacks are much bigger than most people know about. I'm sure you understand that, But companies don't like to talk about it. It's like when casinos get robbed, they don't like to broadcast that. And companies don't like to broadcast when they get hacked.

4:54But it is an increasing problem in the Web2 world, which is really kind of failing a lot of us, a lot of businesses. and I would say if I had to guess that it was related to fears of chatter about attacks that are coming to our grid and to our communications networks. I mean, it's just a guess, but it's an informed guess though, John. Now, in your opinion, should everybody have a satellite phone? I think they should and I think that they hadn't, that wasn't really a possibility for a long time And because of the price, I mean, when these things came out, they were five, ten thousand dollars each plus.

5:33And minutes were 20 to 30 bucks a minute. You know, at Satellite Phone Store, we've really tried to bring that disparity down. And today, John, we have satellite phones free with activation, which makes it really much more affordable for everyone. But look, I understand times are hard and not everyone has the money for this kind of thing. It can be a luxury, but I would say, look, if you pay for life insurance, that's great. And that'll write you a check when you're gone. But a satellite phone can save your life. And in the 20 years that I've been around the industry, I've seen these phones save thousands of lives, you know.

6:13And so I'm a really big proponent of them just for that. But they definitely are more affordable. And if they're not, I would recommend that two or three people in the community get together and kind of share the cost of one. Because, you know, again, they can absolutely save lives. And look, I mean, we just look at what's happening, this devastation in Maui today. And I know you're from Puerto Rico and you've seen it there as well. Big time. And, you know, it can take months or even years for communications networks to be fully restored. I mean, I was in New Orleans not too long ago, and the Lower Ninth Ward still doesn't have cell phone service in some parts.

6:51And that's from Hurricane Katrina. And that was quite a while ago. So, yeah, I think they are essential. I really do. And I think they're lifesavers. Yeah, I'm thinking back to Hurricane Maria, which was over five years ago now. But the reality is, man, a satellite phone would have been a lifesaver literally and figuratively for so many people on the islands at that time. that it's just really kind of sad to think the benefits that could have happened that didn't happen because they weren't more common. And as an Army vet, I will say that I'm always tracking what the military is doing. And now they're using satellite phones to a much higher level than ever before.

7:36What should we take away from this? Well, look, I think if you look at the US military or FEMA, the guys who come in when everything is really, You messed up. That's what they bring with them. And you want to have what they've got. Right. It's like on a plane when people say, what seat do I want? I'm like, well, where's the black box? Because if that's the only part you expect to get back, I want to be strapped to that thing. You know, so, yeah, look, I mean, the military uses them because they work everywhere, period. You know, they can't be they can't be taken out like ground communications, as we saw very early in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

8:15ground communications were the first things to go. But the Ukrainians have been getting ready for this for a long time, and they had a lot of satellite phones over there. We know because we sold them a lot. But because they are so reliable in any situation, work anywhere, that's why the U.S. military used them. It's why FEMA used them. All the first responders across the U.S. use them because they know. The first thing to go is cell phones, Internet, and then, of course, power. and they want to make sure that when those guys go into an area, that they are able to communicate from day one. Fire Nation, we have a lot to talk about when it comes to security, when it comes to digital security, and so much more when we get back from thanking our sponsors.

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11:28Belay's flexible staffing solutions can match you with the help you need now and scale with you as you grow. Their virtual assistants, accounting professionals, and social media managers can free you up to focus on what matters most. Don't be the bottleneck to your organization's growth. Accomplish more with Belay. To get started, schedule a free delegation consultation with Belay in just 30 minutes. See how their flexible staffing solutions can grow your business and free you up to lead. text FIRE to 55123. That's F-I-R-E to 55123 to schedule your delegation consultation today. Chris, we're back and we've talked a lot before the break about who is starting to have and use satellite phones at a higher level and degree.

12:15And you personally believe that they're great for security specifically. Let's talk about why that is. Look, as you probably know, and I'm sure your audience knows, your cell phone is basically a government tracking device, right? You can be tracked to within a couple of feet of wherever you are. There's a camera on it and a microphone, and they are listening. They being the powers that be, the cell phone companies, to what you are saying. They are recording where you're going, and they're using that information and selling it. Look, we've all had that experience where we're talking about maybe getting some new windows, And then the next thing you know, you're on TikTok or Facebook or Instagram and you're seeing ads for Windows everywhere.

12:58All of a sudden, it's not a coincidence. They are listening to you. And that means that you can be tracked and your privacy is really kind of non-existent. With a satellite phone, the best case scenario, you can track someone to within a 50 square mile radius of where they are on their phone. And look, I mean, me, I can't find my remote on my couch, which is about 20 square feet, right? So, you know, 50 square miles is not useful. They don't have cameras, so no one can be watching you. And look, everything can be hacked. I mean, I'm not going to pretend that that's not the case, but it's a very, very different scenario.

13:37You know, these things don't, these satellite phones don't have apps that are tracking you. You know, so it is much more complicated to figure out who someone is, where they are and what they're doing. but on the cell phone networks is you know that it is the total opposite of that unfortunately and no one seems to care about that so fire nation just to recap some things that we've been talking about there's very little to no tracking i mean 50 mile radius is basically nothing i mean that's a massive area um no one can listen in your calls at that level that you're they're able to now you know cell phone towers go down for anything we're talking earthquakes earthquakes hurricanes fires you name it your satellite phones will still work what else chris do you want to add to this conversation around this topic well it's not just uh satellite phones that we do at sat123.com um it is a satellite internet portable satellite internet as well and and look if you've tried living without the internet in the last 10 years for a day you know what a nightmare that can be we all we're all completely dependent on it right And so are businesses.

14:46And look, it's one thing if you or I can't, you know, log on to TikTok or to get onto Google or whatever it is. But it's another thing if you're running, you know, a business where your customers are ordering online. You've got databases online, you know, that you're accessing and suddenly you have no Internet. I mean, being out for one day can cost you everything. It can cost you your business, you know. So with satellite internet units, which are about the size of an iPad starting out there, you can get speeds approaching 5G no matter where you're at. And yeah, rich people with yachts who are lucky enough to have yachts, they use them in the middle of the ocean.

15:25But honestly, we supply more businesses these days, and we even install fixed antennas on factories and warehouses and office buildings around the country to make sure that if or when, most likely the Internet goes down, you can continue to get access to your data and to your customers and everything else without interruption at the speeds you need. And we also put these devices on planes, boats, like anyone who goes fishing, whether it's commercially or just for fun, knows better than to leave too far from the shore without having a satellite phone because that's the only connection that you've got out there.

16:07And so we supply both satellite internet units and phones to all of the above. Now, Fire Nation, this is something that you really need to be thinking about when you want an uninterrupted business working experience. And Chris, I know personally that Elon Musk has made Starlink a little famous over the last couple of years. And I know there's a lot of people in my neighborhood down in Puerto Rico who have it installed on their house. What are the similarities and differences of like a Starlink setup and what you do with satellite? With Starlink, I mean, you've got like a three-foot dish, I believe it is, usually, that you have to install.

16:47And that's where you're going to get your service from that dish. With the units that we have, they are portable. You know, we do fixed insulation as well, like I said, but we have portable units that are light, highly compact, that you can just throw in your briefcase or your backpack and take with you wherever you are, whether you're camping or whether you're going across to Burning Man or whatever you're doing. You're going from Southampton to New York on a yacht. These devices keep you connected wherever you are. You take them with you. And I think that's the real key, that they are portable.

17:21Let's talk costs. Break down costs for us for both the satellite phones and the satellite internet. The satellite phones used to cost thousands of dollars. But today at sat123.com, we have them for free with activation. So you're looking at a phone that would normally cost you$1 ,000. you're going to get for$0 for the unit, and you're just going to pay$99.95 a month on a 50-month agreement. And included in that, you're going to get 100 minutes a month, which you can even roll over as well if you don't use them. So, you know, very affordable compared to where it's been in the past. You know, it's kind of like a cell phone bill these days as far as cost, maybe a little more, but again, you're getting that peace of mind that you will always have a connection.

18:05The satellite internet units, they start from around$1 ,000 for the portable units. And the cost per megabyte of transfer can be as low as$5 up to$20 per megabyte. But again, what you're getting here, John, is guaranteed connection. And so I think that's what's most important. It's like, yeah, is it an expense? Of course it is. But what's the cost of not having access to the internet? What's the cost of not being able to make a call? And again, I can give you countless examples of where people's lives have been saved. For example, a friend of ours was out in the Grand Canyon, and he'd had a satellite phone for a week, and his wife had a fall.

18:49It was very serious. She had a bad injury. She needed a lifelight. No cell phone service or no one else anywhere in sight. The satellite phone got a connection. They got a lifelight in there and got her out, and she was fine, and that saved her life. Uh, those guys down in Baja who do the Baja 1000 off-road race. I don't know if you're aware of that one, but, um, they, they drive in all down Baja at a crazy speeds and create multimillion dollar vehicles and they crash a lot. And part of the appeal of this is that the spectators put obstacles in their way to try and make them crash, you know, of course.

19:25Right. But these guys end up rolling down into canyons and all kinds of things. And we've saved numerous lives for the guys and girls and guys who take part in that race every single year. Wow. Now, real quick question on the rollover. Is it an unlimited rollover? So if you if you don't use it at all, it just keeps adding 100 minutes a month or is there some point that caps? I know it just keeps rolling over. And, you know, that's really the key because you just don't know when you're going to need one of these things. But when you need it, you really need it, you know. And so I think that's that's a really great feature.

19:59we can also get you a US phone number to dial because satellite phone numbers tend to be like 16 digits long and people get confused as to how to dial them sometimes. So we provide an option for just a regular US number that when you dial it, it will ring directly to your sat phone. So we have all of the options to make life simple and easy, John. Fire Nation, a lot of great takeaways from today's conversation. Chris, if you wanted Fire Nation to walk away with just one thing from everything we chatted about. What is that one thing? Well, I would just say, listen, you know, what's it worth to have a device that'll save your life or give you peace of mind?

20:38I mean, I know you were down there in Puerto Rico and it's like, it's one thing if you're okay, but then your first thought goes to your wife, your kids, your family, your friends, you know, and not being able to reach them and not knowing. I mean, it's horrible. And we've all had those situations and I wouldn't wish it upon anyone, but having that peace of mind, if you get a phone for yourself and one for your kids or your wife, whatever it is, you know that you're always going to, you're always going to be able to connect with them. And that device has very much the proven potential to save their lives.

21:10You know, so it's like, again, I know budgets are always tight, but this is a life-saving device. And I would recommend one to everyone, regardless of whether or not I was in this industry. I've seen too many lives saved, John. Chris, if Fire Nation wanted to connect with you, what is your call to action for our listeners today? I would say go to sat123.com. That's S-A-T, 123.com. Or give us a call at 941-841-0844. That's 941-841-0844. And we're open 24 hours a day. We'll more than happily walk you through any questions you have, tell you how phones get set up or in that get set up or how we can help you install this kind of equipment on your building, your office building, your plane or your boat, whatever it is.

22:01Fire Nation, you're the average of the five people you spend the most time with. You've been hanging out with CH and JLD today, so keep up the heat. For links to everything we talked about, visit eofire.com. Type Chris in the search bar and the show notes page will pop right up. And Chris, I want to say thank you for sharing your truth, knowledge, value with Fire Nation. For that, we salute you and we'll catch you on the flip side. My pleasure, John. Thanks so much for having me on, mate. Hey, Fire Nation, a huge thank you to our sponsors and Chris for sponsoring today's episode and Fire Nation.

22:33Over the last decade, I've interviewed more than 3 ,000 of the world's most successful entrepreneurs and I've created a revolutionary 17-step roadmap to your financial freedom and fulfillment. I put it all into my first traditionally published book, The Common Path to Uncommon Success, personally endorsed by Seth Godin and Gary Vaynerchuk. The Common Path to Uncommon Success is the step-by-step guidance that you need to achieve the lifestyle of your dreams. Visit UncommonSuccessBook.com to order your copy and I'll catch you there or on the flip side. The Hustle Daily Show, hosted by Juliet Bennett-Ryla, Rob Litters, Ben Berkley, and Mark Dent is brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.

23:18The Hustle Daily Show brings you a healthy dose of irreverent, offbeat, informative takes on business and tech news, like a recent episode on Hackers vs. Casinos, where the hosts talk about MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment and the devastating potential of cyber attacks. Listen to The Hustle Daily wherever you get your podcasts. Don't be the bottleneck to your organization's growth. Accomplish more with Belay. To get started, schedule a free delegation consultation with Belay in just 30 minutes. See how their flexible staffing solutions can grow your business and free you up to lead. Text FIRE to 55123 to schedule your delegation consultation today.