Garmin deal. 299

[homers]

Yes. Spotty for me. Incoming texts not reliable. If I’m really in an emergency I just want to push the SOS, I may not be in a condition to point, acquire, text and describe my condition.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

@mtwarden has had problems using his IPhone this spring. Where messages sent but couldn't be received so he wasn't certain if the messages were sending or not.

Sent from my SM-S926U using Tapatalk

Thats too bad. I never had that problem. Imessage confirms delivered.

 

[BBob]

Yes. Spotty for me. Incoming texts not reliable. If I’m really in an emergency I just want to push the SOS, I may not be in a condition to point, acquire, text and describe my condition.

There are still very valid reasons to keep an Iriduim network emergency device if you care about true emergency's and not just texting your peoples. Phones aren't fully there yet IMO. I'm not giving up my inReach quite yet.

Gear Guide: Satellite Messaging Devices ("Messengers") - Backpacking Light

This gear guide summarizes the category of satellite messaging-centric devices, i.e., devices that focus on satellite messaging as its primary, rather than secondary, function. This is in contrast to navigation-centric devices (which usually offer integrated mapping on the device), such as the...

backpackinglight.com

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

I had some issues this spring as well. I could send messages but couldn’t receive them back (iPhone). I’ll still be carrying both.

 

[gman82001]

Have you used the iphone? Its solid.

It’s definitely not solid for the sample of 2 when we were just up spring bear Hunting. Could have totally been user error but with no way to try it until you’re completely out of cell service it’s too risky in my opinion for a trip like I have coming up to Alaska. It was great when it worked the first night but was useless for 2 days for both my buddy and I

 

[PredatorSlayer]

It’s definitely not solid for the sample of 2 when we were just up spring bear Hunting. Could have totally been user error but with no way to try it until you’re completely out of cell service it’s too risky in my opinion for a trip like I have coming up to Alaska. It was great when it worked the first night but was useless for 2 days for both my buddy and I

Thats too bad. Mine worked so well that is all I am taking on my AK caribou hunt for two weeks. It worker great for me. We had a lot of stuff going on at home with kids and a relocation. It was awesome. You have to do your research in advance and realize that it doesn’t support group messaging right now etc.

 

[Dos Perros]

Have you used the iphone? Its solid.

Unless it's really cold, then the battery shits the bed.

 

[SuperDUECE22]

I’ll probably never use my inreach again after using the iPhone satellite messaging while bear hunting this spring. It was awesome.

So, what happens when you’re stuck in a deep canyon, miles from help, and your iPhone’s satellite feature can’t connect due to dense tree cover? Iridium (inReach) is much more robust, with truly global coverage, and doesn’t rely on ground stations like Globalstar (iPhone does). It’s the difference between hoping for a signal and knowing you’ll get one.

 

[Fever Buck]

It has nothing to do with ATT, its provided by Apple as part of there Iphone services. Iphone 14 or newer with IOS 18 I believe.

Rick is talking about starlink. You are talking about the Apple Sat Mesaging. Two different services. Starlink should be better.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

So, what happens when you’re stuck in a deep canyon, miles from help, and your iPhone’s satellite feature can’t connect due to dense tree cover? Iridium (inReach) is much more robust, with truly global coverage, and doesn’t rely on ground stations like Globalstar (iPhone does). It’s the difference between hoping for a signal and knowing you’ll get one.

I was in some nasty country in the frank church for a week and was never not able to connect. Just sharing my experience…i have had an inreach for 10 years and honestly it has been hit and miss too from a messaging fuction standpoint. My iphone was way more reliable and user friendly.

 

[SuperDUECE22]

I was in some nasty country in the frank church for a week and was never not able to connect. Just sharing my experience…i have had an inreach for 10 years and honestly it has been hit and miss too from a messaging fuction standpoint. My iphone was way more reliable and user friendly.

Glad you had success with the iPhone! My experience last fall across Montana, Colorado, and Wyoming was quite the opposite—while iPhone satellite messaging worked great on top of ridges with clear skies, I struggled to send messages in dense cover and deep canyons. Meanwhile, the old reliable inReach never skipped a beat. Globalstar’s ground stations might work well in certain spots, but Iridium (inReach) still has the edge when total reliability matters.

 

[mtwarden]

I was getting a message sent signal from phone (after taking it out of airplane mode and fair bit of turn this way and that way) but nothing back from my wife. The next night I sent a message with my phone and inReach saying to text back as soon as you get it. Got message right back with inReach, nothing on the phone.

I like the fact that the iPhone now has satellite texting, but for me it's important to have it two way—ie "I'm bailing tomorrow at this trailhead, should be there about noon", with a return message saying "OK, see you then". "Or how do I get to that trailhead?"

Also the Iridium sat network (inReach)is far superior vs Globalstar (phone), especially in heavy timber, deep draws, etc.

AND the inReach is meant to take a beating, fully waterproof, better battery life: iPhone not so much.

I love my phone for navigating (gaiagps) and taking pics, but no way it's going to replace the inReach for communication in the backcountry—at least at this juncture.

 

[Cantshoot]

I wonder if the starlink cell phones are putting pricing pressure on these? I am going to test my phone on a trip this month and see.

They went on the same sale last year in June.

 

[dave300]

There are still very valid reasons to keep an Iriduim network emergency device if you care about true emergency's and not just texting your peoples. Phones aren't fully there yet IMO. I'm not giving up my inReach quite yet.

Gear Guide: Satellite Messaging Devices ("Messengers") - Backpacking Light

This gear guide summarizes the category of satellite messaging-centric devices, i.e., devices that focus on satellite messaging as its primary, rather than secondary, function. This is in contrast to navigation-centric devices (which usually offer integrated mapping on the device), such as the...

backpackinglight.com

This! Ground blind hunting was one of those times, I was able to use my inreach app, on my iPhone to send and receive in the ground blind although I did have my inreach just outside of the blind to provide a clear view and allow it to operate as designed.
I’ll use both as well

 

[Jakerex]

You people sure do a lot of messaging while you’re hunting….


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Whaledriver]

Quick update on this. Tried to use my cell phone and could not get a message to go. Was in a remote spot in SW CO. In reach is a must. Cell phone reliability is not there yet.

 

[LonghairDontcare]

FYI - The iphone satellite messaging only works for the first two years of the phones life and only in the USA and Canada (for now they say). Sorry if this has already been said.

 

[isleofGough]

I've had intermittent success with an iPhone 16 pro using satellite messaging, but could locate satellites but not send a message on a wooded mountain a week ago on a search and rescue mission. The inreach worked fine in the same location.