iPhone compared to inreach?

[Mightyhunter]

For those that have an inreach, how does the new iPhone update compare to an inreach? Is it similar? Are inreaches becoming pointless?

 

[benconfused]

For those that have an inreach, how does the new iPhone update compare to an inreach? Is it similar? Are inreaches becoming pointless?

Buddy and I hunted Brooks range in Aug. He took an inreach, I took my iphone. Inreach is much faster for back and forth texting, SOS (if needed). Iphone is very much point at the sky and wait for it to connect to the satellite, then wait for it to send texts, etc. Very weather dependent on connection as well.

It should NEVER replace a dedicated sat comms device in a wilderness situation. Having said that, I guess it depends on where you're going and what you're risk tolerance is.

Me personally, now having one AK trip under my belt, I will be buying an Inreach before next Fall. There are others here who recommend a beacon device (like getting stuck in an avalanche) as a tertiary device - you can search on Rokslide for those conversations.

 

[dlee56]

Buddy and I hunted Brooks range in Aug. He took an inreach, I took my iphone. Inreach is much faster for back and forth texting, SOS (if needed). Iphone is very much point at the sky and wait for it to connect to the satellite, then wait for it to send texts, etc. Very weather dependent on connection as well.

It should NEVER replace a dedicated sat comms device in a wilderness situation. Having said that, I guess it depends on where you're going and what you're risk tolerance is.

Me personally, now having one AK trip under my belt, I will be buying an Inreach before next Fall. There are others here who recommend a beacon device (like getting stuck in an avalanche) as a tertiary device - you can search on Rokslide for those conversations.

I’m just hunting regular ol Colorado and I’d say ditto.

The iPhone sat com works, barely, and needs babysitting. The InReach just plain works 99% of the time.

 

[Poser]

I'm still carrying my Inreach. Using satellite messaging requires deliberate effort -you have to stand there and track with a satellite, its not that big of a deal under normal cicumstances, but I can hit "check in" on the InReach and start setting up camp while its linking. Satellite messaging, just like your Inreach, can take a few minutes. IMO, its good redundancy to have both, but if you're going to be sending out multiple updates a day on the phobe, you're going to be spending a lot of time turning in circles tracking a satellite.

 

[cnelk]

Since satellite texting is only available on iPhone 14 or newer, and I have an iPhone 13, I can pay my monthly Inreach subscription fee for about 5 years instead of buying a new phone that has satellite messaging

 

[S-3 ranch]

I’m looking to buy a inreach, I just returned yesterday from a hunt and I personally think the iPhone thing is a hoax, maybe in a extreme emergency situation where you could just leave it in place to get a satellite signal
But not for me

 

[jpgold92]

Anyone utilized the T Mobile Satellite service yet in the backwoods to prove its claims? It seems intriguing but hesitant to trust.

 

[NevadaMike]

My experience seems to be different than most here. I had both my iPhone and in reach on an Alaska island hunt. When I sent a message on my in reach it took a while to get the signal the message sent and a while to get the same sound the reply had come in. What the in reach does have is the SOS button should you be seriously injured and that is the only feature I miss. The downside to the iPhone is you need to orient to the satellite but once oriented the messages were fairly quick. I ended up selling my in reach. One last thing is you need to be prepared to keep your iPhone charged because the in reach has better battery life. I do not anticipate getting another in reach.

 

[Poser]

Anyone utilized the T Mobile Satellite service yet in the backwoods to prove its claims? It seems intriguing but hesitant to trust.

I have T Mobile and described my experience above. I will add that you are limited to 500 characters and, upon testing a max character length text this past weekend, the message never indicated that it had fully uploaded. I eventually got bored with trying to upload it and abandoned the text attempt, however, the message was actually received. My IpHone weather app worked as well which could be useful.

 

[atmat]

The iPhone satellite texting just isn’t there yet — at least for me in CO.

It’s slower to connect and more finicky.

iPhones are also more fragile than an inReach, less battery life, and lack an easy SOS button.

 

[jpgold92]

I have T Mobile and described my experience above. I will add that you are limited to 500 characters and, upon testing a max character length text this past weekend, the message never indicated that it had fully uploaded. I eventually got bored with trying to upload it and abandoned the text attempt, however, the message was actually received. My IpHone weather app worked as well which could be useful.

Ah sorry missed your testimony! Thanks for the feedback!

 

[mhabiger]

Anyone utilized the T Mobile Satellite service yet in the backwoods to prove its claims? It seems intriguing but hesitant to trust.

I just got back from 5 day hunt in Colorado. Used Tmo Satellite and was able to send and receive text and, then much to my shock, image and video. What you can send/receive is app specific right now. I was using Android and google messages. It was amazingly fast, text sent to my wife and reply back within 10 seconds.

 

[wyosteve]

I used both my Messenger and iPhone this spring on an Alaskan hunt. They both work, but iPhone usage is a bit more cumbersome as pointed out above. For reliability, I'll stick to the Messenger for now.

 

[IAm_Not_Lost]

I’ve now used the Iphone satellite capability for texting multiple times and it has worked fined. Under tree cover, in a tent, etc.

So, for me it’s a bonus because I didn’t have another signaling device anyways. Just out there living life on the wild side I guess.

 

[Jfkbeast2]

Just confirming what everyone else said here — I had new iPhone and inreach mini 2 and would not even compare them.

The inreach mini is a check in, route tracking, gps and sos device. Works every time and has very long battery life.

The iPhone sat feature is cool sitting at camp or during lunch break, but not at all practical when on the move through timber given what others described (point at sky and wait). I would not feel safe at all with iPhone only, I think inreach imperative personally (I hunt solo).

 

[Skerhunter]

I used the iPhone sat on a few trips this year! It works really well and is my go to for sending text messages now. Occasionally terrain blocked the view of satellites and had to wait for them to come into view, but not a deal breaker. When turned on and connected I was able to receive messages just hiking around with my phone in my front pocket (whenever it aligned with Sat).

However I won’t be leaving my inreach at home. I will keep it as my back up GPS for when OnX quits working and SOS if ever needed. I just don’t see the need for anything beyond the inreach basic plan now, unless you need the forecasts now!

Starlink on phones is going to be wild!

 

[wapitibob]

I’ve used iPhone sat texting on multiple hunts, works great for what it is, texting to friends and family.
It will never replace an emergency sat communicator.