iPhone satellite messaging thread, iOS 18

[IdahoBeav]

So, what does a Iphone 18 cost to purchase? What is the cost to send a message using it? I have an older 13 pro, and an older Inreach, that seems to be working the majority of the time for me.

Iphone 16 is the latest. I believe they start at around $800. Satellite texting also works on the 15, not sure about older models. With trade-in for our old Androids and the T-Mobile Costco gift card promotions, my wife and I netted well positive on two (2) 16 pro max 256 gb phones.

I am not aware of a surcharge for the satellite texts.

 

[Tahoe1305]

Iphone 16 is the latest. I believe they start at around $800. Satellite texting also works on the 15, not sure about older models. With trade-in for our old Androids and the T-Mobile Costco gift card promotions, my wife and I netted well positive on two (2) 16 pro max 256 gb phones.

I am not aware of a surcharge for the satellite texts.

14 as well. Used it a handful of times already

 

[Bluumoon]

Used function quite a bit over the weekend, overall worked very well. Downsides are you have to kick connect to sat and intentionally maintain connection to receive texts. Also the battery drain seemed much increased

 

[Hectocotylus]

Have you tried with “low power mode” turned on?

Yes. My iPhone 14 which normally lasts 3 days I used on a day hunt. I probably checked/sent messages 8ish times id guess? End of the day my battery was at 20% while in low battery mode the whole time.
Works ok for day hunts but not as reliable and chews battery hard


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Tbone26]

I just got back from a 5 day hunt (no cell service for 7 days) and it seemed reliable enough for me. I never turned my InReach on the whole trip but had it with for peace of mind. I would agree the battery gets drained quicker, but I had solar and was able to charge every night.

 

[Bobrobheimer]

I used it for the first time on a recent elk hunt and thought it was pretty great. I have a Spot X rather than the garmin which in my experience sends messages more quickly than my buddies in reach but has its own downsides. Yes you have to actively lock into the satellite but then you can have a normal text conversation instead of waiting several minutes at best to send and receive a response. I think it’s a win more my use case which is primarily being able to check in with family. I don’t know that I want it to be my only sos though partly due to phone durability and battery. I am thinking about doing a PLB for true sos and then just the iPhone.

 

[Arizona_archer73]

That's pretty cool! I deal with InReach currently. Fine for "here I am" or other status comms. But it's slow. But... In Arizona this is illegal to use during a hunt. Not iPhone Sat msg's specifically. It's illegal to use ANY communications tech to assist in hunt, including walkie-talkies.

 

[yvk253]

Might have to wait for Elon to release a satellite phone haha

 

[SouthernCharm]

Well my experience was the opposite, I was able to text my son and receive his text, not so much with my wife. Looked at all the settings on her phone and mine. Well, went to the apple help chat bot. Determined that apple doesn’t like playing with others in the sandbox. I can’t text a non apple and receive text back from them, the same way I can’t schedule a text to a non apple phone. One of the main reason I went with an apple was for the satellite communications. Well, keeping the garmin inreach to chat with the wife.

 

[WRO]

Might have to wait for Elon to release a satellite phone haha

It’s coming


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[focker34]

I brought my Zoleo along with me during Colorado 3rd season, but I ended up leaving it in the pack the entire trip because the iPhone functioned so well.

I found the best use for me was to leave the phone in airplane mode w/ battery saver on until I wanted to use it to communicate. Spend the 1-2 minutes connecting to a satellite and sending a message, while simultaneously receiving any messages that came in while the phone was in airplane mode. After I'm done sending messages, the phone went back on airplane mode. I noticed it would drop an average of 1 percent or less for each check- in. I tend to check in 3-4 times/day so the battery drain was minimal.

If you were in a group of guys using it to communicate on the mountain, I would say you could get away with a similar use, just set designated check-in times with each other so you aren't running around with your battery draining all day.

I really want to hear if anyone knows of a service that can send an updated forecast using your current location all through text-message. I know there is a share-location function built into the satellite messages, so I would assume this is possible hypothetically.

 

[Dioni A]

I brought my Zoleo along with me during Colorado 3rd season, but I ended up leaving it in the pack the entire trip because the iPhone functioned so well.

I found the best use for me was to leave the phone in airplane mode w/ battery saver on until I wanted to use it to communicate. Spend the 1-2 minutes connecting to a satellite and sending a message, while simultaneously receiving any messages that came in while the phone was in airplane mode. After I'm done sending messages, the phone went back on airplane mode. I noticed it would drop an average of 1 percent or less for each check- in. I tend to check in 3-4 times/day so the battery drain was minimal.

If you were in a group of guys using it to communicate on the mountain, I would say you could get away with a similar use, just set designated check-in times with each other so you aren't running around with your battery draining all day.

I really want to hear if anyone knows of a service that can send an updated forecast using your current location all through text-message. I know there is a share-location function built into the satellite messages, so I would assume this is possible hypothetically.

I’d just text somebody and have them look it up for you

 

[ADKHTR]

I brought my Zoleo along with me during Colorado 3rd season, but I ended up leaving it in the pack the entire trip because the iPhone functioned so well.

I found the best use for me was to leave the phone in airplane mode w/ battery saver on until I wanted to use it to communicate. Spend the 1-2 minutes connecting to a satellite and sending a message, while simultaneously receiving any messages that came in while the phone was in airplane mode. After I'm done sending messages, the phone went back on airplane mode. I noticed it would drop an average of 1 percent or less for each check- in. I tend to check in 3-4 times/day so the battery drain was minimal.

If you were in a group of guys using it to communicate on the mountain, I would say you could get away with a similar use, just set designated check-in times with each other so you aren't running around with your battery draining all day.

I really want to hear if anyone knows of a service that can send an updated forecast using your current location all through text-message. I know there is a share-location function built into the satellite messages, so I would assume this is possible hypothetically.

So you’re saying that you received any messages you missed while your phone was in airplane mode, once you locked back onto satellites, to check in, I operate exactly the same way, and loved it, however I never figured out if once my phone went back into airplane mode, between satellite check in stops, if I received any of my old messages… I don’t get a lot of texts when I’m in the woods during hunting season!

 

[Robobiss]

Used it a bunch this week. No complaimts. Honestly, really slick. I was going to keep my 13 pro forever, but decided to upgrade to the 16 pro for the satelite messaging alone.

I’m excited to ditch my Zoleo and not have to pay for it anymore. Will be interesting to see how much they eventually end up charging for the service.

 

[mtnbound]

Has anyone seen any Tracking feature with the iPhone? I leave my Inreach on all the time I'm in the woods, so if something happens that I cannot trigger an SOS, my wife can supply others with my location. I tell her to send me a message to check my status if I have not moved for a predetermined period of time. iPhone messaging sounds good, but if there is not a tracking feature, then it's missing a pretty important safety feature.

 

[focker34]

So you’re saying that you received any messages you missed while your phone was in airplane mode, once you locked back onto satellites, to check in, I operate exactly the same way, and loved it, however I never figured out if once my phone went back into airplane mode, between satellite check in stops, if I received any of my old messages… I don’t get a lot of texts when I’m in the woods during hunting season!

You will only receive messages from people that you have already messaged via satelite first. So I don't have to see all my work texts piling up until I get to a spot where service is available again. Also, it only works apple product to apple product at this time.

Has anyone seen any Tracking feature with the iPhone? I leave my Inreach on all the time I'm in the woods, so if something happens that I cannot trigger an SOS, my wife can supply others with my location. I tell her to send me a message to check my status if I have not moved for a predetermined period of time. iPhone messaging sounds good, but if there is not a tracking feature, then it's missing a pretty important safety feature.

I am not aware of a tracking feature at this time, but I do know there is a share location feature. I'll send out my truck position as well as wherever I'm sleeping that night. I always send a "hunt plan" to my loved one with coordinates to hunt areas I'm focusing on in an email right before I take off for the trip. I figure if something goes sideways and I can't hit the button, they'll send the cavalry to my last known position and start searching in the direction of my hunt plan.

 

[Robobiss]

Also, it only works apple product to apple product at this time.

Are you sure about that? I am 95% positive my buddy has an android and I was messaging him via satellite a couple of days ago, no problem.

I remember assuming it wouldn’t work and being really surprised that it did.

 

[focker34]

Are you sure about that? I am 95% positive my buddy has an android and I was messaging him via satellite a couple of days ago, no problem.

I remember assuming it wouldn’t work and being really surprised that it did.

Admittedly I haven’t actually tried, but I remember seeing something mentioned on their site.

I found this (see image). It appears it is possible through sms instead of iMessage. My mistake!

 

[Robobiss]

Admittedly I haven’t actually tried, but I remember seeing that listed on Apple’s website.

Yeah it’s somewhat of a play on words on their part. It says you can’t I-MESSAGE them. Then at the bottom it says you can use SMS messaging via satelite.

That’s essentially confirming it works. You just can’t iMessage someone with an android, which you can’t with regular service either.

 

[Idagnome]

I had success with both android and iPhone comms. Was way faster than my inreach, so I sold that after the trip. The battery suck is real, but can be managed if you know it’s coming and only use it for check in comms or here I am messages. If you’re trying to use it to jabber all day, put yer phone down and hunt.