iPhone satellite messaging thread, iOS 18

[BBob]

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.

Not illegal, you may think or want it to be but it's not. The commission has rumored to take it up a few times but it never happened. See if you can find any reference to it in either the regs or ARS code.

https://azgfd-portal-wordpress-pantheon.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/22135501/2024-25-Arizona-Hunting-Regulations_241122.pdf

Title 17. Game and Fish, Arizona Revised Statutes

The Arizona Revised Statutes contains Public Health and Safety Law, Criminal Law, Accountancy, Agriculture, Alcoholic Beverages, Banks, Children, Trusts and Estates, Education, Elections, Weapons and Explosives, Property, Tax.

az.elaws.us

 

[SouthernCharm]

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.

So, the android phone was able to text you back and you received it via satellite?

 

[Robobiss]

So, the android phone was able to text you back and you received it via satellite?

Not who you replied to but I’ll answer. Yes both worked the same except one message was blue and one was green

 

[SouthernCharm]

Not who you replied to but I’ll answer. Yes both worked the same except one message was blue and one was green

Ok, I’ll have to check and make sure my phone was sms instead of iMessage. Thanks for the update. This place is smarter than Apple help desk!

 

[mtnbound]

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.


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.

I have been doing SAR for 20 years, and I wish more folks did what you are doing with travel and hunt plans, it's not as good as the tracking feature on an InReach, but it helps. I suspect this iPhone satellite messaging is more about social texting and not life-saving unless they improve the battery life and add a tracking feature.

 

[focker34]

I have been doing SAR for 20 years, and I wish more folks did what you are doing with travel and hunt plans, it's not as good as the tracking feature on an InReach, but it helps. I suspect this iPhone satellite messaging is more about social texting and not life-saving unless they improve the battery life and add a tracking feature.

I would imagine that this is just the beginning of satellite integrated technology in mobile phones. I hope in a few years we see the tech get better and with it; more SAR geared features.

 

[Wrongside]

I messed the iPhone sat messaging a little bit hunting elk last weekend. It worked ok for what it is. But it’s fiddly and uses a lot of battery. At least here in Alberta. Maybe it works better in other parts of the world. It’ll be interesting to see where they can take this tech, and what the upcharge will be once it’s no longer complimentary.

I’ll be keeping my inReach Mini2 for the foreseeable future. Plans are cheap. It’s been super reliable and for trips @ 7-10 days, I just leave it turned on, the battery lasts a long time. And It gets messages in & out without any extra effort.

 

[BRTreedogs]

I used it quite a bit a couple weeks ago and had very mixed results.

Absolutely no way I’m giving up my in reach.

For the 2 absolutely terrible weather days I was able to send and receive texts with 2 android users and didn’t receive any texts from I phone users.

Day 3 was clear and it absolutely would not send to the android users but I received multiple texts that were back logged from an I phone user, and text that person back no problem. While the other texts would not deliver.
Then 2 days after I got home I randomly received some old texts from days before.

It was handy when it worked. But as far as safety goes. No way I’m gonna rely on it.

 

[Conrad101st]

It worked like a champ when we used it.

I was a 11,000 feet and in the open.

Never took more than 5 minutes to get a signal.

 

[BRTreedogs]

It would connect and show the little green beams back and forth.
But it would not send.