Iphone Satellite messaging vs Zoleo

[Greenbelt]

Interested to know anyone's experience or opinions. Going on an hunt in October. I've used a Zoleo for years to message the family in the morning and at night and been extremely happy with it. I'm wondering if anyone has ditched their Garmin or Zoleo and gone with the Iphone satellite messaging exclusively. If you have what was your experience compared to your previous device. Was the service dependable, spotty, non existent etc?

 

[ScottyB82]

I have added T-sat from T-Mobile to my AT&T serviced iPhone. Its $10 / month and uses starlink satellites so i can use the data to iMessage or any WIFI platform

 

[chizelhead]

I just used satellite iMessage for the first time in the Yukon. My service is Verizon, so iMessage was the Apple service. IMO it was outstanding compared to Garmin inReach. It worked well outside with a clear sky, some tree interference, and from inside my Kuiu Mt Star tent. The only thing I used my inReach for was weather reports. I'll continue to use Garmin as a backup until iMessage matures more and includes weather reports.

 

[Greenbelt]

I have added T-sat from T-Mobile to my AT&T serviced iPhone. Its $10 / month and uses starlink satellites so i can use the data to iMessage or any WIFI platform

I'm reading that your phone has to be unlocked is this true?

 

[Greenbelt]

I just used satellite iMessage for the first time in the Yukon. My service is Verizon, so iMessage was the Apple service. IMO it was outstanding compared to Garmin inReach. It worked well outside with a clear sky, some tree interference, and from inside my Kuiu Mt Star tent. The only thing I used my inReach for was weather reports. I'll continue to use Garmin as a backup until iMessage matures more and includes weather reports.

Yea the weather thing is a plus. But I'm thinking about ditching it this year all together but I guess there is the emergency button that can be pushed which is the only thing making me think twice I guess.

 

[benconfused]

I will tell you first hand my experience:
1 month ago in Alaska, North of Brooks range. My buddy had a garmin sat device and I was using my iphone satellite.

The iphone is very much a point and hold to find the satellite and hold connection - for very basic "I'm safe, I'm alive" type messaging it will work, but it is very very slow and weather is a huge factor. We were snowed in our tent for 3 days and while it worked, the garmin was 100 times better and more efficient than the sat iphone.

For comms with our guide service (we used a drop plane to get to our hunting spot) I do NOT recommend solely going out there with an Iphone sat device.

Last year: archery elk in Montana in the Gravelies - sat phone works fine for "safe" messaging, where ever we went. Mind you we were hunting from a truck, much different than being in Alaska.

My Alaska trip last month has finally brought me to the point that I'll buy a dedicated sat comms device in the next year.

Hope that helps.

 

[Norcal18]

I have T-mobile that uses Starlink and when I’ve gone to place where I normally have zero cell service the satellite texting is just as quick and effective. I’ll be heading out on a hunt next week and be using just my phone.

 

[bow_dozer]

Sat thru iPhone (Verizon)had been faster for sending and receiving. As benconfused stated tho, its point and shoot, stay point to be connected. There have been quite a few places that’s trees, cliffs etc have obstructed the view thus no satellite.
I have ditched the zoleo and use this as my primary, I’m in NW WY. If I was doing extended stay out of service I would want a true sat comm for emergency services/weather.