Iphone Satellite messaging vs Zoleo

Greenbelt

Lil-Rokslider
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Mar 2, 2023
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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?
 
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 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.
 
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?
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
I haven’t ditched my inreach yet but I have downgraded to the cheapest possible plan and do all normal messaging with my iPhone. For now I will keep the inreach as a backup, but at this rate I don’t see needing the inreach for very much longer. Opposite to one of the posts above, the iPhone has been significantly faster and easier than the inreach for me. The inreach takes forever and if I’m in a deeper canyon of any sort it really struggles while the iPhone just shoots messages out without much problem.
 
I like the hikingguy videos on topic on his YouTube channel. I agree with his current recommendation. He recently reviewed T-Mobile DTC including ability for some apps to get data including downloading a map via Sat for offline use later. iPhone is ok for sending basic texts, but would not trust his life on it. Garmin with the basic $8/mo plan for emergency.
 
I like the hikingguy videos on topic on his YouTube channel. I agree with his current recommendation. He recently reviewed T-Mobile DTC including ability for some apps to get data including downloading a map via Sat for offline use later. iPhone is ok for sending basic texts, but would not trust his life on it. Garmin with the basic $8/mo plan for emergency.
i haven’t used my inreach since I my iphone satellite messaging kicked in. I spent several days in the frank this year and just got back from Alaska on a 14 day caribou hunt. Satellite messaging was flawless.
 
We switched to t-mobile and all have the satellite texting and it works very well even somehow receiving texts in my pocket automatically. The only thing I don't like is that it's a single point of failure so I plan to carry my PLB in case of a real emergency.
 
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?

I've used the included Iphone sat texting quite a bit and also carry a Zoleo.
There is no comparison between the two when the shiit hits the fan. Break your leg, being immobile, then try following satellites with the phone..... Or better yet, have a chest ripper, pull out the iphone, wait for it to connect, then get the message, "next satellite will be in range in 12 minutes".
The iphone sat texting is great for telling buddies you have a bull down, it's not an emergency sat device, not even close.
The t-mobile star link setup may be a lot better, I haven't used that.
 
I used both inReach and iPhone sat messaging on our week long sheep hunt beginning of Sept. I’ll be keeping the inReach for the foreseeable future. Maybe once we get cell to Starlink up here I’ll revisit this. But for now, the inReach is easier, faster, and has great battery life.
 
I used the iPhone sat some deer hunting last month. IMO, if you’re just keeping in touch with the ole lady, works pretty good. If I was on a know or ridge top that is. If I was down in a timbered canyon it was an exercise is patience ( and walking in a circle keeping a Satellite). For emergency use, absolutely not. Or at least not alone. With someone else there I guess it would better than nothing and could get you out of a mess.
 
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