Satellite phone or satellite messenger?

Triton14

Well-Known Member
I just watched a 9news clip with the Tech guy saying iphone 14's will be able to satellite communicate for emergency situations!

So sort of just made a couple of things you may own already or intend on buying obsolete..................Sat phones for primary & PLB's for secondary or vice versa.

 

Albynsw

Well-Known Member
I just watched a 9news clip with the Tech guy saying iphone 14's will be able to satellite communicate for emergency situations!

So sort of just made a couple of things you may own already or intend on buying obsolete..................Sat phones for primary & PLB's for secondary or vice versa.


If you read the details of the article I posted it really is just for emergencies so whilst a great option I have found the satellite phone invaluable for seeking medical advice prior to it becoming an emergency ( which it ended up being so the following day and a child was airlifted to hospital)
and I have phoned my mechanic to discuss a problem which he talked me through how to carry out the repairs to able to drive myself out

You still can’t do that yet but is definitely an improvement
 

boobook

Well-Known Member
Free for 2 years in Australia, then it's a subscription service. No indication from apple how much it will be.

I'll stick to my sat phone for the moment thanks.
 

Triton14

Well-Known Member
If you read the details of the article I posted it really is just for emergencies so whilst a great option I have found the satellite phone invaluable for seeking medical advice prior to it becoming an emergency ( which it ended up being so the following day and a child was airlifted to hospital)
and I have phoned my mechanic to discuss a problem which he talked me through how to carry out the repairs to able to drive myself out

You still can’t do that yet but is definitely an improvement
Still if you already have a PLB(as a back up) & you already have an iphone 14 then your bases are covered.

Apparently it sends the same emergency message to you emergency c0ntact as well.

Mind you I wont be rushing out to buy an iphone 14 just for that reason.
 

discomatt

Well-Known Member
and I have phoned my mechanic to discuss a problem which he talked me through how to carry out the repairs to able to drive myself out
But I thought you drove Toyota’s :p
Must have been when you had the Range Rover
 
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Albynsw

Well-Known Member
Still if you already have a PLB(as a back up) & you already have an iphone 14 then your bases are covered.

Apparently it sends the same emergency message to you emergency c0ntact as well.

Mind you I wont be rushing out to buy an iphone 14 just for that reason.

I don’t agree or consider it a replacement of PLB’s or satphones but it‘s definitely better than nothing which most people only carry “nothing “

You can’t message a workshop, business or your medical practitioner for advice or over the phone consultation so you are still left without assistance until you consider it a full on emergency and activate your beacon or dial 000
 

boobook

Well-Known Member
Interesting. According to this, it isn't 2 way. It's like 1.1 way.

You are asked canned questions from inside the phone that guide you to a text to send, a bit like those chat bots.

The contacts have to be in the app and in built into IOS 16.1

The other end can only respond with Yes or No. And this triggers the next set of guided questions for you to answer before readying the next text.

The upside is that it sends your location and battery life. But I think it is not going to be a show stopper

 

boobook

Well-Known Member
It is a good sign of where we are heading though

Indeed. Qualcomm, which is the core of most phones, is introducing true 2-way text to SMS based on Iridium in July with the new Snapdragon 8. That will find its way into most mid to high-end Android phones by Xmas.

Also, Elon must have a trick or two up his sleeve.

The issue will be the cost of the texts. They will all probably introduce some honeymoon period then charge.

I think in terms of emergency vs flexibility it will be PLB> (soon) Android>Apple>Sat phone>mobile phone

Spot will go broke IMHO. HF will be very niche for local support and VKS type services.

I can even imagine a service where you send your position and get a reply with the weather and any incidents.
 

Chatty

Well-Known Member
Also, Elon must have a trick or two up his sleeve.
Elon already does.
We (as in Trish and I) now have Starlink satellite internet which provides VOIP phone calls if your phone and carrier support it - which mine does, Less than 5 minutes to set up and get a working connection.

Despite being a staunch supporter of sat phones in the past, I am now 99% convinced that I will be better off disconnecting the Iridium phone and using the Starlink - possibly with a PLB or Spot type device. Certainly this makes the most financial sense as the sat phone is costing me near half the cost of the Starlink, for something that's only there for emergencies.

The issue will be the cost of the texts. They will all probably introduce some honeymoon period then charge.
Apple have already said free for two years and then they'll start charging.
I think in terms of emergency vs flexibility it will be PLB> (soon) Android>Apple>Sat phone>mobile phone
I think you need to chuck satellite based internet services into the mix - their only drawback at the moment is the few minutes it takes to set one up - unless you have money to throw away on in-motion setups and services.
And their size and power needs - if you're in a vehicle it's not an issue, but if you're on foot they are obviously not a real option. Having said that, Google's proposed unit is about the size of an 8" tablet and apparently works off USB power such as a powerbank, which may make it realistic for trekkers.
Spot will go broke IMHO. HF will be very niche for local support and VKS type services.

I can even imagine a service where you send your position and get a reply with the weather and any incidents.
Spot will need to change with the times and certainly the cost of their subscription will be a big factor.
 

muffin man

Well-Known Member
I'll keep paying $600 a year for my Iridium, would have used it only a few times in 20 years but nice to have. PLB for a seious medical emergency followed by a call to 000 if possible.
 

smitty_r51

Well-Known Member
Spot will need to change with the times and certainly the cost of their subscription will be a big factor.
i wonder if spot have given up already, had one on order now since june last year, just keep getting put back and put back, mate has a spot but cancelled his subscription during COVID and has had real issues getting them to re-enable it.
 

mikehzz

Well-Known Member
Telstra is trying to set up LEO 5g at the moment. That will give easier internet to almost everywhere possibly without the bulkyness of Starlink. I have a Garmin inReach for emails/texts and emergency SOS. It's a bit clunky in my opinion. My Inmarsat satphone has died a slow death from not being used just about ever.
 

Albynsw

Well-Known Member
Telstra is trying to set up LEO 5g at the moment. That will give easier internet to almost everywhere possibly without the bulkyness of Starlink. I have a Garmin inReach for emails/texts and emergency SOS. It's a bit clunky in my opinion. My Inmarsat satphone has died a slow death from not being used just about ever.

Will that give widespread coverage or will the coverage be generally as they now have?
 
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