Going to big bend and was trying to find ways to get better reception incase I need to receive a work call etc.

I just realized there's a setting to connect and keep it in SATELLITE mode on the iPhone. Has anyone used this before? How did it work?

Thanks!

Honestly - this is a spur of the moment trip so only have our accommodation booked at the summit at big bend so far
https://www.instagram.com/summitbigbend/?hl=en

Haven't finished the rest but plan on doing some hikes in the national park like Lost Mine Trail, Santa Elena Canyon Trail etc. Will make a new post on help/ideas for our trip from those whom have been.

I don't believe the iPhone can take calls at this time. Maybe T-Mobile has it but I don't use them so not sure.

The satellite will work for basic text messaging. You turn it on, the phone will direct you in the direction you should point your phone, and then it will guide you where to generally keep it to maintain a connection.

Just got back from 3 days in Big Bend. 14 guys and nobody had reception except for Rio Grande Village and a couple other random spots. If anyone used the satellite thing on iPhone for text they didn't mention it and I'm pretty sure they would have. Two trucks had WeBoost antennas and still couldn't get service.

If the call is really that important, set a time for it, and drive back out of the park to where you can find service

Take a starlink and ac power with you and use wifi calling. $600 and $50/mo.

InReach worked pretty well for text messages a few years ago. I don't know if coverage was everywhere but worked the few times I tried it.

AT&T has best coverage for in the park. I was just there last week and had good reception in Chisos Basin.

Aggietaco said:

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Take a starlink and ac power with you and use wifi calling. $600 and $50/mo.

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This, the smallest version of Starlink is pretty dang incredible and about as big as a laptop

Deerdude said:

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InReach worked pretty well for text messages a few years ago. I don't know if coverage was everywhere but worked the few times I tried it.

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Honestly, with the apple satellite messaging, inreach is almost obsolete for the average person.

1. It's free
2. You don't need another piece of gear (unless your phone is older)
3. App tells you where to point, so connection is quick

I think if you're still going to BFE solo, a dedicated comm/emergency device makes sense, but with a group in a fairly accessible environment, I would stick with what I carry around everyday already.

Aggietaco said:

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Deerdude said:

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InReach worked pretty well for text messages a few years ago. I don't know if coverage was everywhere but worked the few times I tried it.

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Honestly, with the apple satellite messaging, inreach is almost obsolete for the average person.

1. It's free
2. You don't need another piece of gear (unless your phone is older)
3. App tells you where to point, so connection is quick

I think if you're still going to BFE solo, a dedicated comm/emergency device makes sense, but with a group in a fairly accessible environment, I would stick with what I carry around everyday already.

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Yea true but I'm still running a 12 mini and don't opt for these newer bigger phones. Kinda like the old rabbit ear TVs. No idea what phone OP is using but I would not upgrade phone just for that. But then I've been running an InReach for several years in several countries.

Agreed. I would also note that it will work on DC so a relatively small power bank will run it for a few hours. I've even run mine off of a DeWalt drill battery.

Aggietaco said:

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Deerdude said:

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InReach worked pretty well for text messages a few years ago. I don't know if coverage was everywhere but worked the few times I tried it.

---

Honestly, with the apple satellite messaging, inreach is almost obsolete for the average person.

1. It's free
2. You don't need another piece of gear (unless your phone is older)
3. App tells you where to point, so connection is quick

I think if you're still going to BFE solo, a dedicated comm/emergency device makes sense, but with a group in a fairly accessible environment, I would stick with what I carry around everyday already.

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Damn I didn't know about this. I have AT&T and just had that satellite symbol most of last weekend out there. What do you have to do? I only got texts in bunches when I hit certain higher cell signal areas.

Have you used it out in remote areas (iPhone satellite) . How did it do??

Aggietaco said:

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Deerdude said:

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InReach worked pretty well for text messages a few years ago. I don't know if coverage was everywhere but worked the few times I tried it.

---

Honestly, with the apple satellite messaging, inreach is almost obsolete for the average person.

1. It's free
2. You don't need another piece of gear (unless your phone is older)
3. App tells you where to point, so connection is quick

I think if you're still going to BFE solo, a dedicated comm/emergency device makes sense, but with a group in a fairly accessible environment, I would stick with what I carry around everyday already.

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4. which should be #1 it doesn't take ten minutes to send a simple "i Love you".

You have to turn it on through your connections menu. When cellular or wifi is available again it will auto turn off. They don't want people randomly using the satellite network when other networks are available.

Wow, I had no idea. Thank you hopefully will be back out there in January or February so I'll have to remember that.

aggies4life said:

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Have you used it out in remote areas (iPhone satellite) . How did it do??

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I haven't used it on my phone (too old), but I've used it on a friends.

I have seen a few videos complaining about connection time, but if you connect to a satellite first, keep your phone pointed in the right direction, then send the message, it gets in a matter of seconds.

Again, I think it's pretty nifty for most people. There are still people that will need/want a satellite messenger with separate (more robust) service. The inreach uses a different system of floating space junk than the apple option does.

bam02 said:

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Aggietaco said:

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Deerdude said:

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InReach worked pretty well for text messages a few years ago. I don't know if coverage was everywhere but worked the few times I tried it.

---

Honestly, with the apple satellite messaging, inreach is almost obsolete for the average person.

1. It's free
2. You don't need another piece of gear (unless your phone is older)
3. App tells you where to point, so connection is quick

I think if you're still going to BFE solo, a dedicated comm/emergency device makes sense, but with a group in a fairly accessible environment, I would stick with what I carry around everyday already.

---

Damn I didn't know about this. I have AT&T and just had that satellite symbol most of last weekend out there. What do you have to do? I only got texts in bunches when I hit certain higher cell signal areas.

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Tech is pretty amazing. In a few years, dedicated GPS and Sat phones will be like CD's, laser discs, and wrist watches. Hell of a time to be alive.

You mean I've got to move on from my 8-Tracks? Best music ever

I guess I better find a market for my 78 records before it's too late...

Yeah, as I was posting that I kind of had the same thought. I've toyed with the idea of getting a Garmin in-reach but honestly, I only would be using it a couple of times a year and now I'm thinking maybe our phones will have similar capabilities soon

Jason_Roofer said:

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bam02 said:

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Aggietaco said:

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Deerdude said:

---

InReach worked pretty well for text messages a few years ago. I don't know if coverage was everywhere but worked the few times I tried it.

---

Honestly, with the apple satellite messaging, inreach is almost obsolete for the average person.

1. It's free
2. You don't need another piece of gear (unless your phone is older)
3. App tells you where to point, so connection is quick

I think if you're still going to BFE solo, a dedicated comm/emergency device makes sense, but with a group in a fairly accessible environment, I would stick with what I carry around everyday already.

---

Damn I didn't know about this. I have AT&T and just had that satellite symbol most of last weekend out there. What do you have to do? I only got texts in bunches when I hit certain higher cell signal areas.

---

Tech is pretty amazing. In a few years, dedicated GPS and Sat phones will be like CD's, laser discs, and wrist watches. Hell of a time to be alive.

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Wrist watches??? Pocket watches I could see, but it seems wrist watches are still quite popular. Apple seems to being doing crazy well with their smart ones. Heck, the H-town forum has a watch thread that dwarfs the gun trading thread in number of posts.

As to the topic at hand, just note the sat messaging capabilities are limited to only a handful of countries right now. And you halve to have absolutely no reception. Even if you have one bar of Edge that isn't letting texts go out, you can't access the sat messaging as of now.


Other things to know:

Sat messengers like In-reach have a much longer battery life between charging - often measured in days or weeks.

A Phone's battery life will be shortened more than normal as your phone will be hunting hard for signal draining the battery.

The Apple satellite messaging is much more directionally based than a dedicated messenger.

Good article here from Outside: Satellite Texting Is Coming to the iPhone. Do I Still Need My inReach?