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Author	Message Text
keth0601	08/04/2025 07:07PM   I am part of the starlink beta for tmobile and was able to use it in the BWCA this year on my android phone as well. I think some others on this board have been using it even longer than I have. Was able to send messages back and forth with my wife, but sometimes it does take some time to send and receive. It's definitely not instant. Another drawback is that (at least for the beta) I believe you have to enable your data connection for it to realize it needs switch over to using satellites and do so. This causes a bit more of a drain on the battery than normal outdoor use where you keep it in airplane mode the whole time. I had been entertaining the idea of buying a spot/inreach for the last couple years. Glad I waited now there's no need with my phone and my PLB I'm more than covered and don't have another monthly plan to pay for.
Marten	08/05/2025 10:55AM   There will.be a cost as this all matures. T Mobile will be $15 A month for a limited amount of text. In Reach can be a little cheaper and all will be.competing for business. Some high dollar packages will give it to you.
keth0601	08/05/2025 11:05AM   Marten: "There will.be a cost as this all matures. T Mobile will be $15 A month for a limited amount of text. In Reach can be a little cheaper and all will be.competing for business. Some high dollar packages will give it to you." I'm on tmobile's first responder plan so it will be free for me. :) Just a plug to volunteer for your local fire department.
OCDave	08/09/2025 07:33PM   I just got back from a few days staying at a lodge up the Gunflint trail. One of us (me) thought it would be awesome (it was) to ride up on an adventure style motorcycle. On our second day my youngest son (21 yo) made a combination of poor choices and got my motorcycle stuck a few miles down a path most likely intended for snowmobiles. A few texts via satellite that we received while driving along the 2 miles of the Gunflint trail where cell signal actually got though turned what could have been a hand wringing evening into a full weekend of light ribbing. I was not aware texting via satellite was an option but happy it was available.
BoatsHateMe	08/21/2025 07:37AM   I've been looking at an InReach for a few reasons - 1) Emergency contact/SOS, the ability to check in with my wife once a day to let her know I'm alright on my first solo trip at age 60. It sounds like the new iPhone should be able to do this but I am not 100% clear if her iPhone 11 would need to be updated to either receive my text or for her to be able to respond 2) GPS navigation if needed. I tell myself I still want to use the maps as I did for 25 years. I want to resist using the GPS if nothing else to have the wilderness experience but also to conserve battery so it's there when I need it. Yes, I will have a power pack with me. I'm guessing my mapping or some application will be able to do this on the iPhone? I did just get a Garmin Echomap to bring which will give me GPS guidance on the water when using the depth/fish finder. It would be nice to have GPS mapping if I go back into the woods shed hunting or exploring but that's not practical with the Echomap. For those who say I'm giving up the wilderness experience by bringing a depth/fish finder, this is the one cheat I used quite often bringing in my Vexilar LC-10 so I just call this an upgrade. 3) This is a big one - Weather. If I'm going to go onto Basswood I want to know what the conditions are going to be so I don't become wind bound or get caught unexpectedly in a storm. Will I be able to get weather forecasts from my phone with the GPS?
timatkn	08/21/2025 08:56AM   I used the Apple Satellite messenger a few times. Overall I was pleased but occasionally it did take quite a bit of time to find and connect with a satellite. I was leading a youth trip so I still used my inreach where I could send a message each day of where we were camp[ing. Nice for parents to follow along. If youn are using a satellite beacon like an inreach or similar for possible emergency extraction (SOS feature), I don’t see the iPhone replacing it yet. Just want to keep in touch with another person the iPhone was pretty slick. You may or may not like that but it works. I could message on the Gunflint Trail with no cell service our other car trailing. T
bluedogfan	06/11/2024 01:08PM   Remember, you are in control. If you wish to “unplug” just do so. It is up to you. Most people would consider me elderly and I do one to two trips each year. I always do one solo trip. I look forward to having this new functionality. I feel having an emergency lifeline available is as important as wearing a flotation device. Having it on my cell phone will be a great feature. However, I will only ever use it for emergencies.
Marten	06/11/2024 09:27AM   They mention sending a text by aiming at the directed spot in the sky. No mention of receiving a text .Down the road this may work but for true emergency use two way texting available on other devices is the surefire answer.
BWCA	06/11/2024 04:59AM   Many people are aware that Apple enabled the ability to send emergency SOS messages via satellite in iphones. I believe we probably have a few cases this year in which that feature was used by groups in trouble. Apple announced yesterday that they are going to support that ability to text via satellite on iphone 14 and 15. This feature is expected in September of this year. I would expect a cost associated with this. Photo Credit: Apple
HankEPants	06/11/2024 08:23AM   This is great for emergencies, but I have to say one of my favorite things about the BWCA is that in most places you have no choice but to disconnect. Eventually the internet will be available everywhere. It already is if you use the right Sat phone. This is one step closer to that day where being connected in the wilderness is as simple and seamless as it is in the cities, and I think it's kind of a sad moment.
Wtollefson	06/11/2024 09:12AM   I'm with you on that one. That's one reason I go to the BWCA, to get away from social media and actually get some peace.
AdventureRob	06/11/2024 10:08AM   You dont have to have SM ya know? Im 43 and never had it and honestly dont feel like I am missing anything but a huge headache. SM is hot garbage…just delete it and problem solved…I dono food for thought.
plmn	06/11/2024 01:06PM   AdventureRob: "You dont have to have SM ya know? Im 43 and never had it and honestly dont feel like I am missing anything but a huge headache. SM is hot garbage…just delete it and problem solved…I dono food for thought. " Technically this forum is social media. An online community of people talking and sharing information.
andym	06/11/2024 09:19PM   I think the problem becomes when the ability to communicate is easy and ubiquitous. For years, I could say that I am going camping and it is expected that I will be out of touch. It is simply what comes with the activity. And one of the very nice parts of the activity. But once messaging becomes easy on every cellphone, no matter where you are, then being out of touch becomes a specific choice. It won’t any longer be, I’m out of touch because I’m camping. It will be, I’m camping and I’m out of touch because I just don’t want to be in touch. It won’t be different than saying, “I’m at home but I won’t be in touch because I’m turning my phone off.” That might become harder for families or jobs to accept. Yes, you can make that choice but there are pressures such as elderly parents and family emergencies. But I do like the emergency capability. But I already have that with a PLB or Garmin device. Let’s hope that it costs enough to be a barrier.
gl58319	08/04/2025 10:19AM   Just to update from the trip I just got back from. I was able to consistently (literally took about 30 seconds or less to connect) use my Iphone 16 for satellite communications via text with my wife and others. I had to send the first text, but my wife and others had no problem responding. We mostly used it for weather forecast updates. The original reason for bringing my phone was to use GPS on my digital map and that worked perfectly, I never even looked at the paper map. Also, note this is currently a free service, I'm sure they will start charging at some point, but it is easier than using a Garmin or similar satellite communication device, which we also had, but turns out did not use.
gl58319	08/04/2025 10:34AM   I forgot to state that the satellite feature only works if you do not have any cell service at all and you have to make sure you are not in airplane mode. One thing I did happen to note is that with most people I could only send up to 140 characters, but with a friend who has a newer Iphone (15 or 16, I think), I had up to 400 characters. Also, emojis go through, but images (pics, gifs, etc.) do not go through.
Tryin	06/11/2024 06:41PM   What is SM? Abbreviations are getting out of hand these days. Social Media
ockycamper	06/11/2024 11:57AM   I would agree on not wanting cell phones in camp. But we use our cell phones for GPS, as a screen for the Deeper fish finder, and most of all to work with the Garmin In REach and the Zoleo. I understand guys wanting to uplug. But why would you not want the ability to call help or ask medical questions on how to address a situation?
ockycamper	06/11/2024 01:10PM   +1 Yes! If you don't want cellular or satellite, just turn it off. If speaks volumes that we as a society can't control ourselves or our family members when it comes to the phones and internet
ockycamper	06/11/2024 01:46PM   To borrow a quote we use with the younger guys: "your mother didn't come with us" Take personal resonsibility. Don't impose your choices on others
campnfish	06/11/2024 07:13PM   Starlink service which I think will start with texting this fall and then voice later sounds like a better back country solution, you will have the ability to talk vs text to emergency services as long as you can see the sky.
geotramper	06/11/2024 01:34PM   Another +1. It's all about self control. If you don't want to be texted, called, emailed, etc., turn those capabilities off. My expectation is that within the next decade all cell service will be satellite-based or at least coverage will be good enough where coverage is near-complete, so start practicing turning on airplane mode now...
plmn	06/11/2024 02:28PM   geotramper: "Another +1. It's all about self control. If you don't want to be texted, called, emailed, etc., turn those capabilities off. My expectation is that within the next decade all cell service will be satellite-based or at least coverage will be good enough where coverage is near-complete, so start practicing turning on airplane mode now..." According to coverage maps it looks like I will have decent service around Ely this year with TMobile. I'm curious to see how it is. Though I'll mostly have it off to conserve battery anyway.
BdubyaCA	06/11/2024 03:29PM   AdventureRob: "You dont have to have SM ya know? Im 43 and never had it and honestly dont feel like I am missing anything but a huge headache. SM is hot garbage…just delete it and problem solved…I dono food for thought. " what is SM? abbreviations are getting out of hand these days
adam	06/11/2024 06:47PM   Marten: "They mention sending a text by aiming at the directed spot in the sky. No mention of receiving a text .Down the road this may work but for true emergency use two way texting available on other devices is the surefire answer." The current SOS emergency is one way. The feature being rolled out in Sept (or there abouts) is two way texting.