iPhone as Sat Phone
Contributors to this thread:Equipment
From: MQQSE
19-Jan-25
I’m sure I missed this discussed somewhere before, but is it true that IPhones can now be used for satellite communication? I understand it’s with iPhone 14 and newer models. Has anyone tested this to the level of depending on it in place of other satellite communication options?
From: Coloradoman
19-Jan-25
I have sent texts successfully while on satellite mode from my IPhone 16.
From: Coondog
19-Jan-25
iPhone 14 and newer can send satellite messages. I used it this fall. Works great and is much faster than an inReach with sending and receiving messages. It even shows you which direction to point your phone to the nearest satellite.
From: Bou'bound
19-Jan-25
How is that paid for
From: Corax_latrans
19-Jan-25
Damn. I might actually have a Reason to upgrade this ancient phone!
From: JohnMC
19-Jan-25
I can and have. I think it is just T mobile but maybe it is with other carriers as well?
You have to be pointing phone at sky and direction of satellite (shown on phone) so you will not get messages unless doing that.
Bou included with plan.
From: Coloradoman
19-Jan-25
I have Verizon
From: TEmbry
19-Jan-25
It is currently paid for by Apple regardless of your carrier. (The press release mentions free for two years, then I’m guessing the infrastructure will be in place for it to be up to carriers to provide).
T-Mobile will be the first to offer satellite internet to iPhones by end of this year by partnering with Starlink.
All iPhones can text, if you want to check Bowsite you’ll need to switch to T Mobile for now. Within 3 years I’d imagine all carriers will have full service everywhere on the planet. It’s exciting and terribly sad at the same time.
For those considering dropping their inreach I found it too annoying to switch completely. I like the inreach being able to hang in the top of the tent while I’m buried in my sleeping bag in the ground texting. With the direct to iPhone sat texting you have to stretch your arm out and point a certain way to get messages to go out. While out walking it’s easy, for in camp where 90% of my messaging happens it’s still more annoying than using an inreach as a go between device.
From: Manager
19-Jan-25
Since Elon Musk invented Starlink. Letting him get way ahead of the competition. T-Mobile will partner up with his satellites. Apple launched SkyLo satellites for themselves. Verizon is using Skylo for both iPhones & Androids. AT&T has launched ASTSpaceMobile satellites for iPhones. Verizon is suppose to move over there, if they haven’t already. These are all low altitude satellites . So faster than, Zoleo & InReach because they use ultra high in the sky Iridium satellite system.
From: ryanrc
19-Jan-25
Can you use an android phone on T-Mobile for Satellite texting? I have an android phone and don't want to switch to an iPhone.
From: montnatom
19-Jan-25
ryan - doesn't work on android. Couple of my relatives have iphones and I watched it in action last season in places we used to depend on inreach to text. Pretty cool. I have a starlink mini for 30 a month (attached to my basic starlink service) that works about anywhere
From: Bob H in NH
19-Jan-25
Ryan i would bet within a year android will support this. They tend to follow iPhone features
From: Babysaph
20-Jan-25
What you guys are saying is that now there is no place an iPhone can’t send a text. No more worrying about signal loss. Cool.
From: JohnMC
20-Jan-25
Babysaph don’t know if your IPhone would work in a cave or a submarine at the bottom of the ocean. If you were on a spaceship to a distant galaxy I doubt it would work there either.
From: Jaquomo
20-Jan-25
Supposedly the Starlink-TMobile sat capability will work with any phone that has LTE capability, whether Android or Apple. They are beta testing to select TMobile customers now.
From: sticksender
20-Jan-25
With my newer model iPhone, sat messaging is enabled only when there's no cell coverage at all. And you need a clear view of the sky. And then manually point your phone at the satellite and keep it aimed as it tracks across the sky. For the recipient to reply, they must have the latest iOS as well. I used it a couple months ago in a remote area of Alaska, but during my recent rip to Sonora, it didn't work. Obviously a long way to go before the system is truly useful as a 2-way satellite communication device, but they're headed in the right direction.
From: AZBOW
09-Feb-25
Trying to find out how to use the satellite feature on my new iPhone. If there is no regular phone or internet signal, how do you activate the satellite service and find where it is to point your phone at it?
From: TEmbry
09-Feb-25
It should pop up automatically if you are in your messages app when you are out of service, have to have Wi-Fi and cell service turned on for it to work. If it doesn’t come up automatically you can manually pull it up here
From: FORESTBOWS
09-Feb-25
T-Mobile and starlink just put out service everywhere. Done
From: AZBOW
09-Feb-25
Does that satellite button show up in settings, only if you are out of service? I don’t see it on my phone
From: Bou'bound
09-Feb-25
It’s automatic when no WiFi or cell. Even a tiny useless cell signal will prevent satellite from Being an option.
From: Bou'bound
09-Feb-25
Also only can text. 500 Characters or less. No photos. No voice. No internet access.
From: Jimmyjumpup
09-Feb-25
Ill stick with zoleo for now.
From: AZBOW
09-Feb-25
Thanks TEmbry and Bou
From: Mark Watkins
10-Feb-25
Great info…..Thanks guys!
A natural evolution in how we communicate for sure!
Mark
From: Scrappy
10-Feb-25
Looks like T-Mobile for the win. I knew they were close to getting this past the gov red tape.
From: huntinelk
10-Feb-25
From: Coloradoman
10-Feb-25
“Also only can text. 500 Characters or less. No photos. No voice. No internet access”
Not true
From: Bou'bound
10-Feb-25
interesting, i had a note pop up on mine when trying to send a photo and it said can not send over satellite connection. any text over 500 characters had to be broken into less than 500 to send.
From: Coloradoman
10-Feb-25
That’s odd I’ll try it again next time I’m out of cell service
From: M.Pauls
10-Feb-25
Funny, I was interested in this feature and actually thought it was available only on phones newer than mine. But I was out in the backcountry the other day fishing for rainbows, and my phone was completely out of reception in SOS mode. But then I noticed the satellite option when I opened my “messages” app to find some info on one of my old texts. So I tried it and sure enough got through to my wife quite fast. Like mentioned above, you need to point the phone a certain way as per its commands. Worked really well though. Sending photos was not an option for me, if I remember correctly.
And for what it’s worth, my phone is an IPhone 14pro, and the fishing was good :)
From: cnelk
10-Feb-25
Let’s see…. I’d have to buy a iPhone 14 or newer phone for it to work - that’s ~$800 +/-
At $15/mo for my InReach plan that equates to 4.4 years with what I already have.
From: TEmbry
11-Feb-25
Upgrading phones is often free if you agree to 3 years with a carrier so hardly a fair comparison but whatever works I suppose.
From: Blood
11-Feb-25
You old guys that won’t give up your potato phones is still one of the most amazing things in bowhunting.
From: Vonfoust
12-Feb-25
I'm still using an iPhone SE with a home button. Was talking with the Verizon rep and he said that they might be bringing another SE out with a home button that will work with satellite, but he's not sure yet. I will check back in June to upgrade to something that will be able to use satellite. (This old guy is hoping it will have a home button!)
From: Bou'bound
12-Feb-25
what is an SE
From: Vonfoust
12-Feb-25
Fixed it for you.
From: Scrappy
12-Feb-25
From: cnelk
12-Feb-25
I have an iPhone 13. Don’t need new a phone every year or two like young pups do.
From: AZBOW
12-Feb-25
Seems pretty strange that this Satellite hook up is available on my 16 IPhone but can’t see anything about it being there, until there is no service and it pops up?
From: ScoutII
13-Feb-25
The new Samsung Galaxy 25 now has that feature.
From: Bou'bound
13-Feb-25
Azbow if you google texting via satellite on iPhone there are teams of information on how to see it on the phone and even run a demo
From: huntinelk
13-Feb-25
Do they go to sat mode if you put them in airplane mode?
From: AZBOW
13-Feb-25
Thx Bou, that certainly helps
From: Bou'bound
13-Feb-25
they do not go into sat mode in airplane mode. you actually have to be in an area devoid of cell or wi-fi connectivity regardless of how weak. none can exist
From: JohnMC
13-Feb-25
There is a demo mode on iPhone
go to Settings > Apps > Messages > scroll down and click “satellite connection demo”
From: Tracker
14-Feb-25
Thanks for the info. Was able to check it out.,
