iPhone 14 emergency satellite SOS and text...

[406]

^^^^yeah, good to see that. Anyone know if Qualcomm still provides antennas in the pixel phones? Not sure now that Google is making their own chips if the new feature will end up in pixel.

[TNKen]

Most of you know I patrol on a tiny hill in Western NC. The iPhone 911 calls are a new thing for us. Jerry falls on a jump, lays there for a minute or so gathering his shit or waiting on friends. Damned thing goes off. PD calls us with a lat/long which is always way off. Dispatch multiple staff to find the source of the call and of course never do. Taking them out of position for other needs. PD tries to return the call, and because of shitty cell service in the area, rarely does anyone answer.

Rather annoying for our little hill, but I suspect it does have a lot of purpose in many settings.

[Name Redacted]

Most of you know I patrol on a tiny hill in Western NC. The iPhone 911 calls are a new thing for us. Jerry falls on a jump, lays there for a minute or so gathering his shit or waiting on friends. Damned thing goes off. PD calls us with a lat/long which is always way off. Dispatch multiple staff to find the source of the call and of course never do. Taking them out of position for other needs. PD tries to return the call, and because of shitty cell service in the area, rarely does anyone answer.

Rather annoying for our little hill, but I suspect it does have a lot of purpose in many settings.

There was an article in our local paper recently lamenting the same thing. We have 5 of the busiest ski hills in the country here. Sounds miserable.

[Tele 'til You're Smelly]

Let's be sure not to confuse two separate functions of the new iphones- one is the ability to place a 911 call via satellite when you have no cell signal (what this thread was started about), versus the automatic crash detection feature (discussed more recently above)- the latter is causing the problems on ski hills and can be turned off (not that most users will and it will probably continue to be a problem). The ability to manually call 911 from cell-free areas seems great and is something I'm glad to have!

[yeahman]

Apple should be billed for every stupid unnecessary 911 call that results from their ridiculous "crash detection" function. JFC what a fucking stupid thing to put on a phone.

[Tele 'til You're Smelly]

Apple should be billed for every stupid unnecessary 911 call that results from their ridiculous "crash detection" function. JFC what a fucking stupid thing to put on a phone.

I wonder if they could at least tune it up to only go off if the person had been going at least 30 MPH or something when the crash happened (in which case a skier could probably use some attention too)

[cat in january]

With ios18 satellite enabled iPhones are going to gain satellite messaging connectivity. Like the sos feature, it doesn’t look like there will be a fee attached, but that may be incorrect/change. I upgraded to the iPhone 14 because it gave my wife peace of mind. I made the mistake of sending her a picture from the Asulkan Hut last winter and she called me right up with a question. Probably a good thing especially if I am running late for being out of the woods, but everything is ok (I always have a time well after my expected out when folks need to be called), but I have liked the temporary cut off from connectivity.

https://www.macrumors.com/2024/06/13...te-first-look/

[406]

Not just iphones, but sounding like t-mobile subscribers will get access to starlink?

[EWG]

With ios18 satellite enabled iPhones are going to gain satellite messaging connectivity. Like the sos feature, it doesn’t look like there will be a fee attached, but that may be incorrect/change. I upgraded to the iPhone 14 because it gave my wife peace of mind. I made the mistake of sending her a picture from the Asulkan Hut last winter and she called me right up with a question. Probably a good thing especially if I am running late for being out of the woods, but everything is ok (I always have a time well after my expected out when folks need to be called), but I have liked the temporary cut off from connectivity.

https://www.macrumors.com/2024/06/13...te-first-look/

Time to sell our inreach? Hmmm.

[summit]

Time to sell our inreach? Hmmm.

I have an Inreach and no iphone. I'm keeping my inreach. I got the girl a sat capable iphone to upgrade from her 5 year old SE.

Problems phone vs inreach:
1. Iphone is your camera, normal phone and text, navigation device, music player, and internet device. All these things use battery. Kill your battery and you are screwed. So you better be carrying a backup battery charger and cord that works.
2. Iphone is not bombproof. Drop your phone while taking pics or it falls out in a fall, you are screwed. Break your screen and you are screwed.

[MakersTeleMark]

I see problems abound if people rely on multi-purpose consumer electronic devices for mission critical tasks.

[rideit]

I think most people on here (at least) are not relying on the technology for the actual task, but as a ‘hail Mary’ when shit goes totally, completely sideways.

Which used to happen all the time too, just more people died when it did.

[ASmileyFace]

As someone who has been in a extremely serious accident, but had service that expedited the process and likely saved my leg... I am a huge fan of anything that increases safety margin.

I will still be carrying my inReach, but knowing that I can text my GF to let her know I am running late instead of using the inreach to send that message is a nice feature.

[BCMtnHound]

Enough’s been said on the concerns of the iPhone or any similar device being used for emergency in the backcountry regarding complexity, durability, battery, etc. All good points.

I’d add that whatever call centre that deals with the SOS for the iPhone is still learning their task. InReach/Garmin certainly have the pedigree here and communications back and forth between the tasking agency and the subject(s) is very good. Not so much with iPhone call centre. Even the wrong tasking agency is being assigned (I.e. ambulance is being requested for a lost subject instead of police), and back and forth communication has been poor in comparison to InReach. Maybe that has improved in the past few months since our last call-out with someone using and iPhone. And the number of false SOS notifications has been much higher with the iPhone system so far.

[Core Shot]

Is this the thread to bitch about 5G?

Ever since the rollout my phone drops all the time. Used to be a few known locations. To the point I would say hey I’m gonna lose the call soon. Now it’s all over. I never asked for 5G. 4 was fine.

[Tele 'til You're Smelly]

Is this the thread to bitch about 5G?

Ever since the rollout my phone drops all the time. Used to be a few known locations. To the point I would say hey I’m gonna lose the call soon. Now it’s all over. I never asked for 5G. 4 was fine.

that might be a local problem with you- I haven't heard of anyone I know having problems with 5g? Of course me & my crew all wears tin foil hats to protect us from it . . .

[singlesline]

Time to sell our inreach? Hmmm.

I think the inreach still wins on any sort of real expedition. Thing will just plod along for days or weeks without charging, can take a beating, etc. So definitely keep it if you are planning multi-day stints deep in the wilderness.

But I think this feature is super cool (and will influence my next phone choice) for things like an MTB ride where you know you're going to be out of cell service/have spotty service. Feels silly to bring the inreach (and pay to activate a month of service if you're an infrequent user) for a 3 hour ride...but it gives the wife peace of mind and you knever know what could happen.

But I know my fully charged phone is going to have plenty of battery and it is pretty unlikely it gets rendered unusable in a crash. Satellite SOS to make up for places with no cell service is a pretty nice feature.

Sure, if you want maximum safety...just bring the inreach everywhere (even places with cell service--because you could always break your phone), pay for a plan with unlimited tracking and make sure someone knows to check your track and ensure you are still moving...but how many people are going to do that for every regular Saturday ride?

[skaredshtles]

that might be a local problem with you- I haven't heard of anyone I know having problems with 5g? Of course me & my crew all wears tin foil hats to protect us from it . . .

It's a Boomer complaint.

"nObOdY NeEdS AnY FaStEr sErViCe tHaN 28.8KbPs!!"

[grskier]

meh, 5G has a lower range generally than LTE/4 whatever...

Out here there have been a few replacements that created bigger dead areas.

But where the coverage is, it's better.
YMMV

[EWG]

I think the inreach still wins on any sort of real expedition. Thing will just plod along for days or weeks without charging, can take a beating, etc. So definitely keep it if you are planning multi-day stints deep in the wilderness.

But I think this feature is super cool (and will influence my next phone choice) for things like an MTB ride where you know you're going to be out of cell service/have spotty service. Feels silly to bring the inreach (and pay to activate a month of service if you're an infrequent user) for a 3 hour ride...but it gives the wife peace of mind and you knever know what could happen.

But I know my fully charged phone is going to have plenty of battery and it is pretty unlikely it gets rendered unusable in a crash. Satellite SOS to make up for places with no cell service is a pretty nice feature.

Sure, if you want maximum safety...just bring the inreach everywhere (even places with cell service--because you could always break your phone), pay for a plan with unlimited tracking and make sure someone knows to check your track and ensure you are still moving...but how many people are going to do that for every regular Saturday ride?

I think I'm kinda with you. Maybe something like this?

iPhone for sure:
- Mtn biking for a day
- Day hike

Sort've maybe would prefer an inreach but iPhone is probably fine:
- White Rim type bike trip
- Multi day backpacking around a good number of people

inreach definitely better, but iPhone might work still:
- Multi day river trip
- Backcountry touring
- Multi day backcountry camping with few people around

InReach only:
- serious mountaineering

[doebedoe]

To Summits point —

t. His cell phone was in the left thigh pocket of his pants and he used his free hand and a ski pole to tear the pocket open and reach the phone. Once he got it, he realized it had been damaged in the avalanche and was no longer working. He tried to reach the equipment in his backpack. His pack was on his back with the sternum, waist, and leg straps on. The tree he was pinned against prevented access to his waist belt and leg strap, so he could not release them to access the contents of his pack. Eventually, he got into his pack through the top opening and retrieved extra layers, food, and his satellite communication device. He sent a distress call from the satellite communication device at 4:30 PM.

https://classic.avalanche.state.co.u...=876&accfm=inv

[summit]

To Summits point —



https://classic.avalanche.state.co.u...=876&accfm=inv

Listening to him tell that story was harrowing. We were on a bike ride. I noted my InReach connects to my Garmin watch so I could activate it from my watch. That would have helped him.

[goldenboy]

InReach/Garmin certainly have the pedigree here and communications back and forth between the tasking agency and the subject(s) is very good.

At my SAR training last week we were reviewing recent callouts and one of the things that came up was that the SAR leaders were eventually getting the subject's inreach contact info from the call center. That way they were communicating with the subjects directly (inreach to inreach), with no need to rely on the call center at all. No idea if the iphones will do that.

[summit]

^they could, just depends on what their comm center does

[gavinski91]

To add to this discussion, had an issue with the iPhone satellite location sharing over the weekend. Phone somehow triggered multiple log-in attempts while in my pack and locked out for an hour while I was out on a trail run. Once I was able to get back in, I opened the FindMy app and saw that all contacts had been removed from the list of people I'm sharing my location with, so I wasn't able to share my location via satellite (which is how my wife tracks me when I'm in the backcountry). Managed to get LTE service once I reached the summit of my goal, at which point everything was restored and I could again share location via satellite later in the run.

Still had the ability to make a satellite emergency call if that had become necessary, but was a frustrating experience.