iOS 18 Text Messages via Satellite

Skepilot

Skepilot

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With iOS 18, you can send text messages via satellite when there’s no WiFi or cell signal. I know a few who say it works in their GA planes. How many of you have tried it? How reliable / consistent is the sat signal?

About Messages via satellite on your iPhone - Apple Support

With iPhone 14 or later, you can send iMessages or SMS messages via satellite when you’re off the grid with no cellular and Wi-Fi coverage.
support.apple.com support.apple.com
 
How much does it cost?

Most if not all of my Apple friends aren’t on IOS 18 yet and it won’t work with Android devices.
 
It works, but there is some effort involved in aiming it.

Also, seems to not work offshore, so usefulness is limited.
 
Has worked great for me! It’s enabled me to stay in touch with people on the receiving end of my pilots and Paws flights! Extremely handy!!! Works on any iPhone 14 pro and newer with iOS 18


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I was aware of it and thought it was just free but I also thought it was supposed to be an emergency only service.
 
dans2992 said:
It works, but there is some effort involved in aiming it.

Also, seems to not work offshore, so usefulness is limited.
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That's weird. Shorelines should present no limitation to satellite comms. Ah, I just read that they're currently limiting it to US/Canada, so they have beyond 30-90 miles offshore geofenced off. I'd expect that geofence to be removed as they expand service beyond US/Canada.
 
Skepilot said:
That's weird. Shorelines should present no limitation to satellite comms. Ah, I just read that they're currently limiting it to US/Canada, so they have beyond 30-90 miles offshore geofenced off. I'd expect that geofence to be removed as they expand service beyond US/Canada.
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I hope so!
 
I have used it, in flight at 14,000 feet. It worked.
 
cowman said:
I was aware of it and thought it was just free but I also thought it was supposed to be an emergency only service.
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“*Messages via satellite shouldn't be used in emergencies. If you're somewhere with no cellular and Wi-Fi coverage and in an emergency situation, you should instead text emergency services using Emergency SOS via satellite.”
 
I tried it many times this weekend in the 20’s & low 30’s. Got one message out, maybe two in, with dozens of attempts.
Ironic that I saw two Starlink launches (trains of satellites in the night sky) during these flights lol.
 
I’ve used it many times, actually it will do it automatically if you are patient. You don’t have to point it anywhere. Although my phone is mounted on my panel with a ram mount.
 
I set the message to send, accepted the Send via Sat popup, its going to another ios18 iphone, it says something about finding an unobstructed view - I set it on the glareshield and wait. check later and its failed. Patience not a factor, this was 15 hours of flying lol
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
I set the message to send, accepted the Send via Sat popup, its going to another ios18 iphone, it says something about finding an unobstructed view - I set it on the glareshield and wait. check later and its failed. Patience not a factor, this was 15 hours of flying lol
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Are you flying something with a heated windscreen when you do this?
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
I set the message to send, accepted the Send via Sat popup, its going to another ios18 iphone, it says something about finding an unobstructed view - I set it on the glareshield and wait. check later and its failed. Patience not a factor, this was 15 hours of flying lol
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Let'sgoflying! said:
no, sir
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Now waitaminute. What are you flying that has a 15-hour endurance and doesn't have a heated windscreen? :eek:

Was there an error message at all? Were you within the confines of the contiguous United States?
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
3days, 15hrs

I think it was just the usual fail symbol to a text message & Try Again. I need to get some screenshots for you

yes
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I'm guessing that it gives up on the satellite when it reconnects to the cell network... I wonder if you were at an altitude where it grabbed a cell connection before it got the satellite, and then the cell connection dropped again before the message went through?

I would expect that this sort of thing will get vastly better here in the first year or two.

Unfortunately, I'm kind of out of ideas. I haven't played around with it enough to have discovered all the ways it can fail.
 
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