Iphone sat messaging

Let'sgoflying!

Let'sgoflying!

Touchdown! Greaser!
Joined
Feb 23, 2005
Messages
20,899
Location
west Texas
Display Name
Display name:
Dave Taylor
Has anyone tried texting aloft?
Wondering if it’s useful, limitations etc.

IMG_6270.jpeg
 
It works fine, but only text and only to one person (not group chats or images). On the ground is also slow as well.
 
Yeah a few times. Works decently well, but it can be quite slow.
 
I have used it in flight. At times, you have to wait as the sat it wants to use is behind you.
 
It definitely needs clear view the sky, I used it once, but I did lose satellite coverage after about 5 minutes with no change of direction. I assume they are low orbit satellites so they move out of range, and I would need to reconnect.
I don’t know if it’s smart enough not to accept incoming pictures or videos, seems that would be problematic.
 
Would this work in the mountains where there's GPS but no cell service?
 
Cuts off 3 miles offshore, unfortunately…
 
Racerx said:
Would this work in the mountains where there's GPS but no cell service?
Click to expand...
any time the cell signal ‘bars’ disappear, the satellite image appears…and during a text, a popup tells me I can use the satellite to send texts (not images).

However, you asked “does it work” - I think that can only be answered through testing at your location.

(in my description above, I’d say it worked a dismal 5% of the time for me while flying, and this is Tx to Il, and Tx to Wa…in the low 30’s.)
 
One ‘weakness’ in this system I’ve found is that if my phone picks up the whiff of a cell signal, it will not offer the sat service.
And that single cell-signal bar is not enough to send/receive.
You cannot force it to sat by turning off cell data either.
 
Racerx said:
Would this work in the mountains where there's GPS but no cell service?
Click to expand...
That's the idea, yes.

Some friends of mine got rescued when a bus they were on broke down hours from civilization thanks to this, and there have been several life-saving incidents as well.

(Couldn't find this on its own, but it's the first four minutes of this video:)

 
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