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Emergency SOS via satellite

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Re: Emergency SOS via satellite

#141

Post by MarkMarine »

alphakilo wrote: post #76
wstrange wrote: post #21

This is really going to eat into Garmin's Inreach market (ditto for Spot, Zoleo, etc). It says free for the first 2 years. I'm curious what the yearly cost will be after that, and how it will compare to an Inreach plan. On an ongoing basis, it's the subscription fees that really add up.

Echoing others, I don't think this will have a huge impact as iPhone SOS is a last resort for those who are unprepared Garmin inReach is a robust and rugged satellite communicator that out classes iPhone emergency SOS greatly - inreach doesn't require "tracking" the satellite as it has a stronger antenna - inreach is more waterproof, dust proof atd shock resistant (no touch screen) - inreach has higher battery life,…

I don’t see the market for a high end dive watch without air integration, but with the UX they have.

The people that don’t care about AI dive with a perdix or tables, but basically require something you can operate with gloves on. The rest of them with the money for a nice watch really want AI.

Re: Emergency SOS via satellite

#142

Post by prescriptivist »

COGlory wrote: post #123

I was just on the ground coordinating with 4 friends that got buried in 5+ foot of unexpected snow in the mountains (forecast said 1"-2" when they went up) for the rifle opener in Montana. I wound up getting sick so I stayed home (hilariously I was the only one who got an elk) but I sent them up with my InReach. All I can say is THANK GOD that I did, because it turned into over a week long effort to get them out. Two…

> The SOS button is very expensive. Extremely expensive.

With my inReach I pay for the insurance plan [1]. I do wilderness float/canoe/kayak trips and I have it for peace of mind in case I or somebody I'm with (or encounter) is immobilized, as I can walk out of most places I go to if my legs are working.

I haven't been able to find any such option for the iPhone, which, amongst other things, means I'll be keeping my inReach. Though to be clear I don't know to what degree I would be on the hook for anything if I _did_ hit the SOS button.

https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/906397

Re: Emergency SOS via satellite

#143

Post by user3939382 »

Wait, what? iPhones are sat phones?? It has the antenna for that?? Since when? The GPS is a passive receive. I skimmed the article and didn't see, how on Earth (lol) does this work? Sat antennas are huge. Maybe these search and rescue SOS beacons have their own signal?

Re: Emergency SOS via satellite

#144

Post by DrBenCarson »

nickcw wrote: post #100

From the small print > The service will be included for free for two years starting at the time of activation of a new iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Which kind of implies it will be a pay for service after two years.

My guess is they're going to keep it free as long as you get a new phone every 2 years or add some more features and charge for those.

Don't think they want to look like they're charging people to keep their lives.

Re: Emergency SOS via satellite

#145

Post by barbazoo »

swader999 wrote: post #65
teeray wrote: post #17

If you’re looking for emergency comms where cell service is unavailable, you can do really well with a 2m/70cm Baofeng UV-5R. It’ll run you like $60 between the technician’s license (easy to get) and the radio, no subscription. From mountains (no service), I’ve gotten into repeaters 60 miles away. Knowing the community on those frequencies, they’ll treat your emergency with the same respect and decorum as those submi…

That's quite an undertaking to get up to speed on using and programming one of those.

That's what I thought too. Definitely a capable radio but quite a learning curve.

Re: Emergency SOS via satellite

#146

Post by swores »

jmbwell wrote: post #120

Set backcountry search and rescue aside for a second. Seems to me this is for ordinary people doing ordinary things outside cell range, and finding they need help. A family member has a heart attack. A collision with a moose. Who knows what. Less “should’ve brought water and a jacket” and more “we’ve been on route 9 for two hours, a moment ago everything was fine, now he’s not breathing, we have no bars, and we have…

> Besides, even if this feature only saves a single life, seems worth it to me.

Not that I think it will only save a single life, but if that really were the full extent of its benefit that of course it wouldn't be worth it - think of the millions Apple have spent on R&D plus the (presumably tiny but it adds up when selling millions of devices) extra cost per device - there are many ways that money could have been spent as a PR move by Apple to save thousands if not millions of lives.

Re: Emergency SOS via satellite

#147

Post by MarkMarine »

user3939382 wrote: post #143

Wait, what? iPhones are sat phones?? It has the antenna for that?? Since when? The GPS is a passive receive. I skimmed the article and didn't see, how on Earth (lol) does this work? Sat antennas are huge. Maybe these search and rescue SOS beacons have their own signal?

They got around the antenna issue by using a really poor antenna that requires the user to aim the phone at a passing satellite, plus a pretty cool UI to help you do that.

Re: Emergency SOS via satellite

#148

Post by MBCook »

user3939382 wrote: post #143

Wait, what? iPhones are sat phones?? It has the antenna for that?? Since when? The GPS is a passive receive. I skimmed the article and didn't see, how on Earth (lol) does this work? Sat antennas are huge. Maybe these search and rescue SOS beacons have their own signal?

New this year. The phone basically guides you to point it at the satellite (and turn as necessary), which is why it doesn’t need a big antenna.

It’s not as good as a Garmin or some such, but you have it with you.

Re: Emergency SOS via satellite

#149

Post by vel0city »

sschueller wrote: post #37

Quoted post unavailable.

Turn on and off individual providers on this map.

https://fcc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=...

Then remember this map is being extremely generous at the fringes of the coverage areas. Some areas will make a huge difference which side of a hill you're on, but this coverage map will show it as covered.

Re: Emergency SOS via satellite

#150

Post by MarkMarine »

dagmx wrote: post #85
aabhay wrote: post #20

No one here has mentioned this here, surprisingly, but the UX on this feature is absolutely incredible. Clear, thoughtful, helpful, and deeply integrated with user services. It almost makes me _want_ to get into trouble, just to be able to use this service!

There’s a demo mode in the settings fortunately

There is!!! Awesome! This should be a top comment because I was worried how I’d teach my parents to use it.
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