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Emergency SOS via satellite

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Re: Emergency SOS via satellite

#101

Post by zikduruqe »

CarbonCycles wrote: post #67
closewith wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm a search and rescue medic and I volunteer (although not in the States), but would have the exact opposite outlook on this. Better comms may lead to more shouts but it will definitely lead to better outcomes for casualties. We always prefer calls to come in as early as possible, where maybe an issue can be resolved with advice or a daylight shout to an warm, ambulatory casualty in mild distress. That will always b…

I wonder how many ppl will now travel to more remote areas with a false sense of security (and being woefully under prepared) that you can "Just call" for help. As a paying customer with Garmin's inReach service, I'm acutely aware of how spotty and unreliable the service can be based on environment and current surroundings.

The same amount that did when the cellphone was invented, when Selective Availability was turned off, when the safety match was invented, when the chronometer was invented....

Re: Emergency SOS via satellite

#102

Post by mwint »

WhyNotHugo wrote: post #26
Centrino wrote: post #5

The article doesn't mention which satellites or which satellite provider is used. But Apple invested $450 million in Globalstar. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/11/emergency-sos-via-sat...

I was really wondering what kind of satellite-based emergency SOS they were using -- mostly because I'd never heard of it until it was being shipped in a commercial product, which is something very rare to see. So basically, they have their own infrastructure for their own proprietary 911 service with global coverage? It's really amazing that we live in a world where we can have such infrastructure, but at the same t…

Looks like it requires consciously deciding to share your location, and pointing your device where it tells you in the sky.

They’re not going to burn precious bandwidth on an always-active tracking thing.

Re: Emergency SOS via satellite

#104

Post by [deleted] »

ClumsyPilot wrote: post #6

At first I thought that Apple might be using the Gallileo sattellites put up by EU, but it looks like they have their own thing going with Globalstar. This kind of makes sense, and near-earth satellites are easier to reach for a phone. https://www.esa.int/Applications/Navigation/Galileo_now_repl...

[deleted]

Re: Emergency SOS via satellite

#105

Post by angrygoat »

robg wrote: post #82

Really impressed how Apple is leaning into unregulated “safety” features. Fall detection for grandma, crash detection for drivers, now this for adventurers. When you’re doing as well as Apple is, small reasons for consumers to buy keep adding up over the competition.

If this becomes available in Australia, it would be a decent reason for me to upgrade my phone. I quite like bushwalking, and I quite like the idea of more adventurous walks – and knowing I can text for help would be a real plus.

Re: Emergency SOS via satellite

#106

Post by bmicraft »

lotsofpulp wrote: post #91
binarymax wrote: post #89

It's not clear whether this is for US/Canada customers, or if it only works in the vicinity of the US and Canada. If I'm a US customer but am stranded in the middle of Africa, will this work?

> Emergency SOS via satellite is available in the US and Canada starting today, November 15, and will come to France, Germany, Ireland, and the UK in December. I take this to mean the service itself only works within the stated countries. I wonder if it would work in overseas US territories like Samoa.

I'm guessing the only thing limiting it is integration with existing services

Re: Emergency SOS via satellite

#107

Post by CarbonCycles »

Centrino wrote: post #5

The article doesn't mention which satellites or which satellite provider is used. But Apple invested $450 million in Globalstar. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/11/emergency-sos-via-sat...

Anyone know performance wise between Garmin's use of Iridium and Globalstar?

Iridium has been around for soo long...I am getting constant outages from the status page. Kind of disconcerting at times.

Ah, I found the following article that somewhat explains the different technologies w/

"The main difference between Iridium and Globalstar is the relaying mechanism. Iridium requires relaying between satellites. Globalstar requires relaying between satellites and earth stations."

https://www.mobilsat.com/the-best-satellite-phone-globalstar...

Re: Emergency SOS via satellite

#108

Post by mcculley »

yieldcrv wrote: post #18
xchip wrote: post #14

What sort of link does the phone use? 5G?

yeah band 53 via the Qualcomm X65 modem you can pretty much tell what an iphone will be able to do based on what qualcomm is currently able to do

Do you happen to know when Apple will be able to put a modem into a MacBook Pro?

Re: Emergency SOS via satellite

#109

Post by pathartl »

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.

I would assume it's rolled into the iCloud subscription after two years

Re: Emergency SOS via satellite

#110

Post by addaon »

kotaKat wrote: post #77
WhyNotHugo wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was really wondering what kind of satellite-based emergency SOS they were using -- mostly because I'd never heard of it until it was being shipped in a commercial product, which is something very rare to see. So basically, they have their own infrastructure for their own proprietary 911 service with global coverage? It's really amazing that we live in a world where we can have such infrastructure, but at the same t…

It's basically running on the same system as their current SPOT trackers in the S- and L-band. L-band up, S-band down.

Are you sure about that? I was under the impression that this was running on N53, which is towards the bottom of S band, both directions.
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