iPhone 14 vs Garmin inReach - Emegency SOS Tested
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- Опубліковано 29 вер 2024
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Discover the life-saving difference between the iPhone 14's satellite Emergency SOS and the Garmin inReach in this informative video. See how the iPhone 14's built-in satellite technology allows for quick and easy access to emergency services in remote locations, even when there is no cellular coverage. Compare this to the Garmin inReach, a popular satellite communication device, and see how the iPhone 14's advanced features offer enhanced safety and peace of mind when adventuring outdoors. Watch now to learn more about these crucial safety tools and make an informed decision for your next adventure.
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I just ordered the iPhone 15 (10/20/23) and I went looking for information about the satellite features.
This was a very Informative, thorough review.
Just what I was looking for.
Thank you.
I have been waiting for this specific presentation from you. This is a high quality, thorough presentation, like your others. You are suburb with hiking, UA-cam presenting, and research. I look forward to all your channel presentations. Thank you very much for your time. You are greatly appreciated.
Whoa thank you very much! 🙏 Trying to focus on guides and tech that will help folks on their adventures, so it's nice to here that these help. Thank you!
I agree with everything youve stated. Its a very professional but easy to understand presentation.
I was so excited about this feature, but not being able to communicate in a non-emergency way via satellite makes the inReach still important to have. The inReach being able to send "made it to camp" type messages is huge for me.
Yea, same here, and I'd imagine that at some point (maybe iOS 17?) the iPhone will offer that for a fee. Guessing that they're working it all out now.
You could still share your location via find my, which obviously isn't completely the same but is "better than nothing". Still not comparable to the inReach devices but so what. The huge advantage is: Everyone with an iPhone 14 and higher has this very important safety feature. That will definitely help save lifes. Many people don't have Garmin inReach devices and even less take them with them. And even less take them with them for "normal" hikes, even though you often don't even have mobile reception there either. More "convenience" features such as FindMy will probably follow in the future.
I’m sure such a service is coming, it’s easy money to add it.
Agreed, sos is unlikely or extremely rare, letting my wife know I’ll be late or passed my eta is common
I thought the same thing. I did a lot of solo mountain biking, hiking, backpacking while my wife was pregnant. Her being able to track me gave her lots of relief from worry, and being able to text “ chain broke, walking out, going to be very late” saves her worrying all night. Edit: we are in Taiwan right now, I see it only works in a few countries, so I guess keeping the inreach
Very helpful; thanks so much!
I have family members who hike and fish offshore in the ocean. I appreciate the great comparisons.
subscribed
EXCELLENT! Thanks for presenting!
Glad to see that this works so well. I still like the features of my InReach Explorer Apple isn't as rugged either.
A word on Garmin InReach pricing - you can turn your subscription on and off at will. You do have to pay for a month at a time, but you can wait until you are going out the first time in the season, and turn it on. Then turn it off again if June is going to be too busy, then wait and maybe your next trip out isn't until late July, hit it again. So for less frequent users (like me, whose job prevents weekly trips), a year's worth of use may only cost you three or four months worth of service as long as you remember to turn it off. Personally, I've always turned it on, then turned it off right away because it continues for the month you paid for. Then I just check it each time I'm going to be using it to see if it's still subscribed through the duration of the trip (plus a safety day or two)
Wow
Thank you
Lots of info
Great video!! I'll keep an eye on the iPhone 14 (worldwide coverage and two way messaging is important to me).
Great content yet again. I worked in Search and Rescue in Australia for a number of years.
You mentioned PLBs briefly. Inreach and the newer tech is a great convenience. But for a proper emergency nothing beats a PLB. They are monitored by the SAR authorities for each SAR region around the world.
The coverage is excellent and your position is encoded and sent via 406mhz to the rescue satellite/s. If a signal is detected you are in the hands of the government not some private business. The PLBs also operate on 121.5mhz so ground crews and aircraft can use direction finding to locate you. All in all people should carry a PLB first, and then sat communicators for convenience.
Cheers, I really enjoy the content. I bought my in reach based on your original article, thanks!
Thank you and thank you for your time in SAR. Agree on the PLB, and I carry one as a backup. The downside of course is the lack of feedback and one-way comm, but they are solid. For years I lived on a sailboat and know that the same tech (EPIRBS) saved many lives. Cheers and happy new year!
All I can add to your detailed reply is that my ACR ResQLink PLB send a strong 5 WATT signal to the satellite, the strongest signal of any PLB, InReach, or Cell phone . YES, the signal goes DIRECTLY to SAR, not to an intermediary.
I've been carrying my PLB for 9 years, for that just in case situation where I'm desperate for help & unable to crawl back to the trailhead under my own power.
My primary navigation tool is my old reliable Garmin 62S GPS that I always have with me.
Warm Regards from Reno, Nevada
Great video, thanks for the information.
112 works on all GMS phones, anywhere on the planet with a GMS network, it's in the standard. It will automatically connect to what ever network it can and get you threw to emergency services.
That satellite testing page is no longer shown in settings on iOS.
Super good review and comparison! I'm an android user, probably won't switch to Apple. I'll stick with my inReach Mini 2 and basic annual plan.
The Apple is a good option though for loyal users.
One more point for the inreach: there is a case for scuba diving. If you surface and the boat ist gone they may find you. They point for the iPhone 14 for sure ist that you always have it with you, also when you're not hiking. One probably want to have both.......
My Inreach gives me a visual and audio signal when it sends and receives. I hike very rugged and remote areas of the Rocky mountains...never had a problem with Inreach communicating with satellites. Also, the Apple network has only 26 satellites while Iridium has 66....thats almost 3 times the coverage. I can also talk with multiple people with my InReach...you can't with the Apple. I have seen other people do vids on the Apple SOS and if you can't get the green signal your Apple is a brick. Plus my Inreach sends my signal every 10 minutes so in the even something happened to me and I am unable to send a signal, it will continue to send a signal every ten minutes or if it's completely crushed or submerged (or eaten along with me by a bear) at least they will have a starting point to start looking...your apple doesn't do that with no signal.
I've been talking to satellites for about 20 years now in remote areas via amateur radio. Doesn't cost me anything other than the equipment..and all that fits in a backpack along with food, water and other equipment I need. Not sure why everyone thinks these devices are the bee's knees.
Non-emergency messages good on SPOT-X also, including two-way text messages. I have iPhone14 also. Apple phones don't use all the birds. older birds don't hear phones. that will change over time.
you didnt fully blur 5:19
I've tested this a bunch with just the location sharing update and Apple is way slower 99% of the time. It also won't tell your emergency contacts that you updated the location
Thank you
Köszönjük!
Thank you!!!
Thank you thank you
Thanks for this video. It really helped me. At one point you recommend putting the iphone on airplane mode to save the battery. My question is if you are in a crash situation where you are unconscious will it still be able to call 911 if it's on airplane mode?
Good question - I think it will but I'm not positive
I’ve heard this has actually triggered false 911 calls by mistake. I couldn’t imagine out having a good time and a helicopter show up trying to save me.
Another caveat of Apple satellite communication is that how much you’ll be paying for search and rescue afterwards? Inreach has insurance plans to cover search & rescue and as I remember the lowest plan is as low as $30 something bucks per year.
In many places rescue is free if it's not deemed frivolous, regardless of how you trigger it
Still advisable to have two devices capable of emergency communications.
Personally i would never trust just a smartphone for travel in remote places. Even in major cities cell communication systems can be sketchy. Also the iPhone 14 Emergency option is not functional globally
You can suspend your subscription with the Garmin and don't have to pay the monthly fee if you aren't going to need it. Don't have to pay the annual fee.
Question. You have an Apple Watch with cellular but not activated and not connected to your iPhone. Can you still call emergency with out service but within range of a tower?
Do you know if in reach offers a discount to search and rescue personnel?
Fine to have this feature on the phone as a backup or for those not serious about backcountry or cold weather travel. To think of this as a replacement for a inreach would be insane. Phones are just FAR to fragile and awful battery life to really depend on. I'll stick with the Inreach.
Does the satellite-SOS functionality on the iphone14 work only in the US or also in Europe? Thanks.
full list of supported areas updated by Apple here: support.apple.com/en-us/HT213426
What about star link emergency comms on smart phones?
waiting for that to go live with T-Mobile
i got that one day with my iphone 12 pro max and wonder what that is
Hey there
I was recently in a situation that required helicopter rescue (ua-cam.com/video/vxF9qFjP5R0/v-deo.html) and I got tons of comments including rescue helicopter pilots. One pilot said he didn't like Inreach because the locations transmitted were not accurate. I don't know if this because he flew in Australia...... Have you heard anything about this?
I have not heard that before and the waypoints that I've marked with my inReach units have generally been within 20-30 ft at worst. Maybe he was referring to SPOT locators? inReach has got a decent track record at this point: www.garmin.com/en-US/newsroom/press-release/outdoor/garmin-inreach-aids-in-10000-incidents-thanks-to-two-way-communication-and-sos-functionality/
I hope there is a way to call for help without answering a wall of questions. Number of reasons where you can’t because of injuries or something else. Regular 911 if it connects and no response they assume you’re in trouble and respond. What happens with iPhone? Do they do the same or just disconnect, or Apple doesn’t even connect the call?
It will default to emergency contact without buttons if you don't press anything - the questionnaire is to help first responders access the call - without answering the GPS pos, battery level, and Medical ID info is sent
@@Hikingguy After thinking about this seems obvious that the correct answer is both. Since most carry a smartphone to have full use of a Garmin Inreach. My original Inreach Explorer battery has degraded so I'm upgrading to a Mini2.
I have to say, despite the shortcomings, this feature alone convinced me to buy the 14 even though I haven't planned it at all. I hike and run alone, often in places where there's no signal, but it's not really a backcountry either, so I never thought of buying inReach, but this extra level of security is just great.
yea, thanks for posting that, I think that's the sweet spot for this service, there's a decent amount of county parks by me that are not "extreme" but also don't have cell service - this will be great in those spots
Sats R Fake.
Sats R Fake.
Very informative. Thanks!
InReach is a far superior communication solution. It’s no contest really. Better connectivity, better battery life (by FAR), two-way communication, far more robust and experienced emergency communications centre and staff.
I agree with IPv6Freely: emergencies are critical but - thankfully - rare; but, the need to contact people to tell them about your situation ("arrived", "getting there late", etc) is very important. So, inReach still has the nod for me for the moment. Also, its "purpose built" form is very influential to me - especially battery life! And, let me not forget: this is a great review!!
The inreach connects to a team of professionals, the Apple team is being assembled now not something I would trust . The mini clips to your back and obviously a weather proof device. iPhones maybe, maybe not especially if you happen to tumble down the side of a mountain or drop into 35 degree water . How good would that iPhone be then . I’ve seen plenty of professional hikers and video hiking bloggers and almost to the person they have an inreach clipped to their shoulder straps .
The best SOS satellite is the one you have on you.
A great comprehensive review of these. I'm a motorcyclist and a boater. I have an inReach mini 2 already, but I'm also waist-deep in the Apple stuff (typing this on a iMac, with an iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch within 3 feet) so this appeals to me. Especially the crash detection feature of the watch and then using the sat aspect of the phone if a crash is detected. Makes solo riding a little safer.
21:22 People absolutely use 911 frivolously. Me, my daughter and several friends and family are first responders. However, that 5% of serious calls I’m really glad they called.
Nice review.. I just upgraded two family members to 14’s. I’ll continue to use my Garmin Inreach mini for now. Edit: during the recent severe storms in the NE of the 🇺🇸, I read where as many as 27 people died in their cars, when stranded. Imagine having had an iPhone 14 to prevent that. I get that most people in those situations would never own a PLB so a phone would have been a lifesaver.
Yea, agree 100%, obviously it's not perfect but it will def save more lives
Yep. Choosing the 14 (Pro) for precisely this feature
Not everyone likes iphone.
Always carry a personal locator beacon when going into the back country.
Do it for those who care about you.
I watched a youtube report of hiking Mt. Whitney. The group ascended from the parking lot few hours before daylight for few miles, ran into a group of stranded returning hikers with a disabled partner. The ascending hikers used InReach to send SOS. The stranded group had a satellite SOS device requiring the support of a phone; but the phone AND the backup battery charger both fully drained! It took more than 6 hours till the rescue arrived while the helping group continued communicating on InReach! Together they carried the disabled hiker down to a location the rescuing helicopter could land.
Lesson: the SOS communication may take a long time. Not every gadget has the long endurance as InReach has.
WOW❗️This is a 5 Stars Review❗️I think it shows when a UA-camr do it with compassion. I am amaze about all the details you provide us. Bravo Hiking Guy❗️
Bot
Thanks for the statement, "It's truly amazing". People are so spoiled with tech, and have so little idea and respect for how amazing it is. Yes I look forward to a review when Android offers SOS. According to the hype, it will crush apples.
better keep both, garmin still worth the price
Nice comparison. One thing you didn’t mention was that Garmin offers an insurance plan that covers the cost of rescue worldwide. This can get expensive if you have to get a medivac via helicopter or other means, to a hospital or back to your home country.
check this out - ua-cam.com/video/G-Iy-VXrggA/v-deo.html
it sure is better to track YOUR a$$ and leave a permanent record of your journey.
I choose stand alone gps.
Thanks for a great review, I never knew Apple had brought this in until i saw an article that Samsung will probably do it on the next Galaxy Ultra. It's not something I'd use often but always handy to have.
Excellent video as always.
I love my inreach and most definitely will gladly keep paying my annual susbcription and wilk continue using it during my hikes. The durability and sturdiness of the inreach as well as the reliability of their center of operations is what is all about. Thank you so much for such great review.
Wow! This video must have taken you MANY, MANY hours/days to research for us. You contacted many organizations and studied lots of technical data. Much Appreciated.
I agree. Most helpful video.
Kudos on the interject about being able to reach emergency services on older phones as well and not just the latest models. 👍
Great review! I just got an iPhone 14 and I did not know this. I was a SAR member 30 years ago and I remember the many stories which didn’t end well, this technology is definitely a great step forward to help people and searchers will have vital information that they need right away. One of the cons with the iPhone is the battery and to counter that bring a battery bank as a back up.
You mentioned trying this is a narrow canyon by Las Vegas and I’m thinking “Ice Box Canyon” if so that is very impressive
Well thanks for serving as a SAR member - I know it's a challenging job with risk. And yes, Ice Box was the one. Before going in there I didn't think that anything would really work so I was surprised by the 1min send on the iPhone. Blows my mind sometimes.
great explanation in detail this was VERY helpful and useful.
Dude, you rock! What a thorough report. Big kudos, very informative. Thanks!
Solid comparison video and, for me, a good understanding of the iPhone capabilities versus the inReach Mini 2 that I already have. I use Android phones, which will be adding this capability in the upcoming OS release. Thanks for making this video!
We built the Global Star sat system back in the late 90s, under the name Space System Loral.
But actually it was built in Italy and launched by the Soyuz rockets to space.
It went bankrupt 2 years later, after when online.
Couldn't generate enough money even to break even for the cost to keep it to operate.
It was sold for pennies for the military, just like Iridium, the Motorola sat system.
Global Star was designed to work anywhere on Earth, except the N & S polls.
Great video, Just picked up an iPhone 14 and tried out the Find my phone app several times here in The Highlands of Scotland. Works really well. Tells the other people in your group that you have used satellite if they look. Handy to have as its essentially free.
thank you - great to hear that it's working well in that part of the world too
Garmin Inreach is 2 way, rugged, and makes it far more useful, but needs a subscription.
Not available in Australia or NZ as of Jan 2023. 😢
I was just about to pull the pin on upgrading from my trusty 6S to the 14, but won’t just yet until we have this feature available. I’m not paying A$1400 (that’s base model base memory!) for an iPhone 14 until I can get all its features.
Greetings from Brazil. This satellite communication feature was most likely suggested by a pilot of an airplane that crashed in the Amazon jungle and in 2021 was missing for 36 days in a remote part of the jungle. His name is Antônio Araújo de Sena, he was piloting a Cessna 210 and after he managed to be rescued, he published a book and was interviewed by several newspapers, including The New York Times. He said in his interviews that he sent suggestions to Apple because, even in the jungle, he had a GPS signal, but he had no way of sending an SOS request. He said that he figured if he could send a message back showing where he was, he could be rescued. I think Apple took advantage of his suggestion.
I get that it's a good idea it's excellent but...
GPS coordinates exist for a reason
@@REAL-UNKNOWN-SHINOBI But GPS coordinates don't matter if you can't tell anybody where those coordinates are. That's the point he was trying to make. If you're injured severely, or you can't send any messages... Then having GPS coordinates is useless. BUT having this technology built into cellular devices, is a game changer. It means that people can send messages through GPS to get help.
Send smoke signals
2023 will be interesting,Android,Iridium and Garmin (IERCC) have now joined into a working agreement for the upcoming Galaxy S23,the new qualcomm processor will enable satelite txting
Great review, thumbs up. One input about considderations in Europe. As many aid organizations get wrong alarms sent out automatically from smartwatches, iPhones, etc during skiing, aid organizations evaluate to charge costs of unnecessary rescue operations to the person whos phone sent out wrong alarm. What's about this cases in USA, do you need to pay, if a wrong alarm from your iPhone cause unnecessary rescue operations?
Right now there are a bunch of false alarms going off from the Apple car crash detection feature. Apple is pushing out a fix to address it and I'll keep an eye out to see what happens. I don't think those people are being charged here in the USA but hard to tell (that aspect is not really being reported on). In general for the USA, if your rescue call is considerred frivolous (like just being tired), you will get charged. I've heard of accidental triggers on PLBs before and I don't think anyone had to pay.
I don't think the demo mode actually contacts satellites, thus doing reception tests in demo mode is probably useless.... am I wrong?
I reached out to Apple before I did this and they said the sat connection is real, but the connection to SOS response is not.
Question on location, using Google or Apple Maps, back country, no signal, off line maps saved, non emergency, will my location show on map?
Think it just shows with gray, but new iOS will have offline maps - this Fall
Very cool article. This just motivated me enough to upgrade from the 13 pro max to the 15 pro max as of Sept 2023. Now, I see they've added 'Roadside assistance' to the satellite functionality. The inReach seems like another great option to take safety & security to another level. Their basic service is very reasonably priced.
thanks for this informative and balanced video
Excellent presentation. Something we maybe should bear in mind is the relative transmitter power of these devices. This info could be out of date by now, but the reason I carry a PLB as well as an Inreach is that the transmitter on my Inreach is 0.5 Watts, whereas the PLB is 5 Watts which makes it 10x more powerful. I know that when I have been in the heavily wooded areas and deep gullies of the Blue Mountains in Australia, the Inreach doesn't always get a satellite fix, hence I carry the PLB as emergency backup. I would be interested to know the power of the iphone 14 transmitter in this regard.
Yea I looked for the transmit power but Apple is usually tight-lipped about hard specs - I think it's using the Qualcomm X65 modem but couldn't find any specs that I could compare to a PLB, etc.
Excellent point and is why I threw my spot device out due to its unreliability. I now carry a PLB anytime I go into the mountains.
In the last few weeks of my PCT thru hike, I got hit by a massive rain/snow storm. I was fine, and basically just sitting in my tent staying warm, but my family was expecting me to be in town and reach out in the next 2 days, which wasn't going to happen. In order to avoid any panic or a potential search and rescue situation, I used my InReach to message my family "I'm warm and safe, just going to be in town a few days late". The ability to send non SOS messages is a must for a gps safety device, imo.
One thing I didn't see if you addressed was whether the iPhone satellite connection worked with bad weather. Did you test it in a rain storm? My Inreach sent a message in the pouring rain, from inside my tent, even though I was basically in a canyon. I don't know if I would trust an iPhone to do the same
I’m glad this exists but I won’t give up device that allows me to send “I’m okay” messages as well as “Help Needed” messages. Those are important for peace of mind of family.
Aside from the inherent issues with touchscreens in the rain, the messages went through same as without rain when testing (in PNW).
I was in a car crash a couple weeks ago and my Iphone went off and called 911. I was extremely greatful for the software of my phone.
The word is "Grateful" 😀
International Emergency Phone Number is 112.
Liked and subscribed! Thank you for making this. Very informative
Any word on Samsung offering a similar feature in future phones?
not officially but I'd imagine you'd see them in Samsung at some point
There is no way I will depend on the iphone in the backcountry.. Nice video though. good review.
This is such a well done comprehensive video. Great job.
Thanks for this! I'm somebody that really would only use this in an emergency situation. I was recently looking at the Garmins but man - not cheap. I'd also been semi-interested in upgrading my phone. For the cost of paying off my current contract for the 12 Pro, going up to the 14, I'm actually saving a bit. Thanks again for the awesome information!
What I need is to receive an email with a weather file attached to it. This file, then would be imported and displayed on the map. Is this possible on inReach or iPhone14?
No what you're describing is a GRIB file download via sat - sailors do it quite a bit - maybe some answers here: blog.pivotel.com/bid/344192/How-to-Get-Weather-Files-Over-Satellite-The-Basics
Iphone emergency is only for emergency messages and limited availability. Garmin Inreach is able to send text messages to any mobile phone. IMO inreach is more robust and globally available.
Superb & thorough video. Well done! Thanks you!
I'm just waiting on T-Mobile and starlink to be fully operational 2023/24. This will allow any phone on T-Mobile network to have voice, text and limited data out in the wild.
Yea I'm excited to see how that all rolls out too. I reached out to Starlink & T-Mobile to see if I could do an interview / get some info / test it out early, but radio silence. I don't think I'm a sexy enough influencer for them...
Chip manufacturer Qualcomm have joined up with Iridium & a new company called Snapdragon Satellite was set up. The sat communication service has already been taken up by 17 device manufacturers that develop android phones. Meaning that not only will phones have also emergency sat communication, it will be ran on the Iridium network which allows global coverage. If that isn't cool enough, the messaging service allows you to communicate with anyone & won't limit you to just emergency services.
I think this will be a good thing for sat comm and consumers. Competition is good for business. Garmin needs someone to come along and keep them on their toes. Their new Messenger app is def a step in the right direction. And I think this is also a good thing for apple users. I'm an Android guy and likely always will be, and I don't see myself parting ways with Garmin anytime soon either. Top of my wish list now is a new GPSMAP with USB C. 67sr maybe?
Since you are Android user, congratulations! Qualcomm implemented Iridium network messaging in their Snapdragon chip (the same chips that is in Android phones). Hopefully soon you will be fully text with your phone, Garmin can also stay there :)
@@asht7788 Yes. Samsung is also in talks with Iridium. But I really don't care for texting or communicating while I'm hiking/biking. I go to get away from all that. Inreach suits my needs just fine. I have it purely for emergency only. And 90% of my adventuring is remote and rugged out of cell range, so really won't help me anyway. But this is all good overall for the big picture in Sat/cell comm.
You can dial 112 anywhere in the world and you’ll be connected to emergency service in that country. GSM phones only (ie most phones on the planet). This is part of the GSM standard and all the ‘dial emergency services’ button is doing is dialling 112. All carriers are required to carry an emergency call everywhere in the world - again, part of the GSM standard. You don’t need a SIM card to make an emergency call. In many countries, regulations force mobile cos to have a completely separate band to carry emergency calls (usually a lower frequency band) on the network.
Thanks for a great video! I'll be interested to see how the iPhone functionality develops.
I'm not ready to trade in my Garmin just yet, however.
I frequently use the InReach messaging feature to communicate with family and friends when I am hiking or camping in locations without cell service.
During a solo hike last spring I suddenly felt like I was going to pass out. (It turned out to be atril fibrillation - AFib) I did not have to activate the SOS feature, but was able to message my husband every 15 minutes to let him know what was happening - and that I was still walking and still okay. It was worth every dollar I've paid to Garmin to be able to do that!
Happy New Year!
Happy new gear and glad to hear that the Garmin came in handy. I've used it many times to tell the wife that I'm running late. I'm a big fan of the non-emergency functionality. Guessing it will probably come to the iPhone (with a fee) in the future. 👍
Great info. Laughing about the durability. I have broke two spots, my Garmins hold up so much better.
How do you think an iPhone will hold up?
The Starlink T-Mobile style comms are starting to spread to others like AT&T with AST Spacemobile. And it probably will be easier to connect and more reliable because it uses existing cellular frequencies and the phone thinks you’re on a tower. Can’t wait to see this action.
Yea same, excited to see how that system pans out
I have my old iPhone 11 Pro Max. I also am a sailor and sometimes go on “epic” sailing vacations where we charter a bit 45 foot Catamaran in various locations around the world. Because of my sailing hobby about four years ago I bought the Garmin InReach Explorer+. I have paid a monthly fee of around $45 since then. I have rarely used it, pretty much only for an occasional text, or test message. I have never used it for an emergency. But it’s insurance to me.
I value feeling safe, particularly now that I’m married and have my wife to protect. One more thing. I don’t always have the Garmin unit with me. We have a sailboat where we live locally and often go out for a day sail off of the California coast on the Pacific ocean (or even for a multi day trip to Catalina Island a handful of times a year). I have found during these times that we sometimes find ourselves out of cell phone range. So my wife and I agreed a few days ago that we are going to upgrade our iPhones to the latest 14 models. If we can have that satellite link no matter where we are, why not have it with us at all times?
The fact that its free for 2yrs vs the InReach that isn't .. well that sells it for me. Those suscription based plans are really expensive. Especially if it used not to text but just for an emergency call. Don't get me wrong, I love my InReach as it has maps/weather/location and ability to text if I pay... But it is an extra device I have to carry. Now I can do that all in a device I already have on me.
Excellent informative in depth video. Thank you for taking the time!
Thank you, you presented a really great review. There is definitely a big difference between an Iridium / InReach and Globalstar systems. Hard core adventurer vs urban area users is a clear distinction for me.
What Id like to see with the Iphone is whether or not it's using location data to optimize the satellite connection. I've noticed typically on the first day of a hike the GPS still works even when I'm out of cell, range but after a few days it seems to have no idea where I'm at. I also usually turn my phone off at night to save battery. How does it work if I'm 75 miles into the backcountry and haven't pinged a tower in 4 days? In any case the lack of messaging is an issue for me. We helped an injured climber last year on Mt Williamson, and the ability ability to coordinate directly with InyoSAR probably cut hours off her rescue time. We've also used it to book a float plane to take us off an island after our scheduled ferry never showed up. For a casual hiker though it seems like a great option.
GPS on smartphone can indeed operate without external assistance (without cellular connectivity).
Your problem is probably caused by the iPhone discarding the stored almanac and ephermis data and the RTC drift after certain duration of GPS inactivity (or after a device restarts). On most cases that’s not a problem because it can get both data and fairly accurate clock from internet or from local cell tower in less than a second.
However without a cell service, your device will have to acquire all three data on their own and that takes time. It takes around 12.5 minutes to download the almanac from the satellite, 30 seconds for the ephermis data, thus you should give around 3-15 minutes for a phone without cellular connectivity to get satellite lock on cold start up.
You are amazing
Thank you!🙏
From what I understand is that Apple is using STARLINK for their sat service, which is 1/2 the distance to sat than garmin's sats. The car crash over the cliff was a Tesla and the car its self called emergency services thru cell coverage with the cars WIFI , they all lived [ no other crash there has anyone lived ] because they were in the Safest car in the world. I have had Garmin inreach for 7 years now and have had one occasion too use it for SOS. The service was nothing but AMAZING . Well worth the money and service contract.
Apple uses Globastar - no phone is using Starling yet but I'm excited to see when it does - and I spoke with folks familiar with the rescue, it was an iPhone but you're right, the Tesla held up very well in the crash
Very nice comparison, thanks for posting! I have Garmin 66i and like it a lot in spite of Basecamp and Caltopo limitations for navigation. In reach texting had worked well. How does Gaia navigation and initial map route creation compare to 66i?
Inreach works worldwide iPhone satellite communications doesn’t work worldwide.
I've seen many people using an inReach but have never seen someone use it in an emergency. These two items have a very different purpose.
Two-way emergency notification capability can work in both directions: I will cut short my backcountry trip if I am notified of a problem back home.
It would be great to see a video determining if it’s better than a true personal locator beacon which I can answer you it’s not. The true personal locator beacons have a full 5 W of power, which means you can get out from deep in a canyon or under a snow covered canopy. Also, the battery last five years so there’s no forgetting to recharge your battery. Also, it uses three different satellite constellations they all are at different places in space, and they cover different parts of the Earth, there’s no pointing the device toward a particular satellite is moving. Also a works anywhere in the world, including Antarctica. Finally, the personal locator beacons and the one I use is made by the company called ACR was made specifically for search and rescue, and the entire system is designed for this purpose. Almost all governments of the world subscribe to the system when an activation is received search and rescue assets and will be deployed. That is not the case with some private systems like the spot. The spot only uses one satellite constellation, and there have been people that have died because search and rescue was not sent because the person that spot did not “think“ it was an emergency. I think it’s best to have both kinds of devices. Certainly the satellite communicators are very helpful in that you can have to a communication that’s great, but if I had to choose one, I would choose one that I know is going to work in any case under any circumstances and I do not have to worry about getting a signal out or having a dead battery. Thank you for the video. I’m very anxious to see how the Apple 14 set up works and I think it’s a huge benefit that Apple is adding these to their iPhones, because something is better than nothing for sure and certainly there is a large group of people who will just not think about safety in this manner and unfortunately Costner and only themselves but their families and friends their lives.