Posted on 11/22/2022 8:09:57 AM PST by Red Badger
With iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models, you can use Emergency SOS via satellite to text emergency services when you're out of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage. You can also use the Find My app to share your location with people via satellite.
How Emergency SOS via satellite works
Emergency SOS via satellite can help you connect with emergency services under exceptional circumstances when no other means of reaching emergency services are available. If you call or text emergency services and can't connect because you're outside the range of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, your iPhone tries to connect you via satellite to the help that you need.
When you use a satellite connection, the experience is different than sending or receiving a message via cellular. In ideal conditions with a direct view of the sky and the horizon, a message might take 15 seconds to send, and over a minute to send under trees with light or medium foliage. If you're under heavy foliage or surrounded by other obstructions, you might not be able to connect to a satellite.
Connection times can also be impacted by your surroundings, the length of your message, and the status and availability of the satellite network.
Emergency SOS via satellite is free for two years after the activation of iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Pro.
Be ready in case of an emergency
If you're going somewhere that might be outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, here are some ways to be prepared.
Try the Emergency SOS via satellite demo
To learn how Emergency SOS via satellite works, try the demo. You need to be outside, on relatively open terrain, with a clear view of the sky. Trees with light foliage might slow down the connection and dense foliage might block it. Hills or mountains, canyons, and tall structures can also block the connection.
If you don't have Location Services turned on for Satellite Connection, you're prompted to turn them on before you start the demo.
Open the Settings app.
Tap Emergency SOS.
Under Emergency SOS via satellite, tap Try Demo, then follow the onscreen instructions.
To use the demo, you need to be in a country or region where Emergency SOS via satellite is available.
The demo does not call emergency services.
Set up the information that you want to share
When you use Emergency SOS via satellite, you can share your Medical ID and notify your emergency contacts. You need to have this information set up prior to an emergency.
Set up your Medical ID and add emergency contacts in the Health app
To share your location via satellite with someone in the Find My app, you need to already be sharing your location with that person in Find My before you're outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage.
Share your location in Find My
Use Emergency SOS via satellite
When you're in a place with no cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, you can still use your iPhone to text emergency services via satellite connection.
Follow the onscreen prompts to connect to a satellite.
Connect to a satellite
If you need to contact emergency services, follow these tips to help connect your iPhone to a satellite:
Hold your phone naturally in your hand. You don't need to raise your arm or hold your phone up, but don't put it in a pocket or backpack.
Make sure that you're outside with a clear view of the sky and the horizon.
Be aware that trees with light foliage might slow down the connection, and dense foliage might block it. Hills or mountains, canyons, and tall structures can also block the connection.
In case you need to turn left or right or move to avoid a blocked signal, your iPhone provides guidance—just follow the onscreen instructions.
The satellite connection can be maintained even if your phone screen is locked.
If your call can't connect, tap Emergency Text via Satellite
Text emergency services via satellite
First, try calling emergency services. Even if your normal cellular carrier network isn't available, you might be able to make the call.
If your call won't connect, you can text emergency services via satellite:
Tap Emergency Text via Satellite.
You can also go to Messages to text 911 or SOS, then tap Emergency Services.
Tap Report Emergency.
Using simple taps, answer the emergency questions to best describe your situation.
Choose to notify your emergency contacts that you contacted emergency services, along with your location and the nature of your emergency.
To connect to a satellite, follow the onscreen instructions.
After you're connected, continue following the onscreen instructions to stay connected while you send your message to emergency services.
Once you’re connected, your iPhone starts a text conversation with emergency responders by sharing critical information like your Medical ID and emergency contact information (if you have set them up), the emergency questionnaire answers, your location (including elevation), and remaining battery life for your iPhone.
You might be asked to respond to additional messages. Only Latin characters (such as English or French) are supported in these messages. At launch, this service supports American English, American Spanish, and Canadian French.
I used to go on very long, desert road motorcycle rides. This would have been nice to have in my back poscket.
This is good, so the people with no climbing experience who get stuck on a mountain in a snow storm because they didn’t check the weather can call for a $25,000 emergency crew paid for by taxpayers.
InReach works pretty much world wide and goes directly to a rescue center. If you break a leg hiking the Andes, overlanding on BLM land in Wyoming or abandon ship in the middle of the Pacific, InReach is the device for you. Before starting an off grid adventure, seriously consider a specialized insurance package from a 3rd party. Private, rescue specialized companies could be the primary responder and amazing, big time $$$ can be incurred.
The iPhone 14 SOS appears to be a good and lower capability option for the masses. I'm content with my iPhone 12 but am teetering on swapping out to the 14 or 14 plus. I live in the NC mountains and cell phone coverage is spotty. For that matter, cell phone coverage is marginal to unavailable in about 1/3 to 1/2 of the 48 state land area.
I agree on the differences.
But, I like the Inreach Explorer+ not only for the SOS capability, but also for the ability to engage in a texting or emailing exchange with anyone I choose from anywhere.
For $13/month, I get 10 messages of either type. After that, they are $0.50 each. I think that is a bargain.
Also, I am an Android user. So, I will wait until Samsung comes out with a competitive product — or — until Elon Musk sells his anticipated cellphone with StarLink connectivity.
FYI, I am closing out all business with firms that pulled advertising from Twitter because of Musk being a conservative.
You'd know better than me but I understand the InReach do some cool things with its bread crumb tracking of the track, land or sea. It can send out a communications message automatically to prearranged contacts that correlate to the bread crumb locations. That way, family or friends can know where you're at that moment in time.
Also, I think that you can set a small number of prearranged and brief messages via the website to designated contacts. Ex. I'm ok, Send help, etc. These prearranged messages are not counted as a text message I think? Cheers…
Thank You for Posting this. I’d forgotten about it and ran across this Thread while I was closing some of the 200+ Tabs that I had open.
Anyway I wanted to add that I have an iPhone XR and the service is available on it also.
TECHNOLOGY (((PING)))
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