Iphone Satellite messaging vs Zoleo

[Greenbelt]

Interested to know anyone's experience or opinions. Going on an hunt in October. I've used a Zoleo for years to message the family in the morning and at night and been extremely happy with it. I'm wondering if anyone has ditched their Garmin or Zoleo and gone with the Iphone satellite messaging exclusively. If you have what was your experience compared to your previous device. Was the service dependable, spotty, non existent etc?

 

[ScottyB82]

I have added T-sat from T-Mobile to my AT&T serviced iPhone. Its $10 / month and uses starlink satellites so i can use the data to iMessage or any WIFI platform

 

[chizelhead]

I just used Apple’s iMessage via satellite for the first time in the Yukon. My carrier is Verizon, so iMessage handled the satellite messaging. Overall, it was outstanding compared to my Garmin inReach. It worked reliably outdoors under clear skies, with some tree cover, and even from inside my KUIU Mountain Star tent. The only thing I still needed the inReach for was weather. I’ll keep the Garmin as a backup until iMessage matures and adds weather reports.

For me, battery life wasn’t an issue with the iPhone. I keep it off when not in use, run in Low Power Mode, in airplane mode when I don't need to communicate and dim the screen—since the display is the biggest power draw. I’m not constantly checking my phone, so I don’t mind when messages download after I power it on. I also don’t mind pointing the phone at the satellite or waiting a bit to send. My longest wait was about 12 minutes, but most connections were immediate or within a minute or two. For the long one, I set a 12-minute timer, did other tasks, and used the phone when the connection was ready.

 

[Greenbelt]

I have added T-sat from T-Mobile to my AT&T serviced iPhone. Its $10 / month and uses starlink satellites so i can use the data to iMessage or any WIFI platform

I'm reading that your phone has to be unlocked is this true?

 

[Greenbelt]

I just used satellite iMessage for the first time in the Yukon. My service is Verizon, so iMessage was the Apple service. IMO it was outstanding compared to Garmin inReach. It worked well outside with a clear sky, some tree interference, and from inside my Kuiu Mt Star tent. The only thing I used my inReach for was weather reports. I'll continue to use Garmin as a backup until iMessage matures more and includes weather reports.

Yea the weather thing is a plus. But I'm thinking about ditching it this year all together but I guess there is the emergency button that can be pushed which is the only thing making me think twice I guess.

 

[benconfused]

I will tell you first hand my experience:
1 month ago in Alaska, North of Brooks range. My buddy had a garmin sat device and I was using my iphone satellite.

The iphone is very much a point and hold to find the satellite and hold connection - for very basic "I'm safe, I'm alive" type messaging it will work, but it is very very slow and weather is a huge factor. We were snowed in our tent for 3 days and while it worked, the garmin was 100 times better and more efficient than the sat iphone.

For comms with our guide service (we used a drop plane to get to our hunting spot) I do NOT recommend solely going out there with an Iphone sat device.

Last year: archery elk in Montana in the Gravelies - sat phone works fine for "safe" messaging, where ever we went. Mind you we were hunting from a truck, much different than being in Alaska.

My Alaska trip last month has finally brought me to the point that I'll buy a dedicated sat comms device in the next year.

Hope that helps.

 

[Norcal18]

I have T-mobile that uses Starlink and when I’ve gone to place where I normally have zero cell service the satellite texting is just as quick and effective. I’ll be heading out on a hunt next week and be using just my phone.

 

[bow_dozer]

Sat thru iPhone (Verizon)had been faster for sending and receiving. As benconfused stated tho, its point and shoot, stay point to be connected. There have been quite a few places that’s trees, cliffs etc have obstructed the view thus no satellite.
I have ditched the zoleo and use this as my primary, I’m in NW WY. If I was doing extended stay out of service I would want a true sat comm for emergency services/weather.

 

[IdahoHntr]

I haven’t ditched my inreach yet but I have downgraded to the cheapest possible plan and do all normal messaging with my iPhone. For now I will keep the inreach as a backup, but at this rate I don’t see needing the inreach for very much longer. Opposite to one of the posts above, the iPhone has been significantly faster and easier than the inreach for me. The inreach takes forever and if I’m in a deeper canyon of any sort it really struggles while the iPhone just shoots messages out without much problem.

 

[homers]

I like the hikingguy videos on topic on his YouTube channel. I agree with his current recommendation. He recently reviewed T-Mobile DTC including ability for some apps to get data including downloading a map via Sat for offline use later. iPhone is ok for sending basic texts, but would not trust his life on it. Garmin with the basic $8/mo plan for emergency.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

I like the hikingguy videos on topic on his YouTube channel. I agree with his current recommendation. He recently reviewed T-Mobile DTC including ability for some apps to get data including downloading a map via Sat for offline use later. iPhone is ok for sending basic texts, but would not trust his life on it. Garmin with the basic $8/mo plan for emergency.

i haven’t used my inreach since I my iphone satellite messaging kicked in. I spent several days in the frank this year and just got back from Alaska on a 14 day caribou hunt. Satellite messaging was flawless.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

We switched to t-mobile and all have the satellite texting and it works very well even somehow receiving texts in my pocket automatically. The only thing I don't like is that it's a single point of failure so I plan to carry my PLB in case of a real emergency.

 

[wapitibob]

Interested to know anyone's experience or opinions. Going on an hunt in October. I've used a Zoleo for years to message the family in the morning and at night and been extremely happy with it. I'm wondering if anyone has ditched their Garmin or Zoleo and gone with the Iphone satellite messaging exclusively. If you have what was your experience compared to your previous device. Was the service dependable, spotty, non existent etc?

I've used the included Iphone sat texting quite a bit and also carry a Zoleo.
There is no comparison between the two when the shiit hits the fan. Break your leg, being immobile, then try following satellites with the phone..... Or better yet, have a chest ripper, pull out the iphone, wait for it to connect, then get the message, "next satellite will be in range in 12 minutes".
The iphone sat texting is great for telling buddies you have a bull down, it's not an emergency sat device, not even close.
The t-mobile star link setup may be a lot better, I haven't used that.

 

[Wrongside]

I used both inReach and iPhone sat messaging on our week long sheep hunt beginning of Sept. I’ll be keeping the inReach for the foreseeable future. Maybe once we get cell to Starlink up here I’ll revisit this. But for now, the inReach is easier, faster, and has great battery life.

 

[Blackcow]

I used the iPhone sat some deer hunting last month. IMO, if you’re just keeping in touch with the ole lady, works pretty good. If I was on a know or ridge top that is. If I was down in a timbered canyon it was an exercise is patience ( and walking in a circle keeping a Satellite). For emergency use, absolutely not. Or at least not alone. With someone else there I guess it would better than nothing and could get you out of a mess.

 

[Bailer]

I love my T-Mobile in Arizona, NM and Co. I is used it on Prince of Wales Island and the coverage was more intermittent. I had to point it at the one available satellite and occasionally got a message to wait a few minutes for one to come over the horizon.

 

[Deadspace]

I just got back from Alaska with my dad and I had my garmin with my iPhone and he just used his sat iPhone. I could not receive messages from him and he couldn’t receive messages from me. Him connecting to the satellite drained his phone battery pretty fast so he turned his phone off when he wasn’t using it. The garmin was way better in every way in my opinion. Gives you weather, doesn’t drain your phone battery when sending messages on the app and the garmin itself doesn’t use much battery either. Mine was the mini 2.

Another thing I noticed, maybe operator error here, but I couldn’t message him via satellite message when I turned my satellite feature on on my iPhone. I thought that was strange. I guess my recommendation is bring both

 

[406flyfish]

I would not trust an IPhone. I made the mistake of leaving my Garmin behind.

We did an extended rafting trip in a canyon and could not send or receive messages for the duration of our trip. I connected to satellites multiple times through out the trip with no success.

It wasn’t until I got out that I received 5 days of messages at once. Meanwhile, my friend with the Garmin was in communication.

 

[teamsprock]

I have been out goat hu ting lately and I have had a Verizon iPhone and a ZOLEO.

Both have worked fine for sending messages to home and work. However, the iPhone only sends and receives the messages while you are connected. My phone will not upload old messages (I.e if someone sends me a message in the morning and I then connect in the afternoon). ZOLEO does send me the messages, even if they were sent while the device was off. Once I connect I get all my messages.

I will keep carrying the zoleo for that purpose.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

I have been out goat hu ting lately and I have had a Verizon iPhone and a ZOLEO.

Both have worked fine for sending messages to home and work. However, the iPhone only sends and receives the messages while you are connected. My phone will not upload old messages (I.e if someone sends me a message in the morning and I then connect in the afternoon). ZOLEO does send me the messages, even if they were sent while the device was off. Once I connect I get all my messages.

I will keep carrying the zoleo for that purpose.

That's good info.

Anybody know if the native T-Mobile starlink is the same way? If so that's a pretty big deal for check in procedures.