New electronics

Need some advice on purchasing new electronics.  Really lost on this area.  So far I have Gaia on my phone and I have a Garmin Fenix 8.

While I'm out in areas with no cell service I need to message my partner to say all's well, where I am, back from climb and here at camp etc.   And of course to send a SOS when I need help.

So it looks like the 2 frontrunners for messaging and sending a SOS signal are Zoleo and Garmin Messenger.  Then I realize that Apple too has the capability and throw in Starlink while I'm at it.

Too make my decision more complicated I started looking at Garmin's site and some of their GPS systems have inReach technology so why not get a GPS so I don't need to rely on my cell phone as the GPS has a longer battery life?

How did you all decide on what to get?  There's so many options out there.  Thanks

I have a Zoleo. I enjoy its functions and considering I almost always have my cell on me, the features really stand out. And atvleats when I don't have my cell I can still SOS and send check ins.
Also the monthly price is not egregious, and the ability to pause and un pause the account is super easy. Oh, also its easy to clip to the harness.

don't have an inreach to compare or new enough I phone for the sat feature. T-mobile starlink thing might be pretty awesome too. but for a dedicated SOS communicator the Zoleo has been excellent.

I've got the grain epix gen2, inreach mini 2, and iphone 15pro.  

the ability to pair and send a SOS or message from watch through inreach is why I'm not changing any time soon.  can I send a sat message from iphone yes, but what's the long term cost with that methodology?

I'm in telecommunications industry.  Starlink has been the single biggest disruptor to an entire satellite comms industry.  we are seeing entire sections just die off like the floppy disk when CDs came out.  if and when we get starlink to the phone will be another evolutionary leap.

I had the older model inreach with full screen as a backup nav device (not wanting to rely on phone)  but hardly used it.  I've nav'd with my watch more than the inreach - if only to read contour lines and maintain a line of bearing/azimuth while tromping through the rhododendrons.   You've got a great device on your wrist, make use of it     

RWPTwrote:

So it looks like the 2 frontrunners for messaging and sending a SOS signal are Zoleo and Garmin Messenger.  Then I realize that Apple too has the capability and throw in Starlink while I'm at it.

Zoleo and Garmin use the Iridium network, iphone uses the Globalstar network.  It's worth doing some digging before you commit to one or the other.

Starlink isn't a viable solution for most climbing-type applications.  It is much larger and requires a significant source of power and has a higher monthly cost.  It's more appropriate for traveling in a van, or for a very luxurious expedition basecamp.  https://www.starlink.com/specifications?spec=5

Anecdotal, but all of my partners that have some sort of satellite messenger are using InReach devices.

I used to have the In Reach and then the Somewhere Labs device.  After they both bit the dust I bought the newest iPhone and have been using its satellite messaging and have been very pleased with it.   It seems to connect faster than either of my previous devices.   I never used the gps capabilities with my In Reach so I don’t miss it.   For purely messaging I will stick with the iPhone for now until I can find a reason not to.

Kyle Tarrywrote:

Zoleo and Garmin use the Iridium network, iphone uses the Globalstar network.  It's worth doing some digging before you commit to one or the other.

Starlink isn't a viable solution for most climbing-type applications.  It is much larger and requires a significant source of power and has a higher monthly cost.  It's more appropriate for traveling in a van, or for a very luxurious expedition basecamp.  https://www.starlink.com/specifications?spec=5

Anecdotal, but all of my partners that have some sort of satellite messenger are using InReach devices.

Technology is just changing too fast!

https://www.starlink.com/us/business/direct-to-cell

Just a note about the inreach subscription. You no longer have the ability to pause it so it’s a year round monthly fee. 

Garmin Messenger can work with non-Garmin service plans.  I use protegear.de that lets me turn it on one day at a time.

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Technology is just changing too fast!

https://www.starlink.com/us/business/direct-to-cell

Yes, this definitely could be a viable option, once it's out of the current T-Mobile Beta test phase.  Hard to know how long it will be until it's widely available and robust, though.  In the meantime, I'll keep carrying my InReach when I might need satellite comms.

Kyle Tarrywrote:

Yes, this definitely could be a viable option, once it's out of the current T-Mobile Beta test phase.  Hard to know how long it will be until it's widely available and robust, though.  In the meantime, I'll keep carrying my InReach when I might need satellite comms.

Looks like you can try it out, FOC,  with any carrier until July

https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/satellite-phone-service#sign-up-beta-form

If you scroll down to the FAQ, they show what phones will work

I signed up and got the following reply:

• You’re on the list! Due to high demand, we’re admitting beta testers on a rolling basis. Keep an eye out for an update in the coming weeks. Non-T-Mobile customers will need an unlocked, satellite optimized phone to participate. The beta is free for all. When T-Satellite launches in July, it will be included with our Experience Beyond and Go5G Next plans. For a limited time, when customers sign up for Experience More, they will get free satellite service through the end of the year.  Everybody else, including Verizon and AT&T customers, can get it for a limited time for $10/mo. (savings of $5/mo.)

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Looks like you can try it out, FOC,  with any carrier until July

https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/satellite-phone-service#sign-up-beta-form

If you scroll down to the FAQ, they show what phones will work

Here's the list. I am able to participate in the beta with my iPhone 13 mini (official climber phone) which is on Verizon:

Eligible Devices

• Apple iPhone 13, iPhone 14, iPhone 15, or iPhone 16 (all models)
• Google Pixel 9 (including Pro, Pro Fold, & Pro XL)
• Motorola razr 2024 and later (including razr+, razr+ ultra 2025)
• Samsung X Cover7 Pro
• Samsung Galaxy A36 (including SE)
• Samsung Galaxy S21 and later (including Plus, Ultra and Fan Edition)
• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 and later
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and later

Coming Soon

• Motorola edge 2024
• Motorola g 2024 (including stylus)
• Samsung Galaxy A14, A15, A16, A35, A53, and A54
• Samsung X Cover6 Pro
• T-Mobile REVVL 7 (including Pro)

It seems to work by adding an additional Tmobile esim with its own separate phone number, maybe because my main carrier is Verizon. Hope I get a chance to test it out this weekend. Such a cool feature. Cody Townsend recently said he's canceling his inreach and relying on iphone 16 sat messaging (which uses globalstar, not starlink), but still activating inreach for expeditions.

Tested out tmo starlink beta on my 13 mini. Was able to send a few messages successfully in mt baker national forest, though a bunch of messages failed (which it indicated with Failed message). I had 0 bars for tmo and Verizon.  Even with clear view of sky, it only showed up to 2 SAT bars. Feels like beta, but promising and I'm quietly amazed to have this capability.

James Cwrote:

 Cody Townsend recently said he's canceling his inreach and relying on iphone 16 sat messaging (which uses globalstar, not starlink), but still activating inreach for expeditions.

still living by the adage "two is one, one is none"  phones are just not as robust as dedicated devices like inreach and zero redundancy with just a phone.  plus he's still activating for expeds... so he's really not cancelling anything.

Has anybody else tested the T-Mobile satellite beta more? I just set it up on my iPhone 13 mini as well. I read a quick review from February that said something about satellite only being available if there's no T-Mobile coverage in the area. This seems like it could be problematic if your cell coverage is different than T-Mobile, or maybe I'm reading that wrong. My regular provider is Consumer Cellular (using AT&T towers I believe), and I know in SW Colorado and SE Utah their coverage zones are definitely different. Curious to try it out next time I'm in the mountains, but will still bring the Zoleo along.