How to use your iPhone to text via satellite while on an adventure

Traveling is stressful enough for most of us, but not being able to text while on the go is a real nightmare. One Apple iPhonewhen a message fails, you see the dreaded words “not delivered” with an exclamation point in a red circle. For some of us, it’s a worse feeling than losing your luggage, especially if you’re in unfamiliar territory and need to contact someone immediately – the rental property manager, your family, the driver.

Fortunately, Apple recently added satellite messaging iOS 18 For iPhone 14 and newer models. This expansion of the iPhone’s satellite connection — Apple previously only provided emergency satellite SOS service— brings regular text messaging service to areas without mobile coverage; if you are in a distant place, it is like sending the cavalry.

Interestingly, although satellites are available from anywhere on the planet, you can only send a text via satellite when traveling in the US and Canada. This means that there are two common scenarios that can arise when traveling. One is when you go into the wild; cell towers do not always extend their signal to national and state parks, near rivers, or in some rural areas. Another is downtown; tall buildings and poor infrastructure can also disrupt cell signals. But the satellite connection is still reliable in these places.

Fortunately, the steps to connect to a satellite to send a message are simple. How to make sure you can still message anyone from anywhere in the US or Canada.

Prepare for your trip

Before heading out on any trip, the first step is to check your cell service coverage map. You can contact your wireless carrier to ask about coverage, but this is a great resource Federal Communications Commission map. You can choose your carrier and view both voice and data coverage.

I planned a trip to a state park in my area, where I found that many cabins and the entire creek by the river were not covered by either voice or data service. Knowing whether to join will help you avoid surprises. If you’re traveling with a few people, not being able to message anyone can be quite confusing. You’ll also encounter patches without signal in cities; I visited a particular downtown area of ​​Minneapolis (near the Target Center) where cell coverage is very poor.

The FCC coverage map shows exactly where cellular coverage may not work and is surprisingly detailed. You can zoom in on specific city blocks or paths in a park to see if they are covered. (Also, if your phone has trouble finding a signal, it will drain its battery faster. So if you’re going to a remote area, bring it with you. battery pack.)

How to connect to satellite to send messages

Once you arrive at your destination, you’ll notice that cell service will degrade when you enter a remote area. For me, when I visited the state park, I first saw that my AT&T service said 5G+ in the upper right corner, then 5G, then LTE. It’s like going back in time technologically. Down the river, the LTE icon went completely blank and then showed the satellite icon. That was my first clue that I had an alternative way of messaging.

I went into the Messages app and at the top of the screen I saw the alert “Get in touch when letting others know you’re available via Satellite” followed by a “Use Messages via Satellite” button. Click that button and you’ll see a screen showing the planet’s obliquity and the message “Satellite available soon.” It feels a bit like a treasure hunt at this point. You will see a prompt to turn left or right towards the satellite. Click on the satellite that appears and stand still in the same direction for about a minute. Finally, the screen will light up with a green beacon. You are now connected! You’ll see options to connect via Messages, use Tap My, request roadside assistance or send an SOS.