Hurricane Milton Alert: Keep Connected When Cell Towers Go Down with Starlink and Apple!
- by rvmobileinternet.com
- Oct 09, 2024
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Key points:
Starlink, T-Mobile, and the FCC have worked to enable satellite "Direct to Cell" texting in areas impacting by Hurricane Helene, and all across Florida in advance of Hurricane Milton.
All T-Mobile customers will benefit from two-way text messaging, even if the cell towers go down. Customers on other carriers will get broadcast emergency text alerts.
Apple's iOS 18 release already enables two-way satellite text messaging and iMessages for ALL recent iPhone models, regardless of carrier. Make sure you have your iOS updated!
Google's latest Pixel 9 phones have also enabled satellite emergency services connectivity.
Stay safe, everyone! Starlink Direct To Cellular Limitations
In partnership with T-Mobile, SpaceX launched the first six Starlink V2 Mini satellites with Direct to Cell capabilities in January 2024, and it has been continuing to launch more cellular equipped Starlink satellites ever since with the goal of having enough in orbit by the end of 2024 to roll out beta text messaging service, with voice and low-speed data to follow in the years ahead.
This is NOT Starlink high-speed broadband to your cell phone - it is a secondary payload riding along on certain Starlink satellites that broadcasts a cellular signal (using T-Mobile spectrum in the USA) that provides coverage where cellular towers can not reach.
Because the constellation is not fully deployed, there will be brief gaps in coverage - so text messages may take multiple tries to go through.
And keep in mind that this is a weak signal that will not reach indoors - SpaceX notes that it "works best outdoors, and occasionally works indoors near a window".
Please - during the height of the storm, do NOT go outdoors or near a window to TXT unless absolutely necessary!
If you do have an emergency and there is no cellular voice coverage - texting "911" should work in most areas to get in touch with emergency services.
Apple iPhone Owners - Update ASAP!
Apple now has text messaging via satellite for ALL recent iPhone models.
Apple's iOS 18 has been out for a month now - but many iPhones have not auto-updated yet.
If you have an iPhone 14 or newer - you can manually upgrade and/or make sure that you have the latest iOS release by going to "Settings" then "General" then "Software Update".
The latest release is 18.0.1.
Earlier iOS releases supported emergency services text messaging via satellite (just call 911, and if there is no cellular the text interface will come up), but now with iOS 18 you will be able to message friends and family as well as an emergency call center.
We encourage everyone with an iPhone 14 or newer in the potential path of the storm to upgrade before you might need this feature.
Apple's satellite messaging (which uses Globalstar satellites) will only kick in when there is no cellular or Wi-Fi available - but it provides a valuable lifeline that has already facilitated rescues when Hurricane Helene hit.
Sending messages to groups and sharing photos or videos isn’t supported over satellite, and the character count of messages may be limited. Incoming messages are also blocked other than from people who you have listed as emergency contacts, or whom you have recently messaged with, or from people who are replying to messages that you previously sent out via satellite.
This keeps text spam from clogging the airwaves.
For more on how Apple's satellite messaging features work, and the limitations, see Apple's guide on the feature.
TIP: Apple's satellite features only work when there is absolutely no cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity, which is (fortunately!) a rare situation for many people. But you can try out the satellite features in Demo mode to get familiar with how they work. To explore the Emergency SOS via Satellite feature, scroll to the bottom of the "Emergency SOS" settings panel, and click "Try Demo".
Android Satellite SOS Connectivity on Google’s Pixel 9 Series
Google's Pixel 9 series (released in August 2024) is the first widely available Android phone with built in dedicated satellite connectivity hardware features.
Google's "Satellite SOS" works similar to Apple's system - and it kicks in when you dial 911 in a location where there is no cellular or satellite signal.
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