Apple made big waves recently when they announced the new iPhone 14 and the latest feature that would allow users to send an Emergency Only SOS text via satellite when they are out of cell range. While this latest feature is a major advancement, with google and other phones likely to copy the idea, the iPhone 14 satellite has its limitations and should not replace your main satellite communication device like a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), or 2 Way Satellite Communicator like a Bivy Stick .

YOU’LL NEED MORE THAN THE NEW iPHONE 14 WHEN YOU’RE OFF GRID. HERE’S WHY.

If you enjoy the outdoors, whether you are a hardcore climber, weekend hiker, or an avid sport fish angler, there are other factors to be considered when thinking about your outdoor emergency communication plan. If you boat, fish, hike, bike, or simply get outdoors, here are a few reasons you shouldn’t trust just your cell phone alone in the event of an emergency.

Many of us operate on the assumption that we will have a cell signal, but the reality is that you may not always be in range of cell towers or reception centers, especially in the outdoors. In addition, there are times when you could be right smack dab in the middle of the city at a large concert, during a natural disaster, or event where too many people are congesting cell phone networks, leaving you with zero reception.

Even if you have a newer iphone 14 with Satellite SOS for emergencies know that this service is extremely limited.

• The iPhone’s satellite SOS feature requires the user to go through a mandatory list of emergency responses before sending your emergency signal out to responders.
• Emergency feature is only available in a few countries with limited coverage beyond latitude 62 degrees in northern Canada and Alaska. If and when Apple coverage extends into more countries, they still can’t offer global coverage.
• If you’re under heavy vegetation or surrounded by other obstructions, it might not be possible to connect to a satellite at all.
• If you are a boater, connecting to the satellites while floating in water will be extremely challenging.
• While you can set up Emergency Contacts to receive your SOS notification, they can’t respond to the messages.
• The service is currently free for 2 years, but apple has not disclosed what the future price will be for this service.

Smart Phone including the Iphone 14 have their limitations.

Relying on your Smart Phone in the outdoors as your sole Emergency device is a risky proposition. Here are the most common smartphone issues you should consider when taking your cell phone into the outdoors.

• Your cell phone overheats
  • If you’ve ever left your phone sitting outside in the sun or on your dashboard in your car or boat on a hot day, you’re probably already aware that it can overheat. What you may not know; however, is that there are other reasons your phone can go into high temperature mode. A faulty lithium-ion battery can cause overheating as well as Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth features being in use. Depending on how hot your phone gets and how long it has been in a high temperature range, it may or may not function in an emergency situation.
  • Alternative Solutions:
    • A PLB, EPIRB, and Bivy Stick, all have dedicated Emergency SOS buttons that will alert worldwide Search and Rescue of your emergency.  This is a critical feature as you do not need to rely on your phone to alert rescuers of your emergency.
• Your cell phone shatters, breaks, and/or sinks
  • While some of the latest smartphone models claim to be water-resistant or “splash-proof,” most are still fairly fragile (even with a protective case) and not fully waterproof. You have to do a considerable amount of research to educate yourself on the IP ratings for each model. IP stands for ‘Ingress Protection’ and is used to define the sealing effectiveness of electrical enclosures against intrusion from foreign bodies and moisture.
  • If you drop your phone and it shatters and breaks, then your phone can no longer help you in an Emergency Situation.
  • If your emergency is on the water and you drop your phone and it sinks, then again, your phone can no longer help you in an Emergency Situation.
  • Alternative Solutions:
    • A PLB, EPIRB, and Bivy Stick are all rugged and waterproof.  Most Personal Locator Beacons will Float, if not flotation pouches are typically available.
    • EPIRBs are required to be waterproof and float while alerting Coast Guard of your emergency.
    • Bivy is rugged and waterproof, but non-buoyant, so be sure to secure it through the loop phone with a lanyard to yourself, your backpack, or life jacket.
• Your cell phone can’t always communicate your precise location
  • Both Google and Apple are working on sharing exact location information in the event of an emergency, but relaying that information to an aging 911 system that was built for landlines is still a concern..
  •  Alternative Solutions:
    • Be safe, be smart, and don’t take unnecessary chances. Make sure you have a means of providing your precise location to Search and Rescue (SAR) forces if you are in distress, such as a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), EPIRB, or Bivy Stick Satellite Communicator.
• Battery Life
  • We use our Smart Phones non-stop these days, and even if we aren’t using it, apps that are running are also using up the phones battery. Even with a new phone, we are lucky if we don’t have to charge the phone every single day.
  • The likelihood that your phone battery is low is a high probability, and relying on the phones battery as your sole emergency device is at best a risky proposition.
  • Alternative Solutions:
    • Have a back up Emergency Satellite Device is a must have for any outdoor enthusiasts.
    • Personal Locator Beacons have a dedicated Lithium battery that will work for a minimum of 24 hours continuously. EPIRBs for boaters will work for a minimum of 48 hours continuously.
    • The Bivy 2 Way Satellite Communicator can operate in Emergency SOS mode for multiple days.
• Natural Disasters and Infrastructure Problems
  • During any natural disasters such as hurricanes, flooding, tornado’s, etc., power outages, cell towers and damage to infrastructure create huge difficulties in connectivity, not to mention keeping our smart devices charged.
  • Alternative Solutions:
    • Satellite messaging to our friends and family letting them know we are safe is a critical communication tool.
    • Having back up emergency devices like EPIRBs and PLBs with dedicated batteries strictly for satellite SOS are a proven life line during natural disasters.

Whether you are on land, at sea, or in the air, ACR Personal Locator Beacons, EPIRBs, and Iridium Satellite Communicators have the satellite precision and military durability that will provide you with your best chance of survival in an emergency situation.

Can I use Satellites with my Iphone 14 or Smart phone to Text Message with my Friends and Family when I don’t have Cellular Coverage?

No, you cannot use the Satellite Emergency SOS on your iphone 14 to communicate with your friends and family when you are outside of cellular range. The feature is only for Emergencies Services. So if you are just running late and need to let someone back home know you are ok or to just simply check-in back home, you will need a secondary device such as a Bivy Stick.

One of the most important features of the Bivy Stick missing from the iPhone 14 is that your loved ones can get a hold of you in case there is an emergency back home. That is true 2-way communication and true peace of mind for you and your family. Satellite communication devices, like the Bivy Stick, allow you to message and check in with anyone you want, not just emergency services. The Bivy Stick has a dedicated SOS button, so if an emergency were to happen, help would quite literally be just one button away. Bivy uses Global Rescue, an industry-leading 24/7 Emergency Dispatch that communicates with your SOS contact and dispatches search and rescue right to your GPS location. The iPhone’s SOS feature using satellites requires the user to go through a mandatory list of emergency responses before sending your emergency signal out to responders. With the Bivy Stick app, users can immediately communicate a descriptive message to Emergency Services, and in a life-threatening situation, that could make a huge difference.

What Is The Coverage Area of the Iphone Satellite SOS Feature?

The iPhone’s emergency feature is only available in a few countries, with limited coverage beyond latitude 62 degrees in northern Canada and Alaska. If and when Apple coverage extends into more countries, they still can’t offer global coverage because they are using the Globalstar satellites.

Consider these alternative products with Worldwide SOS Coverage:

• A 2 Way Satellite Communicator like the Bivy Stick connects to the Iridium Network, which has 100% Global Coverage (Subscription Required).
• Personal Locator Beacons utilize the Cospas Sarsat Satellites and have Global Coverage with direct access to Search and Rescue (No Subscription Required). These are one way Emergency Only devices that tell Search and Rescue Who you are, Where you are, and that you need help.
• For Boaters, an EPIRB or Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon is the right choice. Like a PLB, they also use the Cospas Sarsat Satellite System offering Global Coverage with direct access to Coast Guard (No Subscription Required). These are one way Emergency Only devices that tell Search and Rescue Who you are, Where you are, and that you need help.

Should I get a Personal Locator Beacon or Satellite Communicator as my Outdoor Emergency Back-up Plan?

Bivy and our award-winning ResQLink line of PLB’s are designed for similar purposes, i.e., saving lives outdoors and providing enhanced confidence. However, they’re utilized much differently outdoors.

A Personal Locator Beacon (utilizing the Cospas-Sarsat Satellites) is designed to be a tool of last resort; a proven, life-saving emergency rescue and positioning device summoning search and rescue worldwide. It’s one job is to continuously share your position with those who are coming to your aid.

Bivy (utilizing the Iridium Satellites) also has similar one-button SOS functionality. However, this is a communication and outdoor connectivity device as much as it is an emergency tool. In tandem with the Bivy app, Bivy allows you to send messages, track and share your position, check real-time weather forecasts, and even offers one-touch “check-in” functionality.

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For Boaters: What is an EPIRB?

An EPIRB or Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon is a distress beacon for boaters that when activated alerts a worldwide Search and Rescue (SAR) network designed to send rescuers to your exact location quickly. 

EPIRBs provide Search and Rescue forces with your location either via GPS data or via triangulation calculations from the satellites. This positional data is provided to the Rescue Coordination Center closest to your location. They in turn embark on your rescue mission and use the EPIRBs 121.5 MHz homing signal, AIS location signal on newer EPIRBs, and strobe lights to ultimately pinpoint your location and bring you home safely.

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