Satellite phone? or something else.

[pieter.oneill]

Hi all this may be posted in the wrong section so please let me know if it needs moving. I often find myself out having a ride in the back end of no where in wales or the peak district anyway not to much of a problem if im out with some pals but often i am on my own and a few times when i have been on roads that dont look like they have seen a car in a long time my brain says "imagine if you broke down here or had an off" then i look at my phone signal and realise i would not be able to contact anyone in these situations. Im riding a 95 r1100gs with 118K on her love her but all bikes can have an off day. so just wondering what other people are carrying in the pannier for that just in case moment? Cheers any advice or link to product most appreciated.

 

[dirtybiker]

Hi all this may be posted in the wrong section so please let me know if it needs moving. I often find myself out having a ride in the back end of no where in wales or the peak district anyway not to much of a problem if im out with some pals but often i am on my own and a few times when i have been on roads that dont look like they have seen a car in a long time my brain says "imagine if you broke down here or had an off" then i look at my phone signal and realise i would not be able to contact anyone in these situations. Im riding a 95 r1100gs with 118K on her love her but all bikes can have an off day. so just wondering what other people are carrying in the pannier for that just in case moment? Cheers any advice or link to product most appreciated.

Have you tried a multi network sim for your phone. Sometimes one network may not have coverage but others will have four bars.
If you can’t find a multi network sim, maybe just buy a cheap Chinese android phone on another network. Oukitel make some very cheap and rugged mobile phones.
DB

 

[stever1]

If you’re using a modern IPhone , I believe there is the option of using it as a sat phone. I don’t know how as I’ve never looked at it.

 

[AndrewA]

Garmin InReach devices or a Zoleo if you want to be able to message friends.

iPhone 14 or newer if all you want is Satellite SOS to the emergency services.

 

[sye]

This could answer your question, who knew?

Calling 999 With No Or Bad Phone Signal | 1FirstAid1

1firstaid1.co.uk

 

[pieter.oneill]

I have a flip 5 android, would be nice if i can find an app that uses sat phone capability ill look into that, The idea of the multi sims may work but its a gamble as i dont know where i would be and would have to put money on loads fo different sims. I actually like the peace of phones not wprking while im away but the saftey of being able to reach someone in an emergency. That garmin inreach looks interesting ill have a read up on that

 

[richardbd]

Garmin InReach Mini is the best answer IMHO. Relatively cheap and allows you to send and receive messages using your phone via satellite.

It also has a tracking function so every 10 minutes it pings your location to an app that you can give anybody access to.

I’ve ridden across the ‘Stans, Tibet, Africa and South America with mine. Never let me down once and only had to be charged every three or four days.

Highly recommended

 

[John RTW]

If you're in a life or death situation, you could always carry an PLB. No contract and if you use it as it should they would replace it free of charge (policy may have changed). I bought one in Australia after an RTA I came across where there were lots of bods with sat phones but only a few worked. It's a shame they never prioritised having First Aid training. Also very handy should I'd had an accident in N Zealand or touring South America. I believe they work off military satellites not civilian, so coverage is worldwide.
https://www.acrartex.com/products/resqlink-view/

 

[Berin]

If you're in a life or death situation, you could always carry an PLB. No contract and if you use it as it should they would replace it free of charge (policy may have changed). I bought one in Australia after an RTA I came across where there were lots of bods with sat phones but only a few worked. It's a shame they never prioritised having First Aid training. Also very handy should I'd had an accident in N Zealand or touring South America. I believe they work off military satellites not civilian, so coverage is worldwide.
https://www.acrartex.com/products/resqlink-view/

The problem with a plb is it’s straight to Defcon 1 emergency broadcast signal that activates a rescue, with no two way communications. It can’t be recalled and if it’s triggered unnecessarily or in error you could get a bill.

An iPhone may work.

Connect to a satellite with your iPhone - Apple Support

With iPhone 14 or later (all models), you can connect your iPhone to a satellite to text emergency services, request roadside assistance, message friends and family, and share your location — all while you're off the grid with no cellular and Wi-Fi coverage.

support.apple.com

On my iPhone 15 it’s in settings>emergency SOS

But as others have said, I find the best solution to be a Garmin inreach. I’ve used the Mini in far away from home circumstances, it’s pretty easy to use for either emergency or for two way messaging, and you can share location and trip data easily.

There are fees, though, so I’m not sure I’d bother in the UK.

 

[John RTW]

Yes, it's definitely life or death situation. It's one thing you don't play with and you keep locked away when not in use.

 

[AndrewA]

PLBs generally need replacing every 5-or-so years as the battery is non-user-serviceable (I’ve not seen any rechargeable or user-serviceable ones).

Be aware that Sat Comms may not be permitted in foreign countries (although nobody seems to have issues with the iPhone sat comm functionality).

 

[John RTW]

There's a list of companies in the package that you can send it off to for a reasonable fee. Every 5 years isn't too bad a lifespan. Typical, India a place where you could really do with it as well.

 

[pieter.oneill]

Cheers all for the advice and links, i didnt know there was so many options. Those plb's sound like a cracking idea for a mega tour off roading or somewhere out the country and remote for some kind of major emergency, not sure im quite at that level of requirement yet, the Garmin in reach seems in line with the type of level i was after, i don't mind paying a subscription fee if its not to over the top, just be nice to have in the back of my mind i have something spare, the phone idea is good but then you only got to fall off and smash your phone and all eggs are in one basket then. Im going to have a read up on those i think there's an inreach 2 from a quick search, i thought you could make a call on it but just messages fair enough though as long as they get through.

 

[Berin]

Cheers all for the advice and links, i didnt know there was so many options. Those plb's sound like a cracking idea for a mega tour off roading or somewhere out the country and remote for some kind of major emergency, not sure im quite at that level of requirement yet, the Garmin in reach seems in line with the type of level i was after, i don't mind paying a subscription fee if its not to over the top, just be nice to have in the back of my mind i have something spare, the phone idea is good but then you only got to fall off and smash your phone and all eggs are in one basket then. Im going to have a read up on those i think there's an inreach 2 from a quick search, i thought you could make a call on it but just messages fair enough though as long as they get through.

There's also an app to connect the in reach mini to your phone, which makes it a lot easier to send and read messages, and less chance of hitting the big red button on the device to scramble the helo!

 

[theoneandonly]

WTF are you doing , riding off road on your own ? 3 people as a minimum , same as mountaineering .
1 injured
1 stays
1 goes for help.

 

[PitaNaanRoti]

InReach Mini 2 for us.
Also have a 710i and 760i and we move the InReach between them depending on what we are doing.
£12.99 a month subscription and you can pause it anytime you want.

 

[er-minio]

I’ve looked into this as I had experience of being stuck (in Wales of all places: along Strata Florida) in a mild emergency and no phone signal for miles + in my summer travels, even in the middle of civilised Europe, it is easy to be in no-network areas.

As above: an iPhone 14 or more would be a reasonable cheap-ish (no contract solution).

In-reach mini works better to be fair, as the messaging is not only for emergency services - as I understand it.

Keep in mind the iPhone’s satellite services is free for now. Might switch to paid in the next couple of years.

 

[pieter.oneill]

WTF are you doing , riding off road on your own ? 3 people as a minimum , same as mountaineering .
1 injured
1 stays
1 goes for help.

No one said i was riding off road on my own, calm down mom.

 

[Berin]

I’ve looked into this as I had experience of being stuck (in Wales of all places: along Strata Florida) in a mild emergency and no phone signal for miles + in my summer travels, even in the middle of civilised Europe, it is easy to be in no-network areas.

As above: an iPhone 14 or more would be a reasonable cheap-ish (no contract solution).

In-reach mini works better to be fair, as the messaging is not only for emergency services - as I understand it.

Keep in mind the iPhone’s satellite services is free for now. Might switch to paid in the next couple of years.

Mine said it was free for the first 2 years. I don’t know if that’s changed, plus I think it’s emergency/outbound only, whereas you quite correctly say the inreach sends and receives messages, to anyone. It also has a team monitoring for emergencies and they will call emergency services and relay details

 

[pieter.oneill]

I’ve looked into this as I had experience of being stuck (in Wales of all places: along Strata Florida) in a mild emergency and no phone signal for miles + in my summer travels, even in the middle of civilised Europe, it is easy to be in no-network areas.

As above: an iPhone 14 or more would be a reasonable cheap-ish (no contract solution).

In-reach mini works better to be fair, as the messaging is not only for emergency services - as I understand it.

Keep in mind the iPhone’s satellite services is free for now. Might switch to paid in the next couple of years.

Yeah price of the mini reach seems on point price wise, thats what crept into my mind when i was over Snowdonia what if i have a bike cut out moment can repair most things but not all, mostly so i can get in touch with someone tell them to contact start sure emergency rescue im with in case i needed it. Most appreciated all never had an i phone soit would confuse the hell out of me, interesting to see how i phone has signal all over but standard android dont. Im just trying to create some back ups