iPhone Satellite SOS & UK Cruising

[RedFrog]

When the iPhone 14 came out I saw zero value in updating from the 12 we already had, the only feature I could see that may be of use was the new Satellite SOS but that was not available at launch in the UK, now it is. A video just popped up on YouTube reminding me (although I did notice the icon pop up in France recently when I was skiing and out of phone coverage):

iPhone 14 vs Garmin inReach - Emegency SOS Tested - YouTube

Interesting comparison as we have the inReach on board with a £12.99/month subscription we've had for a few years now. It's the GPS Map 86i version so we also have it as a chart plotter backup. I've just had a play in the back garden with the iPhone 14 and their demo mode that is exactly the same as the real thing, only you are talking to a bot. The one thing that stands out to me is that the iPhone implementation is very fast, easy to type and simple to use compared to the inReach keypad.

Our use case is not circumnavigation, it's unlikely to be much further afield than the English channel, but we've always wanted something on board that supports 2 way communication away from cell coverage for emergencies along with the VHF. We don't use the fancy tracking and other services on the inReach so I'm seriously thinking of dropping the subscription, it will still work just fine as a backup chart plotter. I believe Apple will be adding to the services offered to include non emergency too, which would probably come with some sort of subscription.

I was wondering if anyone else has considered this?

I can't help thinking when the crunch comes you'd be grateful for the dedicated device, and the inReach floats!

I will say that Garmin has just released a new Messenger app for the iPhone that connects to the inReach to send non emergency text messages through satellite, but the recipient also needs that app to receive them, I am planning on testing that too which may be the best solution.

We also have personal PLB and MOB devices on each crew member.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

Just upgraded from iPhone 6 to 14Pro. This feature piqued my interest but that was it. Even on the West Coast VHF and Cell are now very good. Yes, there are black spots for VHF and gaps with cellular but I am not that concerned. The camera features, video and stills, is what I wanted.

Interested in other replies as the satellite feature would be good to understand and have in the coms toolbox. I am planning on fitting a tracker.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

Just checked my phone, iPhone 14Pro. The service activates automatically when there is no cell or wifi available. It allows you to send a text that Apple encrypts but of course is decoded by the receiver. The text contains your position and you add details. Texting to and from the casualty and emergency service provider can happen. It is not asking me to set up a subscription. If wifi or cellular becomes available the phone reverts to these services to allow calls. I assume that the system will notify the casualty that this has happened.

 

[RedFrog]

No - there is not subscription necessary, and it is believed there never will be for SOS functionality. In the future if they offer non SOS, e.g. texting via satellite that a subscription is expected.

 

[lustyd]

Watching the DCRainmaker review I wouldn't trust it for emergency use on a boat. The InReach has a proper multidirectional antenna, whereas the iPhone has to be pointed towards the moving satellite. Easy enough on land when not moving but on a boat bucking about in a storm you're more likely to fail than succeed, and that's assuming you don't drop it in the sea (your phone is less likely to have a strap!).
It's nice to have, but if you need an emergency satellite system then buy a PLB. Even the InReach relies on Garmin's 3rd party call centre whereas PLB goes direct to an MRCC.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

No - there is not subscription necessary ...

I didn't say there was a subscription required for emergency coms via satellite.

 

[RedFrog]

I didn't say there was a subscription required for emergency coms via satellite.

I know - I was confirming. I thought you'd commented on think that is what I meant in the original post.

 

[ylop]

Even the InReach relies on Garmin's 3rd party call centre whereas PLB goes direct to an MRCC.

The actual process for a PLB message getting to your local MRCC is actually astonishing and based on largely 1990's technology. I think people imagine you are sailing off Islay, lift the yellow flap hold down the red button and within a few seconds someone's monitor in Belfast Coastguard starts flashing red and has all your details there. I can't say for sure that Garmin are any slicker but it seems likely to have been designed with more up-to-date technology. They may not even own a fax machine.

 

[lustyd]

MRCC has been updated, the PLB registration is even online these days. More importantly they are global and offer globally coordinated response. Satelite tech works in a certain way, that's not a dated thing it's a physics thing. While Starlink will offer faster response, it also doesn't offer many guarantees - the satellites are designed as fail and replace rather than long term assets, so sometimes there will be gaps which is fine for the intended use. It'll probably be fine for other use too, but with less of a guarantee.
Garmin use very similar tech to EPIRB, so the initial contact will likely be similar. I think the bandwidth is higher and the frequency allows a better antenna size. The difference is you're placing your life in the hands of a publicly listed company rather than global safety organisation. The staff may strike, budgets may be cut, call centres may close, terms and conditions can and will change. I'm not saying those things are likely, but they are more likely than with EPIRB.
Finally, as a PLC Garmin have to make money, hence the subscription. PLB doesn't have this, and there's no sign it's likely. Apple are also a PLC and have no record that would suggest they intend to continue to offer a free service. Their wording at launch suggested quite the opposite.

 

[ylop]

MRCC has been updated, the PLB registration is even online these days.

Yes we have moved in the 21st century for PLB/EPIRB registrations but the whole EPIRB infrastructure is based on old (but actually robust) technology. The core systems are 40 years old! It just involves human beings with scope for error in the process.

You activate your distress beacon. It sends data to COSPAS SAT a distress signal (there is a small amount of time involved in this - but your GPS position will not normally be included in the first transmission as the PLB still needs to get this and it can take at least a few minutes to get a fix from cold). The satellite than transmits this to a ground station (in extremes it may not actually be in range of both you and the ground station and there could be a delay, but lets ignore that for now). Then the LUT ground station transmits the signal to the relevant national Mission Control Centre. That process is automatic and fast. In the UK the UKMCC is based in Fareham. If it determines that a distress is maritime it passes the data to the UK coastguard. This is a manual step. The UKMCC put the data directly into the MCGA computer system. But that doesn't trigger a flashing screen or some alert - the UKMCC **sends a fax** to Falmouth Coastguard (they also phone them). Regardless where the incident is, Falmouth take the first step and share the information with the relevant local MRCC if they have enough details. The MRCC will then begin processing the data - that won't immediately be a lifeboat launch, they will first try to establish if there may be a false alarm (via VHF, Phone Calls to the registered owner etc). Once they believe it is legitimate they will then start tasking SAR resources. Now remember the first COSPAS sat message likely doesn't contain an accurate position fix, because your GPS inside the PLB/EPIRB (if it has one) is still warming up. So it will only be an estimated position based on which satellite picked up your message etc. Then once your device gets a fix it should send extra information, which goes through exactly the same cycle.

From the satellite getting your initial distress (in UK waters), to Falmouth getting the fax/call to say look at the computer is reported to take 7 minutes! From satellite receiving your position data to the MRCC having been passed your location is about 20 minutes all going well. It would not be unusual for it to be >30 minutes from you pressing the magic button the lifeboat crew's pagers going off.

Rather weirdly if the local MRCC want a helo as part of the SAR response they will then go back to a different "unit" at Fareham, who will then organise that with the local helo team. In the case of Stornoway this means Fareham -> Falmouth -> Stornoway -> Fareham -> Stornoway. I just don't want anyone thinking the little yellow box is some sort of wonder tool; its great and has and will save many lives but its not instant. Moreover if you have a little yellow box and need to use it AND an iPhone 14 - i'd use both!

More importantly they are global and offer globally coordinated response.

that is good - if you are sailing outside UK waters you know you will get some sort of response. If you are a UK user just trying to plug the gaps in VHF / Cell coverage its irrelevant. Even in Europe its probably not that relevant - all EU countries are going to have a sensible response to a genuine distress however received.

Satelite tech works in a certain way, that's not a dated thing it's a physics thing.

no I wasn't highlighting that the satellite part of the process was clunky - its the bit once it gets the UK authorities that is neither fast nor foolproof.

While Starlink will offer faster response, it also doesn't offer many guarantees - the satellites are designed as fail and replace rather than long term assets, so sometimes there will be gaps which is fine for the intended use. It'll probably be fine for other use too, but with less of a guarantee.

Apple don't use Starlink. They use Globalstar (who own Spot). I'm not saying that solves all those issues but its well established simple tech.

[qupte]Garmin use very similar tech to EPIRB, so the initial contact will likely be similar. [/quote] only in the same way that my phone and my VHF use "similar tech".

The difference is you're placing your life in the hands of a publicly listed company rather than global safety organisation. The staff may strike, budgets may be cut, call centres may close, terms and conditions can and will change. I'm not saying those things are likely, but they are more likely than with EPIRB.

it may have escaped your notice but all those things do happen with UK emergency response organisations!

Its not clear to me if there are actually call handlers in the Apple system. I can't actually see a reason to include a human being.

Finally, as a PLC Garmin have to make money, hence the subscription. PLB doesn't have this, and there's no sign it's likely. Apple are also a PLC and have no record that would suggest they intend to continue to offer a free service. Their wording at launch suggested quite the opposite.

I 100% agree on the possibility of subscription services being a bad thing but almost inevitable for commercial reality (although my gut feel is Apple might try to make it free for emergency and paid for telling your family that you are having a great time. I wonder if the reason they've not offered that yet is they are trying to understand the user experience of aligning with satellites - something in an emergency you will tolerate holding the phone and facing the right way etc - but might get pissed off with if you were paying 50p to send a "tell my boss I'll be late in tomorrow".

 

[lustyd]

Great post.

Apple did confirm the number of call centre people in the launch, they set up quite a bit of infrastructure by the look of it.