I think Navionics is GPS based so it works everywhere.

AT&T, at least when I had it, did not work very far offshore.

Verizon allows texting out to the .38 west or so, dependent on how high the phone is above the water.

In a few years Starlink will have cellular satellites that should provide offshore service with no hardware requirements.

Mike C

 

It used to work everywhere regardless of cell phone reception, but when I tried it last week, the boating app gets confused and complains there is no gps whenever there is no cell reception.

So apparently something has recently changed. I understand they recently changed their licensing model to force you to buy new licenses once it has expired, so it appears they broke whether it works when there is no cell phone reception while making that licensing change?

This is on Android Pixel 6. Has always worked fine in middle of nowhere in the past. Very frustrating change on my phone. To be fair, maybe it's some new Android gps issue or maybe it is operator error, but the Boating app no longer works for me outside cell range.

 

Just pre-download the charts to your phone before hand. That way all the charts are locally stored on your phone and the GPS will provide location services.

What I've noticed is that data is crap once you get out to 124*15. Kind of have voice out to 124*30...and then out to 125...well, I've got a text or two sneak out (I mean old school SMS...not this data based iCloud text on the iPhone).

This is with AT&T. Not sure what other providers have (coverage wise)...but we're talking the laws of physics here with land based towers and the little itty bitty transmitter in your phone.

Remember cell based frequency spectrum is above 800MHz. Our 25Watt VHF radios in the 150MHz range is doing good to get out 10miles,

-J

 

From the Onxmaps site...
Does iPhone GPS work without data?

Yes, the GPS receiver in iPhones remains active even if no data is available. But you might want to consider getting an app built specifically for offline GPS navigation as Apple Maps provides limited offline support.

 

Just pre-download the charts in Navionics when you are on wifi before you head out. You'll be fine.

But please see my other thread/post on a bug with the subscription authentication when you either have no cell service or are in airplane mode on iPhone.

 

T-mobile and Starlink new service coming soon.

SpaceX says it will test Starlink's satellite-to-cell service with T-Mobile this year

SpaceX plans to begin testing its Starlink satellite-to-cell service with T-Mobile "this year," an executive of Elon Musk's company said on Monday.

www.google.com

 

@leotrk
Interesting. It potentially makes the need for a Spot or other Text device not as necessary if they can make this work.

 

Interesting; found a news release on T-Mobiles page. Looks like they are going to use their mid-band spectrum for this.

"""
With this technology, T-Mobile is planning to give customers text coverage practically everywhere in the continental US, Hawaii, parts of Alaska, Puerto Rico and territorial waters, even outside the signal of T-Mobile’s network starting with a beta in select areas by the end of next year after SpaceX’s planned satellite launches. Text messaging, including SMS, MMS and participating messaging apps, will empower customers to stay connected and share experiences nearly everywhere. Afterwards, the companies plan to pursue the addition of voice and data coverage.
"""

Having text messaging available anywhere is good enough for a lot of us that venture out to the 125 line. This totally will impact Spot and the other sat based text messaging devices out there.



Looks like AT&T is jumping on the bandwagon too.
"""
AT&T-backed cellular satellite company AST SpaceMobile announced it had placed the first satellite call over 5G from an unmodified smartphone last month.
"""

 

@Jeb

I just switched over to T-mobile from US cellular in order to try this new feature when it comes out and because I'm hoping it will work better at my house out in the middle of nowhere. I can say at this time after only one month I do like T-mobile better in that I do get one bar more in service but there wifi calling and text is much better than US cellular. When this new option with starlink starts working i will try to keep everyone updated with the service.

 

I could have sworn I used to get much better cell reception out of Depoe Bay. I've made phone calls while tuna fishing in the past, but this summer, anything past about 10 miles out I had no service. This is with Verizon. I've definitely texted pictures from 35 miles out a few years ago.

 

Won't work for all of us, but my brother in law has a 42' sportfisher out of Ilwaco. He installed a phone booster way high up above the fly bridge. I was salmon fishing and he was texting me photos out past the 125 line down by the corners. He has Verizon.

Those with 3g/4g phones will not get very good service as all new towers and old 3g was converted to 5g. A 4g/5g phone will get you back in the game with way better reception.

First of the year ALL 3g service was shut down.

 

Maybe not what you are looking for but I use a Garmin inreach mini and can send and receive text messages.

 

I use Tello that runs on T-Mobile and get communications out past the Saddle/Chicken Ranch. SMS will work after voice is lost but can talk at the Saddle which is about 124* 45 west of Newport. My phone is a basic Android that runs 5g and 4LTE.

 

I am not a cellular pro, but depend on my service for a living
The newer 5G, seems to have much weaker signal strength. Very weak signals inside concrete buildings like Costco, as well as tile roofed buildings. Distance is weak for phone, but OK for texting (data packets?). I miss the old 4G Verizon coverage. AT&T 5G is good, but not as strong.
The Starlink thing sounds great.
Just my anecdotal experience/opinion.

 

Thanks everyone. Gearing up to get further offshore next year so thinking of back up systems.

 

I see it’s been a while since this was posted, but I’m curious—has anyone tried one of those newer satellite messenger devices like the Garmin inReach or Zoleo for offshore use? I’m thinking of picking one up to use with my phone when I go tuna fishing out past 30 miles and wondering how well they’ve worked for others. Would love to hear if it made things easier out there.

 

New iPhones of the last couple years have satellite texting. Which works anywhere as long as you have a view of the sky. Lots of guys do have cell reception out to around 30 miles though. I don’t with us cell.

 

Is Torkheem a Bot?

 

If considering Starlink, do realize you are essentially gifting your data stream to someone a) training AI’s and b) has a demonstrated level lack of impulse control and shall we say situational “principles” at best, c) has openly expressed desire to do harm to those he disagrees with, and then there’s easily d) and e) and so on. The guy is, among many other things, not trustworthy. You really wanna give him your… everything?

 

@JeffO
I sense a little paranoia with that. Most, if not all of our data, is encrypted. Its end point encryption (i.e. between the client (for example your phone) and the server (remote site)). Therefore anyone along the path should not see what is inside the encrypted tunnel...that is why you have that little pad lock icon with your web browser URL line.
If Starlink could see your data stream...that is what is called a 'man-in-the-middle attack' or SSL hijacking attack. The only way this would work is if your device was hacked...and you accepted (trusted) a bad certificate that was signed by a bad certificate authority.

In other words, what you are presenting is nearly impossible unless you had a compromised device. Otherwise the ENTIRE INTERNET would be broken.

 

Fair.

Let’s make a gentleman’s bet. I bet that in the next few years it comes out that that ****er is doing nefarious things with Starlink.