travel is stressful That's enough for most of us, but not being able to send messages when you're on the road is a real nightmare. on one Apple IphoneWhenever a message doesn't arrive, you see the dreaded “Not Delivered” with an exclamation mark in a red circle. For some of us this is a worse feeling than losing your luggage, especially if you're in an unfamiliar area and need to contact someone immediately – a rental property manager, your family, a driver.
Luckily, Apple recently added texting by satellite ios 18 For iPhone 14 models and newer. This expansion of the iPhone's satellite connectivity—Apple already provided Emergency Satellite SOS Service-Brings regular text messaging service to areas without cell coverage; If you are in a remote place it is like sending cavalry.
Interestingly, even though satellites are available from anywhere on the planet, you can send messages by satellite only if you travel within the United States and Canada. This means that there are two common scenarios that can arise when you travel. One is when you go into the forest. Cell towers don't always deliver their signal near national and state parks, rivers, or in some rural areas. Cell signals can also be poor due to tall buildings and poor infrastructure in low-lying areas of the city. But satellite connection is still viable in these places.
Luckily, the steps to connect to a satellite for texting are straightforward. Here's how to make sure you can still message anyone from anywhere in the US or Canada.
Prepare for your trip
The first step before leaving on any trip is to check the cellular service coverage map. You can contact your wireless carrier to ask about coverage areas but this is a great resource fcc mapYou can choose your carrier and see both voice and data coverage.
I planned a trip to a state park in my area, where I noticed that most of the cabins and the entire valley along the river were not covered by voice or data service. Knowing if you can connect will help you avoid surprises. If you're traveling with a few people, not being able to message someone can cause some serious confusion. You'll find patches with no signal even in cities; I visited a specific downtown area of Minneapolis (right near the Target Center) where cell coverage is extremely low.
The FCC coverage map shows exactly where cell coverage may or may not work, and it's surprisingly detailed. You can zoom in on specific city blocks or streets in a park to see if they're covered. (Also, if your phone is struggling to find a signal, its battery will drain more quickly. So if you're going to a remote area, bring with you a battery pack,
How to connect to satellite to send messages
Once you reach your destination, you will notice that cell service will deteriorate as you enter a remote area. For me, when I visited the state park, I first noticed that my AT&T service said 5G+ in the upper right corner, then 5G, then finally LTE. It feels like you're technically going back in time. Down the river, the LTE icon went completely blank and then a satellite icon appeared. This was my first clue that I had an alternative way of texting.
I went to the Messages app and a prompt appeared at the top of the screen: “Stay in touch by letting others know you're available via Satellite” followed by a button that read “Access Messages via Satellite Do it.” Click that button, and you'll see a screen that shows the curvature of the planet and a message that reads “Satellite will be available soon.” At this point it feels a bit like a treasure hunt. You will see a prompt to turn left or right towards the satellite. Click on the satellite that appears and stand in the same direction for about a minute. Eventually, the screen will light up green. You are now connected! You'll see options to connect via messages, use the Find My app, request roadside assistance, or send an SOS.