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The challenge here is that these satellite networks get a significant amount of their operating revenue from charging for emergency-only communication. Unlike 9

by tjohns 4y ago

The challenge here is that these satellite networks get a significant amount of their operating revenue from charging for emergency-only communication. Unlike 911, the satellite company itself is also responsible for hiring the dispatchers on the other end. It's not clear how the satellite networks could give it away for free under the current business model. (Assuming free meaning "any device can connect, regardless of subscription status". In this case, Apple is essentially subsidizing the service costs for their users, and only for a limited time - there is still a paid subscription on the backend.) It's worth noting that the government already offers free distress alerting via the COSPAS-SARSAT satellite system - though it's one-way communication only. It would be interesting if a future iteration of the system allowed for smaller antennas and two-way communication with the rescue coordination center dispatchers.

newman8r 4y ago
Are you referring to services like https://www.acrartex.com/406link/ https://www.acrartex.com/406link/ It's interesting because it was never intended to work like that, it's basically just a hack that uses a test signal to dispatch an "I'm ok" message
- tjohns 4y ago
  No, as you mentioned, 406link is a commercial hack that detects a PLB's "test" message and uses that to trigger a pre-programmed "I'm ok" message. But that's not what I'm referring to. By one-way communication, I was referring to the default "I'm in distress, here's my coordinates, send help" message, which is the only message the system can officially transmit. There's no way to carry on a two-way conversation to collect further details, or even a mechanism to acknowledge the message - though due to a very robust system design, it's very unlikely the message wouldn't get received.
papito 4y ago
Yes, emergency rescue beacons. I have one whenever I am in the middle of nowhere. I had to use it once, believe it or not, when I almost died in the mother of all ironies - in the middle of Death Valley, California. The U.S. Air Force directed an ambulance in my direction from a nearby town. Have a COSPAS-SARSAT emergency beacon is all I am saying. They are expensive, but it's a one-time purchase. The service is free.

by tjohns 4y ago

newman8r 4y ago

Are you referring to services like https://www.acrartex.com/406link/ https://www.acrartex.com/406link/ It's interesting because it was never intended to work like that, it's basically just a hack that uses a test signal to dispatch an "I'm ok" message

tjohns 4y ago
No, as you mentioned, 406link is a commercial hack that detects a PLB's "test" message and uses that to trigger a pre-programmed "I'm ok" message. But that's not what I'm referring to. By one-way communication, I was referring to the default "I'm in distress, here's my coordinates, send help" message, which is the only message the system can officially transmit. There's no way to carry on a two-way conversation to collect further details, or even a mechanism to acknowledge the message - though due to a very robust system design, it's very unlikely the message wouldn't get received.

papito 4y ago

Yes, emergency rescue beacons. I have one whenever I am in the middle of nowhere. I had to use it once, believe it or not, when I almost died in the mother of all ironies - in the middle of Death Valley, California. The U.S. Air Force directed an ambulance in my direction from a nearby town. Have a COSPAS-SARSAT emergency beacon is all I am saying. They are expensive, but it's a one-time purchase. The service is free.