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Just as a PSA in case not everyone knows this new feature. In the US and a growing number of other countries, the latest iPhones have a satellite network for e

by RC_ITR 4y ago

Just as a PSA in case not everyone knows this new feature. In the US and a growing number of other countries, the latest iPhones have a satellite network for emergencies. If tech giants are going to spend money on something cool, might as well use it. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213426 https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213426

jojobas 4y ago
It's not exactly "satellite network", it's piggy-backing on an existing SAR reception infrastructure that used to require somewhat expensive dedicated devices. Not sure it's a good idea, I'd expect a wave of SAR requests for not real emergencies.
- williamscales 4y ago
  The devices aren’t even particularly expensive any more, about $200 iirc. A PLB usually also has a radio transmitter on it that allows rescuers to direction-find your location.
  - nier 4y ago
    PLB stands for personal locator beacon. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_locator_beacon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_locator_beacon
- mastazi 4y ago
  Aren't SARs generally mounted on satellites? E.g. https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Technology/Onboard_Data_Processing/Introduction_to_a_SAR_System https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Techn...
  - jojobas 4y ago
    It's a low bandwidth, high latency facility nowhere near what you'd typically think about when you think of a network.
  - sjburt 4y ago
    Search-And-Rescue, not Synthetic Aperture Radar.
- ghaff 4y ago
  While the consequences of easier communications when you get in trouble (or just get scared/tired) in the outdoors isn't intuitively obvious, SAR people I've chatted with generally seem to think that better comms is a net positive in that people can communicate before things get really dicey. ADDED: There are also perhaps more common situations like going off the road in a snowstorm.
- makeitdouble 4y ago
  First time I heard about it, and looking at this after some googling: https://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/search-and-rescue-satellites/ https://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/search-and-rescue-satellites/ If I am getting this right, Apple and other device makers would have some kind of beacon registration for every single device it produces with the feature ?
- roywiggins 4y ago
  If this story is accurate, the integration with the iPhone's existing crash detection has already been used in a rescue: https://9to5mac.com/2022/12/14/iphone-14-satellite-crash-detection-rescue/ https://9to5mac.com/2022/12/14/iphone-14-satellite-crash-det... Which is a pretty neat capability all things considered.
  - shaklee3 4y ago
    it has also falsely reported accidents numerous times
- RC_ITR 4y ago
  Idk where you’re getting your info, but they’re globestar satellites and Apple invested half a billion dollars into that company. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/11/emergency-sos-via-satellite-made-possible-by-450m-apple-investment/ https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/11/emergency-sos-via-sat...

by RC_ITR 4y ago

jojobas 4y ago

It's not exactly "satellite network", it's piggy-backing on an existing SAR reception infrastructure that used to require somewhat expensive dedicated devices. Not sure it's a good idea, I'd expect a wave of SAR requests for not real emergencies.

williamscales 4y ago
The devices aren’t even particularly expensive any more, about $200 iirc. A PLB usually also has a radio transmitter on it that allows rescuers to direction-find your location.
- nier 4y ago
  PLB stands for personal locator beacon. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_locator_beacon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_locator_beacon
mastazi 4y ago
Aren't SARs generally mounted on satellites? E.g. https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Technology/Onboard_Data_Processing/Introduction_to_a_SAR_System https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Techn...
- jojobas 4y ago
  It's a low bandwidth, high latency facility nowhere near what you'd typically think about when you think of a network.
- sjburt 4y ago
  Search-And-Rescue, not Synthetic Aperture Radar.
ghaff 4y ago
While the consequences of easier communications when you get in trouble (or just get scared/tired) in the outdoors isn't intuitively obvious, SAR people I've chatted with generally seem to think that better comms is a net positive in that people can communicate before things get really dicey. ADDED: There are also perhaps more common situations like going off the road in a snowstorm.
makeitdouble 4y ago
First time I heard about it, and looking at this after some googling: https://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/search-and-rescue-satellites/ https://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/search-and-rescue-satellites/ If I am getting this right, Apple and other device makers would have some kind of beacon registration for every single device it produces with the feature ?
roywiggins 4y ago
If this story is accurate, the integration with the iPhone's existing crash detection has already been used in a rescue: https://9to5mac.com/2022/12/14/iphone-14-satellite-crash-detection-rescue/ https://9to5mac.com/2022/12/14/iphone-14-satellite-crash-det... Which is a pretty neat capability all things considered.
- shaklee3 4y ago
  it has also falsely reported accidents numerous times
RC_ITR 4y ago
Idk where you’re getting your info, but they’re globestar satellites and Apple invested half a billion dollars into that company. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/11/emergency-sos-via-satellite-made-possible-by-450m-apple-investment/ https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/11/emergency-sos-via-sat...