Lost my epirb on a hunting trip. Considering a Divevolk housing for iphone 14 max. Would a person be able to use the iphone for satellite messaging in case of emergency from the surface in a Divevolk case? Obviously, this would likely only work in certain areas of the world. Thoughts or just get a new epirb. I have an older Delorme Inreach that I also use hiking but there is no dive storage container to fit it. So, I'm faced with getting something new but don't need to replace the epirb for hiking or hunting.
Divevolk housing for photos and satellite messaging
- Thread starter okrunner
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lairdb
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I am away from my gear at present, but have been meaning to run exactly this test; if anyone has, please do report.
Remember that it doesn’t work anyplace they’ve decided it wont work. It’s not like a satphone that might sort of work at the edges of coverage and maybe you can reach AFRCC/USCG/Global Rescue/Constellis/etc. even though it’s not supported — if Apple doesn’t think you’re in a supported area it won’t even try.
I still carry a PLB.
Remember that it doesn’t work anyplace they’ve decided it wont work. It’s not like a satphone that might sort of work at the edges of coverage and maybe you can reach AFRCC/USCG/Global Rescue/Constellis/etc. even though it’s not supported — if Apple doesn’t think you’re in a supported area it won’t even try.
I still carry a PLB.
It depends on your cell provider also. If you have T-Mobile they will have direct to cell satellite texting available for all of their customers in July and voice and data within 2 years. If you have any other carrier they are using Globalstar geosynchronous satellites that are in a much higher orbit, which is why you have to find the satellite direction before being able to send a message. Also the rumor is that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 will have direct to cell satellite capability also, we will find out for sure on June 9th.
The Apple Watch Ultra 3, if it has satellite capability, could be a game changer being far smaller than any PLB, Inreach, etc. With the Divevolk and an iphone, I was hoping to eliminate one item by having a camera and emergency locator with me in one package.
Johnoly
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I can only speak to the Samsung S20 in a Divevolk at being 2 miles offshore( can see the cell tower). The S20's cell antenna runs down the left & right thin edges of the phone. The DiveVolk housing was blocking the cell signal and could not connect to T-mobile network while inside of it. The S20 doesn't have satellite so I don't know where that antenna is located on each newer model phone.
Once diving was done for the day, I took it out of the housing because it's much easier to use and it connected right away to upload photos.
Once diving was done for the day, I took it out of the housing because it's much easier to use and it connected right away to upload photos.
So, at the very least, a person would have to take the iphone out of the case to attempt to get signal in the case of an emergency. In an emergency, who cares about the case. But, it'd still be interesting to know if the iphone can get sat signal. Apple coverage include the caribbean at least, according to the map.
I have been meaning to test this but it is a little difficult as you need to be out of coverage range for all cellular and wifi before satellite will even be enabled. So you need a boat pretty far offshore with no wifi service or some other way to get remote. Once that happens you can just try sending a regular text via satellite.
I think at a minimum you might need to remove the extra lens clamp if you use that. It is very beefy metal. Without that you might be OK even in the housing.
I think at a minimum you might need to remove the extra lens clamp if you use that. It is very beefy metal. Without that you might be OK even in the housing.
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