BajaNomad

No cell service texting

freediverbrian - 1-14-2021 at 06:31 PM

Has anyone used or have any reviews on a no cell service or wifi texting apps like signal free. That use GPS to text , a friend was telling me about it. Sounds too good to be true texting in Baja without cell service ????? Both parties must have the app. Aside from the encrypted right wing usage it sounds great. Would this put an end to spot and other emergency devices?

[Edited on 1-15-2021 by freediverbrian]

David K - 1-15-2021 at 08:30 AM

Other no-cell devices:

The Garmin/ DeLorme inReach (Explorer) allows you to text or email to anyone, works with your cell phone so you can text or email to anyone in your address book.

Compared to the new Spot device with two-way communication, I find the inReach superior as it allows longer messages and has a word counter so you know the limits of a message for replies. Not so with replies to the Spot owner.

LaPazGringo - 2-5-2021 at 09:12 AM

My brother is extremely excited about the goTenna Mesh product.

LancairDriver - 2-5-2021 at 01:11 PM

Elon Musk and his Space X division are making rapid advances in their space technology with recently launching a record 148 satellites on one launch. They are forging ahead with plans placing enough satellites in orbit to provide 5G wi-fi anywhere on the globe. That will change the present situation in communicating in Baja as well as other presently data bare areas of the world. Hopefully soon.

LancairDriver - 2-5-2021 at 01:17 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Other no-cell devices:

The Garmin/ DeLorme inReach (Explorer) allows you to text or email to anyone, works with your cell phone so you can text or email to anyone in your address book.

Compared to the new Spot device with two-way communication, I find the inReach superior as it allows longer messages and has a word counter so you know the limits of a message for replies. Not so with replies to the Spot owner.


When Elon Musk gets his worldwide net of Wi-fi satellites in place, a lost Baja Nomad would be able to contact DK directly and have a map directing them out within minutes. Don’t you just love new technology?

Musk's StarLink factoids

s/v Ola Chica - 2-5-2021 at 04:58 PM

For your edification, it is not WiFi in the conventional sense.

Musk's StarLink, per Wikipedia:

.....will be linked to flat user terminals the size of a pizza box, which will have phased array antennas and track the satellites. The terminals can be mounted anywhere, as long as they can see the sky. Current speeds are 50 Mbps to 150 Mbps and latency from 20 ms to 40 ms (1085 satellites currently deployed); while it will supposedly max out @ 1Gbps, once fully deployed (12,000 satellites deployed).

Definitely much faster than 4G @ speeds between 5 and 12 Mbps; but much, much slower than max 5G @ 10Gbps. For comparison, Iridium maxes out @ 1408 Kbps (ie, 1.4 Mbps); not even in the same league.

Anyone in the market for SAT Internet should seriously consider Starlink (available in Beta), since Iridium is slower and way more $$$ (as of now).

bajabrant - 2-6-2021 at 04:30 PM

check out ZOLEO--$200 for the unit and $20 a month--i like it

mtgoat666 - 2-6-2021 at 07:43 PM

People on this thread appear to be thinking they are talking about satellite communication,... but several of you are talking about internet-based messaging apps and a repeater-type app.

I find it refreshing to be off the grid and unreachable — the only way to get away from work and the incessant noise that comes with a digital world...