No signal? Google now have you covered

[Jh1986]

Google released an update to their pixel 9 pro series. Now when you lose signal, it'll use GPS satellites to still enable an SOS message to be sent to emergency services.



New satellite icon now appears when your signal drops out.

Useful safety feature.

 

[Swedish]

Good feature, also worth remembering that any UK mobile can also connect to any provider (if available) if dialling the emergency services regardless of your contract provider if you are 'out of signal' for your normal network.

 

[Jagged77]

It’s definitely a great and reassuring feature. My iPhone has it built in and I think it should be something anyone who spends time out of signal should consider.

 

[weblyish]

Also if you go out in the wilds register for text message 999 before you go

It was originally a service for deaf people to use 999 but is heavily used by mountain leaders

It allows you to send texts to 999 which may send as you move around and the weather changes even if you cannot make a call (and allows them to do some clever location wizardry if needed )

You text 'register' to 999 and confirm as required

Edit - forgot to say. You only need register once for life but unless you have pre-registered you can't use the service (no idea why)

so just do it now and forget all about it until that fateful day

 

[NoIDeer]

Also if you go out in the wilds register for text message 999 before you go

It was originally a service for deaf people to use 999 but is heavily used by mountain leaders

It allows you to send texts to 999 which may send as you move around and the weather changes even if you cannot make a call (and allows them to do some clever location wizardry if needed )

You text 'register' to 999 and confirm as required

Edit - forgot to say. You only need register once for life but unless you have pre-registered you can't use the service (no idea why)

so just do it now and forget all about it until that fateful day

If you text your w3w or lat and long your position is in the text. Definately register.

 

[wytonpjs]

I, and sadly my entire clan, are all on EE thanks to my generosity Whilst their coverage is generally very good, there are occasions when 5G especially means no G and you end up staring at a frozen loading screen. I have recently tripped over Honest Mobile which offers you an unlimited data-only esim on EE, O2 and Three for £48/year if you pay up front. What clinched it for me are their no charge overseas arrangements where frankly data apps is all I really need. It’s an eSIM so no physical sim is required, they send you comprehensive installation instruction by return and you are off and running in minutes. With it active as my secondary sim, you get a second signal bar under the normal one and so far, I’d say that its connectivity seems better than EE! In low signal situations it swaps automatically between carriers. Early days, but so far impressed.

I would add that I do also carry a Motorola Deny satellite device on my bino harness when stalking that means I can send and receive messages (and SOS calls to an emergency centre) in areas with absolutely no mobile signal. I signed up when Bullet first started and got their basic relatively cheap inclusive deal of £5/m. They have since been bought out by another company but they now offer unlimited messages for £99/year. Whilst my iPhone does do satellite emergency calls on Apple’s systems, the Bullet benefit is that I can send and receive text messages to whoever I want and with unlimited content.

 

[Jh1986]

Also if you go out in the wilds register for text message 999 before you go

It was originally a service for deaf people to use 999 but is heavily used by mountain leaders

It allows you to send texts to 999 which may send as you move around and the weather changes even if you cannot make a call (and allows them to do some clever location wizardry if needed )

You text 'register' to 999 and confirm as required

Edit - forgot to say. You only need register once for life but unless you have pre-registered you can't use the service (no idea why)

so just do it now and forget all about it until that fateful day

That's handy. Didn't know that, so just registered.

Should be able to now set 999 as the text contact for my Garmin Feñix watch. If I hold the button on my watch, it'll then bleep and countdown. If the countdown reached zero, it'll send a text explaining I'm in distress, with coordinates

 

[weblyish]

That's handy. Didn't know that, so just registered.

Should be able to now set 999 as the text contact for my Garmin Feñix watch. If I hold the button on my watch, it'll then bleep and countdown. If the countdown reached zero, it'll send a text explaining I'm in distress, with coordinates

Hope you never have to use it

The standard first response is a text with a link to click which gives them location battery status etc
Is that achievable via the he Garmin

 

[Jh1986]

Hope you never have to use it

The standard first response is a text with a link to click which gives them location battery status etc
Is that achievable via the he Garmin

The Garmin gives the location coordinates and tells them my details.

Unfortunately the Garmin app won't allow less than 7 digits in the number.

It'll have to remain as my wife's number... Who likely will get back to me in 3-5 business days because she is awful with her phone

 

[GlennUK]

That's handy. Didn't know that, so just registered.

Should be able to now set 999 as the text contact for my Garmin Feñix watch. If I hold the button on my watch, it'll then bleep and countdown. If the countdown reached zero, it'll send a text explaining I'm in distress, with coordinates

That's really interesting, I know my Garmin (Descent G1) and my wife's (forerunner) have the emergency message function, never thoght about using the text function in that way.