T-Satellite - Any Experience?

[rjthehunter]

Alright, with T-Mobile offering T-Satellite now, how many have used it?

I don't have T-Mobile, but they offer the service to non T-Mobile users as well for $10/month. I plan to call today and see what I have to do to have the option to utilize their satellite capabilities through Starlink. To use it as a non T-Mobile customer, it sounds like you just need the capability to download an eSIM card for your phone and you can seamlessly switch between T-Satellite and your normal phone #.

I'll update once I talk with T-Mobile today.

 

[rjthehunter]

After a quick phone call, it sounds like I just have to go in to T-Mobile and they'll set it up on my AT&T phone. It sounds like there isn't any activation/deactivation costs and it's just $15/month or $10/month with autopay...

 

[44hunter45]

Let us know if it works any better than the AT&T and Verizon versions. I don't have the patience to stand around trying to find a sat in the sky.

 

[WapitiBob]

Is it available at any time or does the phone have to have zero coverage before it'll let you use it?

 

[SD_Prairie_Goat]

Interested in if it's only texts or calls and internet as well. Not worth the upgrade for just texts as my iPhone already does that. Add the others and it might be worth it for the fall months

 

[rjthehunter]

Is it available at any time or does the phone have to have zero coverage before it'll let you use it?

No, in my case, I would switch active SIMs i believe, so it is like flipping a switch. Basically running 2 phone numbers off of 1 phone

 

[rjthehunter]

Interested in if it's only texts or calls and internet as well. Not worth the upgrade for just texts as my iPhone already does that. Add the others and it might be worth it for the fall months

Internet on some devices.

For my specific device, it is texting and picture messaging, which is already more than my zoleo does, at 1/5 the cost.

 

[SD_Prairie_Goat]

Internet on some devices.

For my specific device, it is texting and picture messaging, which is already more than my zoleo does, at 1/5 the cost.

And doesn't censure your messages!

Seems like a winner, let us know how a back country test goes!

 

[rjthehunter]

And doesn't censure your messages!

Seems like a winner, let us know how a back country test goes!

I'm going to try and get it set up before I leave in a couple of weeks. I'll have the Zoleo with as a backup, but this would be pretty sweet.

I was really surprised when I messaged my fiance about the hell hole I was in and got a message back saying it was flagged or something. That was stupid.

 

[SD_Prairie_Goat]

I'm going to try and get it set up before I leave in a couple of weeks. I'll have the Zoleo with as a backup, but this would be pretty sweet.

I was really surprised when I messaged my fiance about the hell hole I was in and got a message back saying it was flagged or something. That was stupid.

Ya, good idea while testing it out.

$10 a month is cheap for insurance if it works!

 

[BEvans]

I switched to T-Mobile a few weeks ago and was able to use T-satellite on my last hunt. On my galaxy s25 it worked decently, I think there was 2 occasions where it said message failed to send but I would just hit resend and it would work. Its not as fast a traditional texting but it worked faster than my inreach. I actually gave my inreach to my father so we could communicate on the mountain, but the T-sat worked well enough I'll probably cancel or at least reduce my inreach subscription. My biggest complaint with the T-sat is it sends me a text message every time it connects to a satellite so if I'm in spotty service I'm constantly getting text messages. I might be able to turn that off but haven't taken the time to figure it out.

 

[GlockZ]

Well I have some experience with this, I just recently returned from a Maine bear hunt. The area I was hunting had virtually no cell service, but I was able to text with my family back home using T-Mobile and the satellite link. Worked well, I was even able to send pictures, which was slow to send, but just texting back and forth was relatively quick and easy

 

[Chingon]

I have it. It has replaced my Garmin, but it's not perfect.

My primary issue is that I've hunted areas that are on the fringe of service, and my phone cannot decide whether I should have one bar of service, SOS only (new iphone iridium text feature) or Starlink.

If you could tell your phone to lock out cell and go Starlink only, or were just consistently way off grid I think it would be much better.

 

[rjthehunter]

I have it. It has replaced my Garmin, but it's not perfect.

My primary issue is that I've hunted areas that are on the fringe of service, and my phone cannot decide whether I should have one bar of service, SOS only (new iphone iridium text feature) or Starlink.

If you could tell your phone to lock out cell and go Starlink only, or were just consistently way off grid I think it would be much better.

With me not having T-Mobile, the way I understand it, I do basically flip a switch to use satellite only.

I'm going to try to run in to the store today. Had a busy week!

 

[Spitz]

Got rid of my garmin. Texts come and go for me in the backcountry as though I have cel service.

 

[rjthehunter]

Got rid of my garmin. Texts come and go for me in the backcountry as though I have cel service.

Good to hear!!!

 

[rjthehunter]

Well, I got everything set up, and found out I apparently still owe on my phone. Going to pay off some stupid $200 or so to get this thing unlocked. I should have it working by the time I head back out to WY.

 

[Malta899]

It is only for satellite text messaging and is not available on all phones. It does not provide full cell service or a wifi hotspot.

 

[Chingon]

They actually just announced that it (Starlink) would support several apps for low-bandwidth data. I'm guessing things like weather app, whatsapp, etc.

 

[rjthehunter]

Quick update on this.

Turns out I'm under contract with AT&T for 11 more months before my phone will be "unlocked". If I want to unlock it, I can pay $300, or I can just keep using my Zoleo until the phone is out of their payment thing. My phone bill shows the cost of the phone, but then shows a credit for the phone amount... So I don't pay for the phone, but if I want to unlock it, I need to pay for it... Next phone I'm ordering from Amazon unlocked so I don't have to deal with this kind of BS anymore.

Long story short, if you have a galaxy s23, you can get T-Satellite for $15/month, but I won't be messing around with it until next season.