Motorola Defy Satellite Link – Garmin InReach mini competitor?

Thanks for sharing. “Bullitt and Motorola debut a universal Bluetooth device using the ‘Bullitt Satellite Messenger’ service, with advanced two-way satellite messaging technology, location sharing and SOS assistance.”

https://bullitt-group.com/motorola-defy-satellite-link-unveiled-at-mwc-2023/

“It has an IP68 water and dust resistance, and has been built to meet MIL-Spec 810H toughness standards, yet only weighs 70 grams and is 11mm thick…600mAh battery…has its own GPS…needs to run at least iOS 14 or Android 10…available starting in April, and it costs $99…Bullitt Satellite Messenger app requires a subscription to use, which starts at $5 per month and includes access to the SOS emergency service. Anyone replying to a message over a normal cellular or Wi-Fi connection can do so for free. There’s also a good value bundle with the dongle and a year’s subscription to the basic messaging and emergency plan for $149”

For local availability visit http://www.motorolarugged.com.

2.5 ounces for this vs 3.4 ounces for inreach mini

One thing I hate about the inreach mini is that it can take an hour or more to acquire a signal and send a message.  I wonder if this will be better.

They’ll both be obsoleted by phones with built in satellite capability as one iphone currently has and androids soon to follow

Yep, I look forward to these being made obsolete. But the iPhone currently only allows emergency texting. So they aren’t obsolete yet, but Apple could presumably do that with just a software update (assuming they have the satellite capacity for increased usage, but by imposing a monthly message limit and/or monthly fee, they can address this). Though Apple being Apple, it wouldn’t surprise me if they make this an iPhone 15 Pro only feature

One advantage iPhone—and presumably Android phones eventually—have is on-screen assistance in helping aiming at satellites and acquiring a signal.

One thing that is interesting and different about the Defy link is that it uses geostationary satellites so there will not be the problem with having to locate a satellite to connect but these are also higher altitude satellites so there is the question of how much latency that will add . Still this seems like it could potentially be a major advantage but I guess we won’t know until we see how it translates to real world usage.

is there a way to send preset messages without a phone?

is there a way to send preset message without phone?

yes, that’s the point.  With just the Inreach, you can select one of three preset messages.  It takes just a couple button pushes.

it sends an email to the person(s) selected when you create the preset message.  They can then click on the link which shows a map with your location.  And there’s a field where they can enter a reply and then click “submit” which will send it back to your inreach.  Then, with a couple button pushes on your inreach, you can view it.

None of this was clear to me before I got the inreach

If I want to enter a longer, specific message it takes many many button pushes.  Or, you can use your phone and use it’s keyboard which is much easier.

I like how every time I say inreach, it get’s replaced with a link.  So BPL can make a tiny amount on ads.  Inreach, inreach, inreach,…

Interesting – after two, it quit replacing inreach with a link

inreach

inreach

is there a way to send preset messages without a phone?

It looks like the Defy does have a button to share your location using just the device and not your phone. But it doesn’t seem to have a way to send a pre-set message. (It also has an SOS button, so if your phone died and you needed rescue, it should still work for that).

Very interesting! Considering I just got a mini for Christmas I’ll hold on to it and see how it does, if anything this seems like a good alternative. More appealing to me than somewhere or Zoelo

While on the subject of messengers that use geostationary satellites, the SatPaq will be bricked in August. The FCC will be assigning the band used by SatPaq to other purposes.

https://satpaq.com/important-changes/

April 29, 2022

Dear SatPaq Customer,

Since Higher Ground introduced the SatPaq product in late 2018, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission has made unprecedented changes to the satellite frequency band that SatPaqs use, specifically, the band will no longer be available for satellite communications effective September 2023, or 15 months from now. As a result, your SatPaq device will no longer work after that time.

We are deeply disappointed in this news and thank all of our loyal customers.

In light of these events, we have decided to offer free service [a MessagePaq150] to our current customers going forward. All current SatPaq customers will soon get 150 free messages that you can use as you choose through August 2023. Also, no accounts have been charged for renewal services since early 2022.

In addition, beginning May 10, 2022, the SOS direct connection feature will no longer be available to SatPaq customers. Effective that date, any SatPaq message sent to the previous SOS provider will result in a bounce-back notification explaining that a SOS message did not reach emergency authorities. Instead, it will provide you with your current geo-coordinates which you can then use to contact a family member or friend so they can reach emergency authorities.

It has been a pleasure working with our consumer customers. All of us at Higher Ground are disappointed that events out of our control have caused this service to be discontinued.

Rob Reis,
President

Looks like the Motorola device is now for sale.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/06/motorolas-satellite-link-hotspot-lets-you-send-messages-via-outer-space/

The low cost of the device ($150) and service plans ($5 – $30 per month, no activation fee) make this a very competitive option. I can’t tell if the location check-ins count against your monthly message allotment, but I’d hope not. I think 2-way messaging requires the other party to use the app, which isn’t necessarily a deal breaker, but kind of annoying.

I believe the check-in’s do count against the monthly allotment.

Last I looked, the Defy network will use Inmarsat satellite which is stationary.  So it may be notably slower to connect than Garmin or Zoleo which both use Iridium.

Last I looked, the Defy network will use Inmarsat satellite which is stationary.  So it may be notably slower to connect than Garmin or Zoleo which both use Iridium.

This is why I bought a Zoleo after reading lots of bad reviews of the Inmarsat network for this use.

This is why I bought a Zoleo after reading lots of bad reviews of the Inmarsat network for this use.

According to the review below they use the Echostar satellite network in addition to the Inmarsat network, for whatever that is worth.

The review also claims that it’s fairly speedy at about 30 seconds to send and receive messages.

https://gpstraining.co.uk/blogs/reviews/motorola-defy-satellite-link-review

For check-in messages, ease-of-use and clarity at the recipient end are important. I want a timestamp and lat-long that my wife can read to a sheriff’s dispatcher if my check-ins stop coming.

Check-ins that require the recipient to go to a website or use (or install!) a particular app are not good for an emergency situation. With my BivyStick, the check-in is an email and/or a text message with lat-log in the email or message. Not perfect–the time is indicated only by the time that the text or email is received. But it’s something that can be read to a 911 or Forest Service dispatcher.

The weight and price of the Defy are intriguing. But I don’t think they have this detail figured out.

From REI review, “-The app is NOT needed for the recipient to receive messages. Your check-in and custom messages come through as SMS with a link to the app if they wish to respond.”

This is my first post here. I’m in New Zealand and OneNZ which was Vodafone is planning to link its mobile phone network with SpaceX satellite constellation. Your phone will be able to connect directly with the satellite using our 5G network. They are making a bold statement and saying 100% coverage of New Zealand. It’s a game changer for communication in the back country here. Next year will be sms messages and data and voice in 2025. Makes you think do I need to update the message device that I currently use or hold off for only one device to do it all. The future in interesting in this domain.
https://one.nz/why-choose-us/spacex/

Yeah, I was holding off replacing my Galaxy S9 until a phone with satellite is available, but my S9 died so I had to replace it.

I don’t know about New Zealand, but you can trade in a phone and upgrade to the new model pretty cheaply.  If an S24 becomes available with satellite, I could trade in my S23 for just a few $100.

I bought one, came in today, and was most interested in knowing how it works without phone. I sent a check in (it took a few minutes to find a satellite) and this is how it looks over sms (coordinates changed to protect the innocent). It used 50 bytes to send a check in. Satellite check in’s use your monthly allotment, but wifi check in’s do not (have not tested wifi check in). The website allowed only two contacts to be added. It rejected a third contact.

You can take off the strap with a number 2.0 allen key to have a weight of 57 grams for the unit.

“Check In:
31.553515,-93.10614
Checking in”
From: (my phone number)
Sent via Bullitt Satellite Messenger.
To respond, download the app for iOS or Android
bullitt.com/app

Hey John,

There are some reviews that say that the USB-C cover doesn’t seal very well and might let water in. How is the seal of your cover?

Doug, I see what they are talking about. The cover sits over the USB-C input and has a small protruding lip (maybe 1/2 millimeter) that goes further down into the opening, similar to a water bottle cap (that may not explain it very good). The cover is not a snug flush covering (whole cover goes down into the opening) like on a steripen. It does seem like over time it may get more loose. Time will tell if it is a potential failure point if dropped in water, especially if it is broken off as sometimes happens with input coverings.