Delegates to the American College of Morticians - Sonoma Plaza, November 4th, 2021
From my cousin Lois. Possibly very useful info if lacking cell coverage.
"FYI if you are interested
How to text (slowly) using satellites both iPhones & Androids when outdoors.
I enjoy this tech writer from the WSJ. I have no cell range in certain parts of town, hiking, driving through mountains, earthquakes, power outages (excessive heat/fires). I have an iPhone but I also know people with Androids so group texts really help referenced on page 3.
Last winter I got stuck driving through a major curvy mountain pass after a 6pm work meeting in San Diego where I needed to drive home to Palm Springs (inland directly east over mountains). I mistakenly figured I'd save time instead of sitting on jammed freeways during rush hours. 1 hour in (no cell service) all traffic came to a complete stop with no oncoming traffic. There are no exits and steep drops in the mountains. By 7pm it was pitch black and less than 40 degrees F and dropping and no way to get info about traffic stopped or for how long. Satellite radio in our vehicles were not working. Very scary as we didn't want to keep engines running for heat and watch our batteries drain down and not be able to start our cars. Ended up being a 3.5 hour wait (horrendous head-on collision). With satellite cell service at least I maybe could have messaged friends perhaps using my cell phone to locate traffic issues for me. No one in Palm Springs thought anything was out of the ordinary as the evening wore on. I could have stopped a number of places or even had dinner prior to leaving meeting to drive home.
Upside: Stars are spectacular in the mountains & met some interesting people in other cars walking around freezing cold and hungry just like me - most carry water in their cars around here.
So ...next time I'll try using satellite service and see if it works."
How to text on your cell phone emergencies using satellites
Greg