I tried T-Mobile’s satellite phone service on an off-grid adventure – here’s what surprised me most

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• T-Satellite can get you service where cell towers can’t reach.
• I went off the grid to test whether it actually worked. 
• It is available for T-Mobile and other carrier customers. 

One of my favorite corners of the world is my friend’s secluded family cabin in Upstate New York — so remote that it is impossible to get any signal there. That’s why, when I got a chance to test out T-Mobile’s T-Satellite, which is designed to provide connectivity even where cell towers can’t reach, I knew just where to take it. 

T-Mobile launched its T-Satellite service over the summer in partnership with Starlink. The concept is simple: wherever T-Mobile’s 4G and 5G cell towers can’t reach, your phone will tap one of the 650+ Starlink satellites to connect you to essentials such as text messaging, navigation, music, weather, and even video calling. 

Also: T-Mobile’s Starlink satellite service just got a huge app upgrade – adding WhatsApp, Maps, and more

I went on an off-the-grid adventure this weekend to put it to the test, and the results left me pleasantly surprised. To learn more about my experience (including whether the service is worth it), keep reading below. 

Getting started 

T-Satellite is automatically included at no additional charge for T-Mobile’s top plans, including Experience Beyond and Go5G Next, on eligible devices. These devices include most of the latest phones, such as the iPhone 13 and later, the Samsung Galaxy S21 and later, and the Google Pixel 9 and later. For this trip, I used an iPhone 17 with the Experience Beyond plan. 

Also: Samsung phones have a secret Wi-Fi menu that can solve your internet problems – how to enable it

T-Mobile users not on either of those top plans, and other carrier users, can add the service for an additional $10 per month. After meeting those requirements, when you reach a T-Satellite-covered zone, your phone automatically switches to T-Satellite. Since the satellites are moving, your phone may switch between several satellites, but this process occurs in the background. 

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In my experience, when I was around 10 minutes from the cabin, which happens to be right in a T-Satellite zone, even when my daily driver and my boyfriend’s many phones dropped connectivity, I got a text saying that I had connected to T-Satellite, which was also incdicated by the “SAT” or “T-Sat+Starlink SAT” designation on the top bar. 

Then it was time to see what the connection could do. 

What worked 

Driving up to the cabin is typically a treacherous journey, requiring navigation of a long, winding, unmarked dirt road. The most confusing part is that phone service often drops before you reach the cabin, so you have to either use an offline map or directions, or, as I have in the past, follow my best friend’s car since she knows exactly where it is. 

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In the absence of my friend’s muscle memory, I was pleased, shocked, and relieved to see that my Apple Maps navigation was still working. In fact, the service worked all the way up until the cabin, as well as the other compatible apps on iPhone that I tested, including WhatsApp, Apple Messages, Apple Music, Google Maps, AccuWeather, and X. The list of compatible apps varies per phone, but also includes Overwatch, onX, CalTopo, T-Life, Yahoo Mail, and more. 

Also: This free T-Mobile service could save your life, no matter what carrier you use – here’s how

Beyond maps, when connected to T-Satellite, I was able to send text messages with minimal lag, including photos and videos, which I wasn’t expecting, especially since T-Mobile warns that speeds may be slower as soon as you switch to Satellite. Apple Music continued to load music that wasn’t downloaded, even when Spotify couldn’t, as it is not on the list of compatible apps. I was also grateful to be able to take a glimpse at the expected road conditions via AccuWeather, which was really helpful. 

The caveats

As T-Mobile cites on its website, to enjoy the best T-Satellite performance, you’ll want to be outdoors with a clear view of the sky. This setup means that when you go indoors and have an obstructed view of the sky, you will likely lose any connectivity. 

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I was able to sneak some texting in from inside the cabin, including a couple of picture sends, but for the most part, I was left without any satellite connection at all, which led to lots of board games and DVD watching during the weekend. 

However, even if I could have gotten some bars inside, I wouldn’t have been able to do much for entertainment purposes, since activities like internet browsing, video streaming, or social media apps (besides X) are not supported. 

Also: T-Mobile just made it hard for tech enthusiasts like me to leave – here’s what changed

With this caveat in mind, as I see it, T-Satellite is designed to provide you with the connectivity you need to access basic apps that keep you safe while off the grid and on the move, such as driving, hiking, and camping. However, the service is not meant to simulate your everyday phone activities – yet. Once T-Mobile starts supporting more apps via satellite, that capability will change. 

Another slight letdown was call stability, which, although not supported directly from the phone app, is still supported via WhatsApp for both phone and video calls. If you anticipate a long conversation, or even a stable one, with T-Satellite, I would advise you to set those expectations aside. 

Still, it was nice to be able to call my mom, update her on my trip, and let her know I was heading home, despite the lagginess of the call. Typically, I wouldn’t be able to communicate with her at all (not even via text), so being able to engage in real-time voice communication was already a win, and seeing her face on a screen was a bonus. 

The verdict

Ultimately, if you like spending time outdoors in areas where cell towers can’t reach, I think the $10 extra per month is worth it, as it gives you the peace of mind that you can access the most essential functions on your phone at all times. It is helpful that you don’t have to switch carriers to take advantage of T-Mobile’s network, making the addition as seamless as possible. 

If you are also looking for an indoor connection solution, I would consider a more traditional Starlink kit, which includes a per-month service cost and a Starlink panel that you leave outside with an unobstructed view of the sky so you can access the network in your home. 

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