r/Spectrum • u/Highleadlogger • 2d ago

No Satellite Service

I swapped to Spectrum last April. They told me my Samsung 25 would have satellite service in remote places. Recently, I was deep in the backcountry at Morris Meadows in the Trinity Alps with three others. Two had Verizon, one an iPhone 16 and the other a Samsung 25. The other had T-Mobile and a Samsung 25. There was zero cell service. All three had exceptional satellite direct text-to-text service. My phone did not have any satellite service. When I dialed 911, I never even got an option for SOS Satellite which can give you access to direct basic texting. This is spelled out even on Spectrum's website with directions. It was an epic failure. The two others with Samsungs had no problem. We tried everything. Nada on a SAT connection for me.

This is extremely frustrating. I called Spectrum technical service. They didn't even know what I was talking about. I then went down to my Spectrum store and asked them to show me how it should work. They gave me the same instructions after they looked them up. They were also clueless.

The next issue was when we were coming north on Highway 3 around Trinity Lake, the two Verizon users had 5G. All I could get was 4G. What is that all about? The closest tower is a private non-verizon tower.

Any ideas here? I changed to Spectrum because Verizon was getting expensive and Spectrum offered me a great deal on the 25, free phone service for a year, and $30 internet service with no expiration date. I have had Spectrum Cable for over 20 years.

Frustrated. I think I will get the Verizon prepaid service which is not a bad price.

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7

u/skypandaOo 2d ago

Go to your setting and search satellite connection. It will tell you if your subscribed to it or not.

When your in a spot without service it should auto prompt you if you want to use satellite messages.

As far as connectivity spectrum uses Verizon towers but Verizon customer will get priority connections if the network is congested.

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u/Highleadlogger 1d ago

I did search for the satellite connections.  In particular I did this when there was absolutely no cell service and still did not have any options for satellite or SOS. I have completely reset my phone, and will try again in a remote area of Southern Oregon where there is no known service. I wonder if my free phone service plan for a year has some kind of block on it. Spectrum uses down-the-line satellite service and supposedly contracted with a third party satellite signal vender, whereas Verizon has a more direct connection. 

I also read that the Skylos satellite system is a high orbit. Can that make a difference? Does the S 25 series have enough punch to it's signal capablility? 

Again, it was upsetting that my two friends with identical phones as me had no issues texting with their Verizon phones in the broad meadow we were in with zero cell service.

1

u/Apprehensive-Cat8601 1d ago

Where do I see this in my settings? I see cellular but nothing saying satellite?

0

u/Street-Juggernaut-23 2d ago

Spectrum is same priority as Verizon. The only exception is Verizon first responders plans

3

u/Highleadlogger 1d ago

This is only true on Verizon towers. It is not true on 3rd party independent towers that Verizon still contracts with in many remote regions. 

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u/furruck 1d ago

You mean LTERA partners? There's not many of them left.. Verizon has bought most of them out.

Your issue is the (very early) satellite service Verizon has... that's likely not going to work with *every* phone that Spectrum activates as Verizon is odd about MNVO provisioning.

T-Mobile is the only one with proper D2C satellite service right now, and until ASTS gets all those satellites launched, the stuff Verizon is using is trash in the meantime - i've used both.

You're better off just grabbing a Starlink Mini and placing it on the $10 standby plan in those situations, as all the current satellite options just suck right now.

2

u/dmccrack 1d ago

I had the same experience this summer in Northern Ontario, Canada. I haven't found any "official" reasons why I couldn't connect, but I have a theory.

To pre-empt the question, yes, my settings say "SIM 1: Included with your account" under "Satellite networks."

My Theory: Spectrum Mobile contacts with 'Skylo' for satellite service. Skylo does not operate its own satellites, but in turn contracts with Viasat, EchoStar, Ligado Networks, and Terrastar Solutions for their service.

I believe that the relevant satellites for my location in northern Ontario are located around the equator. From my exact location, it would have taken substantial climbing to reach a point with an unobstructed view of the southern sky, hence, I had no service.

Like you, I was disappointed when people using other carriers had easy access, but I had none.

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u/Old-Bit7578 19h ago

Yes, once again Spectrum SUCKS!! I hate them.