Welcome to the Deadzone Beta.

You're one of the first people to test satellite-connected AI in the field. This guide covers what to expect, how to use Deadzone, and how to give feedback that shapes the product.

WHAT DEADZONE IS

Deadzone bridges satellite SMS to frontier AI. Text a command from your phone's built-in satellite messaging with zero cell service, and receive an AI-powered response in as little as 1 minute. Weather, trails, emergencies, navigation, and more.

You also have access to the web portal at app.getdeadzone.io for trip planning, AI chat, signal history, and saved locations.

YOUR BETA ACCESS

BETA DETAILS

Duration: 3 months from your grant date
Signals: 150 per month (Expedition tier)
Cost: Free during beta
Web portal: Full access at app.getdeadzone.io
Satellite SMS: Works on iPhone 14+ (iOS 18+) and Android devices with satellite messaging support

You'll receive a warning SMS 3 days before your beta period ends. If you're mid-trip, we can extend your access.

GETTING STARTED

Save the contact card. You received an MMS with a Deadzone contact card. Save it to your contacts. This number works via satellite too.

Send your first signal. Text !h to Deadzone for the command list. Or try !w Boise ID for a weather check.

Log in to the web portal. Go to app.getdeadzone.io/login and enter your email. Click the magic link to sign in.

Plan a trip. Create a trip in the Trip Builder to get real-time conditions, AI briefings, and shareable trip pages.

COMMANDS

Text any command to your Deadzone number. Satellite messages are limited to 140 characters, so keep queries short.

?Ask anything

!wWeather

!eEmergency first aid

!rRoute / directions

!fFacilities (gas, water)

!aActive alerts / fires

!tTrail info

!nNews

!dSun / moon / time

!pTides / river levels

!gElevation

!qAir quality

!bWildlife / bear activity

!iField ID (plants, tracks)

!sSports scores

!uUnit conversion

!mMath / calculations

!cCheck in

!hHelp / command list

SATELLITE SMS TIPS

Move to open sky. Trees, canyons, and buildings block satellite signal.
Hold your phone at arm's length, tilted slightly toward the horizon.
Stay still while sending. Moving breaks the satellite connection.
Be specific. !w Moab UT beats !w weather.
Expect 1-3 minute round-trip via satellite. Standard SMS is faster (~60 seconds). Don't re-send if it seems slow.
Responses are 306 characters max (2 SMS segments). Emergency responses are 160 characters (1 segment).

WEB PORTAL

The web portal at app.getdeadzone.io gives you:

Dashboard with signal usage and recent activity
Trip Builder with maps, waypoints, itinerary, real-time conditions, AI briefing, and shareable trip pages
AI Chat with full frontier AI + web search (richer than SMS)
Signal History with all your SMS queries and responses
Saved Locations with nicknames (referenced in chat)
Emergency Contacts linked to your trips
Resources with full command reference, wilderness first aid protocols, and satellite tips

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR

FEEDBACK PRIORITIES
Response quality. Are answers accurate? Useful? Too long? Too short? Missing critical info?
Command coverage. Is there a command you wish existed? A query type that didn't work?
Reliability. Did you get an error? No response? Garbled text? How long did it take?
Real-world testing. Use it on a real trip. What worked? What didn't? What would you rely on in an emergency?
Web portal. Is the trip builder useful? The AI chat? Anything confusing or missing?
Satellite experience. How did satellite SMS work for you? Connection issues? Timing?

Send feedback however is easiest for you: text, email, or just tell me. Every observation helps.

KNOWN LIMITATIONS

Satellite SMS requires a compatible device: iPhone 14+ with iOS 18+, or an Android device with satellite messaging support. No carrier add-on needed — it's built into the phone.
Satellite messages are limited to 140 characters. Be concise.
Responses may take 2-5 minutes via satellite (standard SMS is faster)
Some data sources (NWS, USGS) have occasional outages. Deadzone falls back to web search when APIs are down.
The web portal is dark mode only (by design).

PRIVACY

Your signal data is used only to provide the service and improve Deadzone. We can see your queries and responses in the admin dashboard for debugging and quality improvement. We will never share your data with third parties. Full details in the Privacy Policy.