Toyota Safety Connect: Celluar or GPS?

I'm trying to decide whether I want to renew safety connect or not and am finding mixed information on whether it relies upon 4G or GPS for connectivity and communication.

I may keep it if it'd work in the event of an offroad emergency, however there would be no point if relies upon cellular signal as I could just use my phone then.

The recovery feature is pointless as that data is only provided to police and due to prioritization as well as prosecution nuances the police around me are said to sit on stolen vehicle reports for several weeks or indefinitely, even with location data.

 

I have never heard of a bi-directional GPS system, it would need Sat Phone or Starlink type system to reach back to orbit

 

It’s cellular.

 

Garmin InReach Mini, if you are off-road that much. Guaranteed to use GPS, lets you text interactively or simply send an SOS. REI carries it.

 

The InReach mini is fantastic and amazingly small. It does have GPS onboard for your location, but transmits data using the Iridium satellite network.

 

100% cellular. Another vote for inreach mini here for anything outdoors. Only problem is it's not cheap with monthly fees but it works. I have one and saw one go to good use a few years ago in northern nh when a free climber took a fall off a cliff in a cell phone dead zone.

 

iPhone 14 can connect by satellite

 

Iridium is the only 100% global coverage satellite service. You pay for piece of mind out on the trail, back country, etc.