MANY MINDEDFi's dog tracker falls back to Starlink satellites when cell signal drops
Fi has released a dog tracker called the Ultra, which the company says is the first consumer pet wearable powered by T-Satellite with Starlink. The device combines GPS, LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Starlink low-Earth-orbit satellite connectivity, automatically switching from cellular to satellite when a pet roams out of cell range. It carries an IP68/66K waterproof and mud-proof rating, fits collars up to 5.5 mm thick, and is rated for up to five days of battery life with a two-to-three-hour USB-C recharge.
A Callback feature sends sound and vibration cues through the app at low, medium and high levels, with no electric shock. Pricing is US$199 for hardware plus a US$189 annual membership for new members, or a flat US$299 for existing members. Coverage is currently US-only, excluding Alaska.
The wider signal is what matters more than the collar. Direct-to-device satellite links, once limited to specialised gear, are now landing in mass-market consumer products that fall back to space when terrestrial networks fail. That points toward connectivity that follows people and objects into places cell towers never reach — a step toward ubiquitous, always-on coverage.
Worth watching are update speed, real-world battery life against the five-day claim, the US-only footprint, and the added subscription cost that satellite access carries. A Chinese firm, Huami, explored a similar pet-tracking idea in early 2025 but relied on telecom networks rather than satellites. Note that the publication may earn commission from purchase links.
Source: New Atlas