spot or delorme

[muddymopar]

I am going to be in need of a satellite communicator which is better the spot connect or delorme inreach explorer

[LadyDraco]

I know a lot of buddies that use SPOT...
I have never heard of the latter...

[Delicate Snowflake]

I think all calls are routed via satellite these days so it doesn't matter which phone you choose.

[drlewall]

I did the spot thing a while back...could nt justify the steep yearly fee. For some, it works great, but I was not impressed. If I ever feel the need to get back into some sort of safety device like that, a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) will be the way I will go..

https://www.acrartex.com/products/catal ... qlink-plb/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[bluestar]

One of the main differences between the two is the Spot is one way communication and the Inreach allows two way communication.

[drlewall]

One of the main differences between the two is the Spot is one way communication and the Inreach allows two way communication.

not that anyone would want to talk to me let alone understand my blubbering...

[muddymopar]

One of the main differences between the two is the Spot is one way communication and the Inreach allows two way communication.

that's what I thought. I'm not so worried about the tracking/rescue functions as I am the communication even in text form, I really don't want to pony up for a sat phone but it would be nice to have the ability to check in and be able to know what is going on at home. I'm about to embark on an epic (for me anyway) adventure. I'll start a new thread about it pretty soon.

[Camp Director]

There are satphone rental places on the internet. My father does that when he goes elk hunting.

Also, SPOT makes an appliance that enables your smart phone to send text messages through the satellite network.

http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=116" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[muddymopar]

so I went ahead and got a delorme inreach se I think it'll work the best for me for the 2 way text ability

[Car94]

I use several Spot traces to keep an eye on trucks and equipment left on remote job sites. If it moves it sends me a message. I can track it every 5 minutes. Spot also make the bigger unit that can do text messages. My brother uses it when he is on his Snowmobile in the Sierras.

[campfire]

so I went ahead and got a delorme inreach se I think it'll work the best for me for the 2 way text ability

I might be in the market also at this point.
Any feedback on how your's working out?

[muddymopar]

It worked perfectly for what I wanted it for. It tracked fine but the next time I use it I'll pay extra for shorter tracking points the text and check in functions worked great

[GordonLightfoot]

Delorme Inreach Explorer, Perhaps the greatest invention in the world. My wife can keep tabs on my no matter where I'm at!!!

Love mine, really, I do

[Cagiva]

I picked up a ACR PLB yesterday , I ride off pavement in remote places pretty much any time I'm riding and I'm a old geezer these days so I figure if I'm alive enough to activate it at least somebody will know where to come clean up the mess unless the critters take care of it first . No communication , just an emergency locator . That's really all I need , that's why I'm in the sticks to start with I'm fine communication with nature . Going to try to get a camera on my bike before I head out the first of August , last year I topped a hill and a wild stallion was grazing in northwest Colorado , he put on a show for me and a riding bud , pranced around spun in circles head and tail held high , freaking awesome and I set there with my mouth hanging open the whole time and never even thought to get a camera out . Same day I was stopped doing a map check and about a dozen bull elk crossed the trail a couple hundred feet in front of me , I did get a great picture of blue sky that time . Same area several antelope trotted down the road in front of me for a mile or so . I just followed along and watched them for a while . I like riding like that .

[diogenes009]

The beacons are cool. I always felt better knowing I could pop a figurative flare if needed.

When you are looking at cameras keep in mind the difference between dash cams and action cams. If you want to capture scenes like the horse and antelope, go for a good action camera. The dash cams have wide angle lenses that distort the scene to show a wider look. The action cameras have a normal lens and less "peripheral" vision but better clarity. I've been very disappointed with trying to pull clear stills from my dash cam, the thing I want to isolate is always too small, out of focus and out of shape unless it was directly ahead.

[Cagiva]

I bought a couple Sykik digital recorders a couple months ago , front and rear camera and continual a recording , auto on and off if I want . In the process of installing one in the truck Right now . Have to take a break from that plastic piece of shit , the truck , not the camera . I'd like to get wrapped up with the truck today so I can get back to bike work , times running out . A friend had a little camera in his jeep when we rode all over Big Bend a couple years back , I was very impressed with the performance of it and it was a much easier installation then these I have so I will probly be calling him in the next couple days , just a simple bar mount and fully self contained .

[Farmer8]

Kinda late to the show, but I have the InReach.

Like the 2 way texting. And the ability to Cancel your emergency. As a jeeping buddy from western Colorado put it... Let's say my starter gives up on my Jeep. You could punch the button and send serious help or send a text to a buddy saying, hey go to Napa get a starter for my Jeep and bring it to these coordinates. Also the InReach let's you link to your phone and operate the PLB remotely within Bluetooth range. Much easier to text on the phone. Or if your in a shelter waiting but want to leave the PLB outside for better signal. Or your foolish and mounted to your crashed bike over there while you have a broke leg over here! Let's say you send for help and 30 min later somebody finds you that can get you out. Send text to message center, got help, riding out to Silverton to meet the ambulance there.

[dad2bike]

Good points. For awhile I had In Reach and my son used my SPOT. We really only needed one unit to do the 2 way communications. Last year I just got so fed up with unreliability of the SPOT system that I moved him over to the In Reach as well. He's been doing a bunch of jeep runs without me. We've had whole days that didn't appear at all and others sometimes the next day. The extra cost was well worth it. BTW- a miserly tip. I have several premade texts made up. Like I had with SPOT. Most cheap thing I did was direct my OK messages to emails only. Why pay for the $2 or so a month just to tell them you are OK. Texts incur Fed cell taxes. emails don't.

[Cagiva]

Check out ACR PLB , I carry the PLB when I’m climbing mountains by myself , I get ads all the time to link it to a smart phone to send and receive texts , but I don’t use a smart phone . Mine are all old stupid ones because this iPad is pushing my boundary's right now .

[Farmer8]

Good points. For awhile I had In Reach and my son used my SPOT. We really only needed one unit to do the 2 way communications. Last year I just got so fed up with unreliability of the SPOT system that I moved him over to the In Reach as well. He's been doing a bunch of jeep runs without me. We've had whole days that didn't appear at all and others sometimes the next day. The extra cost was well worth it. BTW- a miserly tip. I have several premade texts made up. Like I had with SPOT. Most cheap thing I did was direct my OK messages to emails only. Why pay for the $2 or so a month just to tell them you are OK. Texts incur Fed cell taxes. emails don't.

InReach uses the, Iridium group of Satellites and has total global coverage. Spot doesn't

Good idea on the message savings though.