Just returned from a Lake Superior trip. The guide had a InReach along.

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While it's batteries held up it worked great. Last he looked it showed 82% battery life left, but it was dead the next day. Guessing it was left on by mistake. We also had our Spot and 2 VHF weather radios.

While it's service is more expensive than a Spot I was told you can put the service in hibernation. It seems to do much more than the Spot. We used it to help get some hikers evacuated. After that experience we learned the email server seems to scan for messages every half hour, so wait for your replies. It does show messages sent and received.

It would be nice if it took AA batteries, or else plugged into a portable photocell.

I'll be looking into it more. But does anyone have anything to add?

Advancements in this type of unit are coming in fast. A quick look at this unit showed a price of 250 and then various monthly subscriptions and to use all of its features it had to be paired with another Delorme device or a smart phone.

IMO it is time to check out all the options and the present cost  of each. Inreach uses the Iridium satellite network which has profited from Globalstar's problems with two way communication in the last five years. Globalstar has now replaced enough satellites that they are back to good two- way communications. All Spot devices were using the Globalstar system and could easily send the messages. The verification that it had been sent took a while but now that things have been restored the "Message sent" light takes only a few seconds.

The current cost of a Globalstar phone is $500. I use the old  model and it can be picked up cheaper and works fine. You can purchase a Galaxy 120 package that gives you 120 minutes of calling minutes a year for $300. There is no limit to the number of short text that you can receive but you cannot send out texts. Being able to talk and deliver all the details of a situation is a big advantage. When loved ones at home are notified that you have hit the emergency button they are left in the dark as to what has happened.

Good things are happening fast so comparisons need to be done again.

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this thread has some info you may want to look at - third post by Rex has anohter link to an article also, and another guy posted about an AA bat alternative

I SR Spot has a sat phone now with some attractive - at least initially - call minute packages - like 80 min for $40 - with their $500 phone.

The gen 3 basic is interesting but best part is it resulted in a lower price on Spot 2 - which I have and really like.

Marten wrote on Aug 8^th, 2013 at 3:57pm:

IMO it is time to check out all the options and the present cost  of each. Inreach uses the Iridium satellite network which has profited from Globalstar's problems with two way communication in the last five years. Globalstar has now replaced enough satellites that they are back to good two- way communications. All Spot devices were using the Globalstar system and could easily send the messages. The verification that it had been sent took a while but now that things have been restored the "Message sent" light takes only a few seconds.

Marten, I got caught thinking my Spot had a message "sent" light but it was really a message "sending" light.

I that what yours is too?

Mad_Mat wrote on Aug 9^th, 2013 at 12:37pm:

(You need to Login or Register this thread has some info you may want to look at - third post by Rex has another link to an article also, and another guy posted about an AA bat alternative

M_M, After reading your link I remembered the guide had wished he had it linked to a Smartphone so he had an easier keyboard to type on.

My paddling partner had the Spot device and it has another light for "Message sent" It was coming on so fast that he wondered if it was true. My Globalstar Satellite phone is working so well now it would mean the improved two-way messaging of the service is giving faster response times for Spots.

The main thing I would point out is that Globalstar has fixed its problems so don't let the old reputation scare you away.

On the "message sending light" I've learned best to just set the thing down - I usually set it on the fire ring - and let it time out - about an hour.  Unless something blinks red, I know it completed the sending process and is indeed "sent".  I caused some concern first trip thinking it was a message sent indicator and turned off the Spot before it had actually been sent.

Even timing out with Spot 2 - I've made several week long trips - a year apart - on same batteries.

Another alternative: I have the DeLorme PN-60w which pairs a GPS unit with a Spot. You can send custom text and/or email messages with the Spot. It's worked really well on two Quetico trips so far.

BillConner wrote on Aug 10^th, 2013 at 2:11pm:

On the "message sending light" I've learned best to just set the thing down - I usually set it on the fire ring - and let it time out - about an hour.  Unless something blinks red, I know it completed the sending process and is indeed "sent".  I caused some concern first trip thinking it was a message sent indicator and turned off the Spot before it had actually been sent. Even timing out with Spot 2 - I've made several week long trips - a year apart - on same batteries.

BC, I think you clued me in to the lights true meaning, thanks. I made the same mistake of turning my Spot off soon as I saw the light I thought meant my message was sent. Several messages didn't go through. Now I know to leave it be for a while longer and it works OK.

I learned my first time partner's wife got pretty excited when she didn't get an "I'm OK" message for two days.  I don't know if I'll ever be welcomed in their home again.  :)  only stressed the importance of making sure everyone understands that failure to get a message does not mean much.  We rethought the whole thing but are sticking with it as better than not using it.

Jim J Solo wrote on Aug 8^th, 2013 at 2:03pm:

Just returned from a Lake Superior trip. The guide had a InReach along.   (You need to Login or Register While it's batteries held up it worked great. Last he looked it showed 82% battery life left, but it was dead the next day. Guessing it was left on by mistake.

Update from our guide;
The InReach in fact was a failure. The batteries were over 70%. Tech support at Delorme explained a way that they 'soft re-boot' it by holding down X key and down arrow key together for 30 seconds. I tried the technique and it worked. It was not in their literature.

IF I did invest in a locator type device, I don't want to have to have to do anything but press a button and get help. Surely they can do better with battery life issues or accidentaly running it dead?

I don't want to deal with tech support issues, I want it to work when I need it too!

Right now that Globestar Sat deal for $300 a year doesn't sound bad if your tripping a lot or even just camping in remote areas. :-/

If you just want to be rescued and have no other purpose or need for a device, get a PLB.  That is all it does and it does it very well - anyplace on earth.  One time cost - 5 years and then replace battery.  Not my choice because my wife wants the I'm OK function.

BillConner wrote on Aug 13^th, 2013 at 7:01pm:

If you just want to be rescued and have no other purpose or need for a device, get a PLB.  That is all it does and it does it very well - anyplace on earth.  One time cost - 5 years and then replace battery.  Not my choice because my wife wants the I'm OK function.

Couldn't you use a Sat phone with some type of pre-arranged ring to say your OK without having a conversation?
Seems like a SAT phone if you can get one at a reasonable price gives you the most options?

Both the PLB and spot transmit you location coordinates and rescuers can use that to guide them to you even if you are moving (more of an ocean thing).  I don't know what if any position info a sat phone provides.  Also, if I'm injured it seems more likely I could push a button on a spot or PLB than make a call and talk.  Doesn't mean a sat phone in addition to a PLB isn't a better solution, I just know I could not resist the temptation to make business calls and the reason I go is that it forces me to stop thinking and worrying about business.

I just assumed becasue it was a SAT phone that they could fix a coordinate if the phone was on :-/
I can see how you might be able to press a button on PLB and not talk on SAT phone.

Another thing to consider is that you can get rescued and the SAR services are happy to do that job for you. What they will not do is transfer your "stuff" back to a road. With the Sat. phone option you could decide to have a flying service rescue you and bring out your stuff at the same time.

Good point which is why I have the non-911 emergency button on my spot to notify certain people whom I trust to make good choices that I'm ok for now but unable to travel - so they can arrange assistance if possible that is less urgent than the nuclear option of SOS.

Marten wrote on Aug 16^th, 2013 at 12:11am:

Another thing to consider is that you can get rescued and the SAR services are happy to do that job for you. What they will not do is transfer your "stuff" back to a road. With the Sat. phone option you could decide to have a flying service rescue you and bring out your stuff at the same time.

Bingo! Not to beat a dead horse but that is exactly what I wished I could of done 2 years ago after being airlifted out of WCP. After the rescue I still had to charter a plane to retrieve my boat.

Bump