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04/13/2017 11:58AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Thinking about getting a personal tracker/locater device (eg SPOT Gen3). Appreciate insight from those of you who use one/have some experience. Thanks! Am adding this part - interested in knowing the motivation for carrying these - personal safety? Satisfy loved ones at home who worry, especially if soloing? Other reasons?
 
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04/13/2017 02:30PM  
I have a DeLorme inReach, and I like it. Do not have to pay for a year subscription; can do it monthly. Also like the preset emails I can send. It is easy to use-I am not a techie by ay means, and I figured it out quite easily.
 
04/13/2017 02:42PM  
quote Frenchy19: "I have a DeLorme inReach, and I like it. Do not have to pay for a year subscription; can do it monthly. Also like the preset emails I can send. It is easy to use-I am not a techie by ay means, and I figured it out quite easily. "

Thanks, Frenchy19 - would you be willing to share why you carry one?
 
04/13/2017 03:55PM  
+1 Frenchy19. I used an In Reach last year and I really liked the unit. It is cheaper than a Sat phone with 30 day plans. Lighter and more compact to carry as well. Very good reception and able to text and email and can Bluetooth to contact list on cell phone as well as type messages on cell. Receivers of your message get a map of your location too. SOS feature too.
 
04/13/2017 05:20PM  
quote johnMN: "
quote Frenchy19: "I have a DeLorme inReach, and I like it. Do not have to pay for a year subscription; can do it monthly. Also like the preset emails I can send. It is easy to use-I am not a techie by ay means, and I figured it out quite easily. "

Thanks, Frenchy19 - would you be willing to share why you carry one?
"

Primarily to appease my wife, to be honest. At 54, she worries that I might fall apart on the trail...and she may be right!
 
WHendrix
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04/13/2017 07:05PM  
I too have an Inreach and find it works well, as johnMN notes. Mostly I got it for the same reason as Frency 19. But I also had an aging father who wanted to know where I was and how I was doing. And since he got me into all of this "outdoor stuff", I figured he deserved to know. As I posted on another thread recently, I lost him a couple of weeks ago so perhaps he will know where I am without the Inreach. I think I will still use it anyway.

Bill
 
billconner
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04/13/2017 07:34PM  
Spot gen 2. For my wife at home. I like no one can reach me so don't want two way.
 
Grandma L
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04/13/2017 07:37PM  
We are currently using a SPOT - gen 1 and still love it after about 7 years of use. The family shares it - so whoever is traveling takes it along - in the BWCA or on a road trip vacation. We all watch the tracking and chat over the trip routes as well as receive pre programmed messages. It provides safety and minimal communication -
So, I am now looking at getting the Garmin with both navigation and communication so we can track and text. The east side of the BWCA has no cell service so this will be a good sat. communication tool. It is just a little pricey.
 
Marten
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04/13/2017 08:45PM  
I carry a device (satellite phone) because my wife wants me to and when I got it 12 years ago it was the only two way communication available.

Carrying a Spot device now that the Inreach and its two way texting is available compares to carrying a beeper when you can have a cell phone.

I can understand it if you already have it but if buying now the two way communication is so much more useful when real trouble arrives.
 
04/13/2017 09:22PM  
We use a SPOT that we rent from an outfitter.
Cheaper than using the year long subscription.

One of these day's we'll pony up for an In Reach.
 
04/13/2017 11:27PM  
I rented a SPOT phone for my 2 week solo late last fall up in Ontario just south east of Wabakimi because my family was worried about me. Every night close to 6pm I sent them the OK message so they could see where I was camped and to let them know I was ok. When I got home I found out nobody had bothered to check my where a pouts the whole time I was gone, IMO nearly $90 shot. I won't be bothered takeing one along this year. FRED
 
yellowcanoe
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04/14/2017 08:37AM  
I had a SPOT Gen 1. It was fiddly to work ( I believe that has been taken care of) but the automatic renewal non option charged me even though I no longer wanted to use the unit.. I had to send them several not nice emails to back down on the charges..
I was always afraid someone at home would have a accident or up and die and there would be no way to get a hold of me. I would like to attend my husbands funeral rather than be sashaying around Quetico.

Now we will be buying an In Reach,
 
hobbydog
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04/14/2017 09:30AM  
A really nice feature with the InReach is the weather forecast. Wind, temp, precip, warnings, etc. at 6 hour intervals....similar to what you would get on weather.com. I think it forecast out 3 or 4 days. On a longer trip it really helps to plan layover days and can help you from getting windbound by knowing the wind forecast 4 days out. Also it has better subscription options. Also the DeLorme version has some good pricing now while supplies last. The newer Garmin devices are more expensive.

forecast details
 
04/14/2017 09:36AM  
Last year I decided to get an ACR ResQ Link+. I wanted no subscription and nothing more than one simple, reliable "SOS" button. I mostly solo with my dog, and on one trip while he was sitting loyally looking at me I needed to get it for him. Couldn't stand the thought of him just sitting there if something happened to me. Also last year's storm disasters made me realize I wanted the ability to help others I might find in need.

I looked at and liked the Delorme but didn't want the subscription. The messaging can be great value in an emergency situation. Letting rescuers know whether someone is deathly ill or has a broken leg helps them, and they could convey helpful info too.

I have no interest in "staying in touch". I am a techy, digital development type guy, yet sometimes I want to really unplug and go off grid.

One word of caution about the "I'm ok" types messages in SPOTs or others: if the device has any sort of problem, people at home get very worried. I think it was two years ago one of our members had a SPOT battery failure on day 1 of a solo Quetico trip causing alarm at home. Others may have more detail on that.
 
04/14/2017 10:18AM  
I've had a Spot Gen 2 for 5 years now. It was the item my wife needed to be comfortable with me going solo. I haven't had any issues with it. I also appreciate that it is one way communication.
 
billconner
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04/14/2017 11:17AM  
You gotta ask yourself, do you want to be reachable. If you are, someone will. I don't want to be reached. If someone dies, it doesn't matter if I get there when they are warm or cold. Fundamental question in choosing a device or not to have a device, because it's a much more likely event - you receiving news that may be troublesome - than needing rescue.
 
Marten
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04/14/2017 11:49AM  
In making your decision you should know what happens when you hit the SOS button for an emergency. First they will call your contact person to make sure there is actually someone out there that would send an SOS. Without two way communication this leaves your family not knowing if it is a death or a failed knee. This same info can be used by rescue to plan whats needed and avoid unneeded risk in getting to you.
 
04/14/2017 03:42PM  
quote Frenchy19: "I have a DeLorme inReach, and I like it. Do not have to pay for a year subscription; can do it monthly. Also like the preset emails I can send. It is easy to use-I am not a techie by ay means, and I figured it out quite easily. "


I have the same device for the same reasons. It also gives the family a bit more piece-of-mind if they know that they can contact me while I'm in the backcountry. Easy to use and reliable device.
 
em8260
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04/14/2017 05:33PM  
I solo and am concerned with life or death rescue. From extensive research I did about 3 years when I was looking for my own rescue beacon, I quickly came to the conclusion that all of these spot/inreach/text/type beacons except for the acr resqlink+ were pretty useless, I dont recall websites, but im sure the info is still there if you google it. In real life usage their performance was abysmal. They failed to notify the vast majority of the time in rescue situations. When they did notify, the notification time and actual rescue time was MUCH longer than with the acr resqlink, I suspect this might be because the spot/text type devices use civilian satellites and subscription services whereas the acr uses US Military satellites and US Air Force Sar notification without any subscription. Transmission power/wattage of rescue signal is 10x that of spot and 3x that of inreach. I also recall several rescue organizations and Noaa specifically recommending the Acr, none recommended the spot/inreach/text type devices, in fact some said to stay far away from them....I know everyone wants to keep in touch nowadays but the info I found was in large numbers and very convincing, they just performed very poorly. I went with the Acr resqlink+. If I would be more concerned about staying in touch, I would get both or a sat phone with the acr beacon. I personally will NOT trust the keep in touch devices from what I read. I do occasionally rent a satellite phone. Ive included a review link, the text devices scored better solely because the acr does not have that feature, but it echoes most of what I said, Strictly for rescue only and proven in thousands of rescues.
http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Personal-Locator-Beacon-Reviews/ACR-ResQlink-406-Personal-Locator-Beacon
 
billconner
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04/14/2017 06:44PM  
It would be interesting to see what you saw because I have looked for it and not found any convincing data supporting your conclusions. I'd particularly be interested in data based on use in canoe country, as opposed to global data, because I'm not using mine in Siberia.

Considering people went on these trips pre satellites, and the consequences were not so great as to discourage many folks from going back, I remain unconcerned about being rescued at the push of a button.



 
04/14/2017 07:05PM  
quote em8260: "I solo and am concerned with life or death rescue. "


Not sure where you solo, but I guess I trust myself enough to not obsess about the stats of various devices nor about dying when out alone. For my purposes, the inReach is more than enough.
 
em8260
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04/14/2017 07:17PM  
Obsess with stats or worry about dying?.....a weak signal is a weak signal. I was responding to the original posters questions, one of which was motivation for carry... my motivation was life or death rescue, I canoe in North America, that being said, If I need a rescue I want to know that my device is reliable. Like I said, when I did my original search several years ago, I came up with a wealth of information regarding the utter lack of reliability with the other devices specifically with getting the sos signal out, and then response times. Sorry I dont have or recall specific sites. Everyone can prioritize their own motivations for carrying a specific device, mine is not communication.
 
GraniteCliffs
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04/14/2017 09:08PM  
Interesting. I use both theACR ResQ Link and Spot.
I have always believed the ACR ResQ Link to be a tad more reliable for the reasons given. I bought one for that reason, because I did not want a subscription fee and because I only wanted a device for a major medical issue. I have had it 4-5 years and have not had to use it, although came close once. I have been very satisfied with it.
On the other hand I have heard many stories here at BWCA.com, in the news and from friends in regard to successful Spot or Inreach device transmission of signals in problematic situation in the BW and Q. I have not heard any stories where the device has failed to send if used properly. I simply do not believe the device is not reliable. Less reliable perhaps by a few percentage points and in those cases it seems simply getting a better view of the sky seems to rectify the problem.
My ACR ResQ Link travels with me on all of my trips each year. However in the past several years on my solo trips as I have aged I have rented a Spot just so family and friends can follow along and in the event of something tragic at least they would have a good idea of where to look for me since I meander all over the place. And yes, it transmits reliably. No messages but at least they know about where I am at any given time.
Just my two cents.
 
redoleary
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04/15/2017 05:29AM  
I say it depends on what you want. If you want absolute certainty that you will be rescued because the unthinkable has happened then get something like and ACR Resqlink with 406, 121.5, and GPS, if on the other hand you want to be to send messages to loved ones and want a system that "with all probability" will work and get the calvary coming, then go with the InReach. If I had my choice I'd get the Resqlink, if my wife gets to weigh in I'd probably end up with the InReach. Just my 2 cents worth. With the PLB's you have to register your device with NOAA and its effectively no different than the ones installed in airplanes, which I happen to work on. A year or so ago we did a quick test of an ELT (basically a PLB for the airplane) outside of the scheduled time, we only let the signal go for about 5 seconds and NOAA contacted the owner of the aircraft to see what's up he told them not to send out the rescue fleet . So I have every confidence in the efficacy of a 406 device, and that someone is actually listening and will take action should the need arise.
 
MReid
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11/20/2017 09:49AM  
quote KennyKelly: "Hey
I have experience with one of the best personal locator beacon i.e Silent Beacon.


Silent Beacon has several features -
1. No Monthly Fees
Use your existing smartphone or tablet to keep you from unnecessary fees!


2. Non Emergency Mode
Let loved-ones know you are OK with our “Nudge” feature.


3. Live Tracking
When in any alert mode you may allow yourself to be tracked by loved-ones.


4. Multiple Alert Methods
Send text messages, push notifications and email emails with your GPS location.


5. Rechargeable Battery
Recharge using our Micro-USB port, also use the App to view current battery level.


6. Call 911 or Loved-ones
Set the Silent Beacon to call 911, emergency responders or any pre-stored phone number.


7. Two-Way Communication
Speak directly into the Silent Beacon personal safety device, no need to touch your phone.


8. Dual Audio Modes
Alert your emergency contacts in Silent Mode or with Alarm.


9. Water Resistant
Worry less about the conditions, comes with sealed casing and USB cover. Silent Beacon "


Your website has broken links and virtually no information on what exactly your item is. It has no information on how the messaging system works (satellite?? What satellite array?). It almost sounds like it's just an app for a phone, which is worthless for most of what we all do.
 
jacobf
member (40)member
  
11/20/2017 09:52AM  
quote KennyKelly: "Hey
I have experience with one of the best personal locator beacon i.e Silent Beacon.
Silent Beacon "


Hmm, experiences directly copied from the one page on the website that isn't a dead link for a product that you apparently can't even buy, seems like something I would want to rely on in an emergency.

Edit: It appears Mreid and I were writing almost the exact same reply at the same time.
 
11/20/2017 09:54AM  
I don’t see how a Silent Beacon can be of use in remote paddling locations as it uses your cell phones GPS. In the lakes that I travel I don’t get any cell coverage and I would not be able to send out any messages.

 
11/20/2017 11:16AM  
The poster for "Silent Beacon" is likely a sales troll.
Joined to post, post dating same, company logo profile photo, no concept of the discussion previous. Posted 7 months after last post in the thread.

It's an app/extra attachments for a cell phone. A key fob dongle connecting with a smartphone via bluetooth.

butthead
 
missmolly
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11/20/2017 11:52AM  
I solo with a PLB because a broken leg could kill me and a sprained ankle could make me pay and pay in pain.
 
11/20/2017 03:52PM  
+1 for the InReach.

 
MReid
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11/20/2017 04:06PM  
I had an ACR PLB for a few years, as I was traveling a lot and doing everything solo. In general, no one even knew what state I was in. I decided to get the Garmin inReach to let my daughter know where I was during backcountry trips--I'd send her a preset message daily, both to let her know everything was fine, and so she could see where I was. When I'm not tripping, but just out, I have a couple of friends programmed in presets in case I need help, but don't need rescued (fried the electrics on my motorcycle out of cell phone range 30 miles from home in the backcountry). I carry it religiously now, but don't even turn it on (it's for emergencies only). When I'm with others (e.g. climbing), I let them know I have it should something happen. I've been with mountain rescue off and on for over 35 years, and the better the communication is, the more likely it is for things to go in your favor.
 
andym
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11/21/2017 03:47AM  
quote butthead: "The poster for "Silent Beacon" is likely a sales troll.
Joined to post, post dating same, company logo profile photo, no concept of the discussion previous. Posted 7 months after last post in the thread”


Moderators should delete forum spam like this. Having the link on this site raises their search rating. It’s not just about selling to us but about selling to others by using the high search rating of this board.

I’m a mod on another board, users there can flag posts and we delete spam and ban the users pronto.
 
mastertangler
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11/23/2017 07:56AM  
I am not so happy with my SPOT lately. It did save my bacon in WCPP but lately it has been undependable.

At Isle Royale I was faithful to send an "I'm OK" message to my wife daily. I waited long enough for the "message sent" light to flash. In other words I left it out for a longer than average time to insure that all was working as it should because the previous years trip there were several messages in which she did not receive anything. I thought perhaps I had turned the device off prematurely.

This last trip she didn't hear anything for over a week and actually contacted the park office with concerns. This is unacceptable and I am considering getting something else.
 
11/23/2017 10:02AM  
MT,

Move up to an InReach. Excellent functionality. It uses an Iridium Satellite system for fantastic coverage and I like the Bluetooth tie in with my IPhone so I can text messages using cell. And I can recieve and send full email and text messages. This communication feature is important to me. Even has weather forecast for your GPS location. You buy 30 day use plans. Very economical.
 
mgraber
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11/28/2017 01:39AM  
quote em8260: "I solo and am concerned with life or death rescue. From extensive research I did about 3 years when I was looking for my own rescue beacon, I quickly came to the conclusion that all of these spot/inreach/text/type beacons except for the acr resqlink+ were pretty useless, I dont recall websites, but im sure the info is still there if you google it. In real life usage their performance was abysmal. They failed to notify the vast majority of the time in rescue situations. When they did notify, the notification time and actual rescue time was MUCH longer than with the acr resqlink, I suspect this might be because the spot/text type devices use civilian satellites and subscription services whereas the acr uses US Military satellites and US Air Force Sar notification without any subscription. Transmission power/wattage of rescue signal is 10x that of spot and 3x that of inreach. I also recall several rescue organizations and Noaa specifically recommending the Acr, none recommended the spot/inreach/text type devices, in fact some said to stay far away from them....I know everyone wants to keep in touch nowadays but the info I found was in large numbers and very convincing, they just performed very poorly. I went with the Acr resqlink+. If I would be more concerned about staying in touch, I would get both or a sat phone with the acr beacon. I personally will NOT trust the keep in touch devices from what I read. I do occasionally rent a satellite phone. Ive included a review link, the text devices scored better solely because the acr does not have that feature, but it echoes most of what I said, Strictly for rescue only and proven in thousands of rescues.

This is the same reason that we chose a Resqlink. Too many scary stories of failure out there with the others.
http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Personal-Locator-Beacon-Reviews/ACR-ResQlink-406-Personal-Locator-Beacon"
 
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