Backcountry Comms

[Where's Bruce?]

I've always been a fan of PLBs for treks through areas devoid of cell service however, there are ever-emerging technologies that improve satellite communications and it seems some of the newer items like those from DeLorme inReach may be a better choice than the traditional PBL. It makes sense that 2 way communication with SAR could be life saving (helo rescue for venomous snake bite, heart attack, head injury, etc) versus a SAR team search on foot and horseback. Has anyone here done any in-depth research on these newer products that combine Sat Phone and PLB technologies that can offer some educated recommendations? I will be venturing further off the grid in the coming years and would like to be able to communicate with hunting buddies (should we become separated), family (for long trips just to let em know I'm okay) and SAR (with locator beacon in case I am alone and losing consciousness). These seem like cheap insurance to me, don't weigh much and since the first rule of any backcountry trip is to return in one piece...seems like a logical precaution. Would prefer a unit that can be used on the ocean or in the Grand Canyon and in pretty much any situation. Long battery life is a plus and an affordable service fee would be nice. Anyone got any advice?

 

[HighHunter1232]

I am looking at buying some sort of backcountry communication device before next year as well. South Cox wrote up a detailed article about the various options out there; its in the Winter 2014 issue of Western Hunter.

 

[Craig Van Arsdale]

I really like my SAT phone. The ability to call and text is nice and it works quite well. Texts are more reliable than conversation. I did a 14 day solo hunt this year and it was nice to call friends and family and talk to another human a couple times. Definitely not the cheap option but it's worth it to me for how much time I spend away.

 

[WyoElk]

The last edition of western Hunter magazine had a pretty good write up of all the available options. It weighed the pros and cons of each. Probably worth your time to try to thumb through a copy.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

I don't have a copy of the magazine but the idea of a Sat Phone/PLB combination is fascinating...what'd the article recommend? What is best?

 

[kodiakfly]

I've got the Delorme Inreach thing. I talk on a sat phone enough in my daily job that I don't like sat phones. They're heavy, eat batteries and I spend almost as much time waiting for the lag, talking over the other guy and saying, "ok, I lost ya, say again..." and they're expensive.

However, the Delorme thing sends and recieves texts in pretty close to real-time, doesn't weigh much, will talk Bluetooth to my phone so I can text like normal, battery life is ridiculously long-lived and it's only like $20/month for 50 texts. And with each text sent, it includes a link that the recipient can click on and it shows them where you are. My wife loves that. And their SOS feature is awesome as well. I've not used it, but when you hit the whoopee button, an operator gets on there and texts you to confirm your emergency. If you can text back, they'll stay with you with updates until help arrives. If you can't reply, they'll still send the cavalry to your location. I leave my Delorme unit in my pack lid and carry my phone in a pocket. I can just take out my phone and text like normal while the Delorme is put away in my pack. I'm very happy with it.

 

[bbrown]

I ended up with the InReach this year after doing some digging - the main reason was the 2-way texting. The subscription was reasonable and I can suspend it during the off months but the unit was more expensive to purchase initially. The wife was really happy being able to hear everything was good and see where I was at when I would send a message. It was easy to get set up and their website is pretty user friendly setting up pre-set messages, contact and billing. Battery life is very good and the way they set up the different tiers of subscription plans its pretty easy to get away with the lowest plan ($15/month) and pay the overages for an extra 40 texts before it makes more sense to step up to the next plan. I do limit the # of texts and I do not use the tracking feature.

During my elk hunt, a buddy came along to help and he uses the SPOT. I watched him check in several times each day and while the messages where going through they ended up in his wife's junk main so she had no idea things were going good. Not the SPOTs fault but sure would have saved a lot of worrying if she could have texted him - don't think she was too far from sending in the Calvary to look for us. It was only when he texted her from my Delorme to have her call him in sick to work so he could help me finish packing my bull out that we realized she was worried.

On the other hand, for guiding I got to play with the Iridium GO which is basically a sat phone hot spot and it worked out much better than I expected. Our insurance requires us to have communications in camp so we usually rent a sat phone. Have to install the app to your phone ahead of time when you have regular service but after that its just a matter of connecting via bluetooth and start dialing. It was as reliable as the regular sat phone but would still lag and occasionally drop calls. Buying minutes is still expensive and battery life was just ok but since it was at our base camp it was easy to use the solar panel. It was expensive to buy but when you consider what we were paying to rent a sat phone for 2-3 months a year it will pay off before we head back up next fall.

 

[SouthPaw]

However, the Delorme thing sends and recieves texts in pretty close to real-time, doesn't weigh much, will talk Bluetooth to my phone so I can text like normal, battery life is ridiculously long-lived and it's only like $20/month for 50 texts. And with each text sent, it includes a link that the recipient can click on and it shows them where you are. My wife loves that. And their SOS feature is awesome as well. I've not used it, but when you hit the whoopee button, an operator gets on there and texts you to confirm your emergency. If you can text back, they'll stay with you with updates until help arrives. If you can't reply, they'll still send the cavalry to your location. I leave my Delorme unit in my pack lid and carry my phone in a pocket. I can just take out my phone and text like normal while the Delorme is put away in my pack. I'm very happy with it.

X2 on all these points. I have the InReach and love it. Very easy to use and the Iridium network (at least where I hunt) is extremely reliable.

 

[Brendan]

I used the Inreach SE. Reasonable subscription cost, can do one month subscriptions, sends tracking points at predetermined interval, can send pre-set messages with location or 2-way texts. Battery life was fantastic - but my only gripe is it is internal rechargeable, not AA like the rest of my devices.

If you're not wedded to a specific GPS brand or device, the Inreach Explorer combines the Inreach SE with GPS navigation/waypoint/mapping capabilities if you want to combine devices. Not sure how this would effect battery life though. I'd love to see it integrated with my Garmin...

I bought mine from REI, had it randomly turn off on me once, so I returned it after my trip for a full refund. I am planning on buying another one as soon as they go on sale again.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

The new Explorer by inreach looks ideal!!! Wow! http://inreachdelorme.com/product-info/inreach-explorer.php?gclid=CKm9k6yX78ICFc6CfgodHSsAeA
Looks like this thing does it all!

 

[Duk Dog]

I've happily used a SPOT for years but did just get a Delorme Inreach Explorer for Christmas. I'm looking forward to the added flexibility it offers versus the SPOT.

 

[Mike21]

I've used SPOT for a couple years now and had great luck. Even though it's only one way com it has always been reliable. I don't leave it on and pay for the constant tracking feature. One set of battery's alllows you to check in as much as you want. A SPOT with pre planning is a solid safety component. Not a bad idea to leave your location if something were to happen or you were over due and could not use the sos feature. If you plan to check in every day at noon and you miss two days etc. For $100 a year it's a good deal. However two way com fills the homesick/worried mind if you have a pregnant wife and kids.

 

[norsepeak]

Used SPOT for a couple years, it's okay, just upgraded to the InReach SE. I've used one before and the two way text feature is excellent.

 

[martin_shooter]

I have extensively used a spot, in reach, and sat phone for work. I have had all three throughout Idahos Frank Church wilderness area and can say without a doubt if I were to spend my own money on a device it would be the in reach. Sat phones are incredibly unreliable. I have had some serious issues with the SPOT device not sending messages over the last year. After getting out of the field I would find out messages werent sent for as long as a week straight. The sat phone I use also uses the globalstar network so I am thinking that might be the issue. I have used the in reach for the last nine months and have been incredibly impressed. I can use the text feature to communicate when the sat phone wont find service and have never once had a message not send.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

I have extensively used a spot, in reach, and sat phone for work. I have had all three throughout Idahos Frank Church wilderness area and can say without a doubt if I were to spend my own money on a device it would be the in reach. Sat phones are incredibly unreliable. I have had some serious issues with the SPOT device not sending messages over the last year. After getting out of the field I would find out messages werent sent for as long as a week straight. The sat phone I use also uses the globalstar network so I am thinking that might be the issue. I have used the in reach for the last nine months and have been incredibly impressed. I can use the text feature to communicate when the sat phone wont find service and have never once had a message not send.

Thank you for confirming my research but wouldn't the Inreach be unable to send a text if the Sat phone call isn't possible? I mean, you're relying on a satellite connection either way right? What am I missing here?

 

[LaHunter]

The InReach devices utilize the Iridium satellites, the Spot devices use the Globalstar satellites, I think.

 

[kodiakfly]

Correct. Delorme uses Iridium. A text is also a short burst of info, vs trying to hold a conversation via a stream of information coming and going.

 

[Becca]

I am biased because we have a sat phone (Iridium), and without sounding dramatic it saved my leg and possibly my life. Every situation is different, but in an emergency I don't think there is any substitute for having instantaneous two way communication. It can truly be crucial to making the best possible decisions, particularly under less than ideal conditions. I would never want to be stuck pushing the sos button and hoping that someone was receiving my message, and that help was in fact on the way. Or not on the way, if weather is too bad and we need to move to plan b and shelter in place.

Two way texting feature is certainly better than nothing, but I still think there is the potential for meaning/information to be lost. How often do you read a text message and have trouble understanding the context/intent of the person who sent the text? It happens to me all the time, and these are in conversations that aren't crucially important. Now imagine that in a life or death sort of emergency, where you or your partner are under high stress...

I suppose I am paranoid, but we don't travel out of cell range without the sat phone. Sure its not inexpensive, but in an emergency it's so worth it...

 

[colonel00]

If someone wants a Delrome inReach Explorer, there has been one sitting in my Cabela's bargain cave for months now. It was down to like $150 off retail at one point. If interested, I would be happy to facilitate the purchase.

 

[Clarktar]

What is the total price colonel?