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Tiger4x4RV's avatar
Tiger4x4RV
Nomad
Jul 06, 2015

DeLorme InReach paired with iPod Touch?

I am just coming out of a very long recovery period for a broken right ankle. Before resuming my usual solo outback dirt road RV travels, I probably ought to do a tech upgrade: get a locator/communicator device. Currently have no smartphone, no GPS, and have always done just fine with that. But now...I have become much more realistic about the possibility of injury. There is often no cell coverage where I travel.

I am considering a DeLorme InReach. Not sure which model yet. The DeLorme website and the Earthmate app site both say that InReach is compatible with iPod Touch 5th Generation.

DeL says that a paired iOS device, the iPT in this case, must have an imbedded GPS chip and I do not find mention of one in the iPT tech specs online.

I have had an iPT for years. I know that iPT is wi-fi only. It does everything a smartphone does except the voice phone part. No cellular plan to pay for! I am willing to upgrade to a 5thG iPT if it will actually do this pairing with DeL InReach.

Are you actually using a DeLorme Inreach paired with an iPod Touch? Or with an iPhone? I'd sure appreciate your comments.
  • Tiger4x4RV's avatar
    Tiger4x4RV
    Nomad
    Jul 06, 2015
    vic46 - Thanks, but I neither have nor want a laptop and I do not really need maps.

    I want satellite communication ability so I can call for help and can text. Having the GPS capability is not essential, although I will have fun learning it. The appeal of the InReach, for me, is its messaging ability and that it can be carried with me everywhere. Reviews show it to be more reliable than the Spot messenger.
  • vic46's avatar
    vic46
    Explorer
    Jul 06, 2015
    Tiger4x4RV wrote:
    vic46 - Thanks, but I neither have nor want a laptop and I do not really need maps.

    I want satellite communication ability so I can call for help and can text. Having the GPS capability is not essential, although I will have fun learning it. The appeal of the InReach, for me, is its messaging ability and that it can be carried with me everywhere. Reviews show it to be more reliable than the Spot messenger.


    Sorry! I thought you were looking for nav capability first. Perhaps you should explore the iPhone. Perhaps with the nav capabilty.

    Cheers;

    Vic
  • greenrvgreen's avatar
    greenrvgreen
    Explorer
    Jul 06, 2015
    I have an InReach with the basic service plan, $13/mo. For me it is cheap insurance, as it sounds like it would be for you. I have the yellow/black $300 model, the gen 1 of the larger size. It will do screen-readable GPS location (not nav) as well as slow texting.

    For me the point of the device is standalone emergency comms. The button pad works well enough for typing and there is a big red "HELP" button. I carry it in my daypack hiking, climbing, backcountry skiing, and even when I'm skiing inbounds at resorts. The point of insurance is to have it with you, IMO.

    My advice is to think hard about how you want to use it. If you want portable GPS and nav capabilities, get the Garmin Foretrex 410. This wrist-strap device is far better at nav than the new deluxe Delome.

    I'm not sure what role an Ipad would play in all this, unless you're just looking to play with this stuff. If you haven't held an Inreach in person you might want to do so, because they're surprisingly big and heavy.
  • Tiger4x4RV's avatar
    Tiger4x4RV
    Nomad
    Jul 06, 2015
    greenrvgreen - Yours is the comment I needed. It seemed to me like pairing an iPod Touch so I could download maps while in town might be good and having its keyboard instead of the InReach's might be good. But, like you, mostly what I want is a communication device that will work anywhere and that I can carry with me.

    I now have maps and files (and books and games and ...) in my old iPod Touch and it works great for taking along on hikes. I could still do that and not have to spend new money for more tech that I don't really need, although the breadcrumb navigation thing on the InReach Explore is attractive. I have managed to stay found for a whole lot of years without a GPS.

    Good idea to visit a store and hold one of these things in my hand, see how I like the keyboard and screen. Will do. And thanks!

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