SPOT, DeLorme, or ?

I recently purchased a DeLorme InReach. Useful for both backcountry or more civilized areas. SOS button. Two-way texting with SOS personnel or with your friends and family. Smaller than cell phones were a few years ago, so easy to carry around. No sense having this thing if it is not within reach to use when needed.

The InReach has worked well on test messages sent from several of my favorite remote locations.

You buy the device online or at a local store, set it up online with DeLorme, and choose the subscription plan which you prefer. Read the fine print on the DeLorme site.

I do not have a smartphone, so have not tried DeL's Earthmate app to pair the InReach and a phone.

My advice is to read all of the user manuals (online at DeL site) and watch DeL's instructional videos online before deciding about this device.

So far, I have sent several test messages to/from DeLorme's automated system and to/from some of my friends and family. No problems. I have things set up so random folks cannot initiate messages to me; they can only respond to my messages. I sent my trusted contacts each a message to store; they can respond to that stored message to contact me if there is a true emergency at home. You can go all the way from my bare-bones approach to having the InReach be almost a remote hotspot for texting and sending map info.

SPOT 100% rebate through the end of December.
SPOT Gen3 owner here. Used it in the Utah Swell area earlier this year (not SOS, but to check in while on trip).

http://findmespot.com/FREE/lander.php?refer=FrontpageBanner

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We use these devices a lot in sailplanes, some use Spot and some Delorme. I have a Delorme, and I have probably 30 friends with one or the other. The Spot is cheaper, but the Delorme is much better in every other respect. The Spot is one way communication and not always reliable. It sends a position report and hopes that it is received. It is not at all unusual for a glider with a Spot to drop many or all position reports in a day. The Delorme uses a more reliable satellite constellation, and the communication is two way, that is, it sends the position report, enquires of the satellite whether it was received, and if not continues to try to send it. Delorme reports are quite reliable. They do need "a clear view of the sky" but I have found that it works from inside my camper and inside my boat.

I used a SPOT for about 3 years, gen1 and later gen2. I wander off the beaten track often, and the wife insisted I use the electronic leash as she called it. Both it and the inreach system will upload breadcrumbs on a webpage so that others can track your location and movement. Spot also allows you to request help, or send short text messages. I never had to call for help, but a couple times sending a message out saying I'm okay, but running late kept people from worrying about me. Unfortunately, you don't know for sure if the message made it out, and I learned over the years that in some canyons etc it has connection issues.

For the last year I've been using an Inreach which I much prefer. It allows you to both send and receive text messages and seems to get a little bit better reception than the SPOT did. I wouldn't be without mine, as there is still an amazing amount of the US without cell reception.

I have the Delorme InReach Explorer. Fantastic way to stay in touch with the ability to send and receive text messages. Works great. They have absolutely one of the best web sites I've ever used to configure and manage the device. Plus, you can sign up for a plan that lets you suspend service. I use mine for hunting and only need it for 1 month out of the year. Being able to suspend the account for 11 months is another big advantage for me. Highly recommended!

I also chose the Delorme Inreach explorer mainly because of the two way messaging capability, and because it can be used anywhere. In an emergency you can communicate back and forth with the rescue people and explain the nature of the emergency and receive advice back. We often camp in places where we rarely see anyone, and where there is no cell service. It has worked very well for my purposes. You can also change subscription plans or suspend service without penalty.
This summer my son used it as his tracker/communicator for the Tour Divide mountain bike race from Banff, Alberta to Anyelope Wells, New Mexico. For almost twenty days it sent track points every ten minutes for up to twenty hours a day. We could watch his progress on the tour divide website which he linked to, and we watched on our own computer using the map share app. He could text or email us, and we could answer back. The app allowed us to zoom in and see on a Google Earth view where he was to within 10 yards. We could actually see where he stopped for lunch at a McDonalds one day. In one case, a racer was paged for a phone call in a restaurant. It was his wife who was following his track and identified the location. At this point, I would recommend this particular unit.

I use the Delorme InReach, primarily because it uses the Iridium satellite network. I also like the 2-way text message feature.
I appreciate that SPOT is less expensive to own, but that was not one of the criteria for this particular purchase.
Cheers
-Mark

We have the DeLorme InReach. It allows friends and family to keep track of us (our share page is here - zoom out to see where it has worked). While we haven't yet had to use the SOS button, the pre-programmed texts are great to send to our emergency contacts. We have a couple that list our membership numbers for emergency service if we get stranded. So far, we haven't had to use them but it is good to know they get through regardless of where we are.

dahkota wrote:
We have the DeLorme InReach. ... While we haven't yet had to use the SOS button, the pre-programmed texts are great to send to our emergency contacts. We have a couple that list our membership numbers for emergency service if we get stranded.

I have these pre-programmed also. AAA will not respond to a text; you can summon help online or by phone. I called them and asked if I could have someone else phone them for me when needed; they said yes. So now I can text my contact people and they can call AAA. I can also text them (the contacts) with notes about exactly what help I need. Have not needed this feature or the SOS one, hope I never do, but am glad it is there.