Hi,

I am thinking to switch from Iridium sat phone to something lighter and cheaper from my safety.

Two candidets are:

DeLorme InSearch
http://www.inreachdelorme.com/product-info/inreachse.php

ResQLink+
http://www.acrartex.com/products/catalog/personal-locator-beacons/resqlinkplus/

There are some concerns:
DeLorme InSearch : I don't like too much they subscription system.
ResQLink+ : From REI pages - If your country of residence is outside the Unites States, you will need to have the beacon reprogrammed by a local dealer or service center, which may involve additional cost.

Not sure if this can be solved because my country doesn't have a local dealer for ResQLink+

So I am not US resident and I am traveling quite often above a polar circle.

Any thoughts, advices, suggestions, experience?

mira

Here's what I know, having researched the various systems for myself--that was last December. The Delorme Inreach allows two-way communication via text message in case of emergency, which is really helpful to both Search And Rescue and to the rescuee. Neither the SPOT nor Personal Locator Beacons have this capability. I don't know what agency is contacted for an SOS signal on the Delorme Inreach, but they claim it's world-wide. I suggest you make sure of this before investing! The satellite network (Iridium) used for the Inreach is much more reliable and pervasive than that used for the SPOT (Globalstar). With the SPOT, you can send only preprogrammed messages, so you can't tell SAR the nature of the emergency or even if it's a false alarm. Nor can any messages be sent to you, so you have no idea if your emergency signal has gotten through or when help will arrive. The same is true of Personal Locator Beacons, except that they use the far more reliable US Dept. of Defense satellite network. A Personal Locator Beacon bought in the US is programmed to contact NOAA (US Coast Guard) when the button is pushed, so of course it has to be reprogrammed when used in another country. It shouldn't matter if your country does't have an ACR (or McMurdo) dealer as long as it has an emergency system, but you'll be faced with more reprogramming (check on the cost, which will probably involve international shipping) every time you go hike in another country.

If you don't want to continue with the satellite phone, I strongly recommend the Delorme Inreach if it can be used when you go home or hike in another country.

I read last year that you can discontinue the subscription if you are not using the Delorme and that you can have a subscription plan which is active only a few months a year. Of course I read this before the Delorme actually was released, so I have no idea if this is still true. I have decided to hang onto my PLB (McMurdo Fastfind) until next year when any problems should have been worked out of the Delorme Inreach. The technology of these things is advancing so fast! By next year it will probably do a song and dance routine to entertain you while you're waiting for rescue!

From DeLorme pages:
When an SOS is sent, our partners at the GEOS IERCC are contacted. They provide 24/7/365 emergency response capability. When the SOS is sent, one of their Duty Officers at the IERCC will be dealing with your emergency, liaising with the primary first response agency responsible in the area closest to your reported coordinates or any other relevant authority as well as coordinating any additional private search and rescue resources that may be required to rescue you or save your life. IERCC will also notify the emergency contacts on your inReach account.


Yes SPOT is NOT way to go for me!


This plus one point for DeLorme InSearch



That what I would like to know. If the subscribe/unsubscribe is simple thing or problematic. There is always some fee for activating and unsubscribe is done by phone call.
That's bit strange to me, because you anyway have some on-line for managing your DeLorme account so why not manage these by this account?

mira

http://www.gpscentral.ca/products/tracking/ACR-Spot-inReach-Comparison.html

I have an ACR PLB.

I can't find it at the moment, but I had something that listed the strength of the signal of the three devices - SPOT and InReach were significantly weaker...

If I were going to the arctic, however, I'd take the SAT phone.

Thank you for chart


post it later please if you find it ... I am interested.
But does it really matter if InReach works through Iridium?


Yes maybe I will keep it for most demanding trips.

mira

Have been using an InReach paired with an Android phone this season with good success (once I figured it out, which wasn't easy). Compared to the Delorme SPOT setup it's far more competent and useful. The shortcoming is the phone, because battery life is too shabby to rely on it as a GPS in the field (even though it works GREAT in that capacity).

Remember: the InReach is a sat phone, but only for texting and sending location data. It will have the same coverage as any iridium-hosted device, but may not have equal sensitivity to a sat phone. All my use has been in the mid-30s latitudes, so I can't comment on dead zones elsewhere. (There are detailed global coverage maps with more info.) Best results are under a wide open sky, and you need a certain amount of time for a satellite to pass into view.

I think Aaron Ralston may have had to cut his arm off anyway if he'd carried one, being stuck in a slot canyon.

I wish it weighed three ounces instead of half a pound, but I suppose that model will be along in two years. Battery life, by the way, is excellent even using real-time tracking.

Cheers,