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Post by JRinGeorgia on Sept 26, 2016 16:39:34 GMT -8
I have both the ACR ResQLink and DeLorme InReach SE and will vary which I use depending on the trip. My main need with the DeLorme is to have the SOS functionality along with the 2-way communications. In the summer I usually can get away for a 10+ day trek, and I need the ability not only to reassure everyone back home but also to receive news from home, just in case something happens that I can't wait a week or more to hear about (plus those trips could still involve 2-3 days after getting off the trail to get back home). The tracking ability is helpful to my family to see where I am on a map. But since I only use it for 1 maybe 2 trips a year I suspend the account in between trips, which if left activated the fees would add up to $350+/yr unnecessary expenditure.
For short weekenders in my neck of the woods I'll use the ACR because it provides the main functionality I need, the SOS. I don't feel the need for 2-way communications during such a short trip, I'm at most only 36 hours away from being back in the car on the way home with cell service anyway.
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Post by Kevin Palmer on Sept 27, 2016 16:12:59 GMT -8
I'm looking to buy a PLB soon but I haven't decided which one. I'd rather not have to pay a monthly subscription. A couple months ago I sprained an ankle on the 3rd day of a backpacking trip. I was able to (painfully) hike out the 6 remaining miles to my car. But if it happened the previous day while I was climbing a peak there's no way I could have made it down on my own. There was also a wildfire that flared up and prompted a mandatory evacuation on the same trip. I try to leave an itinerary with someone, but I'm thinking a PLB would be good to have for someone like me who does a lot of solo hiking.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Sept 27, 2016 19:23:03 GMT -8
For clarification. There are no monthly subscriptions with any PLB as that term is legally restricted to life threatening emergency beacons certified by the FCC for such which communicate via the international, government supported, cospas-Sarsat system. www.sarsat.noaa.govCommunicators such as SPOT and InReach utilize private satellite systems and do not communicate directly with the international SAR system: they're like home security systems. The "help" call goes to a private call center: hence the subscription. They do provide a wider variety of communication options than the strictly emergency beacon on their plus side. Though ACR does offer a simple "OK" message service for a subscription. With the Personal Locator Beacons their mandatory registration with NOAA must be renewed every two years (free) and at some set interval (for my ACR it's every five years) the sealed internal battery must be replaced by a certified repair center. So the only ongoing cost is the battery service. www.acrartex.com
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Westy
Trail Wise!
Diagnosed w/Post-Trail Transition Syndrome
Posts: 1,960
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Post by Westy on Oct 1, 2016 12:43:32 GMT -8
The second reason for getting Delorme is the fact that both my wife & my parents are all still alive, but getting very much up there in age. If something were to happen to them, and we're on day 1 of a 5 day trip ... well, that would be a bit of a problem. With Delorme, people can reach us if necessary. We might not get the message very quickly (we don't have the unit on all the time), but it would be faster than waiting until we're home from any trip. I'm in a similar situation. Have the original SPOT and can send pre-scripted messages with a location, and hit the emergency button if required. Like you have an aging parent. Therefore a two way messaging system is the prime functionality now needed. Trying to sort out most efficient DeLorme. Is it inReach SE or inReach Explorer? The difference being the GPS function. Decisions, Decisions.
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reuben
Trail Wise!
Gonna need more Camels at the next refugio...
Posts: 11,151
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Post by reuben on Oct 2, 2016 23:58:58 GMT -8
Westy, I'm not near home now, but I got the yellow delorme, whichever one that is. Worked fine for my needs.
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Post by trinity on Oct 3, 2016 17:20:09 GMT -8
I got the yellow delorme, whichever one that is. That's the SE, which I also have. I have found it way more reliable and useful than the SPOT which I carried for 5 years. I'm not much for electronics, but this is a great piece of gear.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Oct 3, 2016 18:21:44 GMT -8
I got the yellow delorme, whichever one that is. That's the SE, which I also have. I have found it way more reliable and useful than the SPOT which I carried for 5 years. I'm not much for electronics, but this is a great piece of gear. That's likely the Iridium satellite network performing its magic.
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Post by CompassRds on Oct 4, 2016 6:42:09 GMT -8
Wanted to thank you for this resource. Been leaving detailed itinerary with friends/relatives for closing on a decade and a half now, but it never occurred to me to provide a gear list.
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reuben
Trail Wise!
Gonna need more Camels at the next refugio...
Posts: 11,151
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Post by reuben on Oct 4, 2016 7:10:30 GMT -8
Regarding the delorme, I used it in south America for a month. It could take a few minutes to connect, even in perfectly clear and dry skies, e.g. Atacama desert, but it never failed to connect.
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Westy
Trail Wise!
Diagnosed w/Post-Trail Transition Syndrome
Posts: 1,960
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Post by Westy on Oct 9, 2016 19:35:28 GMT -8
Westy, I'm not near home now, but I got the yellow delorme, Enjoyed the info on this thread, I got the yellow delorme a few days ago and have retired my trusty first gen SPOT device. The device will work fine and achieve the application intended. ....however the learning curve is longer than expected and the technical literature and website is wishy-washy. The InReach SE Manual and Support Center Knowledge Base as it pertains to specific operating instructions is extremely poor. Have implemented an on-the-job training mindset combined with empirical engineering tactics. Highlighted by randomly hitting any and all buttons in every conceivable mode. I guess that is way New School. I have observed my 16-yr old son using this technique with great success. DeLorme needs a Spock guy on their Geekazoid Team.
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