Anybody have one of these yet? Looks to have many of SPOT's features plus back-and-forth satellite texting capability.

Hadn't seen those before, but at first glance the Iridium Extreme has all the same services plus two-way sat phone, delivered via a proven platform. Maybe this unit is a whole lot cheaper?

So i cant use it with my iphone? Only Android?

I think for now it's only available for the Android market or for use with the PN-60w handlheld GPS. It uses the Iridium network.

The SPOT is still a good deal (100 a year), although the 2-way text sounds killer.

Just saw one of these at REI last night--$250, plus the annual fee (didn't check that, but a web search says it's $10/month for the low end one). That's a lot less than sat phones.

Cary

I too would be interested in one of these to update my SPOT tracker. Our aircraft already have Iridium sat phones but I like to be belt and braces when it comes to flying where I do, so a handheld device like this could be perfect. Any opinions?

Cheers

This appears to be a good review on the In Reach. I looked into these a while back, and while I don't recall all the details, the service plan for text messaging seemed expensive to me.. That is all relative though - YMMV.

http://www.wildsnow.com/7796/inreach-delorme-review-reach/

Since this thread was first posted, I've owned the Delorme InReach unit for about a year now and have had the chance to extensively test it. The unit has come with me on all my 14er hikes, roadtrips, and Idaho backcountry flight trips. I'm a fan of the Delorme products, quality, and their base layer maps, so this was an easy choice for me over Spot. I included a snapshot of the Delorme user interface tool. It allows the person on the PC side to send messages to the Delorme unit or request an updated location. (This will come in handy if coordinating an emg/mx situation in a remote location) It also provides details such as heading, speed, and elevation which are useful for the aviation community. I have an Delorme app on my phone that allows me to connect to the GPS unit for two way text messaging, mapping, tracking, and testing of the unit. Battery life and reception are great. The unit has a USB port for firmware updates. Delorme Customer Service & support is top notch and they quickly resolve issues/updates. The only con I can say is the unit is built like a tank and therefore a little bit larger than the spot unit. I think the service plan is a few bucks more per month (haven't compared lately), but I'm ok with that based on the quality and extra features of this unit.

Here are a couple pictures:

(This is what the person tracking you would see) Note, heading speed, elev, lat/long/ time stamp. Multiple flight tracks are seen, but the control panel allows you to filter this.

Delorme unit mounted on upper right windshield. Using a custom fit RAM mount w/ suction cup attachment.

Feel free to contact me with questions.
-Alec

Does the DeLorme automatically leave breadcrumbs, or do you have to manually send them?

If the person turns on the tracking function(via the button on the GPS or via the App) it will automatically leave breadcrumbs. Mine is set to leave breadcrumbs (aka- tracking points) every 10 minutes. If a person doesn't want to subscribe to the plan that allows unlimited tracking points, the InReach can leave tracking points at specific locations as instructed by the operator or allow the PC viewer/user to re request an updated location/tracking point.
It's flexible depending on your mission/budget.

Having worked with Spot at SoaringNV (a soaring FBO at Minden, NV) that has Spots in all their gliders, I was not enamoured with Spot's reliability. Even with the Spot optimally mounted in the glider for a good view of the sky, we would often miss several tracking points in a row. This would mean lapses of as much as 40 minutes sometimes. Toward the end of the day when you are wondering if the glider will make it back home, this is a real PITA. So I decided to wait until things improved before buying a tracking device for my own use.

When I heard about InReach, it seemed like the answer I was looking for, so I bought one. I opted for the $25 a month plan which allows unlimited tracking as well as 40 text messages. Though it costs almost double compared to Spot, it delivers a whole lot more.

InReach works even in sub-optimal conditions, like buried in a steep canyon up on Salmon river in Idaho. Text message I sent the wife didn't go out immediately, but when I checked 10 minutes later is showed as sent. Since it's two way (as opposed to Spot's send only) InReach knows that it's outgoing message was not recieved so it wait's 'till a sat comes into view and sends it then.

Tracking info is also more detailed than Spot's, including location, bearing, speed, and alitude - - great for gliders.

But I think the main plus is that it works anywhere, period. I live in Nevada, and much of the state has no cell coverage and will likely remain so for my lifetime. Even on the seat of my car, laying flat when the antenna should be up, InReach still functions.

The clincher . . . at least to me, my butt is worth $25 a month.

Nit picks: InReach is larger that I expected, this is because it's more boxy than some pictures depict - you could clip it to a belt, but all my available belt real estate is taken by a pistol, Leatherman, cell phone, extra clip, small flashlight, etc.. The battery compartment cover is a bit fiddly, using screws with little wire bails in stead of 1/4 turn fasteners.

InReach on bracket in my Husky

I too have had one for a year after using both a first gen SPOT and the SPOT Connect. The SPOT Connect is a very poor version of the inReach. The inReach costs approx twice as much to operate per year but it is a two way device.

With the luck I had with Spot in this part of the world with it's poor Sat coverage, I would not want to bet my life on it. Sounds like the DeLorme product may be more reliable.

Steve

Spot is OK for the tracking price. But the real feature of the In Reach is the meassaging thru' the iridium network.
Now you can land on the back country lake and advise family you are down safe and sound for some fishing. Nav Canada is not yet prepared to accept a text or email message for closing a flight plan but they will probably get on the page eventually.

I realize this is an old thread, but I just got the Delorme InReach SE and I'm super impressed so far. Seems really solid (both hardware and software). The utility of this thing for backcountry travel is pretty amazing.

Had one for several days until I found out how much the service was ! Got it for 100 bucks from John J . in San Diego ,CA. Basic emergiecy plan is 120 bucks a year - for really limited contacts. Plan that offers more use runs 6-8 hundred a year . They want you to submit credit card for their monthly charges to be taken from . Think I'll stay with my SPOT .

I guess its all in what you want for service. If you want messaging with the Spot, you can get one way messages with the Spot Connect, and with tracking, pay ~$250 a year. With the Inreach, you can get 2 way messaging - 40/month and comparable other services for ~$300. Initial cost is more for the Inreach, but with the SE model a smart phone is not required for messaging. If messaging is not important, STOL is right in that the cost is more for the Inreach, but its all in how you want to use it. To know if the message has transmitted or not was always a question in my mind using the Spot and available with the Inreach.

I've watched Sport returns from gliders at the local soaring FBO, waiting to see if I might need to do an aero retrieve before sunset to way out in nowhere Nevada. We'd get a Spot position, then miss several, getting the next fix 30 or 40 minutes later when the Spot was supposed to report every 10 minutes. Spot fixes only report postion - no other info. No way for us to communicate with the pilot.

InReach, besides position, also reports altitude, bearing and speed . . . nice to have info when trying to figure out if a glider can make it home. We can also communicate with the pilot, and he with us. But, the real difference is in reliability - - we almost never miss a location fix with InReach. The added reliability is due to the InReach using the Iridium sat system while Spot is on GlobalStar.

So the question might be, "What is the added reliability, info, and comm capability worth?". I've thought about this some, and even though it may be getting old and worn out out some, my butt is still worth it (well, at least to me).

bumper