mountainmatt wrote:The Delorme InReach is the best thing going, but still has its pro's and con's.

Completely agree.

http://www.inreachdelorme.com/product-info/

I've also been using the Delorme Inreach around the rugged terrain of the Western states. People who are tracking me enjoy having the ability to see my ground speed, heading, and altitude to determine what phase of flight I'm in. A little pricier than Spot, but a good middle ground when compared to Spider Tracks. Great signal reception and battery life too.

OK- when I started this thread I was close to ordering my Spot gen 3. The service contract seemed manageable and w/ cashing in my Cabelas points no real out of pocket initial expense. Seemed great......

After reading the comments and additional research, I have changed my mind and have elected to purchase the DeLorme InReach SE.

I changed my mind from Spot 3 to InReach for the following reasons;

1.) Reliability- although many have reported near perfect reliability with spot many have also reported issues. I don't fully understand everything about the different orbiting satellite system of the InReach compared to the Spot but most people report significantly improved reliability w/ the InReach system.
2.) Versatility- The InReach system has real utility with the ability to send custom text messages to friends/family as well as incoming rescue crews. Spot has no such capability. This is a big deal!!!!
3.) Cash Flow- I did not initially realize Cabelas carried InReach therefore I can now use a few more Cabelas points and purchase InReach w/o any real outflow of cash (yes, I realize I paid for the points in one way or another).
4.) The InReach tracking system reports significantly more valuable information (I.e heading and altitude).
5.) Employment- My job may likely require me to be deployed on three week rotations this summer to an area 250 miles NE of Fort McMurray, AB. In other words right on the border of the NWT. This device would be very helpful to on those job assignments.
6.) Free- OK this is not a deciding factor but icing on the cake. InReach is offering 2 free service months if you sign up before 12/31/13

I think I will order it today since it is -3 outside and I am just sitting in front of the wood stove doing nothing constructive.

Fly Safe!!!!!!!!

DBI, great to hear you picked up a unit.
If you have your plane up in Ab, and have a day or two of that you need to kill, give me a shout. Itd be great to meet up.

Glad you got one picked out. Either way with spot or delorme you will be that much more findable. Can only help.

DBI make sure you give us updates on the Delorme, ease of use and such. If it has a similar viewable webpage like SPOT if you would make it public so we can see how it works.

This is a cool unit.
http://www.yellowbrick-tracking.com/?page_id=1523
Tracking and texting in one unit using Iridium.

Glidergeek wrote:DBI make sure you give us updates on the Delorme, ease of use and such. If it has a similar viewable webpage like SPOT if you would make it public so we can see how it works.

I like the inReach page better than SPOT because it gives more info. Here's mine. You can click the filters tab and reduce the clutter. Each red dot is clickable and gives the info for that report. You can also message me from one of those dots.

https://share.delorme.com/34e6d1a48d364 ... a97e6cf100

Do any of these units have the provision to setup "SmartBeaconing" and "CornerPegging" or something similar?
http://info.aprs.net/index.php?title=SmartBeaconing
They were both developed by Amateur Radio Operators for APRS. Basically they provide parameters for the beacon to transmit information based on GPS speed changes, direction changes etc. This allows for leaving a detailed track while sending fewer packets. Low cost APRS units offer these settings. I don't see why SPOT and DeLorme couldn't have them. It would make them much more useful as trackers for aircraft.

topgun260 wrote:Do any of these units have the provision to setup "SmartBeaconing" and "CornerPegging" or something similar?
http://info.aprs.net/index.php?title=SmartBeaconing
They were both developed by Amateur Radio Operators for APRS. Basically they provide parameters for the beacon to transmit information based on GPS speed changes, direction changes etc. This allows for leaving a detailed track while sending fewer packets. Low cost APRS units offer these settings. I don't see why SPOT and DeLorme couldn't have them. It would make them much more useful as trackers for aircraft.

The inReach changes from 10 minute tracking points to either one point every 1 or 2 hours when the unit stops moving.

UPDATED: updated the Spot Gen 3 pricing. I was misled to assume that the device pricing included 1 year free service. Naive perhaps but pricing of unit and first year service was the same. The gap is closed significantly with this change.

I've been debating one of these devices as well. Lots of great comments on features, capabilities, satellite network in this thread.

Ultimately, there is a quite a cost differential as well. Here is my math on Total Cost of Ownership over 1 year and 2 years.

InReach Recreation Annual Plan: 1 Year TCO =$560.45; 2 Year TCO = $859.85 (assumes 2 months free based on current offer)
InReach Recreation Seasonal Plan (for 4 months/yr): 1 Year TCO =$470.75; 2 Year TCO = $630.55
Spot Gen 3 Ultimate Annual Plan: 1 Year TCO = $333.88; 2 Year TCO = $533.86 (at Amazon's current $133.90 device price)
Spot Gen 3 Extreme Annual Plan: 1 Year TCO = $433.88; 2 Year TCO = $733.86

Seems like a Spot Gen 3 is a "cheap" way to experiment for a year. For $200 you can test it and see if you want to continue.

Food for thought.

I think you would be more than happy with the SPOT Gen3 with the unlimited tracking plan. It is a great unit with great features for the price (awesome battery life!).

Which ever unit you choose, make sure you set it up and have it with you, it does no good sitting on the shelf.

wagonflyer wrote:Ultimately, there is a quite a cost differential as well. Here is my math on Total Cost of Ownership over 1 year and 2 years.

Thanks for doing the legwork on that. I'm thinking I may just pull the trigger on the inReach. Getting ready to do some cross countries again in January, would be nice to have along.

Strange thread, for some people if convinces them to go to inReach for others it drives them to the SPOT3. I'm in the latter camp, just got a SPOT3 in addition to the SPOT2 I already had.

The economics were hard to beat:$149, minus the $50 rebate (holiday special), and as an COPA member the unlimited tracking is free so just the $149 annual.

The SPOT2 has been ultra reliable, the SPOT3 has better battery, better buttons and 5 min tracking. I could go to 2.5 minute, which is even more frequent than the flight following our company uses in all their aircraft. You can plug it into your aux pwr supply to save battery while it sits in your plane. Slightly smaller than the SPOT2, easy pocket size which the inReach isn't, so more likely to be there when you need it.

We had a Cessna 421B stove in at Vargas Island Saturday, halfway through an RNAV approach into Tofino. They didn't find it until Sunday, doing a visual search of the last radar return with a helicopter and they spotted the crater. So that ELT didn't work, regardless of whether it was a 121.5 or 406. Without radar (which is most of Canada) it would have been another one of those found years later by hunters or mushroom pickers. Backcountry I want to be found...reliably.

mountainmatt wrote:I think you would be more than happy with the SPOT Gen3 with the unlimited tracking plan. It is a great unit with great features for the price (awesome battery life!).

Which ever unit you choose, make sure you set it up and have it with you, it does no good sitting on the shelf.

Matt are you using one?

Glidergeek wrote:

mountainmatt wrote:I think you would be more than happy with the SPOT Gen3 with the unlimited tracking plan. It is a great unit with great features for the price (awesome battery life!).

Which ever unit you choose, make sure you set it up and have it with you, it does no good sitting on the shelf.

Matt are you using one?

I am not, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

Actually, a buddy of mine has one and he likes it better than his older SPOT messenger. I like the new features including the slots you can wrap a strap around (wrist/arm), quicker tracking hits, smaller, lighter, and longer battery life. I asked for one from Santa, so we'll see.

BTW if anyone wants a first generation Spot, I'd be glad to give mine up for the price of shipping to a BCPer. Upgraded to the Gen3 and have no need for it, though it still works just fine.

I would love it if you still have it up for dibs. Let me know. Thank you!

Karmutzen wrote:Strange thread, for some people if convinces them to go to inReach for others it drives them to the SPOT3. I'm in the latter camp, just got a SPOT3 in addition to the SPOT2 I already had.

The economics were hard to beat:$149, minus the $50 rebate (holiday special), and as an COPA member the unlimited tracking is free so just the $149 annual.

Is this offer available for any SPOT? I am a COPS member as well and never knew this existed.

DBI, great to hear you picked up a unit.
If you have your plane up in Ab, and have a day or two of that you need to kill, give me a shout. Itd be great to meet up.

A1- Sorry for late late response- Roger that!!