- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
GPS messaging device
Posted on 9/22/22 at 9:00 pm
Posted on 9/22/22 at 9:00 pm
Looking to pick up a GPS messaging device. I do not need a full GPS unit with maps and such, all our boats already have that. I want somthing that we can use to send SOS or request a tow from the middle of the marsh. Something one step below an EPRIB. Getting stuck on a sandbar requires a text and a rope, not the natty guard crashing down.
Also, this one in particular sends an updated location point every 10 minutes to other Mini 2 users or anyone that you give a link to. So, even if you do nothing (fall out), someone can check your location close enough.
I have one buddy with a Garmin inReach Mini2 and another one that is looking to buy something too. Guy loves his Garmin, but I wanted to see if there was anything else out there.
Pros: its a Garmin. The cost is reasonable. Monthly plans that you can turn on or off. Text from device or on your phone connected through bluetooth. Waterproof. Great battery life and type C charging.
Cons: Not sure.
For those that have no idea what Im talking about:
Mini 2
Subscriptions
ETA: This is the page with all of their communicators. The price goes up quickly if you want maps though.
GPS communicators
Also, this one in particular sends an updated location point every 10 minutes to other Mini 2 users or anyone that you give a link to. So, even if you do nothing (fall out), someone can check your location close enough.
I have one buddy with a Garmin inReach Mini2 and another one that is looking to buy something too. Guy loves his Garmin, but I wanted to see if there was anything else out there.
Pros: its a Garmin. The cost is reasonable. Monthly plans that you can turn on or off. Text from device or on your phone connected through bluetooth. Waterproof. Great battery life and type C charging.
Cons: Not sure.
For those that have no idea what Im talking about:
Mini 2
Subscriptions
ETA: This is the page with all of their communicators. The price goes up quickly if you want maps though.
GPS communicators
This post was edited on 9/22/22 at 9:02 pm
12
Posted on 9/22/22 at 9:23 pm to Ice Cream Sammich
Garmin inreach /thread
Mini- smaller but less battery.
Full size has more battery.
Take your pick.
Mini- smaller but less battery.
Full size has more battery.
Take your pick.
Posted on 9/22/22 at 9:35 pm to Ice Cream Sammich
I think the new iPhone will give you this ability
Posted on 9/22/22 at 9:36 pm to Ice Cream Sammich
I'm actually about to pull the trigger on one this week. I regularly fish well out of cell range at weird times and we take a few hiking trips per year. I hate the initial cost, but I'm going to get the full size InReach explorer. I've used a friend's way out in the GoM to get a message back home and have wanted one since.
Get the full size explorer+ IMO. I say that because you can do everything on the unit itself and don't need to use your phone as well. You can type messages directly from the unit.
Get the full size explorer+ IMO. I say that because you can do everything on the unit itself and don't need to use your phone as well. You can type messages directly from the unit.
This post was edited on 9/22/22 at 9:42 pm
Posted on 9/22/22 at 9:40 pm to wickowick
quote:
I think the new iPhone will give you this ability
It supposedly will and I'm very interested to see how well it will work.
I'm sure you'll need a very clear sky and point in just the right direction.
I think it's only for emergencies though. The InReach options let family track you and send messages to let them know you're ok, etc. Big difference, but could still be a lifesaver.
Posted on 9/22/22 at 9:46 pm to Ice Cream Sammich
Just get a VHF radio with AIS... flip a switch and the coast guard and every AIS ship in range knows where you are.
Posted on 9/22/22 at 9:53 pm to armsdealer
quote:
flip a switch and the coast guard and every AIS ship in range knows where you are.
quote:
in range
Thats the problem. Handheld VHF are like 10 miles, at best. Lots of times that wont even be close to helping.
The iPhone feature could be really cool. Ill wait a bit and see how this shakes out.
Posted on 9/22/22 at 10:02 pm to Ice Cream Sammich
I don’t have one but I read The Hull Truth board pretty regularly and the Garmin In Reach regularly gets a lot of good remarks there amongst the off-shore fishermen.
Posted on 9/22/22 at 10:02 pm to Ice Cream Sammich
I may or may not have forgot to buy a license for another state and then realized it 20+miles from any cell range. Used A guy's InReach to text my wife the required info and boom - was legal before getting out of the boat.
Posted on 9/22/22 at 10:47 pm to Ice Cream Sammich
I have the Spot X. No real complaints. I like that it has its own keyboard and doesn't require to be connected to my phone. Sometimes it can take a while to send and receive messages. But I think they all do that.
I'd definitely be interested in the Garmin Mini also. It was out of stock when I needed mine.
I'd definitely be interested in the Garmin Mini also. It was out of stock when I needed mine.
Posted on 9/22/22 at 11:02 pm to wickowick
quote:
I think the new iPhone will give you this ability
I heard something about this week and want to look into it. I’ll say most of us that are active outdoors in AK have the Inreach or mini. Not only do I hardly go anywhere without it.
Posted on 9/22/22 at 11:37 pm to Ice Cream Sammich
Somewear Labs
Zoleo
These are two that I have researched for back country hunts. I will be pulling the trigger in the Zoleo
Zoleo
These are two that I have researched for back country hunts. I will be pulling the trigger in the Zoleo
Posted on 9/23/22 at 1:32 am to Antib551
My SpotX started going off unexpectedly and started sending SOS alerts to my wife. I didn’t know anything about it until the Coast Guard was overhead. Haven’t used it since.
Posted on 9/23/22 at 6:43 am to Antib551
quote:
Spot X
Not an issue here, but there's a pretty big difference in coverage between the globalstar (spot) and Iridium (InReach) networks.
Posted on 9/23/22 at 6:49 am to Ice Cream Sammich
InReach is very popular. Son and his friends used one to message their bush plane pickup in Alaska the other day.
Posted on 9/23/22 at 6:53 am to OeauxMy
I have a ZOLEO, I like it a lot, no problems. And It integrates pretty seamlessly with an iPhone. I also like how easy it is to start and stop the plans.
This post was edited on 9/23/22 at 7:22 am
Posted on 9/23/22 at 7:33 am to wickowick
quote:
I think the new iPhone will give you this ability
They’re using globalstar satellites (spot x) which are notoriously problematic. I wouldn’t depend on this for primary emergency communications.
Zolo or the inreach are your best bets.
Posted on 9/23/22 at 7:40 am to Ice Cream Sammich
I will add that if you will be going offshore regularly you should absolutely get an EPIRB as a primary emergency beacon. Any other messaging GPS device should be secondary to a registered EPIRB.
Page 1 of 2
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News