For those of us who go solo into the woods, what sort of device/app should we be using?
https://www.findmespot.com/en/
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Brad,
I carry a first generation Spot.?ÿ I don't use at religiously as I should, it sits in the truck unless I'm in the bush.?ÿ Besides work, I strap it into the rally car so my wife can track my progress.?ÿ As long as she does not do any math to determine my speed she like to see it.
As a coincident I going to pick up the version that allows 2 way messaging.?ÿ I getting ready to start a long term project where only the snakes will hear my screams.
When I was working remotely in Nowhere Nevada, Wyoming, New Mexico, Utah etc..... I carried a Sat Phone, and Spot was just evolving.
Sat phone isn't much help if I had a head injury or the like.?ÿ Best operation is to plan the Survey, check out, and then check back in with personnel that know your where-abouts in case you don't check back in. Much like when I did solo mountaineering, I let people know when to expect my call, and where to look for me if I didn't call at all.
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I use the timeline function on google maps. My wife doesn't do computers much but she has it written down on an index card how to get to the correct website. It is not the best solution but it works.
I am looking for a better tracking app but the ones I have used in the past drained the battery so quick that I deleted them. If it just updated every 30 minutes, that would work for what I want. There are not many areas I go thru that don't have some cell service. If I didn't show, it would be a question of what construction job I am on or what road I am on.
James
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The best thing about the Spot is the 911 button.?ÿ Once activated it sends you location to the nearest emergency responders.
I have a SpotX, I will be using it in Peru hiking the Inca trail next week, and sending hourly tracking updates. I have configured tracking.terrasurv.com to point to the map page. Nothing there now, but next Friday-Monday we will be on the trail
I also recently bought an IridiumGo, which is basically a hot spot that works anywhere. You install an app on your smartphone and can make calls, check email, etc, and it also has an "SOS" button.?ÿ
This all costs $$ monthly, but the IridiumGo I can turn on and off per month, I think it is $5 month to have it inactive. The plan I am using is from an Australian company.
About 20+ years ago I was working on USGS control in Idaho for the quarter quad program. At the time we were getting photo control as close to quad corners as we could get. So I had to go to some isolated areas. I got stuck in the wilderness, no phone service, no radio. I had water and snacks and my 9 mm. Where I was stuck there was a large cat print in the mud. I started hiking, thinking I would have to spend the night along the way and continue walking the next day, as it was very far to civilization. After about 6 hours of walking I saw a dust cloud approching in the distance. It was two local couples in a pickup, they were driving up the road to see if the snow had melted yet in the pass (it was June). They took me back and pulled me out. After that I bought a sat phone around 1999, but it never worked well, I think the coverage was not yet complete. Things seem to be much better now.?ÿ
I work in a lot of very remote areas, so I consider it essential to have something like this when needed. In Guyana I had an iridium phone that the client lent to me, and after that I purchased the IridiumGo. It is more expensive than the Globalstar hotspot, but the coverage is much better.?ÿ
I am hoping that airtime will get cheaper, and data easier to use as technology advances.?ÿ
An online retailer offers this advice:
https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/personal-locator-beacons.html
From experience with the Civil Air Patrol, personal locator beacons send your GPS position to satellites and it is then relayed to search and rescue authorities (I believe the https://www.1af.acc.af.mil/Units/AFRCC/ ). It then goes to local search and rescue authorities. They can use GPS devices to navigate to the scene. The device also emits a signal that can be located with radio direction finders. I don't believe there is any subscription required for PLBs. These, of course, can only be used for serious emergencies, and just send an alarm; no conversation is possible.
Satellite phones require a subscription, and are essentially mobile phones that rely on satellite rather than cell towers, so work almost anywhere.
I'm sort of surprised nobody's mentioned the Garmin Inreach. A basic subscription runs about $15 a month. I can send and receive short messages (bit like a tweet in the limit on characters). Paired with my smart phone (or not), can readily get a message out just about anywhere there's no cell coverage, which in Alaska is just about anywhere off the road system or where mountains are blocking the signal. The big advantage I see being that I can communicate the nature of an emergency to first responders or just check in with someone letting them know all's well. The poo really hits the fan I'll hit the SOS. Every message sent contains a link to a Garmin map showing the senders geographic position. Sort of takes the search out of search and rescue.?ÿ
Just remember to prepare and act as though the device won't work. If you count on these things when you don't have to it will catch up to you. Kahmma always does...
Thanks for the Inreach mention.
I would like to have a better understanding of exactly what happens when you push the SOS button. ?ÿMaybe I should click those links above?
Willi
The Garmin & SpotX are about the same device with different sat carriers.?ÿ I think the garmin works better in the arctic.
I don??t need this for work, but I do solo remote hiking and it would serve for a similar purpose. PLBs (personal locator beacons) don??t need a phone signal and alert emergency services of you location once you activate. The one I have is Australian model but there are many options. They are small, light and battery lasts for 10 or so years. Only issue is you need to be able to activate it.?ÿ
http://kti.com.au/safety-alert-plb/
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I realise now that someone had already mentioned PLBs, sorry I missed that. And yes, they have zero subscription or ongoing fees. At least down under. But that is bringing up another issue, when ill-prepared hikers decide to activate their beacons once they get a bit of rain or don??t like the look of the trail ahead. Ie. press button for free helicopter ride back to civilisation. Kids these days ..?ÿ
I??ve had Spot for long time.?ÿ
There is one issue in a work environment: iridium can cause major gps cycle slips, all sat cycle slips. Noticed particularly in airborne with iridium aircraft tracking. Every 5 minutes total slip.?ÿ
So keep it away from gps antenna.?ÿ
We have spot for out of phone range areas.
In range areas we use Glympse app.?ÿ https://glympse.com/get-glympse-app/
You can share your location for free via email or sms with your set duration with a message.
Brad,
I carry a first generation Spot.?ÿ I don't use at religiously as I should, it sits in the truck unless I'm in the bush.?ÿ Besides work, I strap it into the rally car so my wife can track my progress.?ÿ As long as she does not do any math to determine my speed she like to see it.
As a coincident I going to pick up the version that allows 2 way messaging.?ÿ I getting ready to start a long term project where only the snakes will hear my screams.
You do rally??ÿ What fun, I just did one of the DirtFish courses and loved it.?ÿ My track experience failed me as I had a lot of issues with lift, turn, brake
Norm,
Not as much as a would like to or use too.?ÿ I try to get to the Chihuahua Express, think stage rally on pavement, and a couple of TSDs each year.?ÿ I used to do a little pro-rally but the NW events have been in conflict with a couple of other events.?ÿ In the distant past I used to do a little road racing and at one point held the all time record for the closest time at the Sliver State.
