Spot Vs Epirb

[dominicp]

Im doing a Ride from Vladivostok to London in a few months time, and cant decide which one to go for?

any suggestions..

[stephen.stallebrass]

I use a Spot but only because I have a worrisome family so the tracking and messaging is useful. You pay for the device and a yearly subscription. It's not too expensive. You can get cheap top up insurance to cover Search and rescue. Coverage is okay but has blind spots, okay for Russia though.

If I didn't need the tracking & messaging I would have used a mcmurdo fast find personal locator beacon. Better coverage (GPS & radio location). It's a one off use so no subscription so cheaper in long run. Battery lasts a very long time too but are replaceable.


Some good comparisons on YouTube.

[lmhobbs]

I also use Spot. Its expensive but it works so well and its great for family and friends tracking you.

We stopped at a McDonalds close to the Bonneville Salt flats and a friend emailed me to say they could see from the spot we had stopped at McDonalds

Lilian

[Surfy]

There are too 2-Way Satellite Communicators around, what is a big upgrade:



You now don`t have to hit the panic button when something goes wrong - you can write what happens.

Here is an article about: 4x4tripping: Alternativen zum klassischen Satphone: Satelliten-Messager

You can write messages to your familly, friends, blog whatever. And you are reachable - they can send you a message if something goes wrong at home.

Surfy

[Bermuda Rover]

Take a look at the Delorme InReach before buying the Spot. I initially planned to get the Spot Messenger but opted for the InReach instead.

As mentioned above, it has text messaging options in addition to the emergency SOS beacon. You can create pre-set text messages that can be sent as many times as you wish, at no charge, over the satellite system. This means that you can always remain in touch with family and friends and can keep them updated, thereby avoiding unnecessary worrying.

I have a text to say I'm leaving camp for the day and another to say I've successfully reached my destination for the day. They are easily sent by pressing a button on the unit and they go to whichever addresses you have set in the system. I have another pre-set text to say that I'm delayed but all is OK. You can have the pre-sets say whatever you wish.

You can also send custom text messages to whoever you want, saying whatever you want (within the character limit) but you pay a set fee for custom texts.

You can set the InReach to drop GPS 'breadcrumbs' every 10 minutes and the live time mapping can be viewed online. You can lock down the map so that only those who have the password can see it.

The downside is that the minimum subscription is 4 months, so if you are taking a shorter trip, you have to pay for a period when you won't be using it. I had a four-month subscription for my summer 2013 trip and it has been turned off since. I'll start up another six-month subscription for this year's trip.

Great bit of kit

[Warin]

Hummm .. who is coming top 'rescue' you once you have activated the spot/epirb/plb/sat phone? There has to be some sort of rescue organization in the country your in for these to be of use, places with very poor infrastructure won't have any rescue system. And mounting one from outside the country quickly will be very expensive. So be informed about what is available .. and how much it may cost in some places to actually rescue you. I'd think Russia, Canada, USA, Australia, NZ, South Africa would all be fine in terms or response time and costs. Elsewhere? Basically you should make all efforts to avoid any situation where you might need this service.

Having considered that the next choice is what device .. Me? PLB then Sat Phone.

[Surfy]

Thats the question, Warin
When you use an normal PLB, yes, you dont know what happen, how soon you get help, if you get help in the middle of congo.

With an two-way messager like the Delorme InReach you see what the GEOS

(Behind every inReach is GEOS. Behind GEOS is the IERCC — formally known as the International Emergency Response Coordination Center)

can do for you on your current location.

If you push the SOS button, the GEOS get the alarm, and up to 3 contacts you can define by yourself. And for shure you can too send emails to any person you like.

Depending on your problem (breakdown, biten by a snake, crash) or whatever - they will decide how they can help you.

A Satphone looks to be better, but do you have get a contact list for each country to optain help - the Sat-Messager is a no brainer - press SOS and when it is possible to get help - they will do their best.

Today is much more possible than you may guess. Flight in an mechanic to your car with a breakdown? Somewhere in Congo? There are companys who offer that stuff (tuffstuff from SA). Same with sending an doctor with an airplane.

For shure you have to be able to push the SOS (in case of an accident you may not be able to do it) - but i think it is a cheap insurance for small oder medium worst case szenarios..

Like showed here, you can start to chat with GEOS in an SOS Situation, so they dont have to flight in a doctor, when you have other problems than medic ones:



Surfy

[stephen.stallebrass]

If your using a spot and your'e in a country without a state operated S&R service be sure to get the top-up insurance.

Without it a rescue could bankrupt you. Remember most countries will have a private or military S&R service which may be contracted to come and rescue you.

When I was in Mongolia I heard that the US military, which has an 'unofficial' presence in the country, carried out a search and rescue of someone.