I'm off across Russia next year then USA, the question is who has used one to travel so you can log your route and the family back home can keep up with my progress, I've looked at some on eBay but there that many and I've red some poor results how some don't work,
So if you have used a gps tracker or other devices can you post some info how it worked and where I can find one
Thanks

We use the Delorme inReach Explorer satellite tracker. It offers two way messaging (email & text messaging), satellite tracking, SOS and you can even upload posts to facebook and twitter.

It has world wide coverage and uses the iridium satellite network and boasts 100% global coverage. I've got mine mounted in a powered RAM mount and love it.

The subscription is more expensive than some but you get what you pay for. It even connects to my iPhone to unlock more features and to allow easier messaging.

We are using it now on our trip from UK to Oz, our family can log on to a website to track at any time and can even send messages to the device.

We looked at the Spot tracker but read too many reviews about undelivered messages and not knowing if messages were delivered so decided to pay the extra for the Delorme.

Cheers
Jaime

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I used Spot messenger and Delorme InReach during my 3 year RTW.
Spot messenger worked ok for the most part of the trip (track and SOS), InReach added messaging capability (which my girlfriend loved )

InReach service is more expensive.

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I've just looked at inReach that seems to be the way to go, nice and neat, the I know the battery lasts a least 100 hours I will be looking at a cradle so might as well get the power cradle, are the cradles secure when traveling off road, I use a Montana 650 and a garmin 660 for navigation both cradles have power and you can't pull them off the bike never mind off road.

I looked at the Spot and the InReach and decided that you definitely get more for your money with the InReach - and I reckoned their billing was fairer and more flexible too. As well as the obvious SOS feature, it has worked great for posting ad hoc location updates to Facebook and, as others have said, the two way text messaging service (although a bit cumbersome in this age of smart phones) is an excellent fall back when no other communication is available.

But why use a cradle? Both the Spot and the InReach are designed as 'personal trackers'. You can't use them very well oh the move, and they work just as well in a breast pocket. If it's bike security you are after, try the Road Angel Bike Trac. They provide an event page so people who are following you can see your whereabouts on their website. They use Google Maps and the level of detail is excellent almost everywhere. The only downside is that they work on cellphone technology rather than satellite.

Here's my MapShare page, showing our current location - Mariinsk Municiple Hospital - after my husband broke his leg on the road to Tomsk and we had to backtrack: https://share.delorme.com/BrigidRynne (Word of advice for Russia - practice your off-road riding skills, even if you don't intend to deviate from the highway! )

Having sat nav and gps on the front of the bike is simple you can see them when you are on the trails, live lost to many items out of pockets panniers when you tend to stuff this in,

Off road is what I do best, I've done some fairly big enduros with my bmw1150gs on this trip I'm looking at taking my xt600z with wolfman soft luggage so I can do loads of trails, with out pushing the bike to its limits.
The mileage will end up the best part of 15000 miles across Russia then USA tat,

We started out with Spot and later changed to Delorme InReach.

Coverage is hugely better with the inreach and it is EXTREMELY rare to miss a tracking point whereas with Spot it was sometimes rare to get a tracking point.

I use Spotwalla to handle the map. Ours is at https://spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php...fillFactor=100

That will show the last 100 days but you can run several trips with different ranges and all use the same data set which is stored permanently. Can extract your data for display on a separate google map if you want to. Can also insert points via email if you miss any due to device failure.

The difference in monthly costs over a multi-year trip isn't significant when the benefits of 2-way communications are considered. Even sending (or receiving) birthday greetings and similar adds to the list of advantages.

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Thanks every one I'm looking at inreach unit

Take a look in the GPS sub-section for more discussion.
This is the latest thread on the theme:-

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ker-apps-82308

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Dave

After posting here I then found it
Thanks

I wouldn't argue. However, the OP is asking about a GPS tracker, not GPS or SatNav. These units have no riding function and often have a fiddly safety switch to prevent false SOS calls being made. If you attach a 'personal tracker' such as an InReach or a Spot to your bike, and you are then thrown clear and too badly injured to reach it, the tracker is better off in your pocket. (I never suggested anything about keeping it in a pannier.)

[QUOTE=mrsroynie;512935]I wouldn't argue. However, the OP is asking about a GPS tracker, not GPS or SatNav. These units have no riding function and often have a fiddly safety switch to prevent false SOS calls being made. If you attach a 'personal tracker' such as an InReach or a Spot to your bike, and you are then thrown clear and too badly injured to reach it, the tracker is better off in your pocket. (I never suggested anything about keeping it in a pannier.)[/QUOT

That's a good point. How's you husbands leg, back on he's feet yet.
I posted this question in the gs site as well so we have meet there too pet

Yet, every participant in this years' Tour de France had one fitted, provided by https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimension_Data_Holdings

Global ICT Leaders

The TdF commentators mentioned, dozens of times, that the tracker units will be smaller and lighter next year; they were fitted under the saddles incidentally which caused an amount of confusion when riders swopped bikes after a crash, puncture etc etc.

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Dave

I havent used one, but I would go with the InReach as it runs on the Iridium network which has far better coverage globally.

Here is a good reason to have your personal tracker on your 'person', this guy was lucky his buddy came back and found him eventually, if he had been on his own with a leg break he would have had a hard time getting to his bike.

FF to ~5mins:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BOOxl8jQhc

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Cheers
Grif

'11 KTM 450 EXC
'09 Suzuki DR650
'00 Discovery Series 2 V8
'95 Defender 90 300 Tdi Overlander
http://gipperstravels.blogspot.ca

+1 for the Inreach Explorer. I kept it in my jacket pocket and worked well, lasting a number of days before needing a charge. Does not work in a metal topbox of course. Wish I'd had it when I crossed the Sahara last year.