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GPS Tracker

  • Thread starter Thread starter JLR
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Thanks.
 
After considerable research, I have narrowed down my choices to the Delorme inReachSE or nothing. The two way texting capabilities of the SE are very tempting from a safety point of view. However, the original idea of tracking capabilities has lost a little bit of its luster since I do plan on being on all of these trips North and South so it only has value to those not aboard. If an interest exists, I will likely go with the Delorme. If no interest exists, I will likely pass. It's a very close call at the moment.
 
Checked with the Admiral. Global SOS feature was important. No real downside. Just ordered it. Now the fun begins.
 
Curious - Looking at Amazon for options - Why go with the InReachSW when model with built in nav model is only a few bucks more?
 
Good question. Here is the answer. I am using this pretty much for last resort, safety only and as a toy for friends and family to be able to rack my trips North and South. I have 4 independent chart plotters on the boat that I use (or can use) as navigation tools aside from the two compasses etc. Thus, I do not need to use the Delorme for navigation. I think that the navigation feature is to be used primarily by hikers, campers etc. that have no other navigation tools.
 
I just received the unit and have been testing it. The setup was fairly easy and the learning curve was not too steep but there certainly is one. It functions as advertised, spitting out tracking information at intervals you set and permitting them to be loaded to a website that can be share with others. The texting functions when out of cell range also work as advertised. I have not tested the SOS functions for obvious reasons but suspect they work as well. The best feature is its ability to be paired with a smart phone and operated from the smart phone. It is almost impossible to operate the unit itself using its own keyboard. It reminds me of the first cell phones. Also, much to my surprise, it is fairly sensitive to needing an open view of the sky to keep its gps signal. I have not tried it under my hardtop but it does not work in my car or in my office. Thus, I intend to buy a portable mount for it so I can set it and forget it. I chose an annual plan that cost about $300 a year. There are monthly plans but I am too lazy to have to plan ahead and might want to use it for other, out of season, trips. All in all, I view this as a device entirely for the benefit of others, not the user, to be able to stay in touch and know where you are at all times, with one big exception. There is no way to put a price on the SOS function. I hope I never have to.
 
Just an update on this device. It worked flawlessly from Jupiter to Long Island. Two way texting was simple, especially since mine were done via my Iphone and not the keyboard on the device itself. Friends and family could locate me at any time and track my trip all along the way. Given the relatively inexpensive price of the device and a month to month service plan for those who like that, this should be a must have for those who cruise in waters outside of cell phone coverage. I cannot recommend it more highly.
 
Just to resurrect and old thread, I am currently tracking my boat heading for Hopetown in the Bahamas. I am at my desk in New York and the device works really well.
 
Don't know why you wouldn't just use AIS as it offers real time information including speed and past and present tracks. If you want friends and family to be able to track you they can go to marinetraffic.com web site and see you in real time, updated constantly. Plus you can use it to monitor vessel traffic while you are running on your chart plotters. Good safety tool.
 
I'm looking at the Inreach explorer. Its a step above the SE. You can get weather updates as well as text. $449 at Best Buy, I think its about $25/month. When your not using it you can freeze the plan but still pay $3/month. I used AIS on my phone but needed a signal from a tower. I think AIS would be the way to go just for friends keeping track, but then you wouldnt get text abilities. Weather can be important as well. With AIS the cargo ships can see you too and seems like good safety cushion. I dont know what a AIS transmitter/ receiver cost. Any idea on the AIS cost?
 
AIS is cheap... a few hundred bucks. I m always amazed at the number of sailboats, even Canadians, with AIS whenever we re in the Exumas. And if Canadian sailboats have it, gotta B cheap :)

That said, web base services like boatbeacon or marine traffic will only pick up AIS signals when there is a land based receiver in range. So if you're a few miles offshore then yes you can see the boat on line but if you're too far it won't show. For instance you ll see boats in Nassau where there is a receiver but not in the out island

Although wait... there Is now Sat AIS which apparently can receive signals that would be out of land station range...

https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/p/satellite-ais
 
The marine traffic sender is not a free service. You need an upgraded subscription to send your position through their app IIRC. This also relies on cell data which is really limited to a few miles offshore.

I agree with all mentions of having a class b transponder being the best and cheapest long term solution. VHF is free vs cell or satellite airtime.

Also, It is possible with the iridium phones to transmit text lat/long at whatever frequency you want. I have an extreme 955 that has a GPS built in and allows you to deliver these via SMS to whomever you chose. You can also change the format so you could link to google maps or a service like that. However this uses airtime which is not cheap.
 
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