SPOT / sattelite trackers for safety

InReach Mini2 user here – had it a few years. Bought it after an outdoor first aid course kept on saying “you’re a couple of hours away from the road / no phone signal and you find a casualty – what do you do?”

My answer when I requalify is “press the button”

The wife was doing a lot of ultra training, typically out in the middle of nowhere – I will routinely go out on my motorbike for the day “no idea where I am off to – will be back for tea” – the lad uses it now when he goes hill walking, so lots of opportunity to use it actively.  Garmin plan is now £8 a month, 10p per tracking position sent – so a day out on the bike costs about £6 – if/when we are at busier times of the year then we take a more expensive plan from Garmin with more bells and whistles. Each to their own – the major benefit for me is that the Mrs can put the kettle on when I’m 10mins from home….

Stupid question – does location sharing via satellite on an e.g. iPhone 16 cost? And if so, how much?
I’m not entirely sure, it looks like they give you two years for free on an iPhone if it is an option on that model, and appears to be Apple software rather than 3rd party.

When the emergency text facility was first introduced, it was free for the first two years of ownership of the phone. However, its now over two years of those original phones and so far Apple aren’t introducing any charges, and there’s no indication yet of them giving any date. Apple have just given another big cash donation for further expansion of the facility, and it’s been expanded to full messages instead of brief responses to given questions.

So far there’s been a number of reports of the system actually saving the lives of people in remote locations.

Sadly, Garmin have discontinued that (the ‘Freedom plan’)

@Greybeard, thanks for pointing that out, I hadn’t noticed. I last used the subscription in August this year for our summer hols in the French Alps. Not sure what I paid at the time as it is all automated. No idea how it compares to other services now, but as I own the actual bit of kit, the start stop subscription still seems reasonable for peace of mind..

Cheers @Counzero

Having thought about this, I think I’m perfectly comfortable with a less robust device and a marginally increased level of risk over carrying a dedicated device which I currently dont carry anyway, and am perfectly comfortable with that and associated risks already.

So a phone with Satellite SOS would be a selling point between phones rather than a “I want to be able to make a Satellite SOS”.

I’m also completely indifferent to the day today differences between Android and IOS. Although I do like being able to switch loads of stuff off with my current android via dev options.

Arnt you going to new Zealand?

Where you going without signal. They had widespread signal 20 years ago.

According to locals the long distance offroad routes have lots of gaps.

According to locals the long distance offroad routes have lots of gaps.

maybe things have changed with the shutting down of the old technology . i guess we didnt need 4g to make a phonecall 20 years ago.

Arnt you going to new Zealand?

Where you going without signal. They had widespread signal 20 years ago.

The long distance cycling offroad routes apparently have big gaps – you can be out of contact for a day or two.  Local advice

Depending on what you are doing in NZ, I am not sure you will really need one, a bit of prior planning and informing accomodation in advance of route and expected arrival and you should be fine imo. You know, old school. If you are planning an unsupported week long trek then yes it would be good, otherwise, well I suppose it depends on your attitude to risk.

As above.  I am normally with you on this but several locals have said get one.  However they do seem to have a very risk averse attitude

My feeling is given I will be on my own and thats the advice I have been given maybe it really would be a good idea to have one.  I*’m not sure I would bother if I was with someone else.

Trailrat / AA

Apparently the long distance cycle routes I want to take have a few sections where you can be out of contact for a day or two.  I have been advised by several locals t get one.  I think the fact I will be on my own means that it probably tips over towards getting one.

The locals do seem very risk averse tho

FFS -single track hamster kept on throwing errors at me hence the multiple posts

Can we clarify what apple are offering

I think my iPhone 14 can summon help via satellite

i think in the USA it can message

I didn’t  think it could do tracking via satellite any where

1. Looking forward to the pictures of your travels.

2. You would feel a fool no doubt if you’d been told about this, not taken the advice and found yourself in trouble.

3. “Take care of yourself” is probably the advice you’d give to someone else, doctor, heal thyself etc etc…

For the cost of renting, when compared to the cost of your tour in general, including flights, why wouldn’t you?

Also – are you taking bike and trailer? I was wondering how much baggage costs for that would be.

Its like an insurance policy….you do not know if you will ever need it.   My Spot helped keep my wife happy on my adventures for many years , esp big rides in winter in Scotland and thus money well spent!  Also the fact that you can create a webpage and share with others is a good feature, esp if raising money for charity etc. and for big endurance events helps keep you going as you have the thought that people at home are watching!     So thats a good thing too.  I think the Spot is fairly robust too. But Tech has moved on a bit and mobile phone coverage is so much better now as well esp in UK  .  I  just wished spot would reduce prices a bit as some other  tech is a bit better now .  Mine is currently not on subscription for this reason .  I did also like to carry it switched off on shorter trips  , but knowing that if I ever met a hiker or biker in trouble I could call in the cavalry to rescue them no matter what the mobile phone coverage.