Overlanding with E.D.

[grubworm]

years back, I remember how E.D. was that one topic that people knew about, but would never openly discuss. it was an affliction that always happened to "someone else" and people that it affected, usually responded to it with shame and denial...

of course i'm talking about Electronics Dependency (E.D. for short)

E.D. targets everyone and it doesn't care about race, sex, age, or income level. it affects us all on a daily basis..everything from waking up to an electronic alarm clock, to drinking coffee from a programmed coffee maker to cell phone and laptop dependency. even when people want to get away and be "off-grid", they are tethered by that invisible electronic rope that ties them to GPS, starlink, gmrs radio...the list goes on. overlanding is no different...even with the desire to go out into the wilderness and be one with nature, we still manage to take something electronic with us.

what are some electronic pieces of gear that YOU are dependent on to take overlanding?
remember...there is no shame in admitting it

 

[Jim SoG]

Power Units! Must have.....

Blue pills to make them work..... NOT REALLY.


Jim

 

[Sparksalot]

Catchy title.

i used my phone and tablet tethered to my starlink to get my dead truck to a transmission shop last summer. I’d say all 3 were useful.

 

[roots66]

If I don't count all the tech included in the Bronco, we usually take our phones, a GMRS radio, an Amazon Kindle and EcoFlow River 2.
Add a dedicated GPS and CB radio if we take the Collie.

 

[highboy4x4]

Now that’s funny right there, I don’t care who you are! I passed over this post a few times but curiosity killed me. Then you said what ED meant… I laughed out loud..

For me, well I mean for my wife’s sanity, Starlink is a must so she can rest knowing Im still kickin.’ Other than that, all ED problems I have is built in so….

 

[lolzhax]

Great, now we're all going to have to deal with 90 days of annoying ads. lol

 

[FishinCrzy]

Coffee to wake up...gas. Kindle to fall asleep. Don't really care if I'm lost or talk to people but Li battery comes in handy occasionally. Oh, and laptop to pay bills. Don't put bunch of apps on my phone.

 

[rgallant]

Inreach messenger (very often no cell service in BC), Ipad to to connect to the diagnostics tool for my truck and the inreach, cell phone, kindle for long trips over 4 days. I don't need or much worry about anything else.

 

[ZombieCat]

Funny post, @grubworm!
Personally, electronics and the internet have been a huge asset for my travel. I can get up to the minute, accurate weather and fire info; locate and book campsites on the fly; navigate more efficiently; have contact even without cell service (Garmin/iPhone); and man, oh, man! Podcasts and music are a lifesaver when driving solo for 10K miles. For that and more, I’ll suffer a little ED. However, I can’t speak for the fellas…

 

[OTH Overland]

Love hate relationship with gadgets/electronics, they can suck up way to much of ones attention and time if not careful. While in the act of travelling (p.s. never tell a L.E.O. that you are travelling when you get stopped as you will likely end up yanked out of your rig and dumped on the pavement to be seen by all on the Youtubes lol) We tend to rely pretty heavily on electronics; tablet with several mapping apps, garmin in reach, HAM and GMRS radios and various cameras. upon arriving at camp we quickly do any mapping / planning for the next days adventures before shutting it all off and making camp electronics free. time to visit, listen to nature and perhaps play some of our favorite card games. Struggling with Cancer and related health issues over the past couple of years did have us keeping close to home and very short trips, but we have compromised with adding Starlink to be able to contact my doctor and health care team if needed and a defibrillator just in case, always hoping not to need either one lol... but they have become tools that have allowed us to get back to what we love to do with just a little bit of a lifeline.

 

[Cypress]

Tablet running Onx. Cell phone as a backup for the tablet and for general pictures. Inreach Mini for emergency communications. Sony A7 with an assortment of lenses for better quality pictures. Mavic Mini for pictures and video. Refrigerator for food. GMRS radio to talk to the family. Growat 2000 to keep everything charged and cold. I have a Starlink, but I only carry it in my motorhome. If I'm out in the woods, I don't really want to be in communication with the rest of the planet.

 

[grubworm]

If I'm out in the woods, I don't really want to be in communication with the rest of the planet.

my favorite phone message....