Satellite Communications Thread and/or advice?

[Nickel]

I am looking for a thread that may exist on the forums that reviews the various satellite communications options like the Garmin product(s). Pros/Cons/basics of how they work.

I have a bad habit off going offroading/overlanding solo. Typically very easy trails so risk is low but not zero. And usually it isn't super remote. But I'd rather be prepared then have an oh-sh*@ moment like why didn't I buy one and bring it.

I have GMSR radio but have not used it much. That could be used in a pinch I suppose by scanning for others, but a satellite solution would let me communicate with family in an emergency as well.

 

[chetmak]

Michael did a review of ZOLEO on YouTube:

 

[Nickel]

Michael did a review of ZOLEO on YouTube:


Thanks! I was suprised the OB store didn't sell any of them.

The ZOLEO is literally the one I am leaning towards:

• Lower upfront cost
• Uses cellular when available
• Can suspend service to just $4 per month if I have no trips planned and no reactivation fee that I can see when service is suspended
• Gets solid reviews

Edit: At the time Michael did this review ZOLEO did not have the automatic tracking feature. FYI, now they do for a $6 add on cost per month. For example, monthly plan allows 25 messages of which even a check in counts towards that message. A check in sends your coordinates. For $26 per month you still have a 25 message limit, but check ins and tracking are unlimited and do not count against the 25 limit.

 

[DRAX]

This would be better if posted in https://www.overlandbound.com/forums/forums/overland-communications.65/

I have a Zoleo and my wife has an inReach Mini (1st gen), they provide similar functionality but go about it differently. I prefer my Zoleo due to better battery life, though the unit is larger than the inReach and the on-device functions are fewer than the inReach since there's no display on the Zoleo. I also prefer Zoleo's pricing/subscription structure better than Garmin's.

I have my Zoleo mounted to my dash rail mount so it always has a clear view out of the windshield and it's always connected to a switched USB port to keep it charged, then I can pop it out of the mount and take it with me on a hike, etc.

 

[Ubiety]

If you search these forums for satellite, Garmin, Zoleo you are guaranteed to find more info that you want ;). Good luck!

 

[Nickel]

This would be better if posted in https://www.overlandbound.com/forums/forums/overland-communications.65/

I have a Zoleo and my wife has an inReach Mini (1st gen), they provide similar functionality but go about it differently. I prefer my Zoleo due to better battery life, though the unit is larger than the inReach and the on-device functions are fewer than the inReach since there's no display on the Zoleo. I also prefer Zoleo's pricing/subscription structure better than Garmin's.

I have my Zoleo mounted to my dash rail mount so it always has a clear view out of the windshield and it's always connected to a switched USB port to keep it charged, then I can pop it out of the mount and take it with me on a hike, etc.

Thanks for the link to the communications section. When I was scrolling down I got to the "Regions" section and figured a topic like this wouldn't be that far down. Assumptions! Thanks for pointing it out to me and for the first hand feedback on Zoleo.

 

[joseluis.17g]

I have a Garmin in-reach mini, it does everything I need, I can update my love ones of my wherabouts, tell them if I´m running late and where am I camping, they also can text me if anything needs my atention so I can get back into the real world

But recently I camped with a local 4x4 club, one of them had the starlink satalite internet, that's totally on another league, we watched the Canelo box fight, could facetime and even in cloudy conditions, In my opinion kind of ruins what camping is about, but sure was nice to be conected with hi speed internet

 

[Ubiety]

Many years ago a group that I camped with decided not to look at satellite internet, rather we would stIck with limited devices such as the InReach. Why? Getting out together took effort, was special and nobody wanted to see a participant sunk into their phone around the campfire. Now I get there are folks who go out for months at a time or who live in theIr rigs and I think that is a different situation.

 

[pluton]

I had a satellite phone for about 10 years. I had it ONLY to use for emergencies, which meant that I never used it. Satellite pricing crept up over the years, so I changed it for a Garmin Montana 700i. I wanted the inReach communication function (which so far works as advertised) plus a Garmin GPSr function to act as a backup to various maps on the iPhone/iPad. One way to go among many.

 

[Nickel]

I did end up getting the Zoleo and used it in Joshua tree over 4 days last week. Really worked well. I felt "safer" since I was solo and doing a lot of hiking a light offroading. My wife felt better knowing where I was and that she could reach me if there was an emergency (and vice-versa).

Battery was still at 75% after 4 days. App works well.

Only complaint I have is that I cannot figure out how to verify how many of my 20 messages I used. Maybe it is on the website account and I just haven't figured it out yet. I did opt to pay the extra $6 for a total of $26 per month to get unlimited checkins and tracking.

Only sent 4-5 real text messages but I also didn't know that checking the weather counted as a message and I used that a few times.

 

[Alanymarce]

We've had an Iridium satphone for 23 years - used no more than a dozen times in this period, BUT.... on several of these occasions it it has been a HUGE advantage and no other medium would have been viable for what we needed.