Cell booster vs personal locator beacon?

[Advntrbound]

@Wolf Island Diver
I like that dash set up. Are you running the bullet proof mounts? I have a Samsung 8" tablet that has GPS that I want to dedicate to the dash for nav.
I didn't see anyone mention the Zoleo Satellite Communicator. I've seen a lot of YouTube'rs switch over from the Garmin mini to the Zoleo. Now that may be because Zoleo "sponsored " them, but it is definitely something else to throw into the basket when looking for a Satellite communication device.

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[Wolf Island Diver]

@Wolf Island Diver
I like that dash set up. Are you running the bullet proof mounts? I have a Samsung 8" tablet that has GPS that I want to dedicate to the dash for nav.
I didn't see anyone mention the Zoleo Satellite Communicator. I've seen a lot of YouTube'rs switch over from the Garmin mini to the Zoleo. Now that may be because Zoleo "sponsored " them, but it is definitely something else to throw into the basket when looking for a Satellite communication device.

It’s all Ram Mount stuff. The “B” size was too flimsy for the IPad Pro. I think most people have their mounts coming straight out, but that obscures visibility, so I did 2 double end mounts with a double ended ball in the center to get the iPad lower. All those arms makes it wobbly unless you use the larger size “c” size stuff. All the other mounts for the Garmin, radio, gps puck are “b” size.

Ram also makes the dash tray insert

RAM Mounts Tough-Track for '18-20 Jeep JL/Gladiator RAM-DT-204-TRACK-A12U Compatible with RAM Track Ball Bases https://a.co/d/2rgfHuh

I’ve seen the Zoleo videos. I went with Garmin, both because of familiarity and because you can send and receive messages on the device itself.

 

[fourfa]

I'm also very curious to see how well the iPhone 14 system works. One way only, no confirmation that a message went thru if I understood their presentation correctly.

Which, to be fair, is the same as the 406 MHz SARSAT beacon I carry in the backcountry. Though I suspect when the US Navy satellite operators get a signal from my beacon, they might take it a bit more seriously than when any old iPhone buyer sends an SOS because of an ouchy toe (as we've seen a lot as access to these tools has increased)

 

[fourfa]

Correction - looks like there is some limited 2-way comms for SOS only https://www.macrumors.com/2022/09/07/apple-emergency-satellite-iphone-14/

Spot and InReach etc will still be useful if you want true 2-way messaging. But looks like you can share location over satellite, which might be good enough in some circumstances. Anyway I expect features like this to quickly become table stakes on new flagship phones. I don't think I'll be buying any new standalone devices, just replacing the battery in my existing SARSAT beacon until the phone does everything I need

 

[Trout Safari]

we got a starlink set up. we now can go anywhere.

 

[dcmdon]

Crazy stuff. I read today that Apple announced a new function with the iPhone 14. Satellite based SOS calling. Including the ability to text.

Not a direct 1:1 replacement since its not fully waterproof. But still, for people who would otherwise not have anything, its a tremendous amount of value.

 

[Wolf Island Diver]

we got a starlink set up. we now can go anywhere.

Let me know how that works. I’m looking at that so I can work remotely. I’m a fully remote employee but I’m also management at private cloud hosting company so I’m on call 24/7/365. I’d like to be able to just work from the beach, out West, MABCDR, Smokies, etc.. I wouldn’t think BLM scrub land in Arizona or Utah or the beach at Cape Hatteras would be an issue, but mountains and forest seem likely to cause problems.

I’m really curious if it will work in a large clearing like this up in Bald Eagle State Park in Pennsylvania. Normal GPS devices work fine, but I’ve read that StarLink requires something crazy like 110-120 degrees field of clear sky or it wont work at all.

 

[Trout Safari]

Let me know how that works. I’m looking at that so I can work remotely. I’m a fully remote employee but I’m also management at private cloud hosting company so I’m on call 24/7/365. I’d like to be able to just work from the beach, out West, MABCDR, Smokies, etc.. I wouldn’t think BLM scrub land in Arizona or Utah or the beach at Cape Hatteras would be an issue, but mountains and forest seem likely to cause problems.

I’m really curious if it will work in a large clearing like this up in Bald Eagle State Park in Pennsylvania. Normal GPS devices work fine, but I’ve read that StarLink requires something crazy like 110-120 degrees field of clear sky or it wont work at all.

We have had no issues. we have been able to get good reception even in clearings a lot smaller than that one. We have only used it in Northern New England so far, but we will be down in Virginia in October and hope it works as well there to.

 

[Wolf Island Diver]

“We have had no issues. we have been able to get good reception even in clearings a lot smaller than that one.”

Sounds like a winner. Probably one of my next purchases, then. Although in that clearing in Penn on top of a mountain I got good cell reception with the Weboost.

“down in Virginia in October and hope it works as well there to.”

Overland Expo East? I’ll be there this year again. Brad from TrailRecon was there last year. Super nice guy.

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