Cell booster vs personal locator beacon?

[Alans17]

I’ve got some budget to spare and a long road trip with national park camping and hiking ahead for me and my family.

I’m looking at either a cell booster or a Garmin Inreach as a way to stay more connected when I’m further from civilization. Obviously one is more useful for everyday stuff while the other is better for emergencies, but which would y’all choose and why? I can’t decide!!

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[MrZappo]

You can't amplify what isn't there. If you have any intention of using of needing this for safety it's an easy decision. The Garmin.

If you simply want slightly better cell service in fringe areas, a booster and larger antenna will fill the bill.

But there are many places where a booster will be useless. The Garmin will almost always have the ability to get a message out.

 

[smlobx]

We have both and frequently take both on our remote trips.

The InReach will work anywhere in the world. The downside is that it requires a subscription and is not user friendly so we use it on our remote trips to let family know we are OK With brief text messages. Of course we could also use it for when the SHTF and we have to call the Calvary (which we haven’t had to yet).

The weBoost actually works pretty well when there is some sort of cell service. My wife has a fairly relaxed work requirement and as long as she has access to cell service we can travel which we do quite often. In places like Big Bend NP where they warned us we would have no cell service we frequently found we actually did. I would not rely on it for calling in the Calvary but for everyday service it is great.

What National Parks are you thinking of?

 

[Alans17]

We have both and frequently take both on our remote trips.

The InReach will work anywhere in the world. The downside is that it requires a subscription and is not user friendly so we use it on our remote trips to let family know we are OK With brief text messages. Of course we could also use it for when the SHTF and we have to call the Calvary (which we haven’t had to yet).

The weBoost actually works pretty well when there is some sort of cell service. My wife has a fairly relaxed work requirement and as long as she has access to cell service we can travel which we do quite often. In places like Big Bend NP where they warned us we would have no cell service we frequently found we actually did. I would not rely on it for calling in the Calvary but for everyday service it is great.

What National Parks are you thinking of?

We’re visiting:
Mesa Verde
Arches
Canyonlands
Grand Tetons
Yellowstone
Badlands

FWIW, I don’t intend to put us into precarious situations. And yes I realize an Inreach is for the things you don’t anticipate.

The specific booster I’m looking at is the Weboost Drive Reach with NMO antenna (cross compatible connection if I ever go with onboard GMRS).

 

[smlobx]

^^^
you shouldn’t have an issue in most of the parks you listed when using the WeBoost. If I remember correctly some parts of the Badlands were a little sketchy….but you’ll be having so much fun you won’t miss it!

 

[Radio Guy]

If you can get an external antenna connection to your phone, an outside antenna will probably work as good as any cell phone booster using the same type antenna. But you still have the problem of no cell service is some remote areas. For 100% reliability in getting a msg to someone from the middle of nowhere, a PLB or satellite phone is the way to go.

 

[CerOf]

Ive used the InReach.
We did a month to month service and only June through September. We’d take it when we’d head out from the house as there was zero cell signal.

Id recommend the inreach. Enjoy not having cell service. It is a blessing to be without for several days.

 

[CrazyCooter]

Used SPOT for 15 years and now using InReach the past 2 years. If you go where there is no cell service alone, get the InReach.

 

[acyuncw]

I have an ACR PLB that I bought for the boat but I take it on trips when I'll be out of cell range. It's truly a SHTF device but I sleep better knowing that if worse comes to worse, I can hit the big red button and somebody will come looking. Very cheap insurance.

 

[PaulW]

Get and InReach Explorer. No cell service required. Works with two way text and email. And included GPS track of where you travel. Lots of features for not to much money.

 

[Kevin_D]

We have both and frequently take both on our remote trips.

The InReach will work anywhere in the world. The downside is that it requires a subscription and is not user friendly so we use it on our remote trips to let family know we are OK With brief text messages. Of course we could also use it for when the SHTF and we have to call the Calvary (which we haven’t had to yet).

The weBoost actually works pretty well when there is some sort of cell service. My wife has a fairly relaxed work requirement and as long as she has access to cell service we can travel which we do quite often. In places like Big Bend NP where they warned us we would have no cell service we frequently found we actually did. I would not rely on it for calling in the Calvary but for everyday service it is great.

What National Parks are you thinking of?

I think you mean, “cavalry.”
Unless you really want Devine Intervention.

Kevin

 

[Moabite]

Just to clarify: An inReach is not a Personal Locator Beacon. PLBs do not require a subscription. They transmit on the 406Mhz frequency which is monitored by NOAA and the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. Satellite messaging devices such as the SPOT brand and Garmin inReach require subscriptions and transmit to commercial satellites that are monitored by the GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Center. One SPOT device and almost all inReach devices feature two-way messaging.

A cell booster will be useless in much of Canyonlands, parts of Arches, and many other areas in Southeast Utah. I have carried inReach devices for many years and currently use the Montana 700i, a combination large screen GPS and inReach device. I absolutely love it. I have 7.5 minute topo maps and orthophoto maps for the entire county in it and also have just about every 4WD and mountain bike trail overlaid on those maps. When in areas without cell service, I use it for texting just as I would a cell phone. The on-screen keyboard functions just like your cell phone. It is very user-friendly.

Several friends use the inReach Mini. It has a tiny screen but can be paired with a cell phone to make typing your messages easier. It is not as user-friendly as the Montana 700 series. I also have an inReach Explorer+ but do not use it anymore since it has such a small screen and is not as user-friendly as the Montana.

Advantages to a PLB are that it transmits a more powerful signal and does not require a subscription. If you go that route, make sure you get one that transmits your coordinates rather than one which requires the longer and less precise method of triangulation. PLBs DO NOT offer two-way communication.

Advantages to the satellite messaging devices are many. Two-way communication can be extremely valuable in an emergency situation, and is certainly a convenience.

 

[Alans17]

So I was ultimately unable to decide so I’m just doing both. I’ll spring for the cell booster myself and I’m asking for the Inreach for my birthday (which coincidentally happens in the middle of this big trip).

The one “fatal flaw” of the cell booster is that I want a permanent install and most setups use an antenna which can’t be removed. But they do carry an NMO version on their website which looks like it’ll fit the bill. Plus if I ever get a GMSR radio in the future, I think I can switch out the antenna back and forth pretty easily.

As for the GPS device, I’m going with an Inreach Mini. I’ve got two Anker rechargeable battery packs and I’ll never be away from the truck for more than an afternoon so keeping a charge for the GPS and phones won’t be a problem.

 

[Kevin_D]

...if I ever get a GMSR radio in the future, I think I can switch out the antenna back and forth pretty easily.

GMRS: General Mobile Radio Service

Kevin

 

[Alans17]

GMRS: General Mobile Radio Service

Kevin

Thanks for the passive aggressive correction ?

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