The DeLorme inReach is the first affordable 2-way Satellite Communicator on the market. When you go camping, boating or traveling, you may think your cell phone will be there for you to get you out of an emergency situation. But only 10% of the world actually has cell phone coverage. Designed for remote or high-risk environments, the inReach uses the Iridium global satellite network, which means it will work from the North Pole to the South Pole and everywhere in between. The inReach offers an SOS button that will contact emergency services for quick help. It also features a bread crumb feature that will map your waypoints to aid rescuers and allow your loved ones back home to track your progress and even ping the unit to see your current location. The inReach can even interface via Bluetooth with your iPhone or Android phone to send SMS messages, email, post to Facebook and twitter. Priced at $249.95, with annual satellite subscriptions beginning at $9.95 per month. Four-month seasonal plans are also available.
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Talk about raising hopes. This device is $250, not $25. The above says $24.95, and I would have bought it in a heartbeat at that price, but it’s ten times that price. Ahh well, hopes raised only to dash them.
@a.s Darnit! Very very sorry about that. I didn’t notice that typo when I was proof reading.
Satellite devices are VERY expensive. Rentals will often run you close to a $20+ a day, with NO use. For a serious outdoors person, this is pretty reasonable.
@Julie, thanks for the quick update, I am hardly the person to complain about proofing errors with my record on that, I was just fairly pleased with the lower price, I could have bought it just as a backup
@Andrew Baker, I agree with you, for the serious camper/hiker/boater/… this is a great price.
I read an article recently that said that US Park Rangers were a little upset about these types of devices.
Instead of being used for real emergencies, people were calling police and rangers to “rescue” them because they were tired and didn’t want to walk any more up or down mountains.
I’m sure this is a terrific device when used correctly. But making it easier for amateurs to contact emergency responders may cause more headaches for the first responders.
@Sandee: a link to said article would be useful – sometimes media makes up stories for the sake of being ‘interesting’.
On a side note, I used to have a SPOT messenger when I was living above the 60th parallel – you can drive for hours with no cell phone service and your only hope in case of SHTF is a truck driver with a radio powerful enough to reach the nearest community. And I remember all too well that the TOS stated a hefty fine for false emergencies. You are insured for something up to $100,000 in rescue expenses in case you’re in a really dire situation, but also liable for any expenses that should incur in case you pressed SOS in a non-life threatening event. Said TOS have contractual value the moment you punch in your CC on the website and press ‘I agree’.
@andix
I read the article too far back to remember the link. However a quick google for park rangers, gps, problems returned this:
http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/38847220#38847220