>>I have my mobile phone number as one of the numbers Spot texts. Provided you >>land with *minimal* phone coverage, it is comforting to know that your >>message has been sent.
Ditto. Spot can send 3 or 4 messages. You can use on to test the system to your own mobile and another to send "I've landed OK at this location" and a third to send a message "I have landed at this location and need help." The last is the SOS message. Normally it takes 10 minutes or so for an SMS to come through which is mostly OK. You cannot however test your tracking. With InReach, you have an unlimited number of 'instant' messages that you can send. The quick messages are set up in advance on their website and are a two button press thing. More complex messages can be entered on the InReach or on a connected mobile or tablet via bluetooth in the same way that you'd send any SMS… except that it is delivered by satellite. The big advantage is that you can monitor everything including tracking and messages via a mobile device connected by bluetooth. So what you see on the mobile has been returned via satellite. It works very well. If there is a problem, then you can see it right away. Interestingly, when overseas, the cost of an SMS via InReach and satellite is less than the cost of an SMS via Telstra. It's not so important when gliding in Oz that there are holes in the Spot coverage and dodgy satellites but there are places overseas where I have travelled recently when InReach or Satphone was the only coverage. InReach was just cheaper and more effective than Satphone. D _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [email protected] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
