Location tracking
Hi all, got a question on devices or software that allow someone to track my location even if I don't have cell service. I'm sometimes in fairly rural areas, especially on gravel rides, and, at almost 70 years old, my wife thinks it would be a good idea to be able to find my body if anything happened to me on one of my rides.
She most likely would try to check my location from our iMac desktop although she has an Android phone, too. My understanding is there's a lot of options to share location if I have cell service where I'm riding. My question is ... are there devices that use just the gps location and make that available to either her Android phone or our iMac so she could see where I am. So, is there a way to track me even if I'm out of cell service range. Probably not an issue for the next few month as my rides are shorter and closer to home but want to be prepared for the spring. Thanks in advance! |
Garmin InReach Mini is what I use so that my husband can find my body if I go missing on my hikes and bike rides. It is a satellite communicator and it sends a signal every 10 minutes. My husband can view my track on a webpage.
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Originally Posted by dennis336
(Post 22712429)
Hi all, got a question on devices or software that allow someone to track my location even if I don't have cell service. I'm sometimes in fairly rural areas, especially on gravel rides, and, at almost 70 years old, my wife thinks it would be a good idea to be able to find my body if anything happened to me on one of my rides.
She most likely would try to check my location from our iMac desktop although she has an Android phone, too. My understanding is there's a lot of options to share location if I have cell service where I'm riding. My question is ... are there devices that use just the gps location and make that available to either her Android phone or our iMac so she could see where I am. So, is there a way to track me even if I'm out of cell service range. Probably not an issue for the next few month as my rides are shorter and closer to home but want to be prepared for the spring. Thanks in advance! |
Both the inReach and SPOT work through the Iridium satellite constellation and do not require cellular coverage. But they have a monthly fee.
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Originally Posted by Seattle Forrest
(Post 22712548)
Both the inReach and SPOT work through the Iridium satellite constellation and do not require cellular coverage. But they have a monthly fee.
But SPOT and InReach are the only systems that can track when there's no cell service. |
Thanks for the quick responses! I'll research both suggestions.
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Originally Posted by dennis336
(Post 22712576)
Thanks for the quick responses! I'll research both suggestions.
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Originally Posted by Seattle Forrest
(Post 22712611)
Be aware this is an area of technology that is changing rapidly. If you prioritize having this now, you don't have much choice besides the devices mentioned above. If you're the kind of person who would hate buying one of these devices and seeing them become obsolete in 3 to 5 years, it's very possible that may happen. Now the new iPhone can trigger an SOS through satellites but can't be tracked this way; next year the situation will be more competitive.
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I forgot the iphone was like that. But a spot isn't as expensive. The big advantage of the inreach is you can text. Spot has some devices like that now, but I have the one that will send 3 different texts. I have one set up to say I'm ok and one that says I'm not okay and need help. The third is on the SOS button, which will also go to emergency services.
Tracking requires that the device have a reasonably clear view of the sky, which makes sense but a lot of people have trouble with it. Spot has a sale on now, but the gen 4 is sold out. They have a flex plan that you can activate only when you want, the plan costs a little more per month. |
I really like the text feature of the Garmin InReach Mini, especially since I can use Bluetooth to pair it to my phone. This makes typing up a message much easier. My standard protocol with my husband is to let him know when I am starting my hike/bike and when I have finished my hike/bike. The trailheads for the section of the Ice Age Trail that I'm working on in northwest Wisconsin are out in the middle of nowhere (says a lifelong Chicago suburbanite). While I might have cellphone signal during my drive, it is really sporadic if I will have any signal out in the woods.
I've opted for the Freedom Recreation Plan and I can turn it on for a month at a time for $34.95 - this gives me 40 texts per billing cycle and the unlimited tracking at 10 minute intervals. Yes, there is also an annual fee of $34.95. The peace of mind for both my husband and me is well worth the expense. |
Can these devices be kept in your jersey pocket or do they need exposure ... e.g. mounted on handlebars?
Thanks! |
I clip mine onto my vest using the carabiner clip that came with it. The unit’s antenna should not be buried in a pocket
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Aside from InReach and Spot, there's also Zoleo. No annual fee, but if you "park" the device, there's a $4/month fee in lieu of the monthly sub. Works well, we've been very happy with ours. REI has them on sale at the moment.
--Richard |
Aren't there enough tech Billionaires? "Honey, I'm goin' for a ride." "Love you, sweets". It's that simple (and cheap). My wife isn't that dumb that she needs a subscription device to let her know that I'm down somewhere if I haven't come back home in a week or two.
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Originally Posted by Leisesturm
(Post 22713793)
My wife isn't that dumb that she needs a subscription device to let her know that I'm down somewhere if I haven't come back home in a week or two.
Originally Posted by dennis336
(Post 22712429)
... my wife thinks it would be a good idea to be able to find my body if anything happened to me on one of my rides.
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I had a medical (almost) emergency last summer. No traffic, no cell, nothing. I was slowly pushing my bike up a mountain. I was debating pushing the sos button, but decided against it and one of my texts to my wife somehow made it through. My spot didn't seem dumb at that point. What was dumb was that I didn't have it set up to send texts, only emails. I fixed that when I got home.
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Originally Posted by GadgetGirlIL
(Post 22713078)
I really like the text feature of the Garmin InReach Mini, especially since I can use Bluetooth to pair it to my phone. This makes typing up a message much easier. My standard protocol with my husband is to let him know when I am starting my hike/bike and when I have finished my hike/bike. The trailheads for the section of the Ice Age Trail that I'm working on in northwest Wisconsin are out in the middle of nowhere (says a lifelong Chicago suburbanite). While I might have cellphone signal during my drive, it is really sporadic if I will have any signal out in the woods.
I've opted for the Freedom Recreation Plan and I can turn it on for a month at a time for $34.95 - this gives me 40 texts per billing cycle and the unlimited tracking at 10 minute intervals. Yes, there is also an annual fee of $34.95. The peace of mind for both my husband and me is well worth the expense. |
Originally Posted by Seattle Forrest
(Post 22713801)
Maybe you shouldn't be throwing the word "dumb" around, considering. Just saying.
Edited to add that chances are better than even that my wife would be with me if I was biking or hiking somewhere and if she couldn't be. Someone would be. I've never been told specifically but it just doesn't seem the best of practices to go deep into no cell reception territory all alone. |
Specialized ANGi does not track without cell service. But it does notify ICE contacts if you crash and they can see your location. Also if you lose service they can see your last known location.
There is a number of gadgets that can do this so it’s not unique but efficent. |
Originally Posted by Leisesturm
(Post 22714057)
Considering what?
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Originally Posted by Leisesturm
(Post 22714057)
Considering what? I was actually trying to be humorously sarcastic in the face of all the fatalism about 'bodies'. Your wives are not equipped to bring your bodies out of backcountry even if they could locate them with one of those thingamabobs. Trained search and rescue people would have that assignment covered and usually they find people alive or dead within 24 hours, locators not usually present on their bodies.
Edited to add that chances are better than even that my wife would be with me if I was biking or hiking somewhere and if she couldn't be. Someone would be. I've never been told specifically but it just doesn't seem the best of practices to go deep into no cell reception territory all alone. |
Originally Posted by Leisesturm
(Post 22714057)
Edited to add that chances are better than even that my wife would be with me if I was biking or hiking somewhere and if she couldn't be. Someone would be. I've never been told specifically but it just doesn't seem the best of practices to go deep into no cell reception territory all alone.
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Originally Posted by Leisesturm
(Post 22714057)
Considering what? I was actually trying to be humorously sarcastic in the face of all the fatalism about 'bodies'. Your wives are not equipped to bring your bodies out of backcountry even if they could locate them with one of those thingamabobs. Trained search and rescue people would have that assignment covered and usually they find people alive or dead within 24 hours, locators not usually present on their bodies.
Edited to add that chances are better than even that my wife would be with me if I was biking or hiking somewhere and if she couldn't be. Someone would be. I've never been told specifically but it just doesn't seem the best of practices to go deep into no cell reception territory all alone. |
I can go less than 10 miles from home and be out of cell range. A majority of the good riding around here is out of cell range. I think people don't recognize how often they are out of cell range when they ride a century, for example. Or you might be in cell range, but only be able to call 911. That's why I have a spot. If all I did was ride 20 miles on the flats near my house, I wouldn't really need it.
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When I hiked from Cascade Pass to Stehekin I didn't see another human for two full days. Saw the most incredible sunset of my life though.
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