Episode 84 | Satellite Messaging (ZOLEO)

The Motorola is cheaper. The plans are cheaper and you get more texts.

Zoleo [is] economically obsolete. [edited – MK]

Who buys one?

Not to be overly harsh, the Gaia app is a nice incentive. It may become a tight market with even the Defy becoming obsolete. They have to bring their pricing down for their plans. License out their technology.

Having an app for return texts would hopefully weed out unwanted messages.

Zoleo’s medical assist seems like a useful service. I can think of two times when I had a partner who I thought was experiencing AMS and would have liked to be able to talk with someone about our decision to bail.

I would think that service might help SAR avoid some unneeded calls and perhaps get them involved earlier when appropriate in other situations.

Good stuff.

Isn’t the biggest (or at least one of the biggest) differences the satellites they use? I’m not educated enough to opine on what those differences are, but I did find these comments in the Ars story interesting (no idea if these comments are correct, perhaps someone else who knows this stuff could comment):

“Keep in mind Garmin InReach or any iridium based service will eventually have a sat overhead. You may need to wait a bit to get a message out but you can usually get a message out even without moving. This service uses a GSO sat so you need a view of the low southern sky (in northern hemisphere). Depending on hills and other terrain that may not be possible.”

“I live in west NC and hike the AT quite a bit. As this uses GEO, there
are lots of locations where this will not work (think Nantahala Gorge,etc)
I’ll stick with my In-Reach.(LEO)”

Yeah Doug, that’s sort of what I’m hearing regarding satellites. No idea how much this would affect me in my location. I can handle $20 for the Zoleo, it’s not a dealbreaker. It hasn’t let me down yet. But if it proves that the Defy has the same functionality…well. I’m not running out to upgrade immediately, I’ll look around for some reviews first. Sounds like an article that a backpacking site might want to jump on ASAP…. ; )

“It seems these devices serve to raise our fear levels.”

…..Totally agree for some,  but as the Boy Scout slogan goes BE PREPARED if there is a need.

Being prepared isn’t about what you carry. It’s knowing how not to get into a situation as well as how to get out of one. These devices are a last resort. Mainly they’re used for communication.
Solo hikers who put themselves into situations which may lead them to immobilization in the bottom of a canyon are making unwise choices with the thought that one of these devices might work.

The satellites are orbiting for one network, they come into range. They don’t go over your head . You may have a 30* angle with hills and trees blocking the signal. . They’re 485 miles up.
The other network has satellites 22,000 miles up. While they’re stationary, they have a much better view.
Either way, you may have to crawl a ways.  To be prepared, you might carry both. IDK It’s only a tool.

No concern. You go into the canyons at your own risk. I know my gps would often loose signal. Both of these devices have their inherent weaknesses. They do have their value.
I don’t think that’s a deal breaker for either one. They’re both valuable communication devices with multiple uses. I saw where a girl was getting off of the mountain yesterday. She had a hurt friend. She was able to get directions to a side trail down to the road, and contact a shuttle.

You should have had him bring a pizza.

I want one. I don’t feel that I really need it. I didn’t want to pay $240 a year in service fees.

I see Unefone has it built into their flagship model. Also branded Cat phone. It’s not available here. Yet.

@terran terran, I was thinking about your comment that they make us more fearful. I don’t feel that way, but I started my outdoor career before they existed. I do wonder though: Are sat messaging devices about to become one of the “essentials”, so to speak? I can easily see them working their way into the “necessities” for all outdoor activities, heavily pushed in REI catalogues/clinics and the likes (if this hasn’t already happened). If that’s the case, I’m concerned it will be another barrier for many people, creating the perception amongst beginners that you’re not being “safe” without one.

I work with teenagers. I’m often approached with curiosity and interest about getting into backpacking. And when they see the gearlists and price tags, even the ultra budget versions, those backpacking dreams quickly wither. And I know for a fact that the mere existence of sat messengers would make many parents feel their kids shouldn’t do these activities without one. One of my son’s friends hiked the PCT two years ago and his family said they wouldn’t support it without him purchasing a messenger.

Convenience/safety aside, with sat messengers, we’re essentially adding monthly subscription plans to the list of burdens that come with “the simplicity of backpacking”. In this regard I understand the hesitation. Seems harder and harder to get away from always “needing” new stuff. Of course, this is by design.

Garmin is popular with the influencers. It’s the must have product. That’s why I wondered who buys Zoleo. They don’t seem to be getting much of the market.

Speculating here but I think many people here are long term InReach users.

I have a first gen InReach Mini and the size and battery life are great but I find the user interface and their software to be frustrating at times. If I was going to replace my Mini and stay in the InReach ecosystem I would pick up a Mini 2. The killer app here is the failsafe of (tediously) entering a message without a paired phone. If I decided I was willing to let go of that ability I would jump to a different platform just to escape Garmin’s website and apps (also saving money would be nice). My point here is that while the InReach Messenger has some advantages it comes with disadvantages too and means staying with a suboptimal (at least to me) platform and user experience.

Despite my frustrations, I’ll probably avoid an upgrade in anticipation of the future Bill speaks of where I can directly message from my phone to a satellite.

It doesn’t sound like you can get a SAR Insurance Plan coverage with Zoleo. Does anyone know what’s the best route to take for this if one were to move on from Garmin?