Delorme Inreach feedback?

[DRTBYK]

Originally Posted by sumwon

How do you get the rebate, I don't see it on the website?

I found it at GPSCity.com

Cheers,

[sumwon]

Originally Posted by DRTBYK

I found it at GPSCity.com

Cheers,

Thanks a lot.

[DRRambler]

would any of you fine folk with InReach devices be willing to share your Mapshare pages so I can see a few different ones. I really want to ditch my Spot 1 (which has been undeniably reliable) so I can have the 2 way messaging and coveage offered by the InReach. My only hesitation is that Spotwalla seems so much better for sharing my tracking.
thanks Get Bent for sharing yours, I'd like to see a few more examples if I could

Thanks

[sumwon]

I finally got a good chance to try out the tracking on a trip to AZ, here is a link to my MapShare data:

password = password

[Click link] MapShare

For those interested in signal strength, the inReach was sitting in the center console cup holder of the car the whole trip. Seems to have done pretty well.

[Mike Ryder]

The Map share works well from this end. Thank you for posting it. I see you were speeding a bit.
I'm surprised there aren't more postings about the Inreach, it offers much more than the Spot in my very biased opinion.

[duncanmac]

After my research, it was a lay down in favour of the Inreach as compared to the Spot. The reasons are the true global satellite coverage and the TWO-WAY messaging capability.

However........

I ordered my unit on the internet, as the Australian supplier was charging like a wounded bull. It was delivered to a friend in the USA who brought it out for me. So far so good.

Then I went onto the DeLorme website to register the unit and get my plan up and running, which is where the fun and games started. When I told the computer I lived in Australia, it told me I had to have an Australian plan and redirected me to a crowd called Pivotel. I found that everything from connection to plans were considerably more expensive and, in particular the plans offered less by way of number of messages and tracking points as offered in the USA plans. (Canadians, I hear your cries as well.)

'Stuff that for a joke' was my immediate response. The system is global and wireless and so apart from GST there should be no differential in cost of delivery. I emailed Pivotel and put the case to them and they gave me some nonsense answer which actually insulted my intelligence. I advised them I was NOT going to contribute to their super profits or subsidise their inefficient management practices, as the case may be. I then emailed DeLorme and I wish to give them a thumbs-up. They answer emails.

Their initial response was it was an Australian delivered unit and therefore had to have an Australian plan. The Lord be praised, my unit was delivered to an address in North Carolina. The next trick was they wanted a credit card with an American address. Ok.... I called one of my Mastercard providers (Australian) and said: 'I would like to change my address to the USA'. To my surprise and delight it was all done over the phone. That is first class customer service.

Emailed DeLorme who spoke to their computer and the next day I was able to set up my USA plan, which is quite reasonable.

How is it working?

Tracking is fine. Pairing to my iPhone, no problems. Sending and receiving SMS' works best with my USA, Australian and European connections, although it can be slow sometimes. I haven't yet tried the email messaging. I am still on my original batteries and have knocked up about ten hours.

All in all, acknowledging that my experience is limited, I am happy to recommend the Inreach, not the least because support from DeLorme is good. However, one needs to be able to access USA pricing, otherwise it is very expensive.

[BanhXeo]

Owned a SPOT2 for 6 months or so..It got the job done but there is always that sense of wonder as it is a one way line to help. What got me more interested in looking for alternatives was I headed out riding one day and everything on my spot looked fine. Lights blinking showing I was transmitting a solid signal. 10 hour ride in the mountains and not 1 of the signals I thought was being transmitted made it to my Dad who follows me when I'm out alone. Needless to say we talked about all the things that were wrong with the design. After learning about the different types of satellite "Constellations" and about 2 way transmissions I purchased an Inreach. One trip was all it took side by side with the SPOT to see which unit is more advanced. Sending a detailed text from the middle of nowhere and getting a response relatively fast puts all my family's mind at ease.

[cabezagrande]

I used the InReach in Oct-Nov of '12 on a 5,500 mile loop in southern SA to Tierra del Fuego. The Spot satellite network made the InReach the only choice as Spot simply does not work in the far south.

The device was great--I camped 2/3 of the nights and there was no internet so it was my only way to communicate--so text/email functionality via my Android device was a great thing. On that note, I never had any issues with pairing with my Android device (Google Tablet).

Battery life is OK with Lithium Ion and horrible (1.5 days) with lousy South American batteries. The device does work while within a pocket or bag--I kept mine in my Camelbak as I was afraid of the 'in trouble and not on my bike' scenario.

Maps/tracking features are great--nice that the family could see where I was and 'click' to get a GoogleEarth type experience and virtually see what I saw that day.

Overall--big fan of the device. As others mentioned the plan is a bit spendy. When I returned I took the plan down to the min level. Still carry it on solo rides or when backcountry but I don't need all the text messages and tracking--it is just there as an emergency tool.

[Ashalina]

An updated version of the Delorme inReach is coming in April. This device will have an integrated screen and keyboard which eliminates the need to pair the device to a cell phone.

Details are limited at this point but what we can see thus far is promising.

Expect prices to come down on the existing inReach models to come down soon.

[Mike Ryder]

That sounds good. Mine may be for sale soon then.