I decided to retire my trusty old Iridium 9505A and replace it with a Delorme InReach SE. I seldom needed the phone part of the 9505A, and the messaging was cumbersome (and the subscription expensive).
Ordering the unit was a breeze, it arrived by courier here in Norway after five days.
My initial impressions were that the system is a bit unusual, since all the messages are sent through a Delorme server, and you can´t actually send text messages or emails directly. The receiving end of the message must have a broadband internet connection to be able to see your position and interact with you. It is possible to send SMS-messages to mobile phones, but the position isn´t added in the message, leaving you to type it in manually. This all means, that to be able to send a message from the InReach SE to anyone in the field, the receiver either needs an internet connection, or mobile phone coverage at the least. The only possibility to send messages between two stations outside mobile coverage, would be if they both have an InReach SE unit.
Anyway, I mostly use the unit for telling my wife and friends where I am and that I´m OK, so for me the unit fulfills my needs. The subscription fee is acceptable, and I have unlimited tracking points available.
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| InReach SE mounted on my bike saddlebag |
The battery life expectancy is around 100 hours, and it´s easy to charge it in the field if you bring along a external battery. It´s lightweight, waterproof and easy to carry around, either on my backpack while hiking, my belt while running or on my bike saddlebag while biking. That way my wife or friends can easily track me and get in touch with me when I´m out and about.
To see where I am (if the system is enabled) check out my
MapShare page. You might need a password, depending on time and situation.
