DeLorme InReach Satellite Tracker FOR SALE

[Sean F (F2)]

Delorme InReach For sale!

Exceptional units, exceptional service with 1 minute tracking, altitude, heading and speed vs. SPOT's horrible 10 minute tracking with no telemetry at all!!!!!!

Asking $200. New units are $300. this unit does everything the new unit does better via Bluetooth linkage to your smart phone!

Excellent condition. New this spring. 3.5 months old.

To buy or ask a question, email me at smfidlerATGmailDOTcom.

Thanks,

Sean
F2

[kirk.stant]

On Thursday, July 4, 2013 2:41:00 AM UTC+2, Sean F (F2) wrote:
> Delorme InReach For sale!
>
>
>
> Exceptional units, exceptional service with 1 minute tracking, altitude, heading and speed vs. SPOT's horrible 10 minute tracking with no telemetry at all!!!!!!
>
>
>
> Asking $200. New units are $300. this unit does everything the new unit does better via Bluetooth linkage to your smart phone!
>
>
>
> Excellent condition. New this spring. 3.5 months old.
>
>
>
> To buy or ask a question, email me at smfidlerATGmailDOTcom.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
>
> Sean
> ?$150
> F2

And what is the monthly cost to have this wonderful service? Sure, the "horrible" Spot is pretty basic - but it's also pretty cheap at $150/year. As far as I can tell, the least expensive DeLorme service runs about $250/year - also for 10 minute tracking!

So, beware the hidden costs and be sure to check out Paul Remde's excellent breakdown of the (complicated!) DeLorme fee structure - and if it fits your needs and budget, go for it!

Me, I'm quite happy with my "horrible" Spot 1. But then, I'm a dinosaur who thinks anyone who spends any time on Facebook or Twitter needs to grow up and get a job... :^)

Seriously - both are great safety systems that are absolutely essential for any XC pilot - get one!

Kirk
66

[bumper[_4_]]

On Thursday, July 4, 2013 1:20:54 AM UTC-7, kirk.stant wrote:

> And what is the monthly cost to have this wonderful service? Sure, the "horrible" Spot is pretty basic - but it's also pretty cheap at $150/year. As far as I can tell, the least expensive DeLorme service runs about $250/year - also for 10 minute tracking!
>
>
>
> So, beware the hidden costs and be sure to check out Paul Remde's excellent breakdown of the (complicated!) DeLorme fee structure - and if it fits your needs and budget, go for it!
>
>
>
> Me, I'm quite happy with my "horrible" Spot 1. But then, I'm a dinosaur who thinks anyone who spends any time on Facebook or Twitter needs to grow up and get a job... :^)
>
>
>
> Seriously - both are great safety systems that are absolutely essential for any XC pilot - get one!
>
>
>
> Kirk
>
> 66

Kirk,

Hidden costs? So InReach costs more than Spot . . . if they were close to equally capable devices, that might be a fair complaint. When you consider InReach does everything Spot does, only better and more reliably. Plus InReach provides worldwide two-way texting and email capability as well.

The two-way comm, plus the increased reliability of both tracking and SOS functions, is worth $100 a year. Especially when considered against the most recent appraisal of my butt.

bumper

Often being in areas with no cell coverage, I can still have two-way communication via text or email. That's worth the additional $100 a year to me. The additional tracking reliability, considering the value I place on my butt, is priceless.

[Steve Koerner]

Kirk,

I think your analysis is a somewhat flawed. There is a very big difference between 10 minute Spot intervals and 10 minute InReach intervals that include altitude, heading and speed. To someone interested in knowing how your doing, knowing altitude is huge.

Also huge is the ability to fully interact with your retriever / rescuer. With Spot you push buttons and hope; with InReach you send arbitrary messages and get replies. I once had an occasion that Spot completely failed to include coordinates in its transmission. The lack of feedback in the Spot scheme is a very big weakness in comparison to InReach. With InReach you can include the gate code, driving instructions etc.

The cost difference isn't really as you represented either. If you sign-up for Aviation 1 plan then the annual cost is $143. With that you can set 10 minute tracking intervals and if you fly a lot you'd likely have some overage cost during the peak season. But the InReach overage charges (unlike cell phone overage charges) are very reasonable. So, for many of us, the Aviation 1 plan will result in a total annual cost that should be fairly comparable to Spot's $150/year. For those that are willing to spend a bit more, you can signup for Avaiation 2 or 3 or 4 and commensurately reduce the tracking interval setting --the cost goes up rather gradually for those higher plans. This is all spelled out clearly at the Cumulus Soaring website.

Having used both gadgets, I think there's no comparison between Spot and Inreach.

[Sean F (F2)]

I am paying $35 a month for enough data to cover all my flying. If I flew more it might be $45 a month.

Every time I fly I have 10-20 people who watch the flight in real time. Probably not true of all the spots in the World! Reason: paint drying is far more fun...

[kirk.stant]

On Friday, July 5, 2013 3:33:12 AM UTC+2, Sean F (F2) wrote:
> I am paying $35 a month for enough data to cover all my flying. If I flew more it might be $45 a month.
>
>
>
> Every time I fly I have 10-20 people who watch the flight in real time. Probably not true of all the spots in the World! Reason: paint drying is far more fun...

Then obviously, Sean, for you the InReach is the perfect choice, you wouldn't want to leave all your groupies hanging, would you?

Me, I'm perfectly happy with Spot.

You get what you pay for.

My point was that both systems are useful - but either should be considered as an essential piece of XC kit.

Cheers,

Kirk
66

[kirk.stant]

On Friday, July 5, 2013 1:42:10 AM UTC+2, Steve Koerner wrote:
> Kirk,
>
>
>
> I think your analysis is a somewhat flawed. There is a very big difference between 10 minute Spot intervals and 10 minute InReach intervals that include altitude, heading and speed. To someone interested in knowing how your doing, knowing altitude is huge.
>
>
>
> Also huge is the ability to fully interact with your retriever / rescuer. With Spot you push buttons and hope; with InReach you send arbitrary messages and get replies. I once had an occasion that Spot completely failed to include coordinates in its transmission. The lack of feedback in the Spot scheme is a very big weakness in comparison to InReach. With InReach you can include the gate code, driving instructions etc.
>
>
>
> The cost difference isn't really as you represented either. If you sign-up for Aviation 1 plan then the annual cost is $143. With that you can set 10 minute tracking intervals and if you fly a lot you'd likely have some overage cost during the peak season. But the InReach overage charges (unlike cell phone overage charges) are very reasonable. So, for many of us, the Aviation 1 plan will result in a total annual cost that should be fairly comparable to Spot's $150/year. For those that are willing to spend a bit more, you can signup for Avaiation 2 or 3 or 4 and commensurately reduce the tracking interval setting --the cost goes up rather gradually for those higher plans. This is all spelled out clearly at the Cumulus Soaring website..
>
>
>
> Having used both gadgets, I think there's no comparison between Spot and Inreach.

On the contrary, Steve, I think my analysis is spot on (pun intended, couldn't resist). I agree that the Inreach provides more capabilities, but at a price - just like a ASG-29 provides more capability than a 1-26 - at a price.

Bottom line - either is better than none - whether it's a glider or a GPS tracker!

Cheers,

Kirk
66

[Sean F (F2)]

I guess my hope was, gentleman, that our sport (specifically the SSA) would see the value in stronger adoption of an impressive GPS system (Delorme InReach and Iridium network vs Spot and its poor, unreliable network) that transforms watching our sport (contests, cross country, record flying) into an interesting realtime viewing experience for our valued spectators.

The SSA has invested a lot of time into the sailplane tracking page which they have recently developed. Thus far, unfortunately, t's a massive flop because the content (SPOT with its awful 10 minute, no telemetry location info) is WATCHING GRASS GROWING BORING! DeLorme in contrast offers 1 minute updates combined with altitude, heading and airspeed. It is simply not comparable. If all pilots had DeLorme the silane tracking page would be massively popular and similar to watching the live tracking of Grand Prix soaring.

Also, the idea that 10 minute updates is somehow safe in a crash is flawed. If the crash is severe (pilot alive but uncounsious or the Spot is broken) you could be as far as 20 miles away from your last known location. DeLorme's IRIDIUM NETWORK allows for 1 min tracking. So a mile or two is as far as you would be away from the last known location. That is the whole point of their aviation level service. Safety. Crashes which require rescue are usually severe. Minutes count if you are to survive.... Spot is not designed to track aircraft. It's designed to track 3 mph hikers!!!!

Delorme = Safer, far better functionality both in the unit and on their website. Altitude, heading and airspeed. Actually interesting to watch.

Spot and DeLorme are far, far apart. DeLorme is far superior to Spot. It's worth a few extra buck a month if you value VALUE. It's not worth it if you do not value VALUE or you are cheap. We fly gliders worth many tens of thousands of dollars with significant inherent risks. Especially in contests and cross country flying.

Get a DeLorme. You will not be disappointed. Don't be cheap. Your worth higher levels of safety!

Sean
F2

[Steve Koerner]

My point seems to be missed... You can choose the Aviation 1 plan for InReach and pay quite close to the same as you do for Spot's contract. You then have a vastly better gadget that is producing more interesting and useful data points every 10 minutes and provides 2-way arbitrary messaging and it does not cost more for the service contract.

The idea that InReach costs more is only for guys like Sean that want the high sampling rate. You don't have to set a high sampling rate -- you can set it at 10 minutes. It seems to me that there's actually no rationale for Spot except that you may want to keep it until your Spot contract runs out.. And, be careful on that score: Spot is setup to automatically renew unless you notify.

There's a one time cost to upgrade, of course, but that doesn't count.

[Andy Blackburn[_2_]]

Steve Koerner > wrote:
> My point seems to be missed... You can choose the Aviation 1 plan for
> InReach and pay quite close to the same as you do for Spot's contract.
> You then have a vastly better gadget that is producing more interesting
> and useful data points every 10 minutes and provides 2-way arbitrary
> messaging and it does not cost more for the service contract.
>
> The idea that InReach costs more is only for guys like Sean that want the
> high sampling rate. You don't have to set a high sampling rate -- you
> can set it at 10 minutes. It seems to me that there's actually no
> rationale for Spot except that you may want to keep it until your Spot
> contract runs out. And, be careful on that score: Spot is setup to
> automatically renew unless you notify.
>
> There's a one time cost to upgrade, of course, but that doesn't count.

I agree with Steve and Sean. The InReach is a far superior service at an
equivalent cost to Spot and an immeasurably superior service if you are
willing to pay a bit more for a faster tracking interval that isn't
available for Spot - but you don't have to pay more if you don't want to.
They even have the option to upgrade your plan for the peak season.

I believe the faster sampling combined with altitude info and superior
reporting reliability would make it possible to generate real-time
estimates of task speeds, rankings and scores for all InReach-equipped
gliders in a contest. Could be pretty interesting.
--
9B

[Dale Watkins]

why sell it?

[Sean F (F2)]

Dale,

I'm upgrading to the new delorme unit which has a color display and keyboard for texting, etc.

$300 for the new one...

[Dale Watkins]

On Friday, July 5, 2013 8:33:25 PM UTC-5, Sean F (F2) wrote:
> Dale,
>
>
>
> I'm upgrading to the new delorme unit which has a color display and keyboard for texting, etc.
>
>
>
> $300 for the new one...

Cool - did not realize there was a newer version already! Suspect by the time I am ready for XC contesting there will be a even better version. Smile.


ZEN

[kirk.stant]

On Friday, July 5, 2013 5:16:20 PM UTC+2, Sean F (F2) wrote:
> I guess my hope was, gentleman, that our sport (specifically the SSA) would see the value in stronger adoption of an impressive GPS system (Delorme InReach and Iridium network vs Spot and its poor, unreliable network) that transforms watching our sport (contests, cross country, record flying) into an interesting realtime viewing experience for our valued spectators.
>
>
>
> The SSA has invested a lot of time into the sailplane tracking page which they have recently developed. Thus far, unfortunately, t's a massive flop because the content (SPOT with its awful 10 minute, no telemetry location info) is WATCHING GRASS GROWING BORING! DeLorme in contrast offers 1 minute updates combined with altitude, heading and airspeed. It is simply not comparable. If all pilots had DeLorme the silane tracking page would be massively popular and similar to watching the live tracking of Grand Prix soaring.
>
>
>
> Also, the idea that 10 minute updates is somehow safe in a crash is flawed. If the crash is severe (pilot alive but uncounsious or the Spot is broken) you could be as far as 20 miles away from your last known location. DeLorme's IRIDIUM NETWORK allows for 1 min tracking. So a mile or two is as far as you would be away from the last known location. That is the whole point of their aviation level service. Safety. Crashes which require rescue are usually severe. Minutes count if you are to survive.... Spot is not designed to track aircraft. It's designed to track 3 mph hikers!!!!
>
>
>
> Delorme = Safer, far better functionality both in the unit and on their website. Altitude, heading and airspeed. Actually interesting to watch.
>
>
>
> Spot and DeLorme are far, far apart. DeLorme is far superior to Spot. It's worth a few extra buck a month if you value VALUE. It's not worth it if you do not value VALUE or you are cheap. We fly gliders worth many tens of thousands of dollars with significant inherent risks. Especially in contests and cross country flying.
>
>
>
> Get a DeLorme. You will not be disappointed. Don't be cheap. Your worth higher levels of safety!
>
>
>
> Sean
>
> F2

Well, I am cheap, no doubt about it. And while I hope your vision of Soaring becoming a spectator sport comes true, I'm not holding my breath about it. The problem (as I see it) is that not enough people know anything about gliders (including most power pilots), so have a hard time getting excited about it - and lets face it, flying is pretty boring to watch unless something blows up! This isn't like America's cup racing with mega-million boats dueling it out - everybody kinda understands how a boat works, and watching the crews work the boats is interesting - and once and awhile something breaks! If we had head to head competition between huge Concordias on a closed course with live TV, and occasional mid-airs, then people would watch. Not sure if that would be good for the sport, though...

Back to the Delorme - You make some good arguments - I see I have to do some more research. I was looking at getting a 406 PLB as a backup, maybe an Inreach would be a better choice.

Is the SSA website setup to show Inreach tracks?

Kirk
66

Useful discussion, thanks.

[kirk.stant]

On Friday, July 5, 2013 9:48:54 PM UTC+2, Steve Koerner wrote:
> My point seems to be missed... You can choose the Aviation 1 plan for InReach and pay quite close to the same as you do for Spot's contract. You then have a vastly better gadget that is producing more interesting and useful data points every 10 minutes and provides 2-way arbitrary messaging and it does not cost more for the service contract.
>
>
>
> The idea that InReach costs more is only for guys like Sean that want the high sampling rate. You don't have to set a high sampling rate -- you can set it at 10 minutes. It seems to me that there's actually no rationale for Spot except that you may want to keep it until your Spot contract runs out. And, be careful on that score: Spot is setup to automatically renew unless you notify.
>
>
>
> There's a one time cost to upgrade, of course, but that doesn't count.

Good point, Steve. I need to look into it some more.

Cheers,

Kirk
66

[Sean F (F2)]

Kirk,

One cool thing about Delorme is you can change its update cycles to you preference. Example, 1 minute for contests. 5 or 10 minutes for record flights or CC. In this way you minimize your data usage and can use a lower data plan that costs less. You cannot do this in the air (need to hook up to a PC), but it only takes a few seconds to change this.

I think we (ssa) should try to negotiate group pricing. But we would need 100 or so to do this....

I would be very willing to lead this negotiation with their CEO who I have spoken with several times already...

Maybe we could email a poll to the SSA membership and see what level of interest there is?

[Ramy]

I don't think the cost of the unit is a factor, it is the cost and structure of the subscription plans. I like the simplicity and fix cost of the spot plan, I can use my spot as much as I want for $150 per year. I am not clear if and what is the equivalent plan with the InReach for say 5 min interval unlimited plan. I don't want to have to keep track of my usage such as with cell phone and test messaging. This is why unlimited plans are popular. Gimme a reasonable cost for 1-5 minutes interval unlimited plan and I'll get one.

Ramy

[Steve Koerner]

Ramy -- the pricing scheme is setup such that the overage minutes are cheaper than the plan minutes. It's not the gotcha scenario that used to be commonplace with cell phone plans. If you look at it more closely, I don't think you'll fret about data overage. Again, this is all laid out very well at the Cumulus Soaring site.

[Frank Whiteley]

On Saturday, July 6, 2013 7:10:24 AM UTC-6, Sean F (F2) wrote:
> Kirk,
>
>
>
> One cool thing about Delorme is you can change its update cycles to you preference. Example, 1 minute for contests. 5 or 10 minutes for record flights or CC. In this way you minimize your data usage and can use a lower data plan that costs less. You cannot do this in the air (need to hook up to a PC), but it only takes a few seconds to change this.
>
>
>
> I think we (ssa) should try to negotiate group pricing. But we would need 100 or so to do this....
>
>
>
> I would be very willing to lead this negotiation with their CEO who I have spoken with several times already...
>
>
>
> Maybe we could email a poll to the SSA membership and see what level of interest there is?

The SSA membership could be polled, though there are likely other approaches. Group unit pricing is best left to one or more of the soaring community's enterprising vendors, with whom the SSA does not wish to compete. Negotiating a special subscription for SSA members could be a win-win, similar to the SSA group plan discount for AOPA members.

Frank Whiteley

[Eric Greenwell[_4_]]

Sean F (F2) wrote, On 7/6/2013 6:10 AM:
> Kirk,
>
> One cool thing about Delorme is you can change its update cycles to
> you preference. Example, 1 minute for contests. 5 or 10 minutes for
> record flights or CC. In this way you minimize your data usage and
> can use a lower data plan that costs less. You cannot do this in the
> air (need to hook up to a PC), but it only takes a few seconds to
> change this.

My inReach SE tracking rate can be set directly on the device - no PC
needed.

Settings > Tracking > Moving interval

That's on the ground - haven't tried changing the rate in the air, but
have no reason to think it can't be changed in the air.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
email me)
- "Transponders in Sailplanes - Feb/2010" also ADS-B, PCAS, Flarm
http://tinyurl.com/yb3xywl

[Sean F (F2)]

Eric,

That is very good to know. The SE is what I am planning to upgrade too...

Sean

[bumper[_4_]]

On Saturday, July 6, 2013 4:20:21 PM UTC-7, Eric Greenwell wrote:

>
> My inReach SE tracking rate can be set directly on the device - no PC
>
> needed.
>
>
>
> Settings > Tracking > Moving interval
>
>
>
> That's on the ground - haven't tried changing the rate in the air, but
>
> have no reason to think it can't be changed in the air.
>
>
>
> --
>
> Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
>
> email me)
>
> - "Transponders in Sailplanes - Feb/2010" also ADS-B, PCAS, Flarm
>
> http://tinyurl.com/yb3xywl


Eric,

Same with the original InReach (without the LCD screen, but with the replaceable AA batteries :c). Tracking interval is selectable when the InReach is Bluetooth paired with a smartphone running the free EarthMate app.

bumper

[Sean F (F2)]

Bumper, GREAT catch. With Delorme we can change the tracking interval in the air or easily at any time via the mobile app. I will have to check that out. I have been running 2 min updates for fun flying and 1 min for contests, changing it on my mac. Now I can have even more flexibility.

That would really help save data usage for all of us.

The differences between Delorme InReach and "Sput" continue to reveal themselves.

Sean

On Sunday, July 7, 2013 10:38:39 AM UTC-6, bumper wrote:
> On Saturday, July 6, 2013 4:20:21 PM UTC-7, Eric Greenwell wrote:
>
>
>
> >
>
> > My inReach SE tracking rate can be set directly on the device - no PC
>
> >
>
> > needed.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > Settings > Tracking > Moving interval
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > That's on the ground - haven't tried changing the rate in the air, but
>
> >
>
> > have no reason to think it can't be changed in the air.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > --
>
> >
>
> > Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
>
> >
>
> > email me)
>
> >
>
> > - "Transponders in Sailplanes - Feb/2010" also ADS-B, PCAS, Flarm
>
> >
>
> > http://tinyurl.com/yb3xywl
>
>
>
>
>
> Eric,
>
>
>
> Same with the original InReach (without the LCD screen, but with the replaceable AA batteries :c). Tracking interval is selectable when the InReach is Bluetooth paired with a smartphone running the free EarthMate app.
>
>
>
> bumper

[Sean F (F2)]

SOLD!

On Monday, July 8, 2013 8:39:28 AM UTC-4, Sean F (F2) wrote:
> Bumper, GREAT catch. With Delorme we can change the tracking interval in the air or easily at any time via the mobile app. I will have to check that out. I have been running 2 min updates for fun flying and 1 min for contests, changing it on my mac. Now I can have even more flexibility.
>
>
>
> That would really help save data usage for all of us.
>
>
>
> The differences between Delorme InReach and "Sput" continue to reveal themselves.
>
>
>
> Sean
>
>
>
> On Sunday, July 7, 2013 10:38:39 AM UTC-6, bumper wrote:
>
> > On Saturday, July 6, 2013 4:20:21 PM UTC-7, Eric Greenwell wrote:
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > My inReach SE tracking rate can be set directly on the device - no PC
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > needed.
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > Settings > Tracking > Moving interval
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > That's on the ground - haven't tried changing the rate in the air, but
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > have no reason to think it can't be changed in the air.
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > --
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > email me)
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > - "Transponders in Sailplanes - Feb/2010" also ADS-B, PCAS, Flarm
>
> >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> > > http://tinyurl.com/yb3xywl
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > Eric,
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > Same with the original InReach (without the LCD screen, but with the replaceable AA batteries :c). Tracking interval is selectable when the InReach is Bluetooth paired with a smartphone running the free EarthMate app.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > bumper

[[email protected]]

Tom Bjork have been using the latest InReach on our soaring safari (about to start the third episode Saturday).

We're happy with it and find it much more useful than SPOT, which we used religiously up until this year.

One thing you need to know about the texting capability of the latest version: it takes more concentration than you would want to give it if you were flying at the same time. With two of us in the cockpit, one can fly while the other texts. We have used this capability several times to have our crew keep up with us. We're sold on the InReach.

Oh, and if you'd like to follow our peregrinations on Facebook, you can find us at <https://www.facebook.com/groups/281533501982424/>

We're off to Utah and Idaho this week.

Fred

[Kurt Thams]

Does the SSA have plans to show InReach tracks on their tracking page? (do they already?)

[Steve Koerner]

Kurt: Yes, it works the same as spot except better. When you mouse over a Spot track point, you get pilot name, time and coordinates. For an Inreach device, you get all that plus altitude. And, as already noted, Inreach gets through more reliably so the tracker plot is more consistent and the sampling rate can be set to shorter intervals. Five minute or shorter intervals provides a much better plot than 10 minute Spot intervals.

[Sean F (F2)]

In reach shows altitude AND airspeed, heading in one minute intervals!

[Steve Leonard[_2_]]

On Monday, August 5, 2013 7:53:06 AM UTC-5, Sean F (F2) wrote:
> In reach shows altitude AND airspeed, heading in one minute intervals!

Minor correction. It shows groundspeed, not airspeed. Sean, do you know if what it shows is average from the last point, or average of some short time interval (maybe, last 10 seconds) before the report? But I agree completely. MUCH more information than from SPOT and much more useful.

Steve L

[Sean F (F2)]

Hi Steve. I do not. But in watching it and replaying my flights for fun I think it is a fairly instant ground speed (thx), not sure of the time used to calculate this. Basically you can see 40-50 in thermals and 70-90 on the run usually, +/- 15 knots for wind.

[Steve Leonard[_2_]]

On Monday, August 5, 2013 6:31:10 PM UTC-5, Sean F (F2) wrote:
> Hi Steve. I do not. But in watching it and replaying my flights for fun I think it is a fairly instant ground speed (thx), not sure of the time used to calculate this. Basically you can see 40-50 in thermals and 70-90 on the run usually, +/- 15 knots for wind.

Thinking it is about time for me to update some technology devices. Once deactivated, think SPOT will make a good wheel chock?

[Ramy]

On Tuesday, August 6, 2013 6:31:37 AM UTC-7, Steve Leonard wrote:
> On Monday, August 5, 2013 6:31:10 PM UTC-5, Sean F (F2) wrote:
>
> > Hi Steve. I do not. But in watching it and replaying my flights for fun I think it is a fairly instant ground speed (thx), not sure of the time used to calculate this. Basically you can see 40-50 in thermals and 70-90 on the run usually, +/- 15 knots for wind.
>
>
>
> Thinking it is about time for me to update some technology devices. Once deactivated, think SPOT will make a good wheel chock?

I assume the altitude is GPS altitude? something to keep in mind, as GPS altitude can be as much as 1000 feet higher around 18K, which will often look like busting class A...

Ramy

[Sean F (F2)]

Ramy,

Yep, GPS altitude and good point. Fortunately the ultimate determinant of class A busting is the flight log which is pressure based.

I guess we will simply need to educate ourselves on that point moving forward so spectators do not get nervous.

Sean

[Sean F (F2)]

I have the new 'SE' Delorme InReach hardware and it exceeds my expectations! The ability to change reporting frequency in a few button depressions is impressive. It also links to your mobile device as the older unit does for longer messages. Finally, it is about 1/2 the size!

5 stars!

Sean

[Steve Koerner]

I'm pleased with mine. The rechargeable battery life is great. After a recent 7 hour flight at 5 minute intervals, the battery indicator said 93% remaining at the end of the day.

Only four stars here though. Typing a unique message without the smartphone link using the rocker switch is just horrendous. They could have done better in that department. I suppose it's a good thing that at least the capability is there if the phone is dead or absent.