Replacing ELT, PLB with current tech.

[Mike N.]

I am looking to update my ELT and PLB.

I have a fixed ELT on my glider, it's an early 2000's era, and I also have a similar era PLB that is supposed to strap to a parachute, but frankly it is somewhat bulky.

What are the current generation PLB / ELT for gliding?

I'd like to get a single compact parachute attached device.

I have not researched this lately but have heard that some providers of active spot tracking type locators are increasing subscription pricing?

Looking for recommendations and reviews from those who may have used the available services.

Thanks
Mike

[Mike N.]

I'd also like near real time online spot tracking. Just to be able to share flight status with family.
Although that's more of a "want to have", then a "need to have" feature.

[Darryl Ramm]

On Saturday, October 12, 2019 at 4:30:32 PM UTC-7, Mike N. wrote:
> I'd also like near real time online spot tracking. Just to be able to share flight status with family.
> Although that's more of a "want to have", then a "need to have" feature.

You want Garmin inReach not Spot, all this has been discussed here in the past.

And an inReach would be my first choice, ELT and PLB secondary. In flight tracking is much more of a trustable system than hoping an ELT activates on a crash.

ELTs are pretty problematic. Do you want to pay the $$$ for a 406 MHz ELT? Where will you install it and it's antenna in a glider? With a RF opaque fuselage? I'd not be confident any ELT will activates reliably. A small ACR PLB on the parachute harness and inReach tracker doing high-update reports mounted in the cockpit seems a better compromise. Make sure your ground crew/club/FBO understands how to monitor you via inReach, and how to two-way message you. make sure your PLB is registered. And make sure your crew/club/FBO know you have a PLB.

[Mike N.]

Reviewing In Reach VS Spot, seems the same, however the In Reach service fee looks to be significantly higher.

Comments, or am I missing something.

[Tango Eight]

On Saturday, October 12, 2019 at 9:32:47 PM UTC-4, Mike N. wrote:
> Reviewing In Reach VS Spot, seems the same, however the In Reach service fee looks to be significantly higher.
>
> Comments, or am I missing something.

Inreach safety plan. About $150 a year. Tracking additional, but cheap ($0.60 an hour).

T8

[JS[_5_]]

On Saturday, October 12, 2019 at 6:32:47 PM UTC-7, Mike N. wrote:
> Reviewing In Reach VS Spot, seems the same, however the In Reach service fee looks to be significantly higher.
>
> Comments, or am I missing something.

I've used ELTs, PLBs, SPOT 1, SPOT 2, InReach and APRS over 2m band.
It's evident thst the new SPOTs (3?) do not report altitude as predictably as InReach. Many tracking reports will show zero MSL.
I don't know if you can send and receive text messages to any number by coupling a phone via bluetooth to a SPOT. It may be possible. The InReach does that with their Earthmate app. Download an offline language for the phone and you can use text to speech.
Do the new SPOT units have rechargeable batteries, or still alkalines? InReach charges by USB Micro.
Jim

[Darryl Ramm]

On Saturday, October 12, 2019 at 6:32:47 PM UTC-7, Mike N. wrote:
> Reviewing In Reach VS Spot, seems the same, however the In Reach service fee looks to be significantly higher.
>
> Comments, or am I missing something.

Google search...

e.g. https://www.adventurealan.com/best-satellite-messenger-inreach-vs-spot

The mini is awfully nice to mount somewhere out of the way. inReach quality and reliability is much better.

[2G]

On Saturday, October 12, 2019 at 6:32:47 PM UTC-7, Mike N. wrote:
> Reviewing In Reach VS Spot, seems the same, however the In Reach service fee looks to be significantly higher.
>
> Comments, or am I missing something.

It seems that the Spot X has capabilities that only inReach had before, namely the ability to send and receive messages, not just tracking points and SOS messages. AFAIK, Spot does not send altitude, which inReach does.

I subscribe to the inReach freedom plan ($35/mo), which you can suspend at any time. I need it for 3 months a year, for $105. The cheapest Spot plan is $15/mo plus $20 one-time activation and $25/year. It would take me about 8 years to recoup the cost of the Spot X ($250), which isn't worth it. And my wife wouldn't want to sacrifice altitude reporting. Plus, the tracking points are one-way; you don't know if they were received.

It would make more sense if I used it for more months.

Tom

[Tom BravoMike]

On Saturday, October 12, 2019 at 10:37:36 PM UTC-5, 2G wrote:
> On Saturday, October 12, 2019 at 6:32:47 PM UTC-7, Mike N. wrote:
> > Reviewing In Reach VS Spot, seems the same, however the In Reach service fee looks to be significantly higher.
> >
> > Comments, or am I missing something.
>
> It seems that the Spot X has capabilities that only inReach had before, namely the ability to send and receive messages, not just tracking points and SOS messages. AFAIK, Spot does not send altitude, which inReach does.
>
> I subscribe to the inReach freedom plan ($35/mo), which you can suspend at any time. I need it for 3 months a year, for $105. The cheapest Spot plan is $15/mo plus $20 one-time activation and $25/year. It would take me about 8 years to recoup the cost of the Spot X ($250), which isn't worth it. And my wife wouldn't want to sacrifice altitude reporting. Plus, the tracking points are one-way; you don't know if they were received.
>
> It would make more sense if I used it for more months.
>
> Tom

SPOT does report altitude now, at least on the website map (not in the Android app). And the model without BlueTooth is now $199.95. Wait till Black Friday...

[Darryl Ramm]

On Monday, October 14, 2019 at 9:27:34 AM UTC-7, Tom BravoMike wrote:
> On Saturday, October 12, 2019 at 10:37:36 PM UTC-5, 2G wrote:
> > On Saturday, October 12, 2019 at 6:32:47 PM UTC-7, Mike N. wrote:
> > > Reviewing In Reach VS Spot, seems the same, however the In Reach service fee looks to be significantly higher.
> > >
> > > Comments, or am I missing something.
> >
> > It seems that the Spot X has capabilities that only inReach had before, namely the ability to send and receive messages, not just tracking points and SOS messages. AFAIK, Spot does not send altitude, which inReach does.
> >
> > I subscribe to the inReach freedom plan ($35/mo), which you can suspend at any time. I need it for 3 months a year, for $105. The cheapest Spot plan is $15/mo plus $20 one-time activation and $25/year. It would take me about 8 years to recoup the cost of the Spot X ($250), which isn't worth it. And my wife wouldn't want to sacrifice altitude reporting. Plus, the tracking points are one-way; you don't know if they were received.
> >
> > It would make more sense if I used it for more months.
> >
> > Tom
>
> SPOT does report altitude now, at least on the website map (not in the Android app). And the model without BlueTooth is now $199.95. Wait till Black Friday...

But I still hear reports of altitude unreliability. This is supposed to be a safety device, it needs to work reliably. It would be great to hear from folks if they are seeing reliable altitude reports in tracking, and with what model devices.

[Jonathan St. Cloud]

On Monday, October 14, 2019 at 10:27:07 AM UTC-7, Darryl Ramm wrote:
> On Monday, October 14, 2019 at 9:27:34 AM UTC-7, Tom BravoMike wrote:
> > On Saturday, October 12, 2019 at 10:37:36 PM UTC-5, 2G wrote:
> > > On Saturday, October 12, 2019 at 6:32:47 PM UTC-7, Mike N. wrote:
> > > > Reviewing In Reach VS Spot, seems the same, however the In Reach service fee looks to be significantly higher.
> > > >
> > > > Comments, or am I missing something.
> > >
> > > It seems that the Spot X has capabilities that only inReach had before, namely the ability to send and receive messages, not just tracking points and SOS messages. AFAIK, Spot does not send altitude, which inReach does.
> > >
> > > I subscribe to the inReach freedom plan ($35/mo), which you can suspend at any time. I need it for 3 months a year, for $105. The cheapest Spot plan is $15/mo plus $20 one-time activation and $25/year. It would take me about 8 years to recoup the cost of the Spot X ($250), which isn't worth it.. And my wife wouldn't want to sacrifice altitude reporting. Plus, the tracking points are one-way; you don't know if they were received.
> > >
> > > It would make more sense if I used it for more months.
> > >
> > > Tom
> >
> > SPOT does report altitude now, at least on the website map (not in the Android app). And the model without BlueTooth is now $199.95. Wait till Black Friday...
>
> But I still hear reports of altitude unreliability. This is supposed to be a safety device, it needs to work reliably. It would be great to hear from folks if they are seeing reliable altitude reports in tracking, and with what model devices.

My Spot X works just fine. Altitude reporting is spot on :) really.

[[email protected]]

How spot on does altitude reporting need to be for this? If your buddy sends you a link to follow their track and they are stationary for an unusual period of time, regardless of altitude reported it means something is up. It's a SAR device not a an igc recorder.

[George Haeh]

Oudie Live is an app that Bluetooths to your Oudie and sends position data packets to SeeYou Cloud, Soaring Spot or Livetrack24, whichever you choose to use. Works great as long as your phone can see a cell tower.

I use Oudie Live as a backup to my PLB in case I am unable to operate it. You also need an extra battery to avoid depleting the phone battery.

XCSoar offers a similar facility.

[[email protected]]

On Tuesday, October 15, 2019 at 10:18:09 PM UTC-4, George Haeh wrote:
> Oudie Live is an app that Bluetooths to your Oudie and sends position data packets to SeeYou Cloud, Soaring Spot or Livetrack24, whichever you choose to use. Works great as long as your phone can see a cell tower.
>
> I use Oudie Live as a backup to my PLB in case I am unable to operate it. You also need an extra battery to avoid depleting the phone battery.
>
> XCSoar offers a similar facility.

The IGCdroid app (for Android phones) both generates a backup IGC flight log file and sends the logged data every couple of minutes to glideport.aero (where cellphone data service is available, which works well enough around here). This works for real-time tracking for fun and some S&R value. Almost free, runs independently of all other systems in the glider, and only uses about 1/4 of my phone's battery on a 5-hour flight. With that *and* a PLB I feel reasonably covered.