On Friday, December 16, 2016 at 5:55:29 PM UTC-8, wrote:
I have been using SPOT for a number of years, and have found it spotty, frequently missing large gaps.

Considering going to inReach, and wondering the merits of Explorer vs SE, and what tracking intervals people are using with the newer devices.

Also, wondering about the number of missed hits with the inReach devices compared to Spot.


Thanks,

Kevin
92

Spot and inReach don't just work on different satellite constellations, they use a different messaging protocol. On Spot, messages are sent in the blind with some redundancy - but if it doesn't get to the satellite, the message is lost: t is one way communication. inReach sends a message (to the more reliable Iridium constellation) and then waits for confirmation back from the satellite. If it doesn't get confirmation it continues to send that message until confirmation is received. Perhaps not 100%, but far more reliable than sending in the blind. I have used mine in the glider and on the boat, all over the US, Canada, and out to the Exhumas, I don't think I have ever seen a dropped message.

There is a big difference in subscription cost going to shorter than 10 minute tracking intervals. Battery life isn't an issue on a glider flight, but messaging cost might be. I have the SE, as far as I can tell the Explorer offers some advantages if you are going to use it as a stand alone mapping device (hiking for example), but for messaging (including emergency use) it appears to offer nothing additional.