I am working on my nomad living . This was a fear for me . When you are in places you have never been before you need a safety net . As a insurance consultant I evaluate risk for people . To me the towing is a big deal . Being able to contact them is even a bigger deal . Your video is a wonderful help as are the comments . One of the viewers pointed out that the In reach could be connected to a cell phone for text messaging . But, for me the towing is a big deal. Thank You Roxy for a professional review and Bob thank you for all the things you do .
This series on Emergency Help was outstanding, and has been my greatest concern, as I have health issues that could rise up out of nowhere, and I would panic if I couldn’t reach anyone, so THANK YOU!! All the features these devices offer are great!
Terrific information, what a delightful person,I will be looking into one.. Thanks for providing those devices and having them tested for us Bob, I'm sure all your subscriber would Agee how grateful we are!
You all should consider getting your amateur (ham) radio license. It saved my but one when I broke down outside of cell coverage. A lot of small boat owners (the type that sail long trips at sea) use the service to stay in touch.
Such a noble gesture Bob! Thanks to you and Roxy for your efforts to make camping safer. That said, before you purchase a Spot and sign up, as Bob stated in the info, prices have increased. Also, please check the reviews on Amazon. There is a long string of people complaining about automatic renewals from this company with no notification, help not sent when stranded, etc. Just be extra cautious and know what you are getting into before investing your hard earned cash.
Something to consider before purchasing a Spot Gen3 ... the device requires a computer with a usb port and the capability of downloading and installing software to update the device’ firmware and to change settings. I have been preparing for a year to live and travel full time and had been considering reducing my electronics to a smart phone and tablet (in my case, an iPhone and iPad) and getting rid of my laptop. Without the laptop, the Spot Gen3 i had just purchased would have been useless. Testing I’ve done in the last few days seems to indicate it will meet my needs but this is a matter that i have not previously been aware of. I hope this helps.
Are there internet cafes across the country for updating maybe? Maybe libraries? That might be worth looking into. I like the antenna idea on Robyn's channel. Creativity rving? I'm new to all this and I'm raring to go. Forcing myself to prepare first. 😊
Nancy Fahey My experience is that computers at Internet cafes and libraries do not allow users to install software such as the software that would allow one to update the Spot Gen3. This is done to protect their computers against viruses and malware.
Bob and Roxy, Thank you so much for the info on the Spot Gen3! I often wondered about how you can rescue yourself in remote areas. I will absolutely keep that in mind now. Thank you very much!
Yes, Roxy was the best person to test these by far!! I follower her and have seen the video where she used the Spot. Thanks to both of you for this test and review, I will be deciding soon which one to buy! 👍🏼🌵✌🏼
Great real-life review. There are so many products and no easy way to compare all the advantages and disadvantages; this video was a great help. Thank you!
Love your videos. You've inspired me to make my own and take an adventure. Which was down the Colorado river from PARKER Arizona to Yuma Arizona. Filmed it all. Funny stuff. Even got 2 holes in my inflatable boat.
Something NOT in the video is that Spot and Inreach use different satellite networks. I had the opportunity to use both side by side for some time. I sent out many check in messages and found Spot didn't go through nearly half of the time. Inreach didn't miss a single message.
The ACR unit is an actual PLB - personal locator beacon. The Spot and Inreach are satellite messengers. They are NOT equivalent. The US Dept. of Agriculture tested Spot and found it to be effective when there was an unobstructed view of the sky, but the ability to get a message out was very spotty under tree cover. In some cases under tree cover, Spot messages failed more often than they succeeded. Sat messengers are low power devices (1.6 watt max), which explains their shortcomings relative to PLBs. Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) can transmit at 5 watts power, allowing them to punch thru poor conditions much better than sat messengers. PLBs have enough power to transmit directly to geostationary satellites, which orbit at 22,000 miles in space. Sat messengers can't do that. In the continental US, for example, there are two geostationary NOAA satellites overhead at all times, capable of picking up PLB distress signals very quickly - usually less than 5 minutes. Sat messengers access private satellite networks in low earth orbit, with a sat passing over every 90-100 minutes. So it's likely that your PLB distress signal will be picked up more quickly than a Spot/Garmin distress signal. Your PLB will also work globally, without any payment or subscription. Sat messengers only work if your subscription service is paid up. The one advantage of subscription sat messengers over PLBs is the ability to send two way, non-emergency messages to family and friends. That capability might be worth paying for, in very remote places where there's no hope of sending a text on your cell. But for a real life and death emergency in unknown conditions, when time counts, anywhere on Earth, PLBs are by far the best choice.
Bob this is a fantastic review. I have a InReach and I love it, I am 63 so family members worry about me so I can send them a simple text so they know I am OK. The inReach can pair with your iPhone for easy texting. If you break down you can always text a friend or a family member to call roadside assistance for you.
Over the hill and Over the mountain ...thanks for your input on this as I’m trying to decide which one to get. I’m 70 and travel and hike alone, so think I’ll get this one you mentioned! 👍🏼🌵✌🏼
Yes, Roxy and I texted back and forth in the middle of nowhere. But even if I call for roadside assistance for her, she still has to pay for it. But with the Spot service the roadside assistance is free of charge. Once you leave the paved road the cost of assistance is ENORMOUS! It can easily be thousands of dollars.
hikewithme I am like you I hike and travel alone. I pay A little over $13 per month. You get three preset text messages that is free. I have a preset message I send when I get to my campsite so everyone knows I am safe. I love my inReach.
Hi Bob what I am saying is if you break down you can always text a friend with the inReach and they can Google for A tow truck service for you. With that spot you still have to pay for a tow truck to come get you. If it is not an emergency you aluminate the drama and the middleman.
Someone mentioned getting both, since the Spot is so affordable...I think that is what I will do:). This video review and the comments here have helped me so much 👍🏼🌵✌🏼
Hi Bob, I am so glad I found your channel and subscribed recently. Can you thank Roxy for the info/reviews on the three devices. Thanks again from the UK
Great review. SPOT Gen3 is my choice also for last 4 years. I use the two (non-emergency) buttons that you can setup with text messages to your family/friends contacts when hiking alone in very remote areas off of established trails (Utah!). I let family know where my vehicle is at the TH start of a hike and then use the OK button to let them know I am back "ok"!. Anyhoo, that is my way of using the SPOT and I hope to never have to need the SOS feature.
You just brought me one step closer! Being stranded is a HUGE fear as I’m not physically able to hike for miles to get help. Now I know what to get! Thank you so much. I just may make it out of this horrible existence this year!!!!! God Bless you all!!! ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
Thanks Roxy and Bob. I benefited from this trial and chose a Spot Gen 3 for many of the same reasons as Roxy. I’ll be a Campground Host in the Santa Fe National Forest this summer and will not have cell signal at my camp, Rio de Las Vacas. My family really wants to know I’m safe, so the check in feature is what sold me on this one. They will get a daily report. I will have a radio to communicate with the Ranger station, so they can help me with any snarls that come up. Plus my family can communicate with them to get a message to me. I’ll be at camp for five days and then home for two, so I’ll see everyone. My husband will be looked after in our community; his illness keeps him from travel with me, plus he isn’t a camper. I’m going to do a YT channel so my husband and grandkids (and anyone else who is curious) can keep up with me, uploading when in cell phone range. But, like Roxy, I look forward to being away from technological distractions this summer.
200 a year and they tow you FREE from remote location?!I could cancel my pricey roadside assistance & get a tow in the outback if I need it. Very reassuring. Another great video.
Its gone up to $199 + $30 for roadside SOV. Still not bad, no need for any other roadside assistance - good up to 50-miles, even on dirt roads. There are more details on my blog. nomadfornature.wordpress.com.
Thank you, Roxie. Will check out your blog. I don't have AWD but I hike alone in the west in the remote outback. When I boon dock in my minivan tnis will provide great comfort.
Bob, I have been viewing your channel for several years and have enjoyed it very much. You have so much information available for anyone who wants to get out and explore our wonderful country, whether it's just for visits or to become a nomad. Thank you so much for all you have done. Although I'm not one to become a subscriber or to make casual comments I do have a question. I have been waiting a long time for someone else to ask this question but so far I have not seen it in the comments I have read. My question: How does a non-directional person, such as me, find their way back to their camp after leaving it for a hike, etc. Such as attending RTR, going to the classes, or the bonfire after dark and trying to find one's way back to camp? Could you use either of these 2 non-emergency devices with some kind of a locator beam on your rig? What would you or your readers recommend for the person that gets lost easily - like me. Thank you Bob and all your contributors. Pati in Olympia
Hello Patty, I know you posted this question five years ago but I did not see anyone respond. The first thing that popped into my mind was use your smart phone and Google maps and set a pin or set your rig Az home just as if you were driving and using Google maps to navigate, when you were ready to go back to your rig, you just navigate back to your rig by telling Google maps I want to go home or I wanna go back to my pin. It does have a walking mode as well instead of driving that’s just one thing that popped in my mind. Of course there’s other navigation programs like Waze and Apple Maps I know with Google maps you can download maps to use when you’re off-line and you cannot get a cell signal so in your case once you set up camp, assuming you have an Internet connection or before you leave home if you’re not gonna have an Internet connection when you’re in camp download maps of the area you’re going to be in and maybe all the adjacent areas then you can use the Google maps for navigation even if you don’t have a cell phone signal of course highly recommend the personal locator beacons as a means of rescue as talked about in this video their invaluable if you’re really needing help, your life could depend on one of them.
Thanks. That was great! Now I don't know which one I want? According to David Paulidies, nobody's ever gone missing in a national forest who had a personal locator beacon and a gun with them. Cool stuff!
NEVER under estimate the ability to get roadside assistance outside of the safety of self...having been broke down in the middle of nowhere ....with an issue that was so out of nowhere.....being able to get that help is a WONDERFUL thing. Nothing makes you feel so helpless and vunerable is when your broke down or stuck like that and NOT having a go to...or finding out the hard way how a usual simple call can turn into a nightmare fast. Spot sounds good to me
I don't know about that...the few times I have broke down I always walked to a place where I could phone or obtain what I needed...this concept is quite foreign to me as a man in his 50's.
jaim haas I've drive across country a few times a year..far east to far west and back ...I've taken the three different ways you can go depending on what season you do it in. I know the vehicle I'm driving before I go on those trips...o have maintenance done on them for those trips. I can work minimumly on the cars myself if I have to. One time was a close call...easy peesy like you said..before cell phones..just made a hike. The other time with a cell phone....supposed to be a quick call and maybe an hour wait turned into straight up stupid...in a off beat area...couldn't fix it myself and needed the help....and just STUCK over night and nowhere quick to just walk to ....not great. I like to be prepared and I don't like leaving myself exposed like that....but there I sat....when I could have maybe just hit a button
Good story Christina...the cost of any of these devices seems to be out of reach for most nomads. I guess if some people are real extreme backpackers the insurance is worth it.
jaim haas ...true to a degree. I am a big believer if your planning on doing stuff like that and are getting prepared to go on the road...if you are an "explorer" off the beaten path...than this is a great deal and might want to put as much as importance in your budget like you do with gas...if not...stay off the beaten path unless you have back up with you...but I learned even having four credit cards with me for emergencies was no good if we had no way of contact
jaim haas ..lolol...ever just tried to swipe a card on a rock and ask if it could just get someone to you....lololol....not good for me to be left out like that again. Lots of aphipanies hitting me left and right...and all I could talk to was rocks a d trees about it...bushes...my car
Thanks for all the reviews of the devices and I too would like this spot so that’ll be the first thing I’ll buy and it will make me feel safer thank you
My understanding is the InReach monthly subscription can be turned off or on at will. For a full time nomad it is more expensive to keep it on year round. For folks who only need the device on a temporary basis and don't full time on the road they turn off the monthly subscription.
Great info! I'm very uncomfortable when we are places where there isn't cell service. The In Reach is pretty pricey but would be nice to have. The spot seems more affordable. Thank you for sharing the info. I will definitely be looking into these.
Hello Bob hello Roxy I'm I am living in my Ford Expedition and thanks see you guys is videos I've been able to make it a lot easier and simpler hopefully one of these times I can come and meet you guys in person
The spot is only for one way communication and the inReach is two way . If you want to be able to revive a emergency message from some one you want a inReach . Monthly cost is about the same for minimum use
Really good information. The ACR sounds nice since it's a buy once, good for years type of device. I can see it being a life saver if you break a leg or have a heart attack in an area without cell signal.
Not all heart attacks instantly kill you. My father had 2, my brother 3. For the third one he had the attack while working on the east coast, flew home to the midwest and went to the hospital. The issue is often your heart is going through a damaging event and you want get to medical help soon so the issue can be resolved to limit further damage. Waiting around for an hour or two for help to arrive isn't ideal, but may be better than trying to self rescue and adding stress to your body. Oh, and on a personal note my own heart "thing" is atrial tachycardia. If that went crazy and my heart went to 150+ sitting I wouldn't die right away. Even if I went into afib it wouldn't kill me over a few hours. But I wouldn't want to have to deal with driving a big RV a couple hours over rough road in the middle of the night to get help in that condition. Heart issues aren't an all or nothing thing.
Yeah I understand what you are talking about...as a lifeguard my training in CPR is every month and I will stand by my original statement that none of these devices will help u much...probably keeping baby aspirin on you at all times is the best insurance for the money. Take care.
Yeah, which could probably be a useful vid for Bob to do at some time: What to keep in your van/RV medicine cabinet. Getting many useful meds in the US can be a pain with the prescription system, but I wonder if it'd be easy to pick up a small spray bottle of nitro and other useful things on a quick day trip to Mexico.
Personally, I like the InReach ... but instead of buying a policy to cover possible towing expenses ... Just go ahead and buy the Spot as well. If one craps out, you still have a back-up.
Hi Bob! Keeping the ACR is a smart move - it's the best one to bet on for a true emergency situation (they are even standard equipment on offshore boats).
For a true emergency what matters is transmit power, battery life, robustness (ie: waterproofing), antenna design and satellite coverage (they use different satellite constellations). When sar is looking for you you are normally not supposed to be moving so tracking is not a priority feature. That said, we used an inreach to track our sar hasty team while assembling a secondary response and it was great. The acr and the inreach are really serving two different purposes.
One fear -- while following logging roads, etc., through the woods, I would have absolutely no idea how to tell someone how to find me if I had van trouble. Do these things have a good GPS that can vector help ?
I broke down in a remote area-no cell service. I went to my Sat phone and waited 30 minutes for AAA while the Sat minutes added up on hold. Ended up calling someone on the other side of the continent to look up a local to where I was float company (large vehicle). Further to your mention of the Spot device. I contacted them with questions about vehicle limitations such as size and type. They could not answer anything and referred me to a 3rd party: Nation Safe Roadside Assistance. Called the 800 number Spot gave me....couldn't be reached from Canada. That makes me itchy. Did some lookup on this company and my gut feeling is to trust the generic Iridium Sat phone...Yes-a bit more expensive but more of a do-all tool. To each his own I suppose.
No knowledge about the PLB. I've owned the Gen1 & Gen2 Spots as well as the InReach SE (one step down from the Exployer). I even had to press the SOS button on the Spot Gen2 (it worked; cavalry & helicopter arrived in NZ; never knew if the person lived or not; not in our party). I have these devices for hiker-centric activities rather than car-centric activities. With the Spots I owned, I never knew if the signal went out or not. On one of my long hikes (2000+ miles), the batteries got weak but did not indicate it. I thought I was sending OK and This is my camp messages. But it wasn't. This could be a problem if you REALLY needed the signal to go out & it didn't. I know when the signal goes out with the InReach. Or doesn't. And the satellites coverage seems to be much better than the Spot. The 2-way messaging with InReach is a game changer. Not all emergencies are created equal. Broken ankle is not as serious as doing CPR on someone. You can communicate to the rescuers so they know what type of response to make. The only downside to the InReach over the Spot is the cost and the weight.
Bob,thanks for your continuous helpful advice. I must confess,the little box on the passenger side door made me curious. Was that a sort of Solar Light ??
I hope Bob wrote these all off as a business expense....sort of funny to see him so quiet...But I am glad he delegated this to a woman...no real man would ever call roadside assistance.
No mentioning of the network technology/ reliability as that's very important! PLBs use the same network as maritime and aviation services and are designed to be reliable. SPOT in particular requires clear view of the sky and there are plenty of documented cases where the SOS signal did not penetrate. Even the inreach can struggle if you're just under a tree!
Our spending habits are so very different I can’t speak for anyone else. But, I can say I know many people who live on much less, so there is no doubt it can be done.
My Gen 1 SPOT still serves me well. Go with a device that can track your position. Points will pile up at your position should you become disabled and fail to check in. Having to push a button to summon help can be problematic in an emergency. The weak point regarding all three is the rescue infrastructure in place where the need for help in required.
The SPOT has a tracking feature which you can set to automatically send out an SOS if you don't move for a specified number of hours. Check the SPOT web page to learn more about it, all this stuff is too complext to explain in detail. Good luck.
I like the security of having the PLB and I loan the InReach out to people to play with. I have a friend taking it this year to the Arctic Ocean in Canada.
Some of the reviews on Amazon of the first device gave real life experiences. Some of the real life accounts did not sound as if they were life and death.There was no explanation as to whether or not charges were made and or fines.
Bob , how did Roxy test the first device. I assume she didn't have a true emergency. Did she get a bill and a fine. I'm not being a smart arse, just curious.
LOL - NO, I didn't actually test it. I was hoping I'd get a chance to at least take it on a wild boat ride, but the opportunity didn't arise. :-) There is a way to test the ACR, without activating it though, it can be tested a number of times during its battery life. There is a specific time of day one has to test it though. Information is on the ACR Site I believe.
+cheapRVliving Can I suggest a playlist for product reviews? I know you have various items out there being tested by friends. I'd love to find all the videos of those reviews... more easily?
...Well HEY there Roxy ( you Too Bob :-D ) Thanks for this Info Very Helpful .and it seem i also have the Extreme Pleasure of being YOUR 795 subscriber Roxy. ...Hope to meet you Both (Some-Time in the Soon to Be ) Ya'll take Care Now ...Peace'n may God Bless. ...
Spot now makes you pay for the most expensive plan 180 for the most basic basic plan with no insurance where you got to pay for the helicopters come get you and they have like a service charge another 30 bucks for a service charge what the hell is that oh yeah and then there's an activation fee so bend over here it comes
I am working on my nomad living . This was a fear for me . When you are in places you have never been before you need a safety net . As a insurance consultant I evaluate risk for people . To me the towing is a big deal . Being able to contact them is even a bigger deal . Your video is a wonderful help as are the comments . One of the viewers pointed out that the In reach could be connected to a cell phone for text messaging . But, for me the towing is a big deal. Thank You Roxy for a professional review and Bob thank you for all the things you do .
This series on Emergency Help was outstanding, and has been my greatest concern, as I have health issues that could rise up out of nowhere, and I would panic if I couldn’t reach anyone, so THANK YOU!! All the features these devices offer are great!
Terrific information, what a delightful person,I will be looking into one.. Thanks for providing those devices and having them tested for us Bob, I'm sure all your subscriber would Agee how grateful we are!
Cody running around in the background exploring
You two deserve each other
Lucky for both of you!
Soooo peaceful
You all should consider getting your amateur (ham) radio license. It saved my but one when I broke down outside of cell coverage. A lot of small boat owners (the type that sail long trips at sea) use the service to stay in touch.
Such a noble gesture Bob! Thanks to you and Roxy for your efforts to make camping safer. That said, before you purchase a Spot and sign up, as Bob stated in the info, prices have increased. Also, please check the reviews on Amazon. There is a long string of people complaining about automatic renewals from this company with no notification, help not sent when stranded, etc. Just be extra cautious and know what you are getting into before investing your hard earned cash.
Something to consider before purchasing a Spot Gen3 ... the device requires a computer with a usb port and the capability of downloading and installing software to update the device’ firmware and to change settings. I have been preparing for a year to live and travel full time and had been considering reducing my electronics to a smart phone and tablet (in my case, an iPhone and iPad) and getting rid of my laptop. Without the laptop, the Spot Gen3 i had just purchased would have been useless. Testing I’ve done in the last few days seems to indicate it will meet my needs but this is a matter that i have not previously been aware of. I hope this helps.
Are there internet cafes across the country for updating maybe? Maybe libraries? That might be worth looking into. I like the antenna idea on Robyn's channel. Creativity rving? I'm new to all this and I'm raring to go. Forcing myself to prepare first. 😊
Nancy Fahey My experience is that computers at Internet cafes and libraries do not allow users to install software such as the software that would allow one to update the Spot Gen3. This is done to protect their computers against viruses and malware.
Bob and Roxy,
Thank you so much for the info on the Spot Gen3! I often wondered about how you can rescue yourself in remote areas. I will absolutely keep that in mind now. Thank you very much!
Yes, Roxy was the best person to test these by far!! I follower her and have seen the video where she used the Spot. Thanks to both of you for this test and review, I will be deciding soon which one to buy! 👍🏼🌵✌🏼
Great real-life review. There are so many products and no easy way to compare all the advantages and disadvantages; this video was a great help. Thank you!
Love your videos. You've inspired me to make my own and take an adventure. Which was down the Colorado river from PARKER Arizona to Yuma Arizona. Filmed it all. Funny stuff. Even got 2 holes in my inflatable boat.
Never gave any thought to something like this, before - Thank you for the field test and review! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Something NOT in the video is that Spot and Inreach use different satellite networks. I had the opportunity to use both side by side for some time. I sent out many check in messages and found Spot didn't go through nearly half of the time. Inreach didn't miss a single message.
KeithDishong My SPOT rarely fails to get through after years of use and hundreds of messsges.
My Inreach has NEVER missed a single message.
Thank you for this information
Great video. Thanks Bob and Roxy. And Bob, I'd love to take that InReach off your hands for you. I could really use it :)
The ACR unit is an actual PLB - personal locator beacon. The Spot and Inreach are satellite messengers. They are NOT equivalent. The US Dept. of Agriculture tested Spot and found it to be effective when there was an unobstructed view of the sky, but the ability to get a message out was very spotty under tree cover. In some cases under tree cover, Spot messages failed more often than they succeeded. Sat messengers are low power devices (1.6 watt max), which explains their shortcomings relative to PLBs. Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) can transmit at 5 watts power, allowing them to punch thru poor conditions much better than sat messengers. PLBs have enough power to transmit directly to geostationary satellites, which orbit at 22,000 miles in space. Sat messengers can't do that. In the continental US, for example, there are two geostationary NOAA satellites overhead at all times, capable of picking up PLB distress signals very quickly - usually less than 5 minutes. Sat messengers access private satellite networks in low earth orbit, with a sat passing over every 90-100 minutes. So it's likely that your PLB distress signal will be picked up more quickly than a Spot/Garmin distress signal. Your PLB will also work globally, without any payment or subscription. Sat messengers only work if your subscription service is paid up. The one advantage of subscription sat messengers over PLBs is the ability to send two way, non-emergency messages to family and friends. That capability might be worth paying for, in very remote places where there's no hope of sending a text on your cell. But for a real life and death emergency in unknown conditions, when time counts, anywhere on Earth, PLBs are by far the best choice.
Bob this is a fantastic review. I have a InReach and I love it, I am 63 so family members worry about me so I can send them a simple text so they know I am OK. The inReach can pair with your iPhone for easy texting. If you break down you can always text a friend or a family member to call roadside assistance for you.
Over the hill and Over the mountain ...thanks for your input on this as I’m trying to decide which one to get. I’m 70 and travel and hike alone, so think I’ll get this one you mentioned! 👍🏼🌵✌🏼
Yes, Roxy and I texted back and forth in the middle of nowhere. But even if I call for roadside assistance for her, she still has to pay for it. But with the Spot service the roadside assistance is free of charge. Once you leave the paved road the cost of assistance is ENORMOUS! It can easily be thousands of dollars.
hikewithme I am like you I hike and travel alone. I pay A little over $13 per month. You get three preset text messages that is free. I have a preset message I send when I get to my campsite so everyone knows I am safe. I love my inReach.
Hi Bob what I am saying is if you break down you can always text a friend with the inReach and they can Google for A tow truck service for you. With that spot you still have to pay for a tow truck to come get you. If it is not an emergency you aluminate the drama and the middleman.
Someone mentioned getting both, since the Spot is so affordable...I think that is what I will do:). This video review and the comments here have helped me so much 👍🏼🌵✌🏼
Valuable information. Thanks to you and to Roxy for the year of field testing and this summary/review.
Brilliant video Bob and Roxy, thank you x
Hi Bob, I am so glad I found your channel and subscribed recently. Can you thank Roxy for the info/reviews on the three devices.
Thanks again from the UK
You're welcome, I hope it helps.
That was such an excellent video. Thank you for having those tested by Roxy. That is such good information.
Great review. SPOT Gen3 is my choice also for last 4 years. I use the two (non-emergency) buttons that you can setup with text messages to your family/friends contacts when hiking alone in very remote areas off of established trails (Utah!). I let family know where my vehicle is at the TH start of a hike and then use the OK button to let them know I am back "ok"!. Anyhoo, that is my way of using the SPOT and I hope to never have to need the SOS feature.
You just brought me one step closer! Being stranded is a HUGE fear as I’m not physically able to hike for miles to get help. Now I know what to get! Thank you so much. I just may make it out of this horrible existence this year!!!!! God Bless you all!!! ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
Lisa Booker Ditto for me! Hope to meet ya living life!
Good luck Lisa Booker!
Thank you Bob and Roxi!!! I think I’m gonna get a spot too
Thank you so much, great public service video. I like the one Roxy chose because of the towing.
I have been waiting for this review! Thank you Bob and Roxy, very helpful info! I agree the adopt sounds the best!
Thanks Roxy and Bob. I benefited from this trial and chose a Spot Gen 3 for many of the same reasons as Roxy. I’ll be a Campground Host in the Santa Fe National Forest this summer and will not have cell signal at my camp, Rio de Las Vacas. My family really wants to know I’m safe, so the check in feature is what sold me on this one. They will get a daily report. I will have a radio to communicate with the Ranger station, so they can help me with any snarls that come up. Plus my family can communicate with them to get a message to me. I’ll be at camp for five days and then home for two, so I’ll see everyone. My husband will be looked after in our community; his illness keeps him from travel with me, plus he isn’t a camper. I’m going to do a YT channel so my husband and grandkids (and anyone else who is curious) can keep up with me, uploading when in cell phone range. But, like Roxy, I look forward to being away from technological distractions this summer.
Yes Kathi I would be interested...I will be visiting friends in NM this summer and I am curious about that area....what is your channel?
jaim haas My channel will hopefully be up mid-May under my name.
HAM radio is what I invested in...however the Spot sounds very helpful.
Can you carry your ham radio in your pocket & operate from the bottom of a gully ...
Priceless review!👍 THANK YOU, Bob & Roxy!☺
Thank you Bob and Roxy! Good info! I need one!
200 a year and they tow you FREE from remote location?!I could cancel my pricey roadside assistance & get a tow in the outback if I need it. Very reassuring. Another great video.
Its gone up to $199 + $30 for roadside SOV. Still not bad, no need for any other roadside assistance - good up to 50-miles, even on dirt roads. There are more details on my blog. nomadfornature.wordpress.com.
Thank you, Roxie. Will check out your blog. I don't have AWD but I hike alone in the west in the remote outback. When I boon dock in my minivan tnis will provide great comfort.
Great information. Thank you for sharing and demonstrating the different devices. What is the small box on the passenger door of her van?
Thanks Ms. Roxy and Bob. . . great reviews! I've looked forward to this :)) Keep safe!
I love your videos Bob. Thanks for inspiring me to become a full time RVer.
Bob,
I have been viewing your channel for several years and have enjoyed it very much. You have so much information available for anyone who wants to get out and explore our wonderful country, whether it's just for visits or to become a nomad. Thank you so much for all you have done. Although I'm not one to become a subscriber or to make casual comments I do have a question. I have been waiting a long time for someone else to ask this question but so far I have not seen it in the comments I have read.
My question: How does a non-directional person, such as me, find their way back to their camp after leaving it for a hike, etc. Such as attending RTR, going to the classes, or the bonfire after dark and trying to find one's way back to camp? Could you use either of these 2 non-emergency devices with some kind of a locator beam on your rig? What would you or your readers recommend for the person that gets lost easily - like me.
Thank you Bob and all your contributors.
Pati in Olympia
Hello Patty, I know you posted this question five years ago but I did not see anyone respond. The first thing that popped into my mind was use your smart phone and Google maps and set a pin or set your rig Az home just as if you were driving and using Google maps to navigate, when you were ready to go back to your rig, you just navigate back to your rig by telling Google maps I want to go home or I wanna go back to my pin. It does have a walking mode as well instead of driving that’s just one thing that popped in my mind. Of course there’s other navigation programs like Waze and Apple Maps I know with Google maps you can download maps to use when you’re off-line and you cannot get a cell signal so in your case once you set up camp, assuming you have an Internet connection or before you leave home if you’re not gonna have an Internet connection when you’re in camp download maps of the area you’re going to be in and maybe all the adjacent areas then you can use the Google maps for navigation even if you don’t have a cell phone signal of course highly recommend the personal locator beacons as a means of rescue as talked about in this video their invaluable if you’re really needing help, your life could depend on one of them.
Thanks Bob and Roxy.
Blessings🌞
Thanks. That was great! Now I don't know which one I want? According to David Paulidies, nobody's ever gone missing in a national forest who had a personal locator beacon and a gun with them. Cool stuff!
Exactly right. The USDA tested Spot when it came out, and it failed more than it succeeded under tree canopy. PLBs should not have that problem.
Great long-term comparison, well done
Great video! I’m really looking forward to your series of informational videos. ❤️
NEVER under estimate the ability to get roadside assistance outside of the safety of self...having been broke down in the middle of nowhere ....with an issue that was so out of nowhere.....being able to get that help is a WONDERFUL thing. Nothing makes you feel so helpless and vunerable is when your broke down or stuck like that and NOT having a go to...or finding out the hard way how a usual simple call can turn into a nightmare fast. Spot sounds good to me
I don't know about that...the few times I have broke down I always walked to a place where I could phone or obtain what I needed...this concept is quite foreign to me as a man in his 50's.
jaim haas I've drive across country a few times a year..far east to far west and back ...I've taken the three different ways you can go depending on what season you do it in. I know the vehicle I'm driving before I go on those trips...o have maintenance done on them for those trips. I can work minimumly on the cars myself if I have to. One time was a close call...easy peesy like you said..before cell phones..just made a hike. The other time with a cell phone....supposed to be a quick call and maybe an hour wait turned into straight up stupid...in a off beat area...couldn't fix it myself and needed the help....and just STUCK over night and nowhere quick to just walk to ....not great. I like to be prepared and I don't like leaving myself exposed like that....but there I sat....when I could have maybe just hit a button
Good story Christina...the cost of any of these devices seems to be out of reach for most nomads. I guess if some people are real extreme backpackers the insurance is worth it.
jaim haas ...true to a degree. I am a big believer if your planning on doing stuff like that and are getting prepared to go on the road...if you are an "explorer" off the beaten path...than this is a great deal and might want to put as much as importance in your budget like you do with gas...if not...stay off the beaten path unless you have back up with you...but I learned even having four credit cards with me for emergencies was no good if we had no way of contact
jaim haas ..lolol...ever just tried to swipe a card on a rock and ask if it could just get someone to you....lololol....not good for me to be left out like that again. Lots of aphipanies hitting me left and right...and all I could talk to was rocks a d trees about it...bushes...my car
Thanks for all the reviews of the devices and I too would like this spot so that’ll be the first thing I’ll buy and it will make me feel safer thank you
Great information! Thanks for sharing.
My understanding is the InReach monthly subscription can be turned off or on at will. For a full time nomad it is more expensive to keep it on year round.
For folks who only need the device on a temporary basis and don't full time on the road they turn off the monthly subscription.
Jeff Wrinkle they have many subscription options. If you go with a bare bones monthly plan it's less expensive than Spot.
Thank you guys very informative as always, the sov option sold me too.
I love technology has been improved in such a way to help lives. It is great gadget to have, thanks for showing that.god bless you.
Excellent video! Thanks Roxy & Bob!!:)
Great video! Thanks for the info guys
Great info! I'm very uncomfortable when we are places where there isn't cell service. The In Reach is pretty pricey but would be nice to have. The spot seems more affordable. Thank you for sharing the info. I will definitely be looking into these.
The Donner party could have used any of these. So sad.
Great work, thanks Bob, thanks Roxy!
Hello Bob hello Roxy I'm I am living in my Ford Expedition and thanks see you guys is videos I've been able to make it a lot easier and simpler hopefully one of these times I can come and meet you guys in person
Very informative thanks for sharing
As always, a big THANK YOU!!!
The spot is only for one way communication and the inReach is two way . If you want to be able to revive a emergency message from some one you want a inReach .
Monthly cost is about the same for minimum use
Great review thank you for taking the time to research this so thoroughly.
Very Interesting. Thank you. I had no Idea there was such a thing.
Really good information. The ACR sounds nice since it's a buy once, good for years type of device. I can see it being a life saver if you break a leg or have a heart attack in an area without cell signal.
Mark a heart attack victim will not be helped by any of these...minutes are all u have.
Not all heart attacks instantly kill you. My father had 2, my brother 3. For the third one he had the attack while working on the east coast, flew home to the midwest and went to the hospital. The issue is often your heart is going through a damaging event and you want get to medical help soon so the issue can be resolved to limit further damage. Waiting around for an hour or two for help to arrive isn't ideal, but may be better than trying to self rescue and adding stress to your body.
Oh, and on a personal note my own heart "thing" is atrial tachycardia. If that went crazy and my heart went to 150+ sitting I wouldn't die right away. Even if I went into afib it wouldn't kill me over a few hours. But I wouldn't want to have to deal with driving a big RV a couple hours over rough road in the middle of the night to get help in that condition.
Heart issues aren't an all or nothing thing.
Yeah I understand what you are talking about...as a lifeguard my training in CPR is every month and I will stand by my original statement that none of these devices will help u much...probably keeping baby aspirin on you at all times is the best insurance for the money. Take care.
Yeah, which could probably be a useful vid for Bob to do at some time: What to keep in your van/RV medicine cabinet. Getting many useful meds in the US can be a pain with the prescription system, but I wonder if it'd be easy to pick up a small spray bottle of nitro and other useful things on a quick day trip to Mexico.
I may have to check into the inReach, that sounds exactly like what I have been looking for.
Personally, I like the InReach ... but instead of buying a policy to cover possible towing expenses ... Just go ahead and buy the Spot as well. If one craps out, you still have a back-up.
Arthur Leslie ...this is very good advice, thanks, I may do this 👍🏼🌵✌🏼
Arthur Leslie love you icon
Thanks for sharing
Thank You Both for the info!
Hi Bob! Keeping the ACR is a smart move - it's the best one to bet on for a true emergency situation (they are even standard equipment on offshore boats).
You want tracking, pressing a button can prove problematic.
For a true emergency what matters is transmit power, battery life, robustness (ie: waterproofing), antenna design and satellite coverage (they use different satellite constellations). When sar is looking for you you are normally not supposed to be moving so tracking is not a priority feature. That said, we used an inreach to track our sar hasty team while assembling a secondary response and it was great. The acr and the inreach are really serving two different purposes.
Yes, the technology in the ACR is far better.
Thanks so much for this video. Very helpful! Now I’m getting both the ACR and the Spot (edit changed my mind on InReach)
Everyone should have one
Great interview with great info Thanks Went to Roxy channel... awesome photography She captures the spirit of nature
Very helpful, Bob.
Roxy is Amazing
Thanks!
Great information!
One fear -- while following logging roads, etc., through the woods, I would have absolutely no idea how to tell someone how to find me if I had van trouble. Do these things have a good GPS that can vector help ?
Yes, that’s the primary reason they exist, to tell authorities you need help and where you are.
I broke down in a remote area-no cell service. I went to my Sat phone and waited 30 minutes for AAA while the Sat minutes added up on hold. Ended up calling someone on the other side of the continent to look up a local to where I was float company (large vehicle). Further to your mention of the Spot device. I contacted them with questions about vehicle limitations such as size and type. They could not answer anything and referred me to a 3rd party: Nation Safe Roadside Assistance. Called the 800 number Spot gave me....couldn't be reached from Canada. That makes me itchy. Did some lookup on this company and my gut feeling is to trust the generic Iridium Sat phone...Yes-a bit more expensive but more of a do-all tool. To each his own I suppose.
Hi BOB where did you get that awesome chair your sitting in? I been looking for something like that forever
Love your videos
No knowledge about the PLB. I've owned the Gen1 & Gen2 Spots as well as the InReach SE (one step down from the Exployer). I even had to press the SOS button on the Spot Gen2 (it worked; cavalry & helicopter arrived in NZ; never knew if the person lived or not; not in our party). I have these devices for hiker-centric activities rather than car-centric activities. With the Spots I owned, I never knew if the signal went out or not. On one of my long hikes (2000+ miles), the batteries got weak but did not indicate it. I thought I was sending OK and This is my camp messages. But it wasn't. This could be a problem if you REALLY needed the signal to go out & it didn't. I know when the signal goes out with the InReach. Or doesn't. And the satellites coverage seems to be much better than the Spot. The 2-way messaging with InReach is a game changer. Not all emergencies are created equal. Broken ankle is not as serious as doing CPR on someone. You can communicate to the rescuers so they know what type of response to make. The only downside to the InReach over the Spot is the cost and the weight.
Thank you for this great review.
Does the spot have a restriction on vehicle size? Class A or Bus?
www.findmespot.com/en/
InReach was bought out by Garmin, has new models out now, and subcriptions the run 350-450$ they also have a sat phone about 500$
SPOT3 contract is now $200/yr plus $30 if you want towing.
Garmin Inreach is $144/yr or $15/month that you can turn on/off at will.
PS: Thanks for the reviews, I do some solo hiking and had vague thoughts of a SAT phone, this should be a more fitting alternative. :-)
PLB is $0 per year.
Bob,thanks for your continuous helpful advice. I must confess,the little box on the passenger side door made me curious. Was that a sort of Solar Light ??
It’s a motion activated security light.
I like the spot but I also liked the Reach. Though it's too expensive for me.
Thanks, and I really like the spot it sounds like a very good deal to me
Nice review
Lord Bless you and all u people living that life looks very exciting
good info to know. although, for roadside, I have AAA .. totally worth it in my opinion-
Nivasi
I had no idea that AAA would go off road, and tow out a RV. I worked for them; are you sure? Is RV coverage an extra charge?
Not sure about RV, but I used AAA for my huge food truck a few years ago. I am a Plus member.
Really great info, thanks!
Surprising that you can't add the SOV as an ADD ON for the InReach
I hope Bob wrote these all off as a business expense....sort of funny to see him so quiet...But I am glad he delegated this to a woman...no real man would ever call roadside assistance.
I like the inReach the best.
So did she, but the off-road service was the deciding factor.
No mentioning of the network technology/ reliability as that's very important!
PLBs use the same network as maritime and aviation services and are designed to be reliable.
SPOT in particular requires clear view of the sky and there are plenty of documented cases where the SOS signal did not penetrate.
Even the inreach can struggle if you're just under a tree!
Great info.
Sorry hit the wrong button lol. But I should be able to live well on 968$ a month. What do you think?
Our spending habits are so very different I can’t speak for anyone else. But, I can say I know many people who live on much less, so there is no doubt it can be done.
My Gen 1 SPOT still serves me well.
Go with a device that can track your position. Points will pile up at your position should you become disabled and fail to check in. Having to push a button to summon help can be problematic in an emergency.
The weak point regarding all three is the rescue infrastructure in place where the need for help in required.
The SPOT has a tracking feature which you can set to automatically send out an SOS if you don't move for a specified number of hours. Check the SPOT web page to learn more about it, all this stuff is too complext to explain in detail. Good luck.
A Nomad for Nature ....thanks Roxy!
What is the object on her front passenger door?
Jann Webb solar light
Bob, you should have a contest to give away the one you don't want. :-)
I like the security of having the PLB and I loan the InReach out to people to play with. I have a friend taking it this year to the Arctic Ocean in Canada.
Some of the reviews on Amazon of the first device gave real life experiences. Some of the real life accounts did not sound as if they were life and death.There was no explanation as to whether or not charges were made and or fines.
Thumbs up.
Bob , how did Roxy test the first device. I assume she didn't have a true emergency. Did she get a bill and a fine. I'm not being a smart arse, just curious.
LOL - NO, I didn't actually test it. I was hoping I'd get a chance to at least take it on a wild boat ride, but the opportunity didn't arise. :-) There is a way to test the ACR, without activating it though, it can be tested a number of times during its battery life. There is a specific time of day one has to test it though. Information is on the ACR Site I believe.
Thank you.
A button push on the ACR unit will confirm that it is communicating with the satellite network.
I'm curious of what the black box on her passenger door
Bob Outdoorz it’s a motion activated light
Thanks .. I would have never guessed that..
I've done a video on it on my YOuTUbe Channel, it comes out some time in May, 2018
👍
Thousands to get towed ? What are you driving a tractor trailer ?. Lol.
Carolyn has probably gotten Bob stranded in some of those locations lol.
Maybe it's more where you have to be towed out of than what you are having towed......
She was 40 miles down a dirt road. That’s what it would have cost for someone to come out to you there.
+cheapRVliving Can I suggest a playlist for product reviews? I know you have various items out there being tested by friends. I'd love to find all the videos of those reviews... more easily?
That 30 bucks is cheap compared to AAA. And AAA only tows free for a maximum 3 miles.
👍 Like 🚂
...Well HEY there Roxy ( you Too Bob :-D ) Thanks for this Info Very Helpful .and it seem i also have the Extreme Pleasure of being YOUR 795 subscriber Roxy.
...Hope to meet you Both (Some-Time in the Soon to Be ) Ya'll take Care Now
...Peace'n may God Bless. ...
Spot now makes you pay for the most expensive plan 180 for the most basic basic plan with no insurance where you got to pay for the helicopters come get you and they have like a service charge another 30 bucks for a service charge what the hell is that oh yeah and then there's an activation fee so bend over here it comes