Zoleo Sat Com, more info

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norona

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how does that Zoleo compare with the Inreach and spot?


Used spot 2 years
Used inReach 7 years
Used Zoleo testing 2 months and then since release in January

Spot- new device is good however they will always suck due to globastar system of satellites, only 30 of them so lots of black out spots and reason for messages taking so long, would never own one, did not even give my unit away as I did not want someone relying on it

Inreach, the industry leader, iridium network over 80 satelittes which is why anyone who knows anything about sat phones says get it on the iridium network, no black out spots and messages send in under a minute, the draw back to inreach is expense, 500 for mini, 600 for explore plus and 899 for new one with garmin gps all in one. Also mapping and tracking now is free on apps like Gaia, Ski Track and a host of other ones using your phones gps and it does not need cell or wifi once turned on, you can bread crum, track, set way points all for free now, where as that is a big cost either in a higher monthly package or more cost with a lower monthly package on a pay per track or way point. I never tell a guy to sell their inreach to buy a zoleo as they already have a great unit.

Zoleo- made by road post , who owned the inreach before selling to garmin, so they sawy what people used an wanted, the zoleo is 269.00 retail plus taxes, most stores sell it for more since they make less than 10 points on it, since it comes out of the US, like inreach. It is on the iridium network so works the exact same as inreach, it does not do mapping or tracking, but again you can do that for free now. It does messaging the same as inreach however the zoleo has its own deticated number, the number on the inreach that sends messages out changes periodically, so if you send me a message this weekend, then i reply, all works well, but say your out the following weekend and i dont hear from you so use last weeks message to reply to you, it wont get to you as the number has changed, that is why with inreach you always have to message someone first. With the Zoleo you can give your number say to your work and while your away, if something bad happened and they need to get a hold of you they just send a message to the number and it goes to you. Also zoleo uses cell, wifi and sat, so if you send a message in cell range it goes out through cell, or your at a backcountry cabin with wifi it goes out that way, or if it detects neither it goes satellite, all seamless, so it saves you money, same when you come back to the car, and shut off the inreach or zoleo, the inreach wont take any more messages, the zoleo does since the messages will come in wifi or cell even if device is turned off. You can send check in message and sos from unit but everything else is done off your phone and unit has 200 hr battery life. Also if you have a zoleo and your partner at home has the free app downloaded then you can send 950 character messages so again long messaging saving you money, where as inreach would chop those long messages into 160 characters and each one cost money or a message in your plan.
Plans are very similar to inreach

25.00 to activate
choose 25 dollar month gives you 25 messages (inreach gives you no messges at this level so every message is a dollar)
choose 45 dollar a month is 250 messages similar to inreach
choose 70 dollars and it is unlimited

you can choose a different plan per month (you control that)
or put it on hold for 5 bucks a month (same as inreach)
or cancel anytime, but to reactivate from cancelling will cost the 25 activation again

Zoleo is hands down half the cost to buy, you get more for the same in packages and works the same as inreach with its own number, no brainer which is better
 

brian h

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I understand what your saying and you explained it all pretty good for everyone. the only thing i see with alot of this is the need to use your cell phone, at ast courses along with the brp one put on each year they emphasize that cell phones mess with beacons, unless distance away from beacon, with electronics working better with cell phones just push for more people to pack cell phone and yes i have seen it people put cell phone into pocket next to beacon. so imo that is a point that needs to be put out to the public more. why pack electronics to help with safety but your beacon may not do its job. yes i know alot of people have different views on distance to keep electronics away from beacons but i go by what is taught at ast and brp course. my inreach is in glove box of sled but a cell phone would not take the bouncing there so most will put in jacket pocket next to beacon
 

t300

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you can choose a different plan per month (you control that)
or put it on hold for 5 bucks a month (same as inreach)
or cancel anytime, but to reactivate from cancelling will cost the 25 activation again

Zoleo is hands down half the cost to buy, you get more for the same in packages and works the same as inreach with its own number, no brainer which is better

There is no activate fee with the inreach yet is there? Just the small monthly freeze charge, and limit to 6 freezes per year? I only use mine for 3 or 4 events a year, up to a week each. And I don’t get charged the month just for the days I use. So that would be a massive $ change with that usage.
 

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Does the Zoleo have its own wifi and cellular antennas?
 
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norona

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I understand what your saying and you explained it all pretty good for everyone. the only thing i see with alot of this is the need to use your cell phone, at ast courses along with the brp one put on each year they emphasize that cell phones mess with beacons, unless distance away from beacon, with electronics working better with cell phones just push for more people to pack cell phone and yes i have seen it people put cell phone into pocket next to beacon. so imo that is a point that needs to be put out to the public more. why pack electronics to help with safety but your beacon may not do its job. yes i know alot of people have different views on distance to keep electronics away from beacons but i go by what is taught at ast and brp course. my inreach is in glove box of sled but a cell phone would not take the bouncing there so most will put in jacket pocket next to beacon


Super easy to mitigate that, I keep my phone in my riser bag, and or glove box, in my toque, no issue or put in airplane mode as well. Also most including me when using an inreach blue tooth it to phone to send messages, if you just use the inreach to send out an okay message it is just from the device, same as zoleo, you do not need your phone to send an okay message and or an sos message, and with inreach mini, you do need a phone. What you are talking about is great and easy to chat to people about, it is great to bring up as well, same with goro cameras as well, it is just education. Remember road post who owned inreach and sold to garmin is the company behind Zoleo, so that is why it has all the same important things with inreach and what people mostly use.
 
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There is no activate fee with the inreach yet is there? Just the small monthly freeze charge, and limit to 6 freezes per year? I only use mine for 3 or 4 events a year, up to a week each. And I don’t get charged the month just for the days I use. So that would be a massive $ change with that usage.


Yes there is, like I said in another answer, roadpost who owned inreach before selling to garmin is the company that developed zoleo. Both have a 25.00 activation fee, you might not have paid it as during specials they offer it for free or have a 25.00 credit when purchase, and inreach is 25.00 a month but no free messages, every message you send is a buck, zoleo is 25.00 but you get 25.00 messages, the 45.00 is the same for both 250 messages and same with the 70 dollar plan which is unlimited for both. both have a 5 buck hold fee and your device is useless but all info is held, or you can cancel at anytime, with both if you cancel once you reactivate it is another 25.00
 
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norona

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Does the Zoleo have its own wifi and cellular antennas?


no if through cell it goes through your phone, which is covered by your phone, if wifi then it goes out through your phone via wifi, the big advantage to this seamless technology in the app means that when you get back to the truck most shut off their inreach, then once off you will never get messages until you turn it on again, with zoleo if you turn it off once you get into cell or wifi the messages will come in, even with zoleo off,
 
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