I’m really excited for this. I’ve considered getting a licator beacon for emergencies while hiking and camping, but didn’t want to pay a monthly subscription for something I wouldn’t use every month.
you can get an ePLB (emergency personal locator beacon) which has no subscription since it is an international coalition for rescue. don’t need to pay garmin or whatever for that b.s. and it uses special satellites to locate you so it’s very reliable. This is what ships and planes use to signal distress as well.
example: https://www.rei.com/product/156622/acr-electronics-rescueme-plb1-personal-locator-beacon
Oh nice, the only ones I’ve heard of before are the Garmin inreach and similar. Good to know about this.
It may be worth looking into Meshtastic, especially if you know other hikers. €50 will get you a portable node with long range, long battery life, GPS location, mesh routing and no subscription.
I got into ham about a year and a half ago. Super interesting, I just didn’t have the time because I was in a pretty intense school. I’d love to tinker with meshtastic, but is that a solution for hiking? Would you need to rely on a node being within range of you in order to convert your message into sms or something?
Its mesh, so yes. They do have an intense range, which looks to be 11km by default with LOS.
Probally makes more sense if you’re hiking with people that also have these on them at camp or the like. At roughly $50/each, its a pretty easy splurge for everyone if your group likes the woods.
More info here. It looks like Amazon does have the basic model for around $40, no case but pre-soldered.
That method of use would not replace what the garmin inreach does. I’m more looking for something to notify authorities of my location in the event of an emergency, rather than to communicate between hikers.
It’s not exactly the same no, but it could fill a similar role cheaply by giving you a way to communicate youre in trouble that also has your GPS when/if you have no cell service.
$50-100 to “kind of do a similar job” over and over vs $400 single use “really gets that shit done.” In an emergency the latter is preferable, but the former ain’t exactly bad either.
You’re looking for SARSAT. https://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/
You pay for your device and then register the serial number with the government.
Yeah that’s exactly what I’d want. Thanks for the link.
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I’ve been scanning for other meshtastic users for YEARS and never has anyone ever messaged me. I leave my Lilly tt-go plugging away full-time.
*Google’s messaging app
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If you follow proper safety precautions this shouldn’t be necessary. Go as a group and make sure at least one of you has wilderness first aid.
Of course that’s really only for places that are out of cell service and far away from any roads or towns.
it IS useful for when your car gets stuck on a trail road and you need to call a tow truck or something
And if I’m driving somewhere and vehicle breaks down or hit an animal. In a spot with no cell service.
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Not everyone can go as a group.
It makes no sense, no sense at all, telling people to be less cautious. My risk profile is pretty fucking high since I’m a mountaineer and all and while I don’t necessarily have a beacon on me at all times, I’ve never once discouraged anyone ever, at anytime, from having one on them. You only get one life.
The problem is it gives a false sense of security
