I participated in the Beta program for the original release of the InReach. Overall I found the device and service to be quite good, but the service is expensive for what we typically need in gliders. The rapid refresh available now is nice, but not really a necessity for typical use.

I consider typical use of SPOT for soaring to be turned on and tracking during flight. Probably an OK message being sent at the end of the flight. This will cost you $150/yr for SPOT.

If I recall correctly, the equivalent package for an InReach is $300/yr.

You get more capability with the InReach since you can connect it to an Android (maybe an IPhone too now, originally just Android) and both send and receive txt messages.

That capability combined with the faster tracking interval might be worth the extra cost to many people.

Size, cost and battery life, the nod goes to the SPOT 2. Capability, I'd give it to the InReach.

Morgan

On Thursday, September 6, 2012 10:56:27 AM UTC-7, Evan Ludeman wrote:
On Sep 6, 1:52*pm, JohnDeRosa wrote:

This looks like an interesting Delorme product that has Spot like features. *http://www.inreachdelorme.com/. *I assume it uses the same underlying (overflying) satellite system. *As I don't have a Spot, I cannot compare and contrast if the Delorme device is better/worse/same. *Anyone have one?



Are there other competitors to Spot?



- John



http://soaringcafe.com/?s=delorme