AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2017 - 81

Choosing the right device comes down to
three basic factors-cost, coverage, and
features.
Emergency locator transmitters are
one part of the post-accident puzzle.
These devices are designed to automatically activate in crashes that experience a
strong enough impact force. If it's an older
unit and broadcasting on 121.5 MHz, hopefully someone will be monitoring and call
in the approximate location. With newer
406-MHz units, the cavalry can better pinpoint your position and get you out quickly.
But these devices are expensive unitaskers. A selection of satellite-based
messengers now on the market can both
pinpoint your location in the event of a
crash or off-airport landing, and communicate your position in real time to friends
and family on all those days you ﬂy around
without crashing. A few even offer the
capability to send text messages via the satellite connection.
Choosing the right device comes down
to three basic factors-cost, coverage, and
features. Spot, DeLorme, and Spidertracks
generally own the satellite messenger market. Each provides a breadcrumb trail that's
easy for loved ones to follow on a map, and
each has an emergency function that alerts
authorities. The differences come in how
each of these functions is accomplished,
where coverage is available, and the cost.
Spot is the most basic of the three
offerings. At $169.95 for its Gen3 model,
plus $149.99 a year for service, Spot is
the least expensive option. Spot uses the
Globalstar network of satellites, which
has limited coverage in certain parts of

Alaska, Hawaii, and other parts of the
world. The Gen3 messenger is easy to
use. Once your account is configured,
you simply power it up and set it on
the glareshield for the breadcrumbs to
start. Preselected messages can be sent,
including requests for help where true
emergency services aren't required.
DeLorme's inReach represents the next
step up in capability. The small phone-like
unit operates on the Iridium network, a
worldwide constellation of satellites the
company says can cover you from pole to
pole. DeLorme, which is a Garmin subsidiary, has two basic offerings, the Explorer
and the SE. Both offer breadcrumb tracking, search and rescue alerting, and
two-way text-messaging capability. The
Explorer additionally includes a compass, altimeter, accelerometer, and some
basic navigation and waypoint tracking,
although this feature is meant more for
ground-based activities.
The Explorer retails for $379.95, and
the SE retails for $299.95. Annual plans
range from $11.95 a month to $79.95 a
month, each offering a different level of
tracking interval and text message pricing. Like Spot, the unit must be manually
powered on and tracking must be enabled.
Spidertracks represents the top-tier
solution for satellite tracking and messaging. It is the most expensive option at $995
for Spidertracks 3, $1,495 for Spidertracks
6, and $1,995 for Spidertracks 7. Add in a
subscription fee of between $30 a month

and $85 a month for noncommercial use,
and the price starts to add up.
The biggest advantage Spidertracks
holds over the other devices is that it all
happens in the background. The unit is
powered either through the cigarette
lighter or hard-wired to the aircraft. It
starts up on battery power, keeps track
of takeoff and landing times, and tracks
flights-all without pilot intervention.
Users can set alerts via email or text for
these phases of ﬂight, and tracking is done
through a simple web interface.
All the Spidertracks models include
the ability to alert emergency authorities, and if those text or email alerts are
enabled, someone tracking the ﬂight on
the ground also will know immediately
that something is amiss. Additionally,
Spidertracks 6 and 7 include text messaging capability and altitude alerting.
The downside is that Spidertracks is
an aircraft-speciﬁc device. Whereas Spot
and inReach work for boating, hiking, and
driving in remote areas, Spidertracks is
purpose built. It operates on the Iridium
network, so worldwide coverage is
assured.
If being found is all that matters in
an off-airport landing-and it's hard to
imagine a more pressing objective-a relatively inexpensive satellite messaging
device seems like cheap insurance. The
choice comes down to cost, where you ﬂy,
and how interested you are in interacting with the system. Spot, inReach, and
Spidertracks all represent a great method
to get help when you need it most. AOPA
EMAIL ian.twombly@aopa.org

Spot Gen3

DeLorme inReach

Spidertracks

Satellite network

Globalstar

Iridium

Iridium

Breadcrumb tracking

Yes

Yes

Yes

SOS alerting

Yes

Yes

Yes

Two-way texting

No

Yes

Yes on models 6, 7

Nonaviation applications

Yes

Yes

No

Text alerting

Manual

Manual

Automatic

Power

Battery

Battery

Aircraft

Cost for unit

$169.95

$299.95 to $379.95

$995 to $1,995

Subscription cost

$149.99 to $299.98 a year

$11.95 to $79.95 a month

$30 to $85 a month

www.aopa.org/pilot AOPA PILOT | 81
http://www.aopa.org/pilot
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2017
