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Garmin 010-01879-00 InReach Mini, Lightweight and Compact Satellite Communicator, Orange?
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12 reviews of this product found across the web:
My dad and brother hunt in remote areas a lot and they both swear by this - Garmin inReach Mini, Lightweight Compact Handheld Satellite Communicator, Orange https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CR7PL54/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_oS52BbNZ32RYC
Gives mom some peace of mind because she can check in and gives them peace of mind they can signal an emergency if needed. Good for your kid because they can’t call china!
Okay, but the Garmin inReach mini is already pretty small and it does SMS. It doesn't seem like a big stretch for the guts of that device to be part of a smartphone. https://smile.amazon.com/Garmin-Lightweight-Handheld-Satellite-Communicator/dp/B07CR7PL54/
This is really pricey and requires a running subscription but me and my three siblings all have one as preps for the Cascadia Subduction zone quake.
It works great.
> FT-8
As a lazy extra class, I've never even heard of this, but this gets me excited:
> Radio is pretty magic when you figure that you can work the other side of the world with less energy than a lightbulb consumes.
Got any noob friendly guides or ideally, a YouTube video introducing one to FT-8?
As for OP, I have a Yaesu VX 6R that I keep in the car or take when I go hiking and listen to it in-between once in a while. It's a truly Buy it for life (BIFL) radio that'll last forever, and I have yet to scratch the surface as far as what it's capable, but other than that, my ham radio life is pretty boring.
> I'm trying to save up a few bucks to buy a decent HT to text with my family from the middle of nowhere (I travel to remote locations for work).
Honestly, correct me if I'm wrong, but Ham Radio is not generally very reliable for this type of thing.
Why don't you get a proven, reliable device like the Garmin inReach Mini so you can reliably send texts from any remote location?
I've thought about it... and I'd never use anything Ham Radio related as a primary method of emergency communication from remote locations.
No. Not the right tool for this. You need a sat beacon. Recommend Garmin InReach. Note you must pay for sat service, it’s not free.
Garmin inReach Mini GPS Satellite Communicator https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CR7PL54/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_J0KANDEHYGSKCPH605Q3
So, personally, I use these for hiking. If you ride with a backpack on, you could easily strap it to your bag straps or have it clipped to your jacket.
Does that help?
I'm not sure of the circumstances for your SOS's, but what first came to mind for me given my background in backpacking and the outdoors industry is the Garmin inReach. They sell physical versions of it like the inReach Mini that uses Iridium satellite's to send out your coordinates to emergency services, or to contact people of your choice. I believe it does require a monthly subscription, though. Here are the different plans.
This would be better.
Garmin 010-01879-00 InReach Mini, Lightweight and Compact Satellite Communicator, Orange https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CR7PL54/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_DRF4H78PFQ1BNGM2NEEE
They are currently 80$ off on amazon right now. Here's a link. Good luck on your search!
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