Best Satellite Messenger and Tracker for Sailing – Yachting World

Garmin Inreach Mini 2

Reasons to buy

tiny device fits into any compact gear set up, easy navigational experience via the app

Reasons to avoid

some may find the interface fiddly, might be a bit small for some to handle

The smallest tracker currently available on the market the Garmin Inreach Mini 2 is a wearable device. Clip this to a bag or belt loop and you’ll virtually forget it’s there.

It can store 100 waypoints or favourite locations and has a battery life of up to 90 days, but this will be much less if you set the tracker to a short interval of say 10 minutes.

You can hook up to it via the Garmin App and send and receive texts using bluetooth connectivity with a smart phone. If your phone battery dies, you can still send pre-set messages directly from the unit.

A typical subscription cost for an average frequent user would be:

“Recreation Plan”
Activation Fee: £25.00
Monthly Fee:  £32.00*
Minimum Term 30 Days
Suitable For  Frequent users sending regular messages/track points
Inclusive Allowance  Unlimited SOS, Up to 60 Text Messages or 600 Tracking Points
Overage Charges : £5.80 per 1,000 Bytes Used, Text Message: £0.50 +/- , Track Point: £0.05

Specification

Dimensions: 5.17 x 9.9 x 2.61 cm
Weight: 100g
Waterproofing: IPX7
SOS button
Voice calls: No
2 way messaging: Yes

Buy from Global Telesat Communications

Zoleo Satellite Communicator

Reasons to buy

handy built-in clip, rugged outer, simple interface, useful accessories for multiple ways to mount the device

Reasons to avoid

needs a smart phone and app to send messages, doesn’t support voice calls

A smart little satellite messenger, the Zoleo relies on your mobile phone to function fully using an app.
With the app you can message others with the same app on their phone. The Zoleo will use your phone signal if it has one first rather than use your satellite credit/allowance, only using it when your mobile phone is out of range of any land signal.

I like the fact the Zoleo gives you an assigned number that doesn’t change for receiving SMS texts and there’s a dedicated email address too which the Zoleo can check periodically for you.

As with all of these satellite messengers, this one has an SOS button which Zoleo the company have specified as being monitored 24 hours.
You can control how often ZOLEO checks the Iridium satellite network for new messages. Choose a shorter interval for a better messaging experience or a longer interval to extend battery life of the device.
Without a mobile phone you can still press the check-in button (the tick button seen in the picture above) which notifies a designated person of your GPS coordinates and you can of course use the SOS button if there’s a genuine emergency with imminent threat to life.

Typical costs for subscription

Monthly Fee for a mid-range user £32
Satellite Messages Included: 250
Additional Messages £0.55/ea
Satellite Check-in Messages: unlimited
Mobile Network & Wi-Fi Messages: unlimited

Location Share+ is an additional £4.50 per month

Specification

Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.6 x 2.7 cm
Weight: 150grams
Waterproof: IP68
SOS button: monitored 24 hrs
Voice calls: No
2 way messaging: Yes (via a smartphone and app)

Buy Zoleo from Amazon

AppWizard
Best Satellite Messenger and Tracker for Sailing - Yachting World