UTV navigation and safety GPS tracking
My friend Bill and I were looking for a good companion to our UTV trips in the Arizona desert. Arizona has an awesome amount of UTV trails into the backcountry (several hundred miles of trails). That said it is quite easy to get on a trail more difficult than we expected. Cell service get's sketchy quickly when heading into the mountains, so I started looking for a better companion than the trail maps in the parking areas.
this is my first attempt at looking what was out there. I'll update as we get more information and try out a few solutions.
Negatives:
Negatives:
Negative:
Spot 3
The SPOT 3 seems to be a good compromise between reliable communication and cost. Probably overkill for UTV travel. Seems to be targeted at backcountry hikers and word travels on boats. Cost is ~$100 a year plus ~$100 dedicated satellite hardware.
Hardware: http://www.cabelas.com/product/SPOT-LLC-SPOT-GEN-ORANGE/1661065.uts ($149 with $75 rebate)
Amazon: SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger
Service plan: https://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=103 ~$175 a year
Personal
Our friend who is a pilot carries one of the and they are available for a one time price of ~250. You just need to register them every 2 years and there are no service fees (not sure how much a rescue costs). The devices are only for when you need to be rescued.
Acrartex website - https://www.acrartex.com/ResQLink
Amazon - ResQlink Personal location beacon
2 way satellite communication and emergency beacon
This device from Delorme (now Garmin) allows two way text communication, but it may not be as reliable for a personal beacon. This allows you to create text messages in reall time, if the emergency was a minor one.
Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/DeLorme-inReach-SE-Satellite-Tracker/ ~$290
Subscription plans - https://www.orbitalsatcom.com/delorme-inreach-subscription-plans ~$250 annually
Good backcountry writeups comparing:
2 way messenger write up - http://www.backcountrychronicles.com/delorme-satellite-gps-messenger/
Comparison of all 4 - http://www.backcountrychronicles.com/satellite-messengers/
this is my first attempt at looking what was out there. I'll update as we get more information and try out a few solutions.
Android App
Try (Pro version and one map ~$25)
BackCountry Navigator TOPO GPS - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.crittermap.backcountrynavigator.license&hl=en
Positives:- ATV maps extra purchase (http://backcountrynavigator.com/android-gps-atv-maps/) - Needs pro version
- Real time navigation for ATV trails? - Needs pro version
- 4.5 rating on android store
- Preview maps - http://www.mobiletopomaps.com/
- Ability to purchase US ATV trail maps for $15.99 or MVUM for US Forest Service fro $15.99 or AccuTerra Map Source - $19.99 per year
- Article on choosing the proper map source - http://support.crittermap.com/hc/en-us/articles/215563583-Choosing-a-Topo-Map-in-the-US
- Forest Service Maps - has trail numbers
- AccuTerra Topo Map
- More Map Sources - Hybrid maps - Hybrid: USTopo with AccuTerra
Negatives:
- Pro version is $11.99
Maybe
GPS Waypoints Navigator - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.discipleskies.android.gpswaypointsnavigator&hl=en
Positives:- 4.4 Google Play rating
- Mentions offroad navigation as second usage behind hiking
- $9.99
Locus Pro - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=menion.android.locus.pro&hl=en
Positives:- Recommended on Jeep Wrangler site (along with Back Country Navigator)
- 4.8 rating on Android store
Negatives:
- european developer
- seems better suited to hiking
Polaris GPS Navigation - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.discipleskies.android.polarisnavigation
Positives:- Developed in New Mexico (close to Arizona)
- 4.3 Google Play rating
Negative:
- Free version with GPS Waypoints being it's $10 big brother
No
Polaris Ride Command - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.weathernation.mobile.orvtrails&hl=en
Negatives:- 3.5 stars - Pretty bad ratings
- Reliability issues
ORV Trail Maps - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.JEB.trailmaps&hl=en
Negatives:- Michigan only
Satellite information
Probably most reliable service is something satellite based. No reliance on cellular network, but satellite communication is slower and expensive.Spot 3
The SPOT 3 seems to be a good compromise between reliable communication and cost. Probably overkill for UTV travel. Seems to be targeted at backcountry hikers and word travels on boats. Cost is ~$100 a year plus ~$100 dedicated satellite hardware.
Hardware: http://www.cabelas.com/product/SPOT-LLC-SPOT-GEN-ORANGE/1661065.uts ($149 with $75 rebate)
Amazon: SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger
Service plan: https://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=103 ~$175 a year
Personal
Our friend who is a pilot carries one of the and they are available for a one time price of ~250. You just need to register them every 2 years and there are no service fees (not sure how much a rescue costs). The devices are only for when you need to be rescued.
Acrartex website - https://www.acrartex.com/ResQLink
Amazon - ResQlink Personal location beacon
2 way satellite communication and emergency beacon
This device from Delorme (now Garmin) allows two way text communication, but it may not be as reliable for a personal beacon. This allows you to create text messages in reall time, if the emergency was a minor one.
Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/DeLorme-inReach-SE-Satellite-Tracker/ ~$290
Subscription plans - https://www.orbitalsatcom.com/delorme-inreach-subscription-plans ~$250 annually
Good backcountry writeups comparing:
2 way messenger write up - http://www.backcountrychronicles.com/delorme-satellite-gps-messenger/
Comparison of all 4 - http://www.backcountrychronicles.com/satellite-messengers/
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