TRACKING BY SATELLITE Tracking by smartphone, or an instrument connected to a GSM network, won’t work in regions or remote valleys without GSM coverage. The ideal system is satellite tracking. With systems such as SPOT or Garmin/Delorme, the pilot transmits his position, as a general rule every 10‐15 mi‐ nutes, and can also send out an SOS call. The conclusions in our in depth compari‐ son ‘Tracking by satellite’, (see link on the right) are still valid. The Iridium (Delorme/Garmin) system is more suitable than the Globalstar (SPOT), because it can communicate properly in both directions. However, a small update needs to be made to this article. Since the buy out of De‐ lorme by GARMIN, it is now no longer pos‐ sible to subscribe directly in the USA. The cost is now 15 € per month minimum, and a contract giving unlimited tracking costs 29.99 € per month (instead of about 23 € previously). TRACKING BY SIGFOX Other trackers such as HidnSeek or Cap‐ turs work on specific terrestrial frequen‐ cies, we’ll review them in more detail. Our first tests were fairly conclusive as far as their battery life was concerned (several days) and their operating cost (a few dozen euros per year), but the coverage in France still has big holes in it.
Tracking by satellite: our full article, which is still valid.
Coming soon: The A*Live. It will allow communication via GSM and Iridium Satellites, in both directions, by using a smartphone screen and it will set off an alarm via satellite if it receives a substantial shock.
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