melensdad
Well-Known Member
Looking at the CURRENT plans, as of about 5 minutes on the SPOT and the GARMIN websites this is what I see:. . . The other nice thing about the Spot is that you can have 5 minute tracking intervals much cheaper than Garmin (I believe). 10 minute intervals is fine if you're hiking, but on a bike at 45 mph that's 7.5 miles (compared to 3.75 at 5 min). that just seems a good bit more distance for help to search in order to find you. . .
SPOT Gen 4 (1 way communicator), basic plan, $11.95/month + $19.95 activation = $164 for year 1, $144 each additional year
SPOT X (2 way communicator), basic plan, $11.95/month + $19.95 activation = $164 for year 1, $144 each additional year
InReach Mini (2 way comm), basic plan, $11.95/month + $29.95 activation = $174 for year 1, $144 each additional year
Basic plans for all 3 units include tracking at 10 minute intervals, which on a motorcycle may not be ideal
- SPOT X has serious advantages over the SPOT Gen 4 but price goes from $99 to $199 for the initial purchase. Seems like that it would not be too hard to justify the added cost of the SPOT X even if it was only used for sending the pre-set messages, tracking and check in
- InReach Mini has some user advantages over the SPOT X, but the price jumps up to $349 for the initial purchase. Compared to SPOT X there are fewer pre-set messages, but several other advantages, not the least of which seems to be more reliable connectivity.
- But if none of those added features are actually used, then those advantages are really pretty pointless and the $99 SPOT Gen 4 does everything at the lowest total cost, even if you add in the price of disposable batteries for the Gen 4.