Lone working - current approaches are?

[jcampbellsmith]

I'm coming under domestic pressure to do something constructive about calling for assistance when I'm lone working and run into difficulties. What are the current cost effective solutions for when there is no mobile signal?
Thanks
JCS

 

[Eddie P]

I've used a "spot 3" in the past.
Uses satellites, so needs a clear view of the sky. But works well

 

[User00040]

I'm coming under domestic pressure to do something constructive about calling for assistance when I'm lone working and run into difficulties. What are the current cost effective solutions for when there is no mobile signal?
Thanks
JCS

SPOT used to be the go-to but I much prefer the features offered by Garmin's In-reach.

Having used both systems in triple canopy jungles of the Far East, only the Garmin could get through reliably.

 

[Husky]

I use a Fast Find 220 plb, www.fastfindplb.com
more reliable than spot, signal goes to UK coastguard not somewhere in Texas.
However, it is a "I'm in the schitte "come and get me, you can't send a " I'm ok " signal.
cost £200 with a seven year battery life.

 

[User00038]

Micro Personal Tracker - TMT250 - VigiTech Solutions

All depends on what cost effective means..? £106 incl 12 month subscription.

All the best
PC

 

[jcampbellsmith]

Micro Personal Tracker - TMT250 - VigiTech Solutions

All depends on what cost effective means..? £106 incl 12 month subscription.

All the best
PC

PC
Thanks, that looks very interesting.
Best regards
JCS

 

[slider]

Cheap and chearful solution is to set up location sharing in Google maps, then the person you are sharing with can see your location in real time. If GPS reception is lost then at least they will have you last known location.

I know know how many coffee stops my good lady has when she is out cycling

Glympse is another useful app. It sends a text to the receiver who can then track you , again in real time via GPS. Just need to remeber to sent that text while you still have mobibe reception.

 

[slider]

Remember whatever you use needs a reasonably clear view of the sky. We use Spot Gen 3 at work but reliability is seriously diminished under dense canopy or if the Spot is in a ruck sack or under clothing - needs to be clipped to your outer wear.

 

[The Optimist]

Page One offers a GSM multi-sim, GPS locator radio-pager. It has an emergency alert button which immediately transmits your location. The pager unit can be available via Kernow messaging which offers an excellent 24/7, 365 service. The unit constantly hunts for the strongest mobile signal whilst maintaining constant radio contact.

 

[Sharpie]

PC
Thanks, that looks very interesting.
Best regards
JCS

That won't work when when you are not in mobile coverage. Which is, I think, your requirement. If so, some sort of satellite solution is required.

Otherwise, frankly, there are apps that you could run on a smartphone which might do well enough for you.

Most of these sort of things also only work on the old 2G networks, then you need a sim card that works OK on that (basically O2, or maybe Vodafone, in the UK. Plus the SMS charges, if you using a pre-pay SIM. Forget EE, precious little usable 2G from them.

The 2Gnetworks are going to be switched off, sooner or later, too. (2025 maybe). As might be 3G, possibly even even sooner, but who knows ?

 

[mack8317]

SPOT used to be the go-to but I much prefer the features offered by Garmin's In-reach.

Having used both systems in triple canopy jungles of the Far East, only the Garmin could get through reliably.

The inreach mini is good and very easy to send a text message via iridium with your mobile phone when you have no mobile service

 

[Husky]

I should add that a PLB requires no subscription or service charge, buy it, register with HM Coastguard and go.

 

[Sharpie]

FWIW, GPS, Glonass, Baidou, may eventually Galileo, can give fixes even when you have little chance of satellite communication. But that's not much use if e.g. you are out of mobile coverage.

Garmin etc. use Iridium, Spot use Globalstar. And need a clear sky view to do so.

A PLB or Epirb is the gold standard for getting help. But you had better be prepared to only push the button if you truly need that. It's not a device for lone workers, wanting to check in and out regularly. But if you are truly crocked, it could save your life. It will fix your position via GPS if available, otherwise the Sarsats can home in on it less precisely, and it will keep on trying, once activated, for a day or more. The Sarsats are quite different from e.g. Iridium, Globalstar and far more resilient. A registered PLB will get straight through to e.g. UK Search and Rescue. Things like Garmin, Spot, will try to relay the emergency message through, but it is not direct.

 

[Husky]

The Mc Murdo Fast Find also puts out a secondary homing signal the all UK SAR helicopters can home in on as they get close to your position.
If I break my ankle , press button an wait for helo.

 

[mack8317]

The Garmin inreach will also enable your movement to be tracked so someone can check if your late back and see if your are on the move

 

[gonzo]

Alternative thought.....
If there is a building or even vehicles somewhere near the ground, that is manned. (Thinking an estate office, keeper's house, mates house or similar.) Then just a decent set of radios. A base with external/roof mount antenna and a handheld for you.
None of the cheepo 446MHz stuff, a proper professional set.

 

[Pete1774]

Most GPS devices can only tell you where YOU are. Without a mobile phone signal there's no way you can get that info to anyone else. The more sophisticated devices use satellite communications but they require a subscription.

 

[Tubby10]

inReach® Mini Satellite Communicator

This rugged and compact adventure-ready companion has a battery life of up to 90 hours. Designed to ensure emergency and routine text communications can be sent and received from the wilderness, this satellite messaging device provides the means to coordinate logistical needs or let loved ones...

www.millets.co.uk

This is quite good but it does require a subscription, this can be pay as you go or monthly and is about the same cost as a mobile contract. You can text and get weather on it and have a calamity button.

As others have said you need to be able to see the sky.

 

[User00038]

That won't work when when you are not in mobile coverage. Which is, I think, your requirement. If so, some sort of satellite solution is required.

Otherwise, frankly, there are apps that you could run on a smartphone which might do well enough for you.

Most of these sort of things also only work on the old 2G networks, then you need a sim card that works OK on that (basically O2, or maybe Vodafone, in the UK. Plus the SMS charges, if you using a pre-pay SIM. Forget EE, precious little usable 2G from them.

The 2Gnetworks are going to be switched off, sooner or later, too. (2025 maybe). As might be 3G, possibly even even sooner, but who knows ?

Thanks for putting this extra info in. Vigitech say these work on multiple networks / IOT - so I have assumed that compared with a normal mobile phone, these would have a much wider connected coverage - also based on a low data requirement for the emergency button press, they would be more likely to get a successful transmission than say a text message.

Is that right? Do you know what the coverage for the IOT (whatever that acually means in practice) is compared with phone coverage?

With this topic, it is a case of balancing the nature of lone working & locations with the risks. I guess it's a case of trying to find the best system for your use.

Thanks and all the best
PC

 

[Klenchblaize]