BajaNomad

Zoleo GPS Tracker

LancairDriver - 11-19-2021 at 01:53 PM

Has anyone used the Zoleo tracker and have an opinion on how it compares with similar systems? Cost vs features as compared to the other choices? Use of your smart phone looks interesting.

www.zoleo.com




[Edited on 11-19-2021 by LancairDriver]

Bob and Susan - 11-19-2021 at 02:22 PM

unless you go where there is no phone service..."find my phone" is free and works great...the new "leash"

mcquadeoutdoors - 11-19-2021 at 02:50 PM

Wish i could give you some insight as i paid for one off facebook marketplace, but the dude never sent it soo?

mtgoat666 - 11-19-2021 at 02:53 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Bob and Susan  
unless you go where there is no phone service..."find my phone" is free and works great...the new "leash"


Susan,
Glad you got a leash for Bob! That stray dog, Bob, has roaming all over and getting into all the neighbors trash cans. You might also look into getting a shock collar to supplement the leash!

David K - 11-19-2021 at 03:07 PM

Looking at the website, says it uses Iridium satellites, which is the same as inReach, which is Good!

Bob, most of Baja does not have cell service. These devices allow your contacts to communicate with you and see your location. Far more useful than a cell phone with no cell service!

Goat, try again because your diplomacy sucks.

bkbend - 11-19-2021 at 03:15 PM

I've got one, my wife gets twitchy when I'm out of cell range, especially somewhere overnight. I've only had it a couple months but I did used it for a trip to Baja last month. It worked for my needs, but I haven't used any similar devices so I can't compare. I went with it because reviews looked good and it is less $$ than Spot or InReach.

I set it for hourly tracking and it sent a breadcrumb trail each hour with GPS coords and plotted it on a map to her cell phone. It also has a button to send an "I'm OK" message with GPS coords and another SOS button that will connect you to the same rescue service InReach uses.

Your phone connects to the device via bluetooth and you can send text messages through the satellite connection. Text messages can be 1000+ characters to a recipient with their app installed but limited to <200 characters to someone without the app. I'm thinking it's a plot to get the app installed onto more phones but I'm not contacting a bunch of people.

Bob and Susan - 11-19-2021 at 03:54 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  

Bob, most of Baja does not have cell service. These devices allow your contacts to communicate with you and see your location. Far more useful than a cell phone with no cell service!


sometimes you do not need cell service...just wifi...newer phones use wifi to connect like a phone...you can even call and receive...just dial a number

so if no cell...use wifi...then "find my phone" works purrfectly

the world is changing

bkbend - 11-19-2021 at 04:29 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Bob and Susan  


sometimes you do not need cell service...just wifi...newer phones use wifi to connect like a phone...you can even call and receive...just dial a number

so if no cell...use wifi...then "find my phone" works purrfectly

the world is changing


I do use wifi to make phone calls and text when a cell signal is not available. It just happens that a lot of places I like to hang out don't have either, even in the US. It keeps me away from the social media idiots. If they can't get a signal to post selfies or videos they don't hang around too long.

PaulW - 11-19-2021 at 04:43 PM

Off grid means no wifi no cell service thus no voice calls and the need for satelite messages that can be either text or email. Trackers provide satelite connection that is needed.
Spot and inReach provide 10 minute track points that folks with your share link can observe your track as desired. And they can get and reply to your messages. BTW text messages in Baja usually fail and email are 100% reliable.
Of course Zoleo will suffice with a lower price per month with less track point interval than the other two mentioned.
There are many other brands out there to choose from.

JZ - 11-19-2021 at 09:53 PM

Looks like a competitor to InReach.

JZ - 11-19-2021 at 09:57 PM

Quote: Originally posted by PaulW  
Off grid means no wifi no cell service thus no voice calls and the need for satelite messages that can be either text or email. Trackers provide satelite connection that is needed.
Spot and inReach provide 10 minute track points that folks with your share link can observe your track as desired. And they can get and reply to your messages. BTW text messages in Baja usually fail and email are 100% reliable.
Of course Zoleo will suffice with a lower price per month with less track point interval than the other two mentioned.
There are many other brands out there to choose from.


InReach allows track points down to 2 mins with their top plan.

kk6mbh - 11-20-2021 at 08:09 AM

Just listened to an interview with the founder of Zoleo on the Gaia GPS podcast here: https://www.gaiagps.com/outandback/

FWIW I've used SPOT and now the SpotX for years. It's nice to see more and more options coming to market. The Zoleo sounds like a solid choice as you use your smart phone as the keyboard interface versus the Blackberry keyboard of my first gen SpotX.

JZ - 11-20-2021 at 08:26 AM

Quote: Originally posted by kk6mbh  
Just listened to an interview with the founder of Zoleo on the Gaia GPS podcast here: https://www.gaiagps.com/outandback/

FWIW I've used SPOT and now the SpotX for years. It's nice to see more and more options coming to market. The Zoleo sounds like a solid choice as you use your smart phone as the keyboard interface versus the Blackberry keyboard of my first gen SpotX.


InReach has that as well. Plus two-way texting over Iridium. That's why it's a better comp to InReach.

kk6mbh - 11-20-2021 at 08:42 AM

Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
Quote: Originally posted by kk6mbh  
Just listened to an interview with the founder of Zoleo on the Gaia GPS podcast here: https://www.gaiagps.com/outandback/

FWIW I've used SPOT and now the SpotX for years. It's nice to see more and more options coming to market. The Zoleo sounds like a solid choice as you use your smart phone as the keyboard interface versus the Blackberry keyboard of my first gen SpotX.


InReach has that as well. Plus two-way texting over Iridium. That's why it's a better comp to InReach.



Second gen SpotX has that as well. Bluetooth connectivity seems to be on all of them now.Lots of options these days.

matthew_mangus - 11-28-2021 at 01:57 PM

I use one and am happy with it. In my research, I found the Zoleo to be a better buy over a projected 5yr lifespan than the Garmin Inreach.

JZ - 11-28-2021 at 02:44 PM

Just watched a couple videos on the Zoleo. Looks cool.

It's only $150 (down from $200 a couple months ago), compared to $300 for the InReach. Subscription rates are close, but the Zoleo looks a little cheaper.

Zoleo doesn't have a screen, so you have to use a smartphone unlike the InReach. InReach is smaller and looks a little more rugged to me.

Until recently, Zoleo didn't support track sharing. They added something called Location Sharing this year. Sounds like currently it can go out to up to 5 ppl.

InReach allows sharing to an online map that can be viewed by anyone.