 I never thought I would be posting in this forum. I am a paper map kinda girl. Hell, Im old fashioned enough to feel pain when folding a map instead of rolling it. But an interesting situation unfolded last weekend.
Friend and I headed over to snowdon (where we slowly panted up the watkin path. It was when we were looped for the second time by this grandmother that I decided I should probably start walking up more hills or something) It was nice. Had a load of fun. Got very wet, slightly cold. It was a surreal experience to 'stumble' across the cafe (it was foggy) and finding it centrally heated and packed with people who really ought not to be up there. It was odd. Good mochachino though. Anyhoo, the three days we were there, neither one of us had phone signal. And apart from looking like an air head for saying 'what riots?', it didnt bother me at all. It was quite nice actually.
Parents on the other hand. Not so impressed.
So, I am doing my duty as a child to her parents, and researching GPS trackers.
Not cheap are they.
does anyone have any experience using them? Got an suggestions or advise? So far, it seems that the SPOT tracker is 'the' hikers choice, but I am not convinced.
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 Cut the Gordion knot. Don't tell the parents what you're up to.
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Use a bog standard old fashioned mobile phone - send a text. If you are out of signal, send the text anyway as a) texts need much less signal than a voice message to get through and (my phone anyway) if a message fails as out of signal, it will automatically send it when it blips into signal. Even though you say you were out of signal for three days I warrant you werent - like, there is a signal at the top of Snowdon, and at Pen-y-pass. You might not have been in signal often or for long - but a text will go in a second. edit: you could also wait till land use of PLBs becomes legal in the next year maybe
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| Edited: 12/08/11 01:41 |
If you have a Nokia smartphone, there are several apps (free and paid for) that will let you send a text with your position from the phone's GPS.
However, I agree with Kate, you need to tell your parents in a nice way that you can't keep constantly telling them where you are. I often go out on my own and my wife understands that I won't always contact her, or tell her where I have gone because:
* I often change my mind about what I am going to do at the last minute, based on local conditions.
* There may not be a phone signal where am.
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+1 on telling folks to chill out. I only tell my parents where I have been when I have got home. Or occasionally I tell the approximately where I'm going and if for a while I say I'll call in when I can but don't fix a time in case I can't due to signal. You're a responsible adult (I am only guessing) so they need to accept that. Of course another way is to take up a dangerous sport and keep telling them exactly what you are doing and show them pictures. I did that with kayaking over rapids and waterfalls. After I showed a picture of the Rawthey in Spate or one of the big Scottish ones (River Orchy I think) I got the "just tell us when you're safe" instruction. They stopped insisting on me telling them where I was. In fact they insisted I didn't tell them anything about it. Worked for me like a charm. Also they stopped worrying so much as I played down the rivers and they believed me. Of course I was getting better so harder rivers were becoming a bimble for me anyway. I think the Americans are allowed to use PLBs which are supposed to be better. Either way IIRC you have an annual fee for the monitoring of the Spot tracker.
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 We are 'allowed' to use PLBs too; mine is registered in the UK.
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Forgot to mention that in Snowdonia T-Mobile generally has good coverage, except in Beddgelert where Orange rules. However, if you are a T-Mobile customer, you can roam to Orange for free.
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| Edited: 12/08/11 12:45 |
I usually do send a msg even if there is no signal. I know I must have walked through a tiny signal patch because one txt got out. unfortunately, it arrived as a blank msg which didnt do much to reassure mum and dad.
I know what your all saying about cutting the cotton wool. And as much as it is easy to say that, in practise, they still worry a lot. And fair do, they are my parents. And it is not as if I havent been in a spot of bother before. They dont want a repeat performance. Plus, I was expecting signal up there. o2 obviously dont like mountains with cafes.
So, general consensus?.... SPOT or nothing.
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 > Anyhoo, the three days we were there, neither one of us had phone signal. Blimey. That mochachino took a long time to brew. Or is the cafe that busy...? > So, general consensus?.... SPOT or nothing. I'd go for the nothing option. Assuming you're a 'consenting adult', I'm afraid your parents will just have to get used to the fact that you're all grown up now, and not their sole responsibility any more. They'll still worry about you, but if you don't tell them what you're up to, they won't know to worry...
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Nothing..... ....or if your parents wish to pay, a SPOT 
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Nothng (or go to Orange/Tmobile as they are one and the same now). RE: PLBs. Yes you can have one and yes, you can register it...but it is still illegal to use it on land (the debating point is would the Telecoms people prosecute or would the CPS prosecute - I doubt it, but its still illegal to use one on land - and soon wont be. Just a thought - PLB wont get your parents off your back as, unlike the Spot you cant send an alliswell message - its just for a Help...come and get me
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