• rmuk@feddit.uk
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    8 months ago

    It may be worth looking into Meshtastic, especially if you know other hikers. €50 will get you a portable node with long range, long battery life, GPS location, mesh routing and no subscription.

    • MinorLaceration@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      I got into ham about a year and a half ago. Super interesting, I just didn’t have the time because I was in a pretty intense school. I’d love to tinker with meshtastic, but is that a solution for hiking? Would you need to rely on a node being within range of you in order to convert your message into sms or something?

      • mosiacmango@lemm.ee
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        8 months ago

        Its mesh, so yes. They do have an intense range, which looks to be 11km by default with LOS.

        Probally makes more sense if you’re hiking with people that also have these on them at camp or the like. At roughly $50/each, its a pretty easy splurge for everyone if your group likes the woods.

        More info here. It looks like Amazon does have the basic model for around $40, no case but pre-soldered.

        • MinorLaceration@lemmy.world
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          8 months ago

          That method of use would not replace what the garmin inreach does. I’m more looking for something to notify authorities of my location in the event of an emergency, rather than to communicate between hikers.

          • mosiacmango@lemm.ee
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            8 months ago

            It’s not exactly the same no, but it could fill a similar role cheaply by giving you a way to communicate youre in trouble that also has your GPS when/if you have no cell service.

            $50-100 to “kind of do a similar job” over and over vs $400 single use “really gets that shit done.” In an emergency the latter is preferable, but the former ain’t exactly bad either.

    • Aniki 🌱🌿@lemm.ee
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      8 months ago

      I’ve been scanning for other meshtastic users for YEARS and never has anyone ever messaged me. I leave my Lilly tt-go plugging away full-time.