The Garmin InReach arrived Friday afternoon, which was a pleasant surprise. We figured out how to use it, and Andy set it on tracking before he left for the land yesterday. It notes his location every 10 minutes. In the picture below the blue lines are part of his drive up to the land, the others are when he took his walk. I could see the data on the MapShare website in real time. The arrowhead is when he was at the house.
I added numbers to the screen shot to show where he went on his walk.
He started at the house, walked past the shed (approximately Point 1) and down our old driveway (which appears as white and includes point 2). When he got to the intersection with what we call Brackeen’s Road (the one we used years ago before we built our new one), he turned to his left, right on the map, and walked along the road to Points 3 and 4. Then he turned around and walked back, going down to the orchard, Point 5, and back on the road to Point 6. Coming back he went back to the intersection with our old driveway and walked up it a bit to a path that goes by our old greenhouse. The tracking points don’t show his path, one has to know the area a bit. I zoomed in on Point 7 to show he walked right by the old greenhouse.
Presumably we would have a more detailed view if we checked sooner than every 10 minutes — or if he walked a lot slower 🙂 — but more frequent checking would greatly increase the cost, and it’s not worth it to us. We’re just thrilled that the messages he sends to me actually get sent (unlike Verizon) and that the device is as accurate as it is in showing his position. Also I don’t have to use my cellphone to send texts to him, I can email them from my computer or iPad. That’s another plus.
What a difference a week makes. It was last Sunday that he fell and we decided we needed to have a new system. It’s been one successful week.
Update: Oh, oh. Andy came home after I wrote this. He says it doesn’t work well in the house. He had hoped putting it the window pointing towards the sky would be enough, but we have double-pane windows, presumably with a heat reflecting layer. That means he might not get my texts until he goes outside. We still have more work to do, but I’m still glad we’re trying it. We may also have lost connection on the last part of his way home. It didn’t know he was home until he put it out on the porch. We will keep you posted.
Back to the drawing board …
Not really. It seems to work for why we bought it. If we can’t get it to work in the house we will try something else.
Tracking devices always come in handy as far as I’m concerned. You never know when you need one.
They are invaluable if you don’t have cell phone reception. I can often text Andy, but he seldom can get through to me.
What is the point of the device if you cannot communicate with each other on it at an emergency?
I can see where he is, at least when the weather is good — that’s invaluable if something goes wrong.
sounds like it’s more for backpackers and such who would always be using it outdoors.
still… it’s better than things you’ve tried before! little by little you’re getting there.
at least it beats total isolation up there.
Yes, and that’s when I want to know where he is if he has an accident.
It’s impressive, from what I can understand. Something that everyone our age should be made aware of!
Most people don’t need it because they have cell phone reception. Ours is bad up there.
What an extraordinary device. Delighted to hear about it.
AE
Thanks. You can well imagine how relieved we are.
Exactly what my wife wants when I am off the grid. But the subscription price has me wondering.
It’s well worth it for us, because Andy goes up every day.
sounds “allgood” allround…
It’s a lot better than before we had it. 🙂