ZOLEO Global Satellite Communicator
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- čas přidán 2. 08. 2024
- Check out the ZOLEO Global Satellite Communicator here:
www.snowys.com.au/global-sate...
Extend the messaging coverage on your smartphone so you can head off the beaten path without the worry with the Global Satellite Communicator from ZOLEO.
This unit is Iridium® based which gives you global coverage, it connects using an app on your smartphone and needs an active subscription plan. It comes with its own SMS number and email to share with your contacts, and you can use the check-in button to let them you’re ok. The SOS button allows you to send your GPS coordinates to their monitoring/dispatch partner, and you’ll get confirmation it was received and the option to cancel if it’s a false alarm. Compact, lightweight, shock, and dust-resistant it’s also got a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that lasts for 200+ hours.
In this video, our gear expert Ben talks you through all the details of the Global Satellite Communicator from ZOLEO. He starts out with the weight, dimensions, materials, and construction. Then he moves onto what you get inside the box, the differences between PLBs and satellite communicators, and how to operate it.
Ben also shows you how to message using the ZOLEO app, connect via Bluetooth, understand the different lights, and finishes with the benefits of the unit - so check it out above for all the details.
0:00 - Intro
0:14 - Weight, dimensions & materials
0:26 - Construction, waterproof rating
0:37 - What comes in the box
1:17 - PLB vs satellite communicator
2:58 - How to operate the unit
4:32 - Messaging using the ZOLEO app
5:52 - Connecting via Bluetooth & battery life
6:25 - Understanding the lights and colours
6:51 - Benefits of the ZOLEO unit
Great review thanks when I can travel again I’ll be onto that 👍🇦🇺
Let's hope it not too long, Bruce. ~ Ben
That was some great and really well-presented info about this thing.
What a cool safety tool to have available!
Thanks for the compliment, Coralie. ~ Ben
@@SnowysOutdoors I tell heaps of people how much I love Snowys product videos. You all do a brilliant job at them. Good job to everyone, hey. 😊👍🏻
@@coralieofjumpwithnofearthanks for spreading the love, I'm glad you find our content useful. ~ Ben
@@SnowysOutdoors 'Useful' feels like an understatement. 😊
what a great gadget... remote communications have changed so much over the years..
Definitely evolving, some might say they are making it harder to go off-grid though. ~ Ben
@@SnowysOutdoors can still turn it off till needed...lol
@@heftymerv yeah, good point, but the temptation is still there to test your mental discipline. ~ Ben
Awesome review 👏
Thanks @Cameron Sinclair!
~ Lauren
Very clever device 👍
Yeah, emergency beacons have come a long way. ~ Ben
I'm delighted by the feature set with but one exception. Apparently the battery, while rechargeable, isn't user-replaceable. For an emergency device, it needs to be a way to replace the battery with one of the standard lithiums in seconds, keeping the water-tightness intact.
I'm not aware of any PLB/Emergency Beacons that have user-replaceable batteries sorry @Michael W. Perry. There may be some out there, but all the ones we've ever sold are authorised replacement only so they can be certified.
~ Lauren
Hi Ben
Do you register this with AMSA like a traditional PLB ?
Was considering the KTi unit, however this looks more useful albeit there is a subscription.
And most PLB have a battery ‘shelf life’, this unit is rechargeable ?
Cheers
The plan you sign up for is how the device is registered, 4BnewB, so no need to register with AMSA. If you want the communication feature then this is a good option, a PLB like the KTi keeps things simple but you can't use it to check in or request assistance without calling on a full-blown rescue. Personally, I'm happy with my PLB, but different adventures call for different needs. ~ Ben
Great demonstration, thank you, just wondering if it works the same in other countries? I'm travelling to Canada, thanks
It might be worth checking up on the details of the plan you are on, but I am pretty sure that given you would be on a plan that is on the Iridium network then the device will work worldwide. Their terms and conditions simply state that the ZOLEO device can be used wherever there is coverage, which is worldwide for the Iridium network.
Hope that helps.
~ Ben
I use one in Canada. Love it!
Do you know how good the coverage is? 👍
It uses mobile, Wi-fi or the Iridium Satellite network, so you should get coverage just about anywhere. The only limitation is if you don't have a decent view of the sky. ~ Ben
Thanks for the info.👍
Iridium satellites use a near-polar orbit, so they cover the entire surface of the planet. They also operate in a low-earth orbit, so they cope better with forest cover than those in higher orbits, such as the Global Star, which the new generation of iPhones will be using. Here's a comparison of the two satellite systems: czcams.com/video/rZcpthsNTVY/video.html
Do you have any info on how the Zoleo communicates with a Garmin inreach? I have read that the inreach can easily send a message to a Zoleo due to its dedicated number but it's unclear to me if a zoleo can easily message an Inreach. Thanks.
We dont I'm sorry Craig, not familiar with the Garmin at all.
@ZOLEO may be able to shed some light here?
~ Lauren
@@SnowysOutdoors thank you for the response. I have since found the information I was looking for.
@@newtron77 Hi, can you tell us if what you found is Y or N ?
@@nrenaud I found that the 2 different devices communicated together just fine but Garmin user needs to send the first message. Once the message was sent to my Zoleo I was able carry on a conversation for months using the same thread. The Garmin doesn't have a dedicated phone number like the Zoleo does so when it sends a message to a non-Garmin device it appears to generate a phone number for that user to reply to. It is unclear how long this generated number will last but I carried on multiple conversations with several inReach users using my Zoleo from May-October until I paused my device for the season.
@@newtron77 Thanks for reply. In clear if I understood, Garmin users can first send message to zoleo becaus of their dedicated phone number, but Zoelo users can't do first to Garmin users ?
This sounds cool....but...it's using the same mobile/cell network my mobile phone uses. If I can get a cell signal, then why not just use my phone?
The benefit of the Zoleo is that when cell network is not available it's able to use WiFi or satellite in emergency situations. ~ Ben
But a stat phone is same network but is also calls and the plans are far cheaper.... this is silly 🤦♂️🤣
Sat phone is a good option, AusGuy, and the plans are becoming more affordable, definitely something to consider when shopping of emergency contact devices like this. ~ Ben
@@SnowysOutdoors the plans are a joke. 50 or more a month for 250 messages 🤣🤦♂️
Or 15 a month and calls in are free. Not hard to say cal l me back. In a emergency your not going to care about cost.
Plus sms for help vs call.... call every time
@@ausguy4385 In a serious, time-critical situation texting beats voice. You text and attend to the injured. No need to wait for the voice call to go through. It will when a satellite passes over. The text reply will also come through whether you are attending to the phone or not.
@@Inkling777 no such thing as text 000.... hands covered in blood and guts.... yeah text will work great.... now stop helping to read it and reply... just silly