Satellite Tracking & Communications: Proven - Gear & Tactics by X Overland

Welcome to Proven! This new series is all about the proven gear and methods we have used or learned along the way during our travels. Clay speaks from his personal experience with Expedition Overland over the past 9 years and the systems we have used along the way!
In this episode, Clay cuts through the clutter and confusion around GPS navigation and tracking devices, their different applications and why you want them in your kit. There are many options available, we hope this helps you find a good fit for your needs. Enjoy! #xoproven #expeditionoverland #xoverland
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// Presented by General Tire generaltire.com
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//Gear Seen In This Episode of Proven
Garmin Overlander bit.ly/33Cz6Dy
Garmin inReach bit.ly/2OYDEjp
Garmin inReach Explorer bit.ly/33G7ei2
Iridium Extreme Satellite Phone amzn.to/2OS91fI
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// Entire Pan-American Trilogy NOW AVAILABLE on Prime Video (reviews are much-appreciated!): amzn.to/2MuiCqb
// We invite you to join the free OVERLANDER Facebook Community: bit.ly/2pmMZH0
// Explore our website: www.xoverland.com/
// Let's connect on Facebook and Instagram: @xoverland

[@ExpeditionOverland]

Thanks so much for watching tonight! This is the start of a 3 part conversation around GPS units, tracking devices, communications and more! Would love to hear your thoughts and as always, enjoy!

[@barkin-brit486]

Responded to Tacloban in the wake of Yolanda. An American ladies body had been reported washed up on a beach, we went in with an Osprey and humped to the beach, I thought I had been dropping breadcrumbs during the hump. We could not find her body. Until a bunch of kids showed us where they had buried her the night before. We went to the grave, they had marked with coconut shells and obviously prepared with care. I had second GPS active all day and dropped pins often, THANKFULLY... the Transponder meant to be dropping breadcrumbs never dropped a single one. The back up device and frequent pinning made a huge difference that mission. Great advice, as usual Clay.

[@w.w.beason9183]

Thank you for the info! For those who don’t know much outside of radios this was very informative and it’s always nice to know personal experience than a sales pitch.

[@JKsouthwest]

We have been using the Garmin inReach mini for a while now with great success! It is a fantastic product.

[@mtk8020]

Thanks for sharing this info Clay. I leaned a lot. Keep up the good work. Awesome info👊

[@AlexGossett]

Really enjoyed this one, was nice to learn a bit more about exactly how inreach and sat phones work.

[@jcf6597]

Great video, many ocean sailors use and are happy the Iridium Go system.

[@MrPogiBalut]

Garmin inReach Explorer+ 2-Way Satellite Communicator has a SOS feature locator you can found anywhere on the planet. Very important feature

[@stephenchapis268]

Great video. We only discovered XO about two weeks ago and the Alaska series has inspired us to start planning a trip from the east cost up the Alcan and Dempster to Tuktyaktuk, except we'll sleep in hotels instead or our truck. Even though our 2008 Avalanche has a newly installed Sony stereo/nav, the Garmin Overlander looks like a great source of additional information.

[@renegadearms]

A little late but pretty much the exact things you discussed has been my experience around the world in the military, using a locator beacon for most and a sat phone for super emergency or whatever. Obviously we use radios and gps systems as well.

[@vanqu1sh]

Thanks for doing this video! Answered a lot of my questions in a short amount of time!

[@ExpeditionOverland]

So glad it was helpful!

[@gzahnd]

Good info, Clay. I laughed when you pushed the ham radio off the table. I was recently on a trip in the far reaches of SE Oregon, and for five days couldn’t find another human on a repeater. It was useless. On our own trial and error, we’ve landed about where you are with tracking and comms, with the exception of Gaia on an iPad instead of the Garmin Overlander. I find the UI on Gaia is still better (easier to use), and at the end of the day, I can read a book or watch a movie on the same device.

[@AndreyNabutovsky]

very informative.thank you

[@benjamincacatian2008]

Thank you for the info

[@robe3812]

Hey Clay Love the new proven series so far, its very informative! I'll have to get online and order another hat, bought on at expo east last year and wore it out haha. Can't wait to hear more.

[@blackwell32]

Great video. Also, can you do a review of what you think of the Garmin Overlander. Definitely something i have been looking at and i know y'all have put it through it's paces. Also and another topic I would like to hear would be your car to car comms. HAM, GRMS, FRS, CB. What is it y'all use and recommend.

[@stuartgibson6839]

Excellent and informative. Would suggest a quick lesson on a '9 line' casualty evac to stimulate discussion on minimum info needed to initiate rescue with limited comms. I had not thought about in reach system, but that is a great introduction.

[@Matt-bg6kf]

Stuart Gibson I would say communication is tailored to the two people taking ... 9 Line works for military but not very relevant for civy

[@gabriel67roman]

Hi, Clay!!! Have you considered the new Icom IC-100sat? Those are satellite walkie-talkies that work on Iridium.

[@ExpeditionOverland]

Gabriel Roman I’m going to check it out!!

[@TBGaels32]

I'm not sure if you have considered this as an option, but you should look into getting into Amateur Radio. You have to be licensed with the FCC, but it could be a good alternative to have as another way of communications. I think that it would be worth a shot getting licensed as a Technician and then upgrade to a General or Extra class. It would be a great addition to your gear, and could be a great tool when all other options fail. It would be a must have for me when I finally get started building my rig.

[@Feintgames]

I know this video is 2 years old now. I'd love to hear you're opinion on the new Garmin Tread and how you manage screens and information delivery in a vehicle. Do you have them set up by priority? Do you follow a scanning pattern of vehicle tires, battery, water level, location, etc?

[@madcratebuilder]

Great stuff here. Right now I have the Inreach se, hope I never need it.

[@wayneoliver5987]

This is off subject ; but is very useful have you ever did a review or used a wireless camera and monitor to watch the rig behind you or to hook up your trailers. and thanks for another great video keep them coming

[@matt113]

I definitely have a few critiques but overall I commend you for putting together some very entertaining and well thought out footage. Just got through watching the pan american series on amazon prime and I'm for sure jealous. You seem like a good wholesome person who people should strive to be like. Sometimes you seem a little too know it all but I suppose that's kind of the point of your character in the series, it also gives you a tactical advantage IMO when shit hits the fan. Also good shit for reppin Magpul, not a lot of people have the balls to do that when they're aiming for a mainstream audience.

[@redfernsoljah]

Looks like you also didn’t touch on Personal Locator Beacons. I believe it to be the easiest method of getting help. Wether medical emergency, lost or even kidnapping danger of finding a person. Even need to have Amatuer radio along with APRS features for coms.

[@toughandtogether]

Great video, thanks for sharing. A quick question, I love the idea of the marine mount and not fiddling with power cords. But can't find any clear information on the internet on how the Garmin mini get's powered from the bracket. Do you still need to plug in the cable? Many thanks. (edit: btw, my overland setup is one sat phone in car dock with roof mounted antenna, two Garmin inreach minis, a SPOT trace powered off the truck, ipad for navigation using Google Maps and Guru maps for offline. So, your video was a delight to see, as it validated what I was doing. thanks :-))

[@garbinator09]

Some years ago Clay I read an article in Popular Science a company developed solar powered electric propulsion Cell Repeater drones designed to fly low orbit covering dead zones of regions having no cell service. Your presentation has me wondering why this communication solution has not been deployed that I know of... These drones were described as being able to remain airborne for months at a time.

[@edbowejr6130]

Gary Bowen it’s the lack of return on investment, there simply aren’t people to charge and pay for having the cell service in the remote locations, if there were enough people that would simply put the cell towers there

[@garbinator09]

Ed Bowe Jr - Thanks Ed. As far as I know, this hasn’t been done. My thoughts to effective comms goes back to the 1970’s during my youthful adventures days gone by. Back during the 1980’s I thought it was the BOMB to have a Wilson Electronics Analog cell phone extender mounted on my CJ-5. Back then, we could make very clear phone calls from mountain top locals even valleys offering direct line of sight signal to cell towers below. The tech only lasted a few years it seemed until companies decided they could gouge more $$$ from users by going all digital. Very short range, text, photos, emoticons twerks-n-tweeting took place of truly EFFECTIVE voice communications for me-the average bear user. Growl !!! 📵📵📵📵

[@Matt-bg6kf]

Gary Bowen ... but where are my flying cars??!! I was promised a flying car by year 2000...

[@Hummin_Along]

What about using a chart plotter like a Lowrance with pre loaded maps?

[@amandac6681]

Hi, Thanks for the info just what i wanted to learn and it confirmed my already made decisions, I am going to be travelling Solo for the majority of time in my truck and camper across North America in two months time full time, I am about to buy a Garmin Inreach device either mini or other inreach devices and an overlander tablet for navigation, I am also going to get a Ham Radio and my HAM licence. If I am mostly in North America exploring National Forest, BLM etc do i need anything else comes wise, besides my Mobile? What is you experience with SPOT and the SPOTx device? - Thanks Amanda - I was told they have a Save Our Vehicle service! Thanks for taking the time to answer and help me, as a newbie to overlanding I appreciate help. Thanks Amanda

[@PUR3vRAG3]

I suggest a WeBoost

[@POTCscoot]

I’ve been using Garmin/ Delorme In Reach for a couple of years and worth the monthly cost for ability to communicate off grid. But, for daily navigation it’s virtually useless. For that I’ve turned to GAIA gps in conjunction with my cell phone.

[@NarrowRoadAdventures]

I'm curious if your team has looked into amateur radio communications via satellite repeater? Does it have a place somewhere between an Inreach and sat phone? Also, while in it's own category entirely, I have a Wilson Weboost cellular LTE data booster setup in my main rig. It has helped with normal cellular communications and gen. data needs, giving just enough of a boost to make cellular effective in many ineffective areas. It's a nice feature but does not take the place of the items discussed. Now that I'm typing I believe I remember you all using one as well; do you still use one?

[@robertlonghurst7951]

any recs for two groups to be able to live track each other and communicate on satellite w/ no cell coverage? To my knowledge garmin only offers tracking through their app or website. Thank you.

[@adamcook5433]

Do you utilize the Garmin fenix?

[@overlandsubaruinternationa2378]

im suprise you didnt talk about you ham radio i know you need a tower close but still with the repeter you could go pretty far let me know what you think

[@baja_overlander3653]

For GPS accuracy, do you recommend GLO2 with the iPad ? Or the GPS from iPad or iPhone is enough?

[@evancuster7026]

What are your thoughts on 406 MHz PLBs?

[@navseal345]

You're wearing my shirt that I am also wearing?🤔

[@mitchvines1]

Does the mini act as a gps puck and update maps?

[@ExpeditionOverland]

mitchvines1 it can be used as a tracker (pinging every x amount of minutes) but it won’t update maps on the fly. That’s on the smartphone side.

[@bobcustoms]

Hey Clay have you checked out beartooth communications a fellow miles city friend and a gentalman from bozman created a device that is a blutooth communication between phones so like a turns your smart phone into a smart walky talky that texts and calls within 5 miles

[@swiftx1989]

It isn't really essential to power the Inreach continually. On a recent trip I had my old Explorer set to log the route (but not send it automatically) and I got close to a week of battery life. It would be on during 5-6hrs of driving a day. Even when sending tracking points every 10 minutes, the battery has lasted 3-4 days minimum. The newer Garmin would have to be similar or better.

[@cobyporschifer221]

00:57= That's the definition of an IDIOT. My truck is now a Boat.😆

[@kclamer]

Yeah never look back on the cost when you have deep pockets and have sponsorships.