ZOLEO Satellite Communicator – Two-Way Global SMS Text Messenger & Email, Emergency SOS Alerting, Check-in & GPS Location – Android iOS Smartphone Accessory

The ZOLEO Satellite Communicator is an outstanding piece of technology for anyone venturing beyond cellular coverage. It offers unparalleled connectivity and peace of mind, whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, traveler, or simply someone who wants to stay connected off the grid.Seamless Global Messaging: This device bridges the gap between the Iridium satellite network, cellular, and Wi-Fi seamlessly. The ability to transmit text messages and emails over the lowest-cost network available is incredibly efficient and reliable.Life-Saving SOS Feature: Knowing I can send an SOS alert with my GPS location to a 24/7 emergency monitoring center is invaluable. The option for non-emergency Medical Assist is another thoughtful feature, adding another layer of safety during trips.Dedicated Contact Details: The assigned SMS number and email are fantastic. Friends and family can easily reach out to me directly, even when I’m far off the grid, which has been a game-changer for staying connected.Check-Ins and Location Sharing: The unlimited check-ins and optional location-sharing features are perfect for letting others know I’m safe. Including GPS coordinates in messages ensures my contacts always know exactly where I am.Built Tough for Adventures: With an IP68 rating, this device is built to handle rugged environments. The battery life is phenomenal—lasting over 200 hours, it has never let me down on multi-day trips.Affordable and Feature-Packed: The monthly plans start at just $20, which is a small price to pay for the security and functionality ZOLEO provides. Bonus features like weather forecasts and support for long messages (up to 900 characters) make it even more versatile.If you need a reliable satellite communicator that’s easy to use, durable, and packed with features, ZOLEO is the way to go. It’s worth every penny for the connectivity and peace of mind it delivers. Highly recommended!

I have used and recommended this device many times. I love the fact that the messaging app tries to send WIFI first, Cell second and Satellite last, saving money. I find it much easier to send a pin to someone using this app than using Google Maps. You don't have to be connected to the device in order to use the app as long as you have WIFI or Cell service.I have also used this off the grid and unlike some other systems, the message goes through quickly as there are many more satellites in this constellation. I also used it in Dallas this summer when AT&T's system was down (and for some reason the WIFI was down as well).I noticed that a few people gave this a "1" rating and so I read some of them. They are not describing anything like my experience or the experiences of my friends that have purchased this item. Satellite communication is not free and while it's cheaper than the past, it's similar to the cost of using a cell phone. For me it's about safety and being able to communicate at all times and everywhere.I bought this right after hurricane Harvey hit the Texas Coast. I was inspecting property north of Corpus Christi just 36 hours after Harvey hit. I had a Ham radio, CB radio, multiple cell phones and nothing worked. Turns out, hurricanes knock down EVERYONE's antennas for several miles. My neighbor's land line worked but her chordless phone battery was dead. That's when I resolved to go satellite and bought this device.We love to go to Big Bend National Park in West Texas. Most of the park is off the grid, and for nearly 100 miles around. The Big Bend Amateur Radio Club has a robust system of repeaters but even that does not cover the whole park. I've used this for business communcation and just checking in from many areas in the park that are off grid. I've noticed the other national parks have very poor cell service as well.In my opinion, this device is well priced and the service cost is reasonable and the device has never failed to perform. As I said, I have and I continue to recommend and use this device.

Definitely was careless to not pick up a GPS unit years ago given the amount of time I spend off the grid, but I finally opted out of peace of mind to get one this year. I’ve read reviews for a while now and really the options boil down to if you want a built in keyboard or not (I.e. ZOLEO vs garmin Inreach) being they’re both on the same satellite network coverage should be roughly the same. Ultimately I opted for the ZOLEO for several reasons. The unit is a simple beacon, it’s rugged, weighs hardly anything, about the same size as a phone (slightly thicker) and holds up against water. I spend a lot of time in backcountry especially on waterways so I didn’t need anything fancy. Next, I’ve read some terrible reviews about garmins software and UX, the need to download multiple apps to manage service and messaging and ZOLEO was just their app for messaging and if you want to use a pairing GPS app (I passed on this). Subscription runs $5/month when idle or $20/month when in use which I believe is slightly cheaper than Garmin and I don’t know if there’s an idle option in Garmins terms. So bad UI and pricing was another strike against InReach devices. In terms of usage, have had minor issues, happened only a couple times where on parts of trips my location ie coordinates were not available when a ping was sent. Again this happened a few times but typically the next interval ping had my location shared. No issues with exposure to elements at all. Messages usually take a 3-4 minutes to relay (when it’s not perfectly clear of obstructions above you) but it’s been as fast as under a minute when you’re in open view of the sky. Haven’t tested the full limits of the battery but no issues running up to a week so far, with battery life stated around 240 hours. For peace of mind, functionality, subscription costs and not needing anything overly complex IMO this is a better buy than the Garmin Inreachs or other GPS units on the market. You get same satellite network as Garmin which is the best one available.