Cheapest way to share location+track

Hi folks,

I'm wondering if anyone has ideas on the best and cheapest way to share my current location and tracked locations using some device or ios app. Garmin InReach seems to come up a lot and provides a great product, but it seems a bit overkill considering most of the time in a kayak you will be within cell range. Are there any devices or apps that share GPS coordinates and tracked locations, similar to InReach, but do so using your phone's cell data connection and don't require a hefty subscription?

Options I've found so far:

1. Garmin InReach. Pros: Tracks live location + tracked route. No cell connection required. Cons: Cost is high, $300+subscription.
2. Find My on iPhone. Pros: Shares live location. Can use satellite when out of cell range. Cons: No tracked routes. Doesn't always use GPS coords so not super accurate.
3. Navionics. Pros: Can share live location (and maybe tracked route?) using GPS. Cons: Both accounts have to have the $50/year subscription.
4. OnCourse app. Pros: looks to simulate AIS and shares boat location to the Marine Traffic site: https://help.marinetraffic.com/hc/en-us/articles/205327417-Report-my-position-using-the-Oncourse-App. Cons: Haven't tested this out so not sure how accurate/good it is.

Any other ideas/thoughts?

Thanks!


 

Google maps. You're welcome 

Google maps. You're welcome 

 , nah

I don't think Google Maps uses pure GPS coords. It uses a mixture of cell tower, wifi, etc. to reduce battery usage of the device. Maybe I am wrong though? I am looking for something that sends exact gps coordinates and, ideally, also allows you to see a track of where I have been since it started "tracking".

Tell us more about your goals. For example, if you have an iPhone and your goal is to allow family members to check on your location for safety reasons, then Find My is an obvious choice since your family members probably already have it. Newer iPhone models can even send your location via satellite. If your goal is to build up a library of tracks and waypoints to identify good fishing spots, then something targeted at navigation with bathymetry overlays like the Navionics Boating app will be better.

I use the Garmin Rino radios when mushroom hunting. A bit pricey, and everyone in the group needs one.

https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/533999

I use the Gaia GPS app on my phone when hiking. You need to load map areas into the app if using outside of cell areas.

Tell us more about your goals.

Something that will allow family to see track of gps locations during the time I’m out on the water. So it would show a route with previous locations and current location. Ideally something that does not use cell/wifi for location data but uses gps. Using satellite to send the data is not important.

I agree that Find My is a reasonable option but it doesn’t show tracked route and doesn’t purely rely on gps unless you are out of cell range and use the satellite option (afaik).

Navionics seems reasonable though I don’t believe you can share tracked route until after you’ve completed the session. It would be nice for family to see it while I’m still on a session.

I use the Gaia GPS app on my phone when hiking. You need to load map areas into the app if using outside of cell areas.

Looks promising! I will check it out. Thanks!

Using giai I've had guys send me download able tracks
I believe onx is similar...

Tell us more about your goals.

Something that will allow family to see track of gps locations during the time I’m out on the water.

Gaia will not work for your use case. You can't see your track on a device device until you pause or finish the track, save it, and re-sync your account.

It sounds like you want something like Strava Beacon or Garmin Earthmate.

Gaia will not work for your use case. You can't see your track on a device device until you pause or finish the track, save it, and re-sync your account.

That is correct. I wish Gaia had this option, as it seems like something they could easily add.

It sounds like you want something like Strava Beacon or Garmin Earthmate.

Strava Beacon looks like what I am looking for! Thanks for sharing that. Will test it out!

It sounds like you want something like Strava Beacon or Garmin Earthmate.

Strava Beacon looks like what I am looking for! Thanks for sharing that. Will test it out!

So it’s a phone app that tracks your location? Interesting. Definitely cheaper subscription cost than my InReach. Since I want to fish on the north coast where there is limited cell service I will have to stick with the InReach. Plus being able to summon emergency help when out of cell service is worth something.

Since I want to fish on the north coast where there is limited cell service I will have to stick with the InReach.

I am also thinking about the pros/cons here of the higher overall cost of the Inreach. Do you know if there is good coast guard vhf coverage on the north coast? Are there enough other boaters around for vhf to be sufficient? I was assuming that vhf + iphone w/ satellite as backup would be enough safety insurance, but curious to hear about vhf coverage in practice.