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Main Boards => Gear => Topic started by: Davon on 22:21:36, 16/10/19

Title: Viewranger V Garmin
Post by: Davon on 22:21:36, 16/10/19
Hi
 I have a INreach sat phone on a safety plan and pay monthly for subs . Im considering moving to. freedom plan where it can be suspended /reactivated at will.
This may be better as I don't use it sometimes for 2 months at a time .
Is anyone on this type of plan ? There is a monthly cost but how is it calculated ( days active ?) Also an annual £25 charge .


Is Viewranger  BUDDY BEACON the same and FREE ??


Thanks
Title: Re: Viewranger V Garmin
Post by: sussamb on 06:44:22, 17/10/19
VR depends on a mobile signal, rather than linking via satellites, but yes, buddy beacon is free.
Title: Re: Viewranger V Garmin
Post by: ninthace on 09:28:08, 17/10/19
To elaborate on that. The VR app is free and does not require a signal for the navigation function but the Buddy Beacon element needs a mobile signal to report your position to a third party.  If the signal is lost, it will catch up once the signal is regained. The reporting interval can be set by the user.
Title: Re: Viewranger V Garmin
Post by: fernman on 14:20:07, 17/10/19
To elaborate on that. The VR app is free and does not require a signal for the navigation function but the Buddy Beacon element needs a mobile signal to report your position to a third party.  If the signal is lost, it will catch up once the signal is regained. The reporting interval can be set by the user.

Before my multiple-day walk in north Wales last month I installed an app (not the above) on my phone and gave my wife and sons the website url, my user name and password.

I was soon without a phone signal, and all my family saw on the map on the website was a track of me for about a mile after I set off, and a track of me returning to my starting point at the end of the third day.

Title: Re: Viewranger V Garmin
Post by: ninthace on 15:37:49, 17/10/19
Before my multiple-day walk in north Wales last month I installed an app (not the above) on my phone and gave my wife and sons the website url, my user name and password.

I was soon without a phone signal, and all my family saw on the map on the website was a track of me for about a mile after I set off, and a track of me returning to my starting point at the end of the third day.
  That is quite unusual, most high ground in Wales and England has a signal these days (I can't speak for Scotland).  It is for that reason that I usually text the time of leaving each peak to home base.  If there is an issue with the going such as low cloud or bad weather, I add that in to the message.
Valleys are more of an issue, for example, my phone was always without a signal virtually all the way from Glenridding to the A66.  If the app you were using pinged at regular but infrequent intervals, I suppose you could have been unlucky but it seems odd.  You weren't in the Carneddau were you?  They were always a signal less desert.
Title: Re: Viewranger V Garmin
Post by: fernman on 17:45:20, 17/10/19
Nope, I was in the southern Arenigs, walking northwards from Rhydymain (a little village by the A494 north-east of Dolgellau) towards Dduallt and Cwm yr Allt-Lwyd.

My provider is BT, who I've found to be a darn sight better than O2 were for getting signals when I used to be with them, but I hadn't gone that far into the hills before I had no reception.

On the morning of day three I was on a minor summit, 480m, when checking my grid ref on my phone I noticed I had a very weak signal so I tried calling my wife, but it kept dropping the call. (No, she was NOT hanging up on me  :) .)

In the afternoon when I was descending the north-south forestry track, my phone suddenly bleeped with a couple of texts, but that signal was quickly lost and it wasn't until I reached the start of the tarmac lane that I was able to let her know I was alive and well.
Title: Re: Viewranger V Garmin
Post by: Owen on 20:21:07, 17/10/19
Hi
 I have a INreach sat phone on a safety plan and pay monthly for subs . Im considering moving to. freedom plan where it can be suspended /reactivated at will.
This may be better as I don't use it sometimes for 2 months at a time .
Is anyone on this type of plan ? There is a monthly cost but how is it calculated ( days active ?) Also an annual £25 charge .


Is Viewranger  BUDDY BEACON the same and FREE ??
Quote


I have an inReach SE on the freedom plan, it cost me £14.99 per month when it's active, in use I pay 10p per plotting point I used 49 on my last trip (8 days). I have it set at the lowest number of points per hour. Weather reports are £1 each but they're very basic I used 2. I sent 12 texts which came to £1, (10 free then 50p each). When you reinstate it you pay per month, even if you don't use it till the end of the month.
I've not had any bother getting through but it can take a while for a message to be picked up, I think the longest I've had to wait was ten minutes. I've used mine in Scandinavia and Scotland where mobile coverage is poor or non-existant. Coverage is actually better in most of Scandinavia than it is in the Highlands. 



Title: Re: Viewranger V Garmin
Post by: Apache on 20:44:41, 20/10/19
VR depends on a mobile signal, rather than linking via satellites, but yes, buddy beacon is free.


How do I obtain free beacon buddy. It appears to need a subscription the minimum of which is 4.99 a year.
Title: Re: Viewranger V Garmin
Post by: ninthace on 21:01:13, 20/10/19

How do I obtain free beacon buddy. It appears to need a subscription the minimum of which is 4.99 a year.
Buddy Beacon is part of the ViewRanger app which is free.  Download the app, register and then you can use VR and BB. If you want to follow someone, they must have activated BB on the app.  You can then track them via the VR website. You will need their username and PIN to see them. The 4.99 is a mapping subscription which is only necessary if you want to use OS maps in VR. ViewRanger’s own maps are free.
Title: Re: Viewranger V Garmin
Post by: Apache on 21:43:20, 21/10/19
Still can't activate Buddy beacon. I am logged in. Can see all the maps except OS. I go to settings and then beacon. Then my beacon pin. A pop up appears that says subscription feature. I click on upgrade and the cheapest I can find is £4.99 per year. Is there an option that I am missing?
Title: Re: Viewranger V Garmin
Post by: ninthace on 22:03:23, 21/10/19
What you describe is unfamiliar to me.  I was an early adopter and perhaps I have a different membership, I believe they exist. I have only seen subscriptions required for premium mapping.   I suggest you contact the VR support..  They are very good and reply quite quickly.



Edit:
Just had a dig on the website. It appears BB is a Premium service so yes a subscription is required.  Sorry, I got free Premium membership for being an early adopter so I wasn’t seeing the same messages.
Title: Re: Viewranger V Garmin
Post by: sussamb on 22:14:49, 21/10/19
You need to be a registered user, but I don't believe that means you have to buy maps.
Title: Re: Viewranger V Garmin
Post by: ninthace on 22:38:00, 21/10/19
If you Google ViewRanger Subscriptions or ViewRanger Premium you can see the services available for Premium membership. Buddybeacon is listed as one of the options.


As I said, I didn't realise it was a benefit as I got it for free. I wasn't using BB at the time as it ate the batteries of the phone I had at the time.
Title: Re: Viewranger V Garmin
Post by: sussamb on 22:41:29, 21/10/19
Yes, I see that but you don't have to take out a plan.  In the buddy beacon section it just says you must be registered. I've emailed them for their comments  O0
Title: Re: Viewranger V Garmin
Post by: sussamb on 23:15:56, 21/10/19
Quick response, they've confirmed you need a plan so ninthace is correct  O0
Title: Re: Viewranger V Garmin
Post by: Mel on 23:17:40, 21/10/19
That's very interesting.  I've also had the VR app (non-subscription) for a long while now and just gone (for the first time) to activate the buddy beacon (via the start track recording button).  After asking me to set the timings and pin number, I started recording my trip and there it tells me the buddybeacon is active and last sent position at [time].  No subscription required  :-\


Trying to "follow myself" on the computer is proving more difficult, despite having inputted the user name and pin number, apparently I'm invisible  :(



[/time]  <<<<   Edit: ha! just realised that typing stuff in square brackets can be read by the forum programming coding thingy and it's switched my time command above off   ;D
Title: Re: Viewranger V Garmin
Post by: Apache on 23:31:10, 21/10/19
Thanks everyone. I need to rethink. Personally I am thinking Garmin 20 with Spotgen 3 at the moment. Unfortunately OS is just too unstable with all the attendant mobile phone issues (mainly battery life) as well.
Title: Re: Viewranger V Garmin
Post by: ninthace on 23:45:46, 21/10/19
That's very interesting.  I've also had the VR app (non-subscription) for a long while now and just gone (for the first time) to activate the buddy beacon (via the start track recording button).  After asking me to set the timings and pin number, I started recording my trip and there it tells me the buddybeacon is active and last sent position at [time].  No subscription required  :-\


Trying to "follow myself" on the computer is proving more difficult, despite having inputted the user name and pin number, apparently I'm invisible  :(



[/time]  <<<<   Edit: ha! just realised that typing stuff in square brackets can be read by the forum programming coding thingy and it's switched my time command above off  ;D
I suspect if you have had VR a long time you were also upgraded to Premium as an early adopter. I do recall getting an email about it some ago.
Title: Re: Viewranger V Garmin
Post by: ninthace on 23:47:55, 21/10/19
Quick response, they've confirmed you need a plan so ninthace is correct  O0
When she married Mr Right,Mrs Ninthace didn’t realise my first name was always. (An oldie but goodie)  O0
Title: Re: Viewranger V Garmin
Post by: ninthace on 00:09:52, 22/10/19
Thanks everyone. I need to rethink. Personally I am thinking Garmin 20 with Spotgen 3 at the moment. Unfortunately OS is just too unstable with all the attendant mobile phone issues (mainly battery life) as well.
That is quite an expensive alternative. £138 just for the unit then the price of a subscription on top.  If you were prepared to use an app and baulk at £4.99 pa why not just send your location by SMS.  If it is just rescue you want, register your mobile for emergency SMS. https://www.ngts.org.uk/how-to-use-ngt/contact-999-using-ngt.htm (https://www.ngts.org.uk/how-to-use-ngt/contact-999-using-ngt.html)
Basically text Register to 999 and follow the instructions. Once registered you can text for help. SMS can get through on the weakest of signals.
Title: Re: Viewranger V Garmin
Post by: sussamb on 07:55:50, 22/10/19
When she married Mr Right,Mrs Ninthace didn’t realise my first name was always. (An oldie but goodie)  O0


Didn't realise we had the same first names  ;D
Title: Re: Viewranger V Garmin
Post by: Apache on 09:29:20, 22/10/19
That is quite an expensive alternative. £138 just for the unit then the price of a subscription on top.  If you were prepared to use an app and baulk at £4.99 pa why not just send your location by SMS. 




The subscription is not the issue (although we have now correctly answered the o/p question.


I am getting ready for retirement and long distance walking, unsupported and camping. I am looking for a lightweight, rugged and reliable answer for navigation, safety and possibly communication. The mobile phone has too many shortcomings. I feel that the Garmin 20 series will be a great navigator (AA batteries can be bought anywhere). A mobile phone is almost certainly needed on TGO challenge to call into control and a beacon such as Spotgen 3 or Oceansignal PLB 1 would be a sensible backup. If the number of stoves that I have gone through is a guide I am going to get it wrong first though. :(
Title: Re: Viewranger V Garmin
Post by: ninthace on 11:37:17, 22/10/19
If you are going into the Great Outdoors where phone signals are hard to come by, Buddy Beacon was probably not an option.  Definitely register your phone with the emergency services though, it is a belt to your braces.  As I said, you can send SMS messages telling people where and when you are and what your intentions are is also useful as a back up.  Otherwise a gps tracker with satellite communication is a good option.  There are technical solutions to keeping batteries charged such as spare power cell and/or solar to recharge your phone.  I have never had the need to go beyond Buddy Beacon in the areas I walk (Lakes, Dales, Pennines, SW UK and the Alps), so I leave it to the ruffty-tuffty walkers on the forum to advise you on satellite based options.
You might want to look at this thread too http://www.walkingforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=31153.0
You might also want to reconsider your thread title.  It reads as if you are comparing the ViewRanger app with Garmin satnav whereas I think you need to attract replies from the users of gps trackers.
Title: Re: Viewranger V Garmin
Post by: Bigfoot_Mike on 20:22:29, 22/10/19

Didn't realise we had the same first names  ;D
It is obviously quite a common name, as it is also my first name.
Title: Re: Viewranger V Garmin
Post by: jimbob on 11:01:31, 23/10/19
It is obviously quite a common name, as it is also my first name.
Common, moi, Common????

Popular, not common. Seems most of us share the same name.  :D