With so many 'gadgets' on the market these days it's hard to decide on what to choose, especially when it comes to safety.
Over the years we have accumulated all the different offerings of SOS units, communicators and Personal Locator Beacons (PLB's), and what we always hoped for, was a simple device combining decent messaging capabilities, a good price and with a reasonable subscription, Zoleo has delivered that and more.
We received a unit from Zoleo for testing recently and compare to our existing products, it didn't take long to be impressed.
The device does exactly what it say's on the wrapper, fuss free and seamless communication by satellite, phone data or wifi.
It hit the nail on the head for what we're after, fast messaging and connectivity.
When in full satellite or service areas, messaging was almost instantaneous, the device auto selects what network to use and the in app response times are better than anything else we've used.
The Zoleo comes in at a RRP of $345, with subscriptions starting from $32 per month, you can also park the plan after an initial activation period for just $6.50 per month when it's not being used.
Parking the plan keeps the service, the dedicated sms and user email active.
Yep, you even get a dedicated email that you can give to people and they'll be able to reach you, replying from the in app messenger is delivered back to their email.
Tech Specs
Weight: 150 g (5.3 oz)
Size (L x W x D): 9.1 x 6.6 x 2.7 cm (3.58 x 2.6 x 1.06 in)
Ingress Protection: IP68; dust- and water-resistant (to 1.5 m (4.9 ft) for 30 min)
Shock-resistant: MIL-STD 810G
Power input: Micro-USB Type B connector
Covered SOS button prevents false alarms (also cancellable)
Audible alerts for messages (user-selected tone)
Internal GPS chip, location-aware (accurate to 2.5 m (8.2 ft))
LEDs for: messages, SOS, check-in, and power
Satellite network: Iridium
Connects via Bluetooth LE (one connection at a time; range of up to 50 m (164 ft))
Global Navigation Satellite System: GPS, GLONASS
GPS accuracy: 2.5 m (8.2 ft) under ideal conditions
Our support crew (Riders, 4WD, Luggage and base) are all connected with Zoleo for peace of mind and an added layer of safety.