Zoleo Two Way Satellite Communicator Review
Each year one of the very few things that bothers me about where I hunt is I have zero cell coverage and no way to reach anyone if needed; or no way for my wife to reach me if needed. It’s always been a bit of an irritant, but a manageable one as she knows where I hunt and can easily come find me if I didn’t show up after dark. And the fact that when I go hunting, I want to get away from the phone. This year however, I am preparing to go into the rockies for a backcountry elk hunt, and I know from scouting in the area where I am going that not only is there no cell service, but it is a rugged wilderness where one could easily get lost or hurt regardless of your skills or woodsmanship. That’s when I decided to look into a satellite communication device. I hope I never have to use it, but the peace of mind of having it for “just in case” situations really appealed to both me and my wife who will be staying home.
After a lot of research and back and forth, I chose the Zoleo Satellite Communication Device and I could not be happier with it. There were a lot of variables to choose from when picking a device, including unit price, form, monthly subscription price & terms, features, SOS ability, and reliability in the field. I felt that Zoleo came out ahead for me in all of these areas. Let’s look deeper at these criteria:
Price: 5/5
As one might imagine, looking at a satellite communication device isn’t a cheap proposition. They range from a reasonable $99 for a one way device to over $699 for a two way device or a satellite phone, and these prices are just for the device. The Zoleo came in at $199 which was much more in line with my budget than the pricier options.
Form: 5/5
What struck me about the Zoleo is that it’s a small simple brick shape that weighs a light 5.3 ounces. There is no screen or keyboard to message on, because the Zoleo is a satellite device that uses your smartphone to send messages. That’s right, with the Zoleo, you message with your phone anywhere in the world with the iridium global satellite network even when there is zero cell coverage. You get a unique SMS cell number when you activate your device and that is the number you text people with via the Zoleo device and the free Zoleo app.
Monthly Subscription: 4.5/5
The monthly subscription prices for satellite communicators vary pretty widely, and I found the Zoleo plans to be reasonable. There are three tiers, $20, $35, & $50 per month. What really won me over with this part of the device is that, after your first 3 months, you can suspend your service for $4 per month for as long as you like while keeping your dedicated number. That is a great feature for me as I will only need to pay for the full monthly subscription during the months that I’m hunting, camping, hiking, or fishing in remote areas. There is also a location share+ feature that you can add on for $6 per month which shares your location with your check in contacts at a user defined interval so they can keep track of where you are in the backcountry. My only wish is that the location share+ was included as an all in one feature.
Features: 5/5
As I mentioned earlier, using the Zoleo for messaging is the same as using your phone. so if you can text with a phone, you can use Zoleo. It’s important to remember that this is not the exact same as using your phone because, instead of using wi-fi or a cellular network to message, it’s routing each message through a satellite in space so the messaging is not instant. I found that it takes 4-5 minutes on average to send a message and the same to receive one, but that’s a good average for any satellite messaging system. Another feature that I love is that it provides you with hyper-local forecasts via the Zoleo app using the Darksky Weather Service from apple. This can be a life saver in the mountains. It also allows you to message up to 950+ characters when you are messaging someone app to app. There is also a check in button that you can click to send a quick predefined message (with your GPS coordinates) to your check in contacts so you can let them know you are safe whenever you want to. And finally there is a follow me feature you can subscribe to that allows your loved ones to see where you are in your adventure (which can be a huge value in the event of a crisis).
SOS Feature: 5/5
The greatest peace of mind this device gives is that if you’re in remote country and something goes wrong and you can’t get out, there is an SOS button on the device that allows you to send a distress signal (including your GPS coordinates) to the geos monitoring/dispatch partner in the area. You will then be able to message with search & rescue and let them know your status. The SOS button is covered by a little plastic door so you cannot push it by mistake, and in the event that you do somehow set off the SOS, there is a way to cancel it before search & rescue are alerted.
Reliability in the Field: 5/5
The Zoleo is a tough little device that should give you a long term of service. It’s ip-68 water and dust resistant. It can be in 4.9 feet of water for 30 minutes. It’s also mil-std 810g shock resistant so it can take the bumps and knocks of a hard climb in the mountains. The battery life is impressive with it lasting for up to 200+ hours while being used in the field. Usage of features & settings will affect battery life, but even if you have it constantly checking for new messages and sending your location to your contacts every 6 minutes you will have long battery life.
Overall Impression: 4.8/5
I cannot say enough good about this device. It’s handy and tough, and the fact that it allows me to use my own phone to check in at home or, God forbid, call in an SOS when I’m miles outside of cell signal makes this thing an essential part of my gear list anytime I go into the field now. Good luck this season and stay obsessed!!!
-Heathe Pendergraft, Fall Obsession Field Staff