RV FEATURE

SOS AND THE WEATHER

The ZOLEO ’ s SOS function gives you a direct line to the GEOS emergency service . But it ’ s much more than a personal locator beacon . The app allows you to communicate with the emergency services , too , so that they ’ re aware of the type of assistance that is needed .

But should the situation be dire , there ’ s the inbuilt SOS button on the device itself , which will work if your phone is , say , flat , smashed to smithereens , or left behind at the campsite .

Another standout feature is the quick and easy weather reports and forecasts provided by the app – a fantastic feature that should help when planning your day ’ s or week ’ s adventures .

The ZOLEO app provides a familiar ‘ texting experience ’. We all use SMS to keep in touch nowadays , and moving those thumbs around our smartphones is second nature . That stays , and I appreciated it more than I thought I would .

Did I mention that you can share your GPS coordinates with friends , too ? And that should you lose your device , simply press the ‘ Find My Device ’ button on the app and listen for the alarm .

However , these are conveniences and not required for the ZOLEO to work .

You will , however , need a subscription , just like with any similar products . Subscriptions start at $ 32 per month for 25 messages , while the mid-level plan costs $ 55 per month and includes 250 messages . You can get unlimited messages for $ 80 a month .

Note : after the first three months , the plan becomes flexible , so you can suspend your subscription whenever you like .

Further , if you want to lend your ZOLEO to a friend , or even sell it if you no longer need it , that ’ s not a problem . Cancel your account and let the new owner create a new one .

On cost alone , the ZOLEO beats a satellite phone or satellite sleeve . In terms of portability and usability , I also lean heavily towards this device .

In my experience , the ZOLEO works very well – it did everything it says it can – and the app is intuitive . If you ’ re looking for that essential peace of mind to add to your travels , I strongly recommend the ZOLEO Global Satellite Communicator .

COSTS

The ZOLEO Satellite Communicator costs $ 345 in Australia . Optional accessories include a cradle kit ($ 49.95 ) and a universal mount kit ($ 119 ).

A RAM mount is an available option .

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