Yellow brick vs Delorme

[stillbuilding]

Anyone tried both of these tracking/message devices? Any preference?
Seems like difference in billing and YB has effectively a prepaid service.
Apart from this, any user issues?
Will be using in North and South Pacific but seems not to be an issue for both - same Iridium.


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[Time2Go]

Originally Posted by stillbuilding

Anyone tried both of these tracking/message devices? Any preference?
Seems like difference in billing and YB has effectively a prepaid service.
Apart from this, any user issues?
Will be using in North and South Pacific but seems not to be an issue for both - same Iridium.


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

I used a Delorme In Reach last summer from Copenhagen to Gibralter
Worked very well and had no issues
Two way Text was great and I was able to send and receive with no problems
Don't know the pricing of Yellow Brick but one of the nice features of the
Delorme is the ability to activate it by the month. Used it for two months last summer and now it sits in my sock draw not costing a dime until
I activate it for next summers trip. It can be linked to a smart phone
for ease of message composition. The below is a link to my actual track
if you want to see what friends and family would see. The folks at Delorme
know their stuff and are really good with customer service. Also functions as a back up GPS and has a SOS function.
Good peice of kit.

Share.derlorme.com/sailing

Enjoy

[barnakiel]

Read Webb Chiles' blog. He used YB in his most recent sailing US to NZ. He has some findings.

Some of my clients use YBs. They seem very good stuff imho.

b.

[msponer]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

Read Webb Chiles' blog. He used YB in his most recent sailing US to NZ. He has some findings.

I searched Webb Chiles blog for YB. He seems happy, except that water got into the USB charging port. So he moved it to a dryer spot. Or is there anything else?

Thanks for reminding me of his blog. He's so cool.

[StuM]

If you're looking at buying an Inreach at the moment, I got this the other day:

"The manufacturer for the
inReach SED, Delorme in the USA, have some massive backorders they are
currently filling for USA Mass Retailers who have ordered over 6,000
devices. This mean there is a world-wide stock shortage for the inReach SE
at the moment which has meant inReach Explorer sales had also increased
causing that product to become unavailable as well. As the nominated
supplier for Australia and New Zealand, and I guess including PNG, Delorme
has advised us that our backorders are unlikely to be filled for another
3-4 weeks. This has meant our supply has dried up including stock
throughout over 100 of our dealers in the country."

I'd guess the same applies to Hong Kong.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by msponer

I searched Webb Chiles blog for YB. He seems happy, except that water got into the USB charging port. So he moved it to a dryer spot. Or is there anything else?

Thanks for reminding me of his blog. He's so cool.

I remember reading something about charging issues along the way. Possibly related to a wet USB port then.

I think he said the unit did not seem to charge to 100%

I too like his blog and I am virtually following him for a time now. Too bad we always missed each other - he came and flew out, then we came and stayed, then we sailed out, then he flew in and sailed on ... ;-)

But it does seem like I might yet stand a chance of meeting this old noble whale eye in eye!!!

b.

[CarlF]

I have an Inreach. Have never seen an Yellow Brick so am working off their web site.

It seems to me that the InReach focuses a little more on communication and the Yellow Brick a little more on tracking. Both seem good. A lot of the functionality seems to overlap.

A few of the features on the Inreach that I really like that may or may not be in the Yellow Brick:

Mine works just fine through the cored fiberglass cabin top without an external antenna. Mine just sits on the chart table 24/7 (turned on and charging). If a message comes in it blinks and beeps.

The InReach is a much better user experience than my Iridium satphone because I've never had a connection problem or a "dropped call". It sends the SMS as soon as it can which so far has always been in a few minutes - usually less than 30 seconds. It also confirms that a message was successfully sent.

It's incredible how much you can say in a 160 character message. Just ask anyone under 30. The only thing that's a challenge are weather reports or RIBs although a friend ashore came up with a coding system that fits a five day four times a day forecast into 160 characters "Southwest wind 15mph with seas 1 meter out of the east" is SW15E1 . I send him a SMS and he sends back the forecast .

I love that there is no contract and that I pay nothing for months that I'm not cruising.

I simply wouldn't go offshore without an InReach even if if only as a backup.

I checked Amazon and they are in stock for $299 including two day delivery in the US.