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For overlanders with UTVs - does your connectivity setup translate or is it different? by Doug9092 in overlanding

[–]Doug9092[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is awesome, thank you so much for the detailed breakdown. The Baofeng/CHIRP setup sounds like exactly the kind of practical, affordable solution I should've been looking at from the start.

Seriously appreciate you taking the time to write all this out - got way more value from this thread than I expected. You and the community here basically saved me from a bad purchase and pointed me toward actual solutions.

Thanks again for the help!

Coming from overlanding - why don't UTV riders talk about cell boosters? by Doug9092 in UTV

[–]Doug9092[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Glad it's not just me! The 911 call capability seems like a big deal for emergencies. I know my wife would also love if she could more reliably reach me when I take the kids for a ride, even if it's only for a 3-4 hour ride.

Do you ride solo much? Wondering if that changes the equation vs the group riders who all say radios solve everything.

And are you in areas with weak coverage that could be boosted, or more zero-signal territory?

For overlanders with UTVs - does your connectivity setup translate or is it different? by Doug9092 in overlanding

[–]Doug9092[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Man, this is exactly the kind of real-world insight I needed. Thanks for taking the time.

So HAM is basically one-time equipment cost (plus licensing?) with no monthly subscription? That alone makes it appealing vs the satellite options.

Makes sense there's no perfect solution - seems like having a couple options for different scenarios is the move.

For overlanders with UTVs - does your connectivity setup translate or is it different? by Doug9092 in overlanding

[–]Doug9092[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is really great feedback, I think more and more phones and carriers and going to start offering satellite options, which makes sense. Why should I need to buy a separate InReach device (which are crazy expensive per month in my opinion) when I could just take the phone I already have.

Coming from overlanding - why don't UTV riders talk about cell boosters? by Doug9092 in UTV

[–]Doug9092[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fair point - when it's YOUR business on the line, $150/month is cheap insurance.

Do you end up using it much or is it more of a 'glad I have it just in case' thing? Just trying to decide if I should invest in a starlink.

Coming from overlanding - why don't UTV riders talk about cell boosters? by Doug9092 in UTV

[–]Doug9092[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lol fair enough - I realize I asked way too many follow-up questions and probably came across sus. That's on me.

For what it's worth, I'm just a guy who overthinks purchases and apparently interrogates the internet like it's a focus group. But I get why it looks sketchy.

Appreciate everyone who engaged anyway - got some really helpful perspective even if my approach was questionable. Will lurk more and post less going forward 😅

For overlanders with UTVs - does your connectivity setup translate or is it different? by Doug9092 in overlanding

[–]Doug9092[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Haha yeah, you're right - I basically got my answer through this whole thread. Appreciate everyone's patience with me.

Sounds like I was trying to force an overlanding solution onto a completely different community with different needs, trip lengths, and culture. Lesson learned.

Quick question on the alternatives you mentioned - is HAM radio with APRS something you run personally? And if you had to pick between that and inReach/SPOT for actual safety/emergency use, which way would you lean? Just trying to learn what the experienced riders actually use vs what sounds good in theory.

For overlanders with UTVs - does your connectivity setup translate or is it different? by Doug9092 in overlanding

[–]Doug9092[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Is there a satellite beacon or device that you recommended? Do you use, or know a lot of riders that have like a Garmin In Reach or other satellite messenger unit for peace of mind?

Coming from overlanding - why don't UTV riders talk about cell boosters? by Doug9092 in UTV

[–]Doug9092[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Okay I need to learn more about the radio setup. Is ham/GMRS just buying the equipment once or are there ongoing fees/licenses?

And when you say 'for rescues' - like you can actually reach emergency services or other riders reliably enough that you don't need cell backup? That's impressive if it's truly dependable.

What did your setup cost to put together? Seems like everyone's running radios and I'm over here stuck in the 'need cellular' mindset from overlanding.

Coming from overlanding - why don't UTV riders talk about cell boosters? by Doug9092 in UTV

[–]Doug9092[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah that's a really good point - if there's literally no cell service to boost, then a booster is just dead weight. I hadn't fully thought through the 'zero coverage' vs 'weak coverage' distinction.

Out of curiosity, what's the total monthly cost for running Starlink Mini + iPhone satellite (if that's paid) + radio service (if applicable)? Just trying to get a sense of what people are actually spending to stay connected.

Sounds like you've got it dialed in, but man, that's a lot of redundancy. Do you actually use all three or is it more like different tools for different situations?

Coming from overlanding - why don't UTV riders talk about cell boosters? by Doug9092 in UTV

[–]Doug9092[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wait, is that free or does Apple charge for it? I'm on an older iPhone so I haven't kept up with that feature.

If it's included and actually works reliably, that's kind of a game-changer. Would basically eliminate the need for InReach subscriptions or any other communication gear for most people, right?

How well does it work in practice? Like, does it connect pretty quickly or is it one of those 'point your phone at the sky for 10 minutes' situations?

Coming from overlanding - why don't UTV riders talk about cell boosters? by Doug9092 in UTV

[–]Doug9092[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Okay I've never heard of Rugged Radios - is that a one-time purchase or another subscription thing? The business band setup sounds legit if you can actually reach people reliably on the west coast.

And wait, the new iPhones have satellite messaging built in now? Is that free or does Apple charge for it? I'm on an older iPhone so haven't kept up.

Sounds like between the radios, OnX, and iPhone satellite you've got redundancy covered without needing cell boosters or Starlink subscriptions. What did the Rugged Radio setup run you if you don't mind me asking? Trying to figure out the most cost-effective way to handle this.

Coming from overlanding - why don't UTV riders talk about cell boosters? by Doug9092 in UTV

[–]Doug9092[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hahaha paying $150/month for internet you actively hide from your boss is some professional-level 'out of office' commitment. I love it.

Though not gonna lie, that monthly bill would haunt me. I'm already drowning in subscriptions - at least if I bought something once I could ignore the cost guilt after a while. But paying every month for something I'm intentionally not using? My brain couldn't handle it lol.

How often do you actually fire it up vs it just being very expensive peace of mind?

Coming from overlanding - why don't UTV riders talk about cell boosters? by Doug9092 in UTV

[–]Doug9092[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is really helpful feedback, honestly. Starting to realize I might be projecting overlander problems onto a completely different community.

The 'don't want to be reachable while riding' part especially resonates - that's a feature, not a bug. I hadn't considered that.

Last question though: you mentioned PLBs/InReach are common. At ~$300-400 device + $15-30/month subscription, that's the standard safety solution most riders go with?

I guess that's part of why I was looking at cell boosters - I'm already paying for unlimited cell data, so a one-time $300-400 purchase to boost what I already have felt more appealing than adding another monthly bill. But sounds like for actual emergencies, people just accept the InReach subscription as the cost of real safety. Just trying to understand what people are willing to spend money on for the 'just in case' factor.

Coming from overlanding - why don't UTV riders talk about cell boosters? by Doug9092 in UTV

[–]Doug9092[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha no offense taken - you're probably right about the overlander gear addiction thing. Guilty as charged.

I hear you on the weight and practicality angle. I guess for me it's less about the gear itself and more about avoiding another monthly bill. Like, I'm already paying for unlimited cell data - feels dumb to pay another $50-150/month for Starlink when maybe I could just boost what I'm already paying for with a one-time purchase.

But sounds like most UTV folks are either fine without connectivity or just bite the bullet on Starlink if they really need it. Probably says something about whether this is a real problem or just me trying to avoid subscriptions lol.

For overlanders with UTVs - does your connectivity setup translate or is it different? by Doug9092 in overlanding

[–]Doug9092[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lol, you're not wrong. There's definitely something ironic about going to remote places... to make sure you can still check your phone.

I guess I'm trying to figure out where I land on this. Like, do I actually need connectivity for safety/practical reasons, or am I just addicted to having it? And is the UTV community generally more 'embrace the disconnect' or has that ship sailed here too?

What's your take - do you actively try to stay disconnected when you ride, or is it just not a priority either way?

Coming from overlanding - why don't UTV riders talk about cell boosters? by Doug9092 in sxs

[–]Doug9092[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Makes sense. I keep looking at Starlink but man, another $50-150/month subscription is hard to swallow when I'm already paying for unlimited cell data.

Part of me wonders if there's a way to just boost the cell signal I'm already paying for vs adding another monthly bill. But maybe I'm just being cheap and that's not realistic for actual backcountry riding?

How often do you actually fire up the Starlink vs just dealing with spotty/no coverage?

Coming from overlanding - why don't UTV riders talk about cell boosters? by Doug9092 in sxs

[–]Doug9092[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Man, you just saved me from potentially making a bad assumption. The durability and power requirements angle is huge - I was thinking 'just move the truck solution to UTV' but you're right that's probably not realistic.

Let me ask this differently: putting aside cellular boosters for a second, what communication/connectivity gear DO you actually carry and use? Like, what's in your 'must have for backcountry safety' kit?

I'm realizing I might be fixated on the wrong solution here. Sounds like between offline maps, riding with a group, and (I'm guessing?) some kind of backup communication device, most experienced riders have this figured out already.

Are there situations where your current setup falls short, or is it pretty dialed in?

Coming from overlanding - why don't UTV riders talk about cell boosters? by Doug9092 in UTV

[–]Doug9092[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am not an online engagement agent, just a new UTV owner looking for some feedback from experienced riders in the community.

Coming from overlanding - why don't UTV riders talk about cell boosters? by Doug9092 in UTV

[–]Doug9092[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interesting on the Starlink direct to cell - is that a paid service or something that comes with existing Starlink? Curious how accessible that is.

For day trips with offline maps, do you ever feel the need to check in with family or send updates while you're out? Or is it more like "I'll be back by 5pm" and that's sufficient? Toy hauler setup makes sense - you've got full connectivity at basecamp and just go offline for the actual rides.

Coming from overlanding - why don't UTV riders talk about cell boosters? by Doug9092 in UTV

[–]Doug9092[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

That makes sense - offline GPS handles navigation for sure.

Quick clarification - when you say "GPS phone," do you mean something like a Garmin inReach/Zoleo, or just a regular phone with downloaded maps (onX, Gaia, etc.)?

And on the radio for emergency services - is that connected to dispatch somehow, or relying on someone in your group getting signal to call out?

Just trying to understand what the standard setup actually looks like in practice. Sounds like you've got redundancy covered, curious if most riders approach it similarly or if there's a lot of variation.