Late Winter 2018 | 11 On Trail & In Touch Asset Tracking Snowmobilers are not only passionate about their trail systems, but also the equipment they use to maintain their precious miles. Satellite technology includes solutions for monitoring the status of your attended or unattended grooming fleet, utility vehicles and drags. Stand-alone satellite motion detectors can be attached to club equipment and will notify the owner if it moves. They look like an EZ-Pass many use in their vehicles, just much larger. Satellite capability can also provide real-time tracking of moving equipment or vehicles. Recent improvements include dual-mode devices that use a cellular network to reduce expense, then switch to satellite as needed. Some devices even include a solar power option for sustained use. A neat idea is using tracking technology to re-map trail systems with impressive accuracy. Received track data is displayed with online mapping. In an effort to reduce cost, it is possible to collaborate and employ a shared use concept. Service providers can configure kits that include a device with various mounting adjuncts. When a club is finished with the kit, they just pass on the equipment to a neighboring club to continue the trail-mapping process elsewhere. Personal Satellite Communicators The development of pocket-sized satellite communicators has improved over the years. Cost, size and ruggedness have made these devices popular with many outdoor enthusiasts. SPOT and inReach are two popular examples. These small communicators (also called messengers) can be secured to users, sleds, backpacks or saddlebags. Each has varying capabilities that correspond with a scalable service plan. Devices might display location on a map, send a distress signal or preset message, or allow the exchange of text messaging between two individuals. Communicators are becoming an affordable consideration for safety on the trails. Satellite Phones Many years ago I remember powering up portable satellite terminals that were size the of a 1988 Yamaha Sno-Scoot. Today, popular US providers such as Globalstar, Inmarsat and Iridium have packed the same capability into handheld devices we call “sat phones.” Manufacturers are even developing interfaces that include Bluetooth or wi-fi connections with nearby user smartphones. Handheld satellite phones must be protected from cold snowy weather for proper function and battery life. They typically do not require strong signal strength to notify the user of an incoming call. However, initiating and sustaining a voice conversation is a different story. It is critical that the antenna be properly extended or locked into position to maximize signal strength. A helpful alternative is to connect a remote antenna. It might even be necessary to change your location to maximize the connection. Certain devices can require atypical and complex dialing requirements because sat phones are considered out-of- country calls. To simply the process, some vendors might offer simpler dialing options at an additional price. So it is again imperative to identify usage scenarios and convey them to a vendor prior to purchase. Examples of the preceding might include a groomer operator calling a club member for assistance. Perhaps a member might call a sat phone (groomer operator) from a landline or cellphone to convey an unexpected home emergency. Sat phone to sat phone calls might be required during recovery activities. It is important to consider these challenges when selecting a device and service provider. Keep a laminated cheat sheet with dialing instructions and phone contacts if necessary. It is important to test your device for proper function. Some service providers such as Iridium have a test number a user can call. Similarly, users should practice outgoing and incoming calls. Talking on a sat phone is much different than talking on a landline phone, due to transmission delays for a signal that must travel thousands of miles. Wrapping It Up Technology changes as frequently as the weather outside our windows. It is up to manufacturers to create the solutions. It is up to snowmobilers to create the requirements. Take the time to connect to new ideas and keep your mind open. Wherever the trail takes you, a better outcome is more likely if you can communicate. A satellite phone can come in very handy when grooming in remote areas without cell service.