Part of the fun of hiking and camping is being disconnected from our devices. But if you get lost when exploring or need to contact someone in your group, a lack of cell service can really get in the way. That’s where the goTele, brought to us courtesy of Indiegogo, steps in to help tackle the outdoors with its off-the-grid location tracking and texting capabilities.
An ever growing portion of the US has reliable cellular service, from the city to the countryside. But odds are high that the best exploration locations near you also happen to be the best cellular dead zones. Even if you’re one of the most outdoorsy people, you’d probably still be relieved to have some form of connection amongst your fellow adventuring pals, which is where the goTele enters to help put your mind at ease.
goTele is a peer-to-peer communication device, meaning it sends messages directly to other units in the area without needed to talk with a cellular tower. Relying on its build-in GPS module, goTele can access the current location of you and anyone else in your party. The device can also send SOS signals and SMS text messages to group members as well. Along with other functionality, the device accomplishes all this without cell service.
Packed into a lightweight plastic housing, goTele sports IP67-rated weather resistance, meaning it has no trouble handling water, dust or temperatures ranging from -4° to 140° F.
Each individual goTele unit can keep track of up to 30 other individuals and can interact with other devices within a 3.1 mile radius, a range more an adequate for most outdoor adventures. The founders of goTele contend that this, plus the aforementioned features help make the device a perfect companion for hiking, camping, attending concerts and more.
The off-grid tracking device can also pair to a companion iOS and Android application thanks to integrated Bluetooth. Within the app, you’ll be able to track your friend’s real-time location as well as send/receive SMS texts. It also offers more advanced functionality like creating geo-fences so you can be alerted when a group member enters or leaves a location. Using the app is entirely optional though, so if your phone dies, you can use the goTele itself to access practically all of the device’s features.
Having just launched its Indiegogo campaign, there are several backing options to assist with a variety of party sizes. Starting at $79, you’ll be able to pick up a single goTele unit. If you and your adventurous pals are ready to go all in, pledging $710 scores you a pack of ten trackers. Various options in-between the two are also available. Assuming goTele hits its $50,000 campaign goal, the devices will be shipping to explorers in October.
With goTele, you can stay connected even when your phone has no service. By using GPS and long range radio technology you can communicate in the most remote places, at festivals or shows where cell towers are overloaded, on ski slopes with spotty service, or even in foreign countries where you don’t have coverage. With the perfect pairing of the goTele device and smartphone app, you can track your friends, family and pets in real time, send SMS texts, SOS signals, and more.
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