I finally made the purchase and here’s my in-depth ZOLEO review and field test. This was actually two different tests to ensure I really understood how the Zoleo satellite messenger or satellite communicator worked.
Features
- S.O.S.
- Two-way Messaging
- Weather Forecasts
- Topo Maps
- Global Pole to Pole Satellite Coverage
- Check-In
- Location Sharing
- Uses Wifi, Cell Service, then Satellite Service
Field Test
Two-Messaging
My first test was to confirm I could send messages when in wifi at home, then in cell service, followed by satellite service, when away from cellular coverage.
There’s not much to add here other than the 2-way messaging worked perfectly and I believe this is the best satellite messenger on the market, when comparing two-way messaging only.
Weather Forecasts
The Dark Sky weather forecasts are easy to get to as the icon is at the lower middle of the screen. There is a lot of information here but I will caution you that some reviews say this forecast is not as accurate as other satellite communicators, however, I have not confirmed that myself, but it’s something you may want to check into.
Check-In & Location Share+
The check-in and location share+ works great. Here is an example below of what you will see from the message, GPS coordinates and map location.
The Location Share+ works quickly and is easy to see exactly where you are at, plus gives coordinates to your location.
Topo Maps
The topo maps is where the ZOLEO falls short in my opinion. It’s not that it doesn’t have a good map, it’s that there is no icon on the app to access the maps. You have to select on the Location Share+ message to go into the map share link, then select it again. Once that is done, you can zoom in and out and see the map as you would on other satellite messengers.
The map is great and something that is important to me. You can see towns, streets, trails, parks, etc. It is not the most powerful map, but it will definitely do the job for you.
Location Share+ Session & Tracking
The Location Share+ session with tracking is a nice feature and lets you and other contacts see where you are at on your adventure. You can set the update interval anywhere from 6 minutes to 4 hours.
The one thing I would like to see improved is a shorter update interval. Sometimes when I’m on a new trail, I like setting the interval to a minute or two, in order to get a more accurate trail location if I want to share it with someone or have it for a future trip.
Final Thoughts
First, this is the best satellite communicator on the market for messaging, especially when you consider it will switch seamlessly between wifi, cell service and satellite service without you having to do a thing. It will start with the least expensive way to message, which is through wifi, then switch to cell service then lastly to satellite service. At this time, no other satellite messenger offers this with wifi to satellite service.
Second, the ZOLEO is not a large device, but also not the smallest, and is easy to carry on your belt, pack, etc.
Third, the ZOLEO satellite messenger falls a little short for me as you have to click on a location share+ message to see your location, then select that location again in order to get to a map that you can zoom in and out on and around the area. There is no map icon on the app, and is just not as intuitive as other satellite messengers.
You can learn more about the ZOLEO satellite messenger here in my ZOLEO review.
- Global satellite messaging: Stay connected beyond cell coverage, use ZOLEO with your smartphone to transmit text messages and e-mails over the Iridium satellite network, cellular or Wi-Fi using the lowest-cost network available (service plan required)
- Emergency SOS: Send an SOS alert with your GPS location to 24/7 emergency monitoring center if something goes wrong, or access Medical Assist for non-emergency help
- Dedicated SMS number: An assigned ZOLEO SMS number and email enables contacts to reach out directly when you're off the grid
- Check-in: Send unlimited check-ins via the ZOLEO device or app, included in your plan
- Location sharing: Include GPS coordinates in a message or check-in, or share waypoints at regular intervals (optional add-on)
- Rugged with long battery life: IP68-rated for superior durability; over 200 hours of battery life
This product was presentation was made with AAWP plugin.
Check out the ZOLEO Review and Field Test YouTube video below.
If you would like to see ALL the Satellite Messengers in another review, see my Emergency Radio Reviews.
Return to Home Page
Zoleo Satellite Messenger
Pros
- Global Satellite Network
- Compact & Lightweight
- Easy Access
- Best two-way messaging
- Topo Maps
Cons
- Must be Synced with Smartphone
- Topo Map Access Not Intuitive