Cellular Service ANYWHERE with the Zoleo Satellite Communicator

Landscape photography can take you to some pretty remote areas where cellular service is rarely available. I've never been comfortable being out of reach from my family for extended periods of time, or the thought of having a medical emergency while traveling alone. So for my recent trip to Iceland, I brought along a Zoleo Satellite Communicator - a device that provides two-way SMS, email, and SOS alerts from anywhere on planet Earth. Does it work? Let's find out.
⚡️Zoleo Satellite Communicator
geni.us/wBaLc
Disclaimer: I paid for the Zoleo device and monthly service plan with my own money. Zoleo is not sponsoring this review, nor have they seen it prior to publication.
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Reference Links
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Satellite images downloaded from Artgrid. Get 2 months free with this link.
bit.ly/ArtgridDominey
Testing SOS on the Zoleo
support.zoleo.com/kb/articles...
"Hiker Rescued" Article
bit.ly/2Y8LduM
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Chapters
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0:00 Intro
1:41 What It's Not
2:45 The Device Itself
5:56 User Experience
12:23 What's Good
16:27 Outro
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Gear Used to Create This Video
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Camera: geni.us/x1qWvob
Lens: geni.us/DlD0
Microphone: geni.us/qmVjq63
Audio recorder: geni.us/ABAEu
Key light: geni.us/cElYW
Fill light: geni.us/sxel38
Accent light: geni.us/gHsO5iV
Complete gear list: kit.co/todddominey
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Follow and Contact Me Elsewhere
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Instagram: / dominey
Twitter: / tdominey
Blog: dominey.blog
Photography: dominey.photo
Email: [e-mail]
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Music
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Affiliate Disclosure
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[@dustyroads834]

To avoid confusion when I turn on my Zoleo I turn my phone to airplane mode even if I have a little phone service.
I’ve never had a problem getting good Sat. service up here in Northeast US. Great video. Thanks

[@jakenb1768]

Your review didn’t deal with sending messages (other than check ins). I found that function to work exceptionally well and the device is programmed to use cell or wifi when available. Seems to be a quirk that it doesn’t do that with check in messages.

[@SinaFarhat]

Cool device! :)

[@joshliquet]

Ok, this is pretty cool especially if you know that anything that can go wrong will go wrong.

[@barryobrien1890]

Takes the fun out of being deserted on a desert island 🏝️. Cool device if you are allowed to use it. A lot of countries seem to limit the use of satelite communications without permission. I wonder if these devices are included. May have to take one on my next holiday in N. Korea

[@dominey]

Interesting - wasn't aware of that.

[@mattmcgee6040]

I have the Garmin Inreach device, which is very similar to this. I shared your frustrations about messages only being sent when a satellite happens to be overhead. I wish they had a way to extent the antenna so that you could put something on the exterior of a vehicle that would connect to the satellite while inside a vehicle. Also, I love the ability of the Inreach to track you and send updates to family or friends, and you can also drop waypoints and be guided back to your camp or vehicle. Anyway, these are great devices that I’m sure will only improve with time

[@kubizdalis101]

Just get the windscreen mount for your device and it will always have a clear view of the sky.

[@dominey]

Agreed. I should have made that point, but the experience of devices like these should (hopefully) get better if more satellites are eventually placed in orbit and companies like Zoleo / Garmin continue to improve their product design and experience.

[@aureycorreia]

Very interesting. I also have an in reach device and the messages always send. Some times they take longer then others but they well keep trying until it sends.

[@PMCN53]

A good honest reviews Tod, but i don’t think i’d buy one based on your experience! Are there other companies that make the same type of device?

[@dominey]

Garmin makes some, but I haven't tried them. They may have similar behavior though for they also use the same Iridium satellites. Overall, once you get used to the quirks the Zoleo does the job. Hoping Zoleo can improve the new user experience.

[@airship9637]

Just curious. Does the device give you feedback--perhaps even just a blinking light--to let you know your message has been sent/received?

[@kubizdalis101]

Just checked Zoleo website and it clearly states that the device has to have a clear view of the sky and that you should allow a few minutes for the message to transmit. Also it says that you have to wait for check-in LED ligut to go out and an ascending tone to be emmited to confirm the message is sent.
It looks more like a case of somebody not obtaining all the available information before committing to the purchase.

[@dominey]

Fair point. But that information would be most helpful in the mobile application where errors are being reported. Same for check-ins, which also fail but the app doesn't explain why. I think if Zoleo improved the UX of their app it would go a long way.

[@aviationnationhd3760]

Bad info
Its not cellular service as you described in your text.
If a message fails to send, it will continue to send for 5 days. There is no need to try again.
I have never had a message failure, inside or outside.
There is a test you can perform to verify proper operation of the SOS function.
The check-in button will work vis satellite regardless of cellular coverage.
You may have an older unit.