Even when you are off the grid, it's nice to be able to communicate once in awhile with those left at home, especially if you are traveling solo. My family gives me much less grief now when I head off on my crazy adventures just as long as I occasionally check in along the way and tell them everything is going ok.
Will specialized sports devices, such as bike computers and handheld GPS, soon become a thing of the past? Texas Instruments announced last week their plans to release a chip that packs in seven different radio standards, including GPS, Glonass, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and even ANT+, meaning your phone will soon be able to do everything your current sports devices can do and more.
DeLorme has teamed up with Iridium to create their own two-way GPS satellite communicator. Similar to the SPOT Connect device, inReach will let you send and receive messages from your family, friends or emergency services, while almost anywhere in the world.
