In this month’s podcast

1. We look back this year's Spine Race and how we each got on - 00:50

2. TwoNav software update – what has changed - 22:22

3. Apple's announcement – Two-way satellite communication - 28:06

4. Andy’s top tips - 36:10

 

1. We look back to this year’s Spine Event

Andy took part in

- Spine Challenger South – Started Saturday morning – 15th June –

108 miles

60 hours to complete

Edale to Hardraw

CP1 – Hebdon Hay, CP 1.5 – Malham Tarn

Jon took part in

- Spine Challenger North – Started Monday morning – 17th June -

160 miles

90 hours to complete

Hardraw to Kirk Yetholm, Scottish Borders

CP1 – Low Way Farm, Middleton on Teesdale

CP2 – Alston YH

CP3 – Bellingham

CP3.5 – Byrness

Completed it in 86 hours and 10 mins

Highpoints – First 37 miles to CP1 (Low Fell Farm, near to Middleton in Teesdale) and then section that follows River Tees, it’s truly stunning, especially as the sun set.

Low points – Eating, first part of Cheviot Hills

Jon’s Just Giving - https://www.justgiving.com/team/spinenorthjon

Andy’s Just Giving - https://www.justgiving.com/team/andyayrespinechallenger

 

2.   TwoNav software update

 

3. Satellite Texting Is Coming to the iPhone. Do I Still Need My inReach?

 

Apple’s new iOS 18 update allows its products to work off-grid. But are phones a suitable replacement for purpose-built backcountry communication tools?

Being released in the US late this year, but no price structures have been given to date.

I was speaking to a contact in the industry this week and he was saying there is a large problem metering and measuring the data that is being send from satellites, so it is hard to ‘measure a cost’ as the data request for this info costs more than sending the message itself.

Currently, free SOS Satellite capabilities from Apple since late 2022, using Globalstar satellite system (currently used by Spot)

Globalstar also does not cover full coverage of the world, but it has been utilised very well by the Spot outdoor communicators in the past, but Globalstar getting a massive cash injection from Apple.

Apple will pay for 95% of the approved capital expenditure for the new satellites needed to support the service for Globalstar to upgrade their satellite systems.

So let’s see what happens

Iridium (Garmin and Zoleo use) far better quality than Globalstar

But, we have Apple, the 6th largest business in the world supporting/ backing this

A little bias, but anything apple do will be good and have a good interface so time will tell.

 

4. Top Tips

If you Garmin came with preloaded Topo Active Europe but you also have OS map card how do you view them say for cycling or in a more urban environment

As OS maps take precedence over maps on memory you simply turn them off

Main menu – Setup – Map – etrex 32, GPSMap - Map information, GPSMAp66i, 67, Montana 700Map manager some older units  configure maps

Worldwide basemap should always be enabled

Disable Topo Pro 1:50k or for 1:25k Older North Scotland, South Scotland West England wales etc 5 x regions , newer map card 12 x regions

 

TwoNav – Main menu Maps – tap and turquoise Eye icon means in view – tap eye icon to hide

GB Topo is OS Maps

British Isles OSM – Open Source

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