Pocket Mail Devices

imported
#1

Which would be the best devise for using Pocket Mail? They offer two now: the Composer for $100 and the PM32 for $50 (along with a two year rate of about $240).
I know this has been discussed over the years but many hikers are “new” to the AT a/o Trail Journals. Hopefully, some Pocketmail users from this year may have comments.
Thanks
Congratulations to The Wookie and Roni for their hikes this year!!
Big Daddy D

Big Daddy D

#2

Whatever you get, i’d suggest going through Pocketmail themselves. They warranty their devices, but not ones you can’t buy through them.

Mine broke in the smokys ( i bought one off ebay) and I lost a few journal entries and lots of e-mails. I got a new pocketmail device from pocketmail and it works perfectly.
And I know of at least one other person who’s e-bay pocketmail busted on them and had to get a new one.

Xena

#3

I believe the only difference is that the new (expensive) one supposedly works with most cell phones. I tried mine on a cell phone once, and it did not work. I’m not sure if it’s the exception (why they say “most cell phones”), or why mine didn’t work.

I also wouldn’t recommend getting a used one. It seems like they are rather tempermental, and all the stories of them breaking seem to come from people who bought used ones. I got mine new at Camping World. It also heard that Radio Shack might start carrying them?

-Tank

TANK

#4

Could someone explain to me the actual mechanics of journaling with the device? How long does a battery last? How do you recharge? How do you protect the device? How do you upload the journals? Do you plug the device into the phone? Do you post directly to Trailjournals or send to someone who has to do something to the file in order to post to Trailjournals? I see journals get posted quickly with pictures. How do the pictures get there?

Big B

#5

Big B, have a look at these:

http://www.pocketmail.com/us/products/composer/
http://www.pocketmail.com/us/products/PM32/

They answer many of your questions…the Flash demo at the former is especially useful.

As far as posting journal entries, I set up a TypePad weblog that allowed me to post directly from my Composer:

http://pct.eric.euonym.org/

I didn’t know about Trail Journals at the time, but I’ve since posted my journal entries here:

As far as photos go, a friend at home uploaded them to the site…the PocketMail devices can only send/receive text. I used a digital camera and took two memory cards…when one filled up, I sent it home so the photos could be uploaded. My friend would then send the empty card back to me on the trail.

Pacer

#6

Big B…I used a Pocketmail composer for my 2003 journal. I was a little skeptical about them before I started using them. Since then, I’ve grown to love the thing. It works very well and is easy to use. Here are answers, from my experience, to your questions.

  • Pocketmail is only an email device. That’s all it does, sends and receives email. It does text only, no attachments and no graphics. If you’re using it to keep a journal, make an email entry for each day. You send those to your transcriber. They can then cut and paste the entries into your journal. Much faster than them trying to type in each journal entry from a hand written page.
  • The battery life depends on usage. Pocketmail recommends using AA akaline batteries. I’ve heard others say that you can extend battery life by keeping the backlight on the screen off. I used lithium batteries in mine. After 3 months of daily use and uploading journals once a week, the batteries were still going. I changed them at the 3 month point just to be safe. If you’re using standard AA batteries, I’ve “heard” you get about 3 - 4 weeks out of a set.
    -Pocketmail uses an acoustial modem. You dial an 800 number. When the system on the other end picks up it sends a audio signal to you. You place the pocketmail device against the phone receiver and push the send button. It’s surprisingly quick. I could usually send a weeks worth of journals in about 2 - 4 minutes. I was worried about background noise interferring with the modem. However, I sent journals standing at a payphone next to a busy highway with big trucks going by and had no problems.
  • I bought the case that goes with the Pocketmail from the company. Gives it just a bit of padding. I then kept it inside a ziplock bag. If it look like rain, I’d bury it inside my pack in the large platic bag that protected my clothes and sleeping bag. Never had a problem with it getting wet or not working.

I highly recommend the pocketmail if you’re keeping a journal. The only “drawback” is the tiny keyboard. After a little while with you, you learn to use two fingers, or your thumbs, to key in. I’ve kept a journal using both paper and the pocketmail. Pocketmail is much better. Plus, you can get emails from friends or family and stay in touch that way also. I’ll be using mine in 2005 again.

Moose

#7

I successfully used the pocketmail composer for my 2004 thru-hike. I changed the batteries twice. I was able to connect via my Sprint phone atop mountains, but I had to set my cell phone in analog mode. These are sturdy devices and worth the additional weight.

Ladybug

#8

the pm32 is the version that preceeds th ecomposer. there is not a huge difference.

as far as doing trailjournal entries, they are both fine.
myself i used the sharp TM32. had zero problems.

there are two payphone numbers to use and I had no problems sending entries anywhere on the trail. my device didnt work with mobiles but I never needed it to. payphones in town work fine.

the only model of pocketmail that is dodgy is the JVC one. the oregon scientific/pm32/pm30/composer/sharp tm32 all are ok. (i should add the pm32/pm30/composer are all the same design and build with just slight firmware changes.).

Bloody Cactus

#9

Yeah, the JVC device is a waste of circuitry.

Stick with the Pockemail brand and warranty.

And yes Big B, I know I still have a journal to finish. You’ll find out when you hike that keeping an updated journal is a pain in the ass and but a great way to reflect back on your hike when all is said and done.

Officer Taco