# Location Beaconing: Let the people you trust follow your hike. [Home](https://trailtreks.nz/) / [TrailTreks app](https://trailtreks.nz/app) / Location Beaconing > Location Beaconing lets you post your position to a private, time-limited link while you hike. Contacts follow along in any browser — no app, no account — even over satellite data. Location Beaconing lets you post your position to a private, time-limited link while you're on the trail. Your contacts open it in any browser — no app, no account — and see where you last checked in. - You choose when to check in - No app for your contacts - Works over satellite data **Beta:** Location Beaconing is a manual check-in tool, not an SOS or live-tracking service. It can't contact emergency services and nothing is sent automatically. Don't rely on it in an emergency — use your phone's built-in satellite SOS or a distress beacon. ## [How it works: Share your hike in a few taps.](https://trailtreks.nz/app/beaconing#how-it-works) From creating a session to your contacts watching along at home — here's the whole flow, step by step. ### 1. [Create a session](https://trailtreks.nz/app/beaconing#create-a-session) Open Location Beaconing and tap New session. Name it after where you're heading, choose how long the link stays active — anywhere from 1 to 30 days — then tap Create Session. ### 2. [Share the link](https://trailtreks.nz/app/beaconing#share-the-link) TrailTreks generates a private link and opens your share sheet straight away. Send it to whānau or friends by message, email or anything else. They only need a browser — no app, no account. ### 3. [Your sessions in one place](https://trailtreks.nz/app/beaconing#your-sessions) Every session you create is listed with its status and expiry date. Tap one to open it, re-share the link, or post a new location. Sessions stay active until the date you set. ### 4. [Check in from the trail](https://trailtreks.nz/app/beaconing#check-in-from-the-trail) At a hut, junction or summit, open your session and tap Post my location. TrailTreks captures a single GPS fix and publishes just that point — small enough to send over One NZ or Spark satellite data. ### 5. [Your check-in is shared](https://trailtreks.nz/app/beaconing#check-in-shared) Each check-in appears instantly with the time and GPS accuracy, and updates the shared link within seconds. Post as often — or as rarely — as you like. You're always in control. ### 6. [Contacts follow along](https://trailtreks.nz/app/beaconing#contacts-follow-along) At the link, the people you trust see your latest position on a map, along with the trail of earlier check-ins and when you were last seen. It updates automatically while you're sharing, and when the session reaches its expiry date the link stops working. ## [Good to know: What Location Beaconing is — and isn't.](https://trailtreks.nz/app/beaconing#good-to-know) A manual check-in tool for peace of mind on the trail, with a few things worth understanding before you rely on it. ### [You're always in control](https://trailtreks.nz/app/beaconing#always-in-control) Nothing is ever sent automatically. Your position is only published the moment you tap Post my location. ### [Built for satellite](https://trailtreks.nz/app/beaconing#built-for-satellite) Each check-in is tiny, so it can travel over One NZ or Spark satellite data on recent phones. On mobile or Wi-Fi it works on any supported device. ### [No app for your contacts](https://trailtreks.nz/app/beaconing#no-app-for-contacts) Anyone you send the link to can follow along in a normal browser. There's nothing for them to install and no account to create. ### [Time-limited by design](https://trailtreks.nz/app/beaconing#time-limited) You set an expiry between 1 and 30 days. Once it passes, the session is no longer viewable through the link, and your history is deleted 7 days later. ### [Only share with people you trust](https://trailtreks.nz/app/beaconing#share-with-people-you-trust) Anyone who has the link can view the session, so keep it to the people who need it. You can delete a session — and its link — at any time. ### [Not an emergency SOS](https://trailtreks.nz/app/beaconing#not-an-sos) Beaconing can't contact emergency services. For a real emergency, use your phone's built-in satellite SOS or a dedicated distress beacon. ## [Questions: Questions about Location Beaconing.](https://trailtreks.nz/app/beaconing#faq) ### [How does Location Beaconing work over satellite?](https://trailtreks.nz/app/beaconing#faq-satellite) Each check-in is a single GPS fix, small enough to send over One NZ or Spark satellite data on recent phones with a plan that includes satellite data. Getting the GPS fix uses no data, and only that one point is sent. Refreshing your sessions from the cloud is switched off while you are on satellite, to save data. ### [Does it need phone signal?](https://trailtreks.nz/app/beaconing#faq-phone-signal) Posting a check-in needs a data connection: mobile data, Wi-Fi or satellite data. With no connection at all, nothing can be sent. ### [Who can see my location?](https://trailtreks.nz/app/beaconing#faq-who-can-see) Anyone you give the session link to. They open it in a web browser, with no app or account, and see the positions you have posted (up to 100 timestamped points, each with its accuracy), the session name and a "last seen" time. ### [Is my location sent automatically?](https://trailtreks.nz/app/beaconing#faq-automatic) No. A position is only posted when you tap Post my location. The app does not track or send your location automatically. ### [How long does the link work, and how long is my data kept?](https://trailtreks.nz/app/beaconing#faq-expiry-and-retention) You choose an expiry between 1 and 30 days. When the session expires, the link stops showing your position, and your history is deleted 7 days later. You can delete a session, and its link, at any time before then. ### [Do I need an account?](https://trailtreks.nz/app/beaconing#faq-account) You sign in to TrailTreks with Google or Apple to create sessions and post check-ins. Location Beaconing is free. The people you share the link with need no app and no account. ### [Can Location Beaconing call for help?](https://trailtreks.nz/app/beaconing#faq-call-for-help) No. It is a manual check-in tool, not an SOS or live-tracking service, and it can't contact emergency services. In an emergency, use your phone's built-in satellite SOS or a distress beacon. ## [Download once. Hike offline.](https://trailtreks.nz/app/beaconing#download) Free to download, no account needed to explore. Grab TrailTreks: NZ Topo Maps before your next trip into the New Zealand backcountry. - [Download on the App Store (iPhone)](https://apps.apple.com/nz/app/trailtreks-nz-topo-maps/id6753130686) - [Get it on Google Play (Android)](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.trailtreks.app) --- HTML version: https://trailtreks.nz/app/beaconing. See also the [Privacy Policy](https://trailtreks.nz/privacy) and [Terms of Use](https://trailtreks.nz/terms).