Whether you’re out on the road, visiting friends, or relaxing at home, the ADT On-the-Go Medical Alert System ($39.99 per month) makes it possible to call for help with the touch of a button. Armed with cellular and GPS radios, the On-the-Go device can pinpoint your exact location and offers clear two-way communication with a 24/7 emergency response center. The system delivered fast response times in our tests, but it’s more expensive than our Editors’ Choice for mobile medical alert devices, the GreatCall Lively Mobile Plus, and it doesn’t offer a mobile app or any add-on services.
Features and Pricing
The ADT On-the-Go system comes with a mobile device, a separate wearable help button, a charging cradle, and a belt-clip carrying case. It also comes with a free lockbox for storing your house keys, a $29.99 value.
The mobile device is the same one used for the MobileHelp Solo system. It measures 3.0 by 1.6 by 0.7 inches (HWD) and has an IP66 water-resistance rating, which means you can take it with you in the shower or out in the rain. The wearable help button can be ordered as a wristband or a necklace pendant. It too is waterproof and can be worn in the shower, and it is designed to provide a 100-foot range to the mobile device (your mileage may vary depending on your home construction).
The white-and-gray mobile device sports a round 0.7-inch-wide Help button with a raised phone icon, a speaker, and three small LED indicators for low battery life, cellular signal, and GPS signal. There are self test and power buttons on the right side, and a clip on top for attaching the included lanyard. Inside are a GPS radio for location tracking and a cellular radio for connecting to the 24/7 emergency response center using AT&T’s cellular service. The device uses a built-in rechargeable battery that is rated to last up to 36 hours between charges. That’s significantly shorter than what you get with the GreatCall Lively Mobile Plus (80 hours) and the Medical Guardian Mini Guardian (up to 120 hours). The LifeFone At-Home and On-the-Go GPS Voice-in-Necklace still has the best battery life we’ve seen to date, lasting up to 720 hours, or 30 days, between charges.
Similar Products
GreatCall Lively Mobile
MobileHelp Solo
Medical Guardian Mini Guardian
LifeFone At-Home and On-the-Go GPS Voice-in-Necklace
Medical Alert MobileElite
The ADT On-the-Go system costs $39.99 per month or $479.88 per year, slightly more than ADT's in-home system, the Medical Alert Plus ($35.99 per month). That’s around $85 more per year than you’ll pay for the MobileHelp Solo and $180 more than the GreatCall Lively Mobile Plus, which has a one-time $49.99 fee. An ADT fall detection pendant will add another $10 per month to the total cost.
Although the ADT On-the-Go offers GPS tracking, it's only used by the emergency agents to locate you in case you're unable to give your exact location. There is no companion mobile app like you get with the GreatCall Mobile Lively Plus and MobileHelp Solo devices, which allows family, friends, and caregivers to keep tabs on your whereabouts, nor are there any add-on services such as medicine reminders or access to medical advice.
Using ADT's On-the-Go Medical Alert System
Getting the On-the-Go system ready for first use is easy. Simply plug in the charging cradle and charge the device for up to four hours for a fully charged battery. It’s always a good idea to perform a test before you head out, but make sure you tell the agent you're only testing, otherwise emergency help will be dispatched.
The On-the-Go delivered relatively fast response times in our tests (we define response time as the time it takes to connect to a live agent once the button has been pressed). It required 48 seconds to connect on my first button press, but averaged 36 seconds thereafter. That’s identical to the response time that we saw with the Medical Alert Mobile Elite, but not nearly as fast as our leader, the Great Call Lively Mobile Plus (15 seconds).
The device gave me a little more than 36 hours of battery life in testing, and it delivered clean two-way audio. The emergency response agents were friendly and professional, and always provided my accurate GPS location when asked.
Portable and Reliable, But Pricey
If you require a medical alert system that you can take with you on the road, the ADT On-the-Go Medical Alert System will make sure you get connected to a live response agent quickly and easily. It performed well in our tests and provided clear communications with the response center. That said, it’s a bit more expensive than other systems we’ve reviewed, and it’ll only give you around 36 hours of battery life before requiring a charge. Additionally, ADT doesn't currently offer any add-on services, nor does it have a companion mobile app. In comparison, the GreatCall Lively Mobile Plus is less expensive and will last up to 80 hours between charges, and it offers an excellent mobile app and urgent care services, so it remains our Editors’ Choice winner for mobile medical alert systems.
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About John R. Delaney
Contributing Editor
