Garmin inReach - new toy not a toy

[Basil]

Last year, in early Sept, my wife and I visited Goblin Valley State Park in Utah for a weekend camping trip. I’ve gone there myself solo to do photography. The thing about Goblin State Park is, there is absolutely zero cell phone coverage. The last time I was there alone, I had to drive 15 miles towards Hanksville, UT to even start to get a signal just to let my wife know I had arrived and was ok.

While we were there this last time, we saw a missing person poster at the visitor's center for a man, Howard Stone (64), who had gone missing while solo hiking in one of the nearby slot canyons. Last I checked they never did find him despite a massive man hunt at the time.

Ever since then I’d been thinking about all the times I’ve been hiking in areas with no cell coverage. What would I do if I found myself out there in an emergency situation with no way to contact help? That’s why I decided to purchase a Garmin inReach Mini 2 Satellite / GPS communication device.

This is one of those things that I may only use occasionally to let my family know I’ve arrived at a location or to check in occasionally to let them know I’m ok, etc., but if I ever find myself in an emergency situation, it will be reassuring to have this device - just in case.

 

[NutmegCT]

Congrats on its arrival!

I know zip about those devices, and I had no idea the inReach could send a message via satellite to a cell phone, altho' from a video on its use, it seems it might takes minutes to hours to get a confirmation that your message was delivered. Certainly better than being stuck between two rocks and having no way to let people know what's happening!

Glad to hear you finally have it!

TM

 

[Basil]

Congrats on its arrival!

I know zip about those devices, and I had no idea the inReach could send a message via satellite to a cell phone, altho' from a video on its use, it seems it might takes minutes to hours to get a confirmation that your message was delivered. Certainly better than being stuck between two rocks and having no way to let people know what's happening!

Glad to hear you finally have it!

TM

I have tested it with a friend and, so far he has been able to receive and reply very quickly. The device itself doesn't give you any indication (confirmation) that the end recipient has received the message unless they reply to you. However, it does give an indication that the message has been successfully sent through the satellite and to the Garmin servers. That, so far, in my limited testing seems to happen within 2 or 3 seconds. I've sent some test messages to a friend and he confirmed that he has received them within a few seconds. Of course in the testing, I have had a clear view of the sky. Depending or where you are and how much "cover" there is, I can see where it could conceivably take sometime to acquire a satellite. This device would probably struggle if you were deep in the rain forrest.

PS: One of the cool features is, when you send a message, the text or email the recipient gets will have a link that, when they click it, will take them to a map that shows your exact location.

 

[Gliderman8]

Do you think it prudent to carry a spare battery?

 

[Basil]

The device has a communications app you can install on the iPhone (or other smart phone) which makes sending messages more like using a standard text message app. Here is one of the tests I sent to my friend, Mike. Not that it shows the exactly location from where I sent the message (in the Costco parking lot). You can even tell what parking space I was in.

Do you think it prudent to carry a spare battery?

It's not a battery you can change, but I could carry a power pack to recharge it if I was going to be out for an extended period.

 

[bobhustead]

How is it billed to work in 'slot canyon' or other steep vertical wall terrain? I've been carrying a Spot locator device for years. The info says that, since it relies on LEO satellites, it can take a while to get a sat "in view". At 76, I am considering a sat phone for more comprehensive content
communication when down in the saltwater Glades.
Bob

 

[Basil]

How is it billed to work in 'slot canyon' or other steep vertical wall terrain? I've been carrying a Spot locator device for years. The info says that, since it relies on LEO satellites, it can take a while to get a sat "in view". At 76, I am considering a sat phone for more comprehensive content
communication when down in the saltwater Glades.
Bob

I can only tell you that it works using the Iridium constellation of about 66 satellites in polar orbit that move constantly. Each sat orbits the Earth 14 times a day. Iridium give true global coverage. I can see where, in a slot canyon, it might take a while to get a shot at a satellite connection.

 

[YakkoWarner]

How much does it cost for the service? I know receiving GPS data isn't a charge, but being able to send text messages via satellite has got to have a price tag attached....

 

[Basil]

How much does it cost for the service? I know receiving GPS data isn't a charge, but being able to send text messages via satellite has got to have a price tag attached....

They have 4 levels of plans to choose from: (Enabled: $7.99/mo), (Essential: $14.99/mo), (Standard: $29.99/mo) and (Premium: $49.99/mo).

	Garmin Mini Plans
Feature	Enabled	Essential	Standard	Premium
Emergency SOS communications	Included	Included	Included	Included
Sending canned check-in or status messages.	$0.10 each	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited
Self-composed satellite text messages/ weather reports	$0.50 each	50 Free Included/ month	150 Free Included	Unlimited

A couple of important points: Any plan requires an initial activation fee of $39. However, you can "suspend" a plan for up to 1 year without having to incur the activation fee again to re-start. So, for example, say you don't plan on hiking in winter, you could suspend the plan through the winter time, and reactivate it when you're ready to hike again in the Spring. You can also upgrade or downgrade a plan any time, without incurring another activation fee. So, say you have the "Enabled" plan (as I do) and are planning a trip that you feel warrants the standard or premium plan, you can upgrade and it becomes effective immediately. A downgrade becomes effective at the end of the current billing cycle.

 

[John Turney]

We have a friend who hiked the Pacific Crest Trail this last summer (2,655 miles from Mexico to Canadian borders). He carried on to the Garmin units and we could follow him. It posted a position every 10 minutes. Worked really well. He also had a cell phone, which he used for an app to guide him on the trail, find water sources, suggested camping spots, etc. He also carried a batter pack so he could recharge the Garmin, cell phone and GoPro video camera. About once a week or so he would spend the night somewhere where he could recharge the batteries.

 

[Basil]

We have a friend who hiked the Pacific Crest Trail this last summer (2,655 miles from Mexico to Canadian borders). He carried on to the Garmin units and we could follow him. It posted a position every 10 minutes. Worked really well. He also had a cell phone, which he used for an app to guide him on the trail, find water sources, suggested camping spots, etc. He also carried a batter pack so he could recharge the Garmin, cell phone and GoPro video camera. About once a week or so he would spend the night somewhere where he could recharge the batteries.

Yes, you can have it share your location with family and friends and the time interval can be selected between 10 minutes and 30 minutes. You can also use it to set "breadcrumbs" that could be user to find your way back to the trailhead should you get lost. Also, you can establish waypoints before you leave and use the GPS to follow the trail to the various waypoints. Lots of cool possibilities.

 

[AngliaGT]

Not in your case,but one of my pet peeves is the idiots that climb mountains in the
Winter,or don't check the weather reports & end up needing to be rescued.The rescuers
risk their lives (or sadly die in the process) and many times don't recoup the expenses that
they incur.Sometimes they call for help for stupid non life-threatening reasons.
I think you should have to have insurance,or post a large bond to cover this.

 

[gonzo]

Agree that some people do stupid things in the wilderness - like being under the influence - resulting in hazardous situations requiring help. In reality first responders, Forest Service etc. encourage a call for help.

 

[waltesefalcon]

Not in your case,but one of my pet peeves is the idiots that climb mountains in the
Winter,or don't check the weather reports & end up needing to be rescued.The rescuers
risk their lives (or sadly die in the process) and many times don't recoup the expenses that
they incur.Sometimes they call for help for stupid non life-threatening reasons.
I think you should have to have insurance,or post a large bond to cover this.

With my son working as a fire fighter with US Fish and Wildlife, these kinds of folk have really come to irritate me. Back in the spring we had some nasty flooding down here, cars were swept of roads, houses lifted off foundations, that kinda thing. In the middle of this flooding with water still rising some jack a@# decided to go for a hike at the refuge. The rescue team that was on duty had already been asked to assist with the rescue boat in Lawton, so when this guy was reported missing, my son had to drive in and go on a search and rescue on foot. That kinda thing happens way too often.

 

[Basil]

With my son working as a fire fighter with US Fish and Wildlife, these kinds of folk have really come to irritate me. Back in the spring we had some nasty flooding down here, cars were swept of roads, houses lifted off foundations, that kinda thing. In the middle of this flooding with water still rising some jack a@# decided to go for a hike at the refuge. The rescue team that was on duty had already been asked to assist with the rescue boat in Lawton, so when this guy was reported missing, my son had to drive in and go on a search and rescue on foot. That kinda thing happens way too often.

There are a lot of people who take dumb chances. I like to pretend I’m not one of them. I always keep tabs on weather. Last thing I want to do is be in a slot canyon somewhere and get caught in a flash flood.