inReach Messenger Plus

[Old Crow]

Hiking Guy (Cris Hazzard) reviews the new inReach Messenger Plus...

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

OC, thanks for sharing!

 

[dennis 221]

Well now I know y they are jacking up my plan price ..to cover their new product cost.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Well now I know y they are jacking up my plan price ..to cover their new product cost.

Grrrrrrrr!

 

[rubberlegs]

There’s an emergency plan that’s less expensive. But it’s buried in their website and hard to find. See this thread: NWhikers.net

 

[Occidental]

My cost has stayed at $11.95. I have the option to move up for more messages (50 instead of 10) and include detailed weather for the same cost as a message (currently $1 per detailed weather). Cost increase would be $3, and you can't go back to your old plan once you choose to upgrade. I haven't ever used 10 messages in a month, but the increase of messages including detailed weather is something to think about. (all costs are per month).

 

[ski3pin]

My cost has stayed at $11.95. I have the option to move up for more messages (50 instead of 10) and include detailed weather for the same cost as a message (currently $1 per detailed weather). Cost increase would be $3, and you can't go back to your old plan once you choose to upgrade. I haven't ever used 10 messages in a month, but the increase of messages including detailed weather is something to think about. (all costs are per month).

We also were on the $11.95 plan with the option of staying on it. Because of our message usage, we moved to the new $14.95 plan as - with the 50 messages - it was more economical for us.

 

[jkszoo]

Is this the most popular device recommended for ‘wanderers’? I have been wondering what to purchase for my future travels and know I won’t have cell service for almost all of my plans.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Is this the most popular device recommended for ‘wanderers’? I have been wondering what to purchase for my future travels and know I won’t have cell service for almost all of my plans.

IMO, it is. The other would be spot.

 

[jkszoo]

FYI Lots of inreach devices found on Craigslist, so looks like I may be in luck. Seems folks buy for one trip then sell them, if anyone else is in the market might be some good deals.

 

[ski3pin]

Julie and I purchased the very first Delorme InReach device prior to Delorme being bought out by Garmin. After many years, it still does all we need it to do. Messaging and such is made much easier by the free Earthmate app on the cell phone that connects to the InReach with that bluetooth thing. It does require a subscription with Garmin - for us $14.95 a month.

We have it with us on all our travels. We have two main emergency contacts - who have extensive SAR/mountaineering/backcountry experience as we do - who we know will work as our advocates if/when there is ever the need. We have used the SOS feature - to help others we've come across.

We have educated close friends how to send our InReach a message so they have the ability to contact us if there is a need to do so.

 

[rubberlegs]

Is this the most popular device recommended for ‘wanderers’? I have been wondering what to purchase for my future travels and know I won’t have cell service for almost all of my plans.

Some new phones have satellite capability. Deb's does but we've not tried it yet. Phones aren't nearly as rugged as the devices mentioned above though, and battery life can be an issue. We used the InReach emergency once and was impressed with the service. Anyway, since her phone can text anyone via satellite (without charge for another year) we'll try it on our next trip and report back. Another tool that might come in handy some day.

Here's a video that compares one phone with an InReach:

 

[lostcreek]

Hey all, couple of comments on Garmin and inReach. I use a 66i currently. Started with the v1 (black box) hand-me-down from a friend, then Explorer+.

- That's true about the hidden "emergency" or "budget" plan, you'll apparently only see it once you upgrade from the deprecated plan to one of the new ones, then I believe you can select it. I'm going to stay on the old plan until my message use increases. I don't use tracking or mapshare (just logging on the device).

- Garmin has just updated their weather app on some devices, all forecasts are now the "advanced" with 48hr detail and some days after that. No extra charge, just one message point per forecast. I recently tested on my 66i and it's as they say.

- Yes, there are LOTS of Garmin devices, from traditional GPS only, some of those with inReach comms and maps, watches, etc. etc. Couple of cautions about buying used inReach: You (buyer) MUST verify from seller that seller has properly cancelled their account with Garmin, and factory-reset the device. If not then Garmin will not allow you to create a new inReach account on that device. Also, the battery is not normally replaceable by the user, and you may not know its condition if not new. I think Garmin will replace batteries (or exchange with reconditioned) for a fee.

- be aware that Garmin has a complicated software ecosystem, all dependent on which device you purchase and how old it is in the product lineup. I like the older 66i because it has the least required interaction with software on either phone or website, while including the features I like to have.

Finally, Garmin sponsors a Forum for current inReach devices, lots of good info on how to use them, and discussion of issues and bugs. The forum is monitored by Garmin staff. inReach

 

[Dadocut]

Here's my comparison of the new and old plans: We use an Inreach Explorer w/ the "freedom safety" plan. We activate the unit about three months out of the year when we're doing trips. My elderly mom really likes a daily check-in message when we're in the back-country.

Old Plan: $35 annual fee + $15 for each month it's operational. Total $80 for the year (assuming it's used 3 mo out of the year).

New Plan: $8/mo when it's "suspended" and $15 when it is "enabled". Total 9*$8 + 3*$15=$117/year.

Definitely more expensive. The marketing description takes a lot of study to figure out what they're saying. Fortunately my annual fee renews in November so I can get another year of the old style pricing.

 

[jkszoo]

Hey all, couple of comments on Garmin and inReach. I use a 66i currently. Started with the v1 (black box) hand-me-down from a friend, then Explorer+.

- That's true about the hidden "emergency" or "budget" plan, you'll apparently only see it once you upgrade from the deprecated plan to one of the new ones, then I believe you can select it. I'm going to stay on the old plan until my message use increases. I don't use tracking or mapshare (just logging on the device).

- Garmin has just updated their weather app on some devices, all forecasts are now the "advanced" with 48hr detail and some days after that. No extra charge, just one message point per forecast. I recently tested on my 66i and it's as they say.

- Yes, there are LOTS of Garmin devices, from traditional GPS only, some of those with inReach comms and maps, watches, etc. etc. Couple of cautions about buying used inReach: You (buyer) MUST verify from seller that seller has properly cancelled their account with Garmin, and factory-reset the device. If not then Garmin will not allow you to create a new inReach account on that device. Also, the battery is not normally replaceable by the user, and you may not know its condition if not new. I think Garmin will replace batteries (or exchange with reconditioned) for a fee.

- be aware that Garmin has a complicated software ecosystem, all dependent on which device you purchase and how old it is in the product lineup. I like the older 66i because it has the least required interaction with software on either phone or website, while including the features I like to have.

Finally, Garmin sponsors a Forum for current inReach devices, lots of good info on how to use them, and discussion of issues and bugs. The forum is monitored by Garmin staff. inReach

Great advice, thanks, especially the ‘used’ garmin info!

 

[M1010 Mike]

Here's my comparison of the new and old plans: We use an Inreach Explorer w/ the "freedom safety" plan. We activate the unit about three months out of the year when we're doing trips. My elderly mom really likes a daily check-in message when we're in the back-country.

Old Plan: $35 annual fee + $15 for each month it's operational. Total $80 for the year (assuming it's used 3 mo out of the year).

New Plan: $8/mo when it's "suspended" and $15 when it is "enabled". Total 9*$8 + 3*$15=$117/year.

Definitely more expensive. The marketing description takes a lot of study to figure out what they're saying. Fortunately my annual fee renews in November so I can get another year of the old style pricing.

Yeah, really pissed me off when they announced this new plan pricing.