Garmin changes inReach plans and fees
- Thread starter JoeCedar
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Salty
Active member
Bummer. I have the Freedom plan which I only use when I go solo backpacking (which usually includes bushwhacking), which is only once a year. I'm usually deep into the Pemi so cell service is out of the question.
Thanks for the info.
Thanks for the info.
Lone Stranger
Member
Thanks for posting that. I'm sure I have an email somewhere telling me about it that I've ignored. There are some good things from my perspective as an annual account user like more messages included. Since it isn't an annual contract I can move service levels and downgrade for months I don't have long trips planned.
I have a second device my wife uses once or twice a year on her solo trips which has a Freedom account. Looking at the details on that page I'm wondering if we can just leave it Enabled. It looks like you can still use the device, just paying per message with a 10 cent fee for check ins rather than free. If I am reading that right there doesn't seem to be much reason to upgrade to Essential for her trips. Am I missing something there?
I have a second device my wife uses once or twice a year on her solo trips which has a Freedom account. Looking at the details on that page I'm wondering if we can just leave it Enabled. It looks like you can still use the device, just paying per message with a 10 cent fee for check ins rather than free. If I am reading that right there doesn't seem to be much reason to upgrade to Essential for her trips. Am I missing something there?
Rhody Seth
Active member
I wonder if the increase in messages is a response to the new satellite capabilities of the iPhone. I just got the latest ios update on my iPhone 14. I was in the Pemi this weekend and wasn't surprised I didn't have service. I was surprised when my phone asked if I wanted to text my wife via satellite instead. The phone showed me the direction in the sky to point the phone and soon enough I was sending texts to my wife despite not having service. Pretty cool feature even if it doesn't replace my inReach.
I've been using the cheap plan, the Safety plan at $11.95 / month. It's going up to $14.99. Everything costs more these days!
Edit: I read it again, and actually it looks like you can stay with your annual plan at the old price. Plans were either annual or "freedom". "All Existing Freedom plan users will be able to suspend and reactivate their service until their next annual renewal date unless they change to one of our newer plan options or cancel their subscription. All existing Annual plan users can remain in their current plan until they change to one of our newer plan options or cancel their subscription."
Edit: I read it again, and actually it looks like you can stay with your annual plan at the old price. Plans were either annual or "freedom". "All Existing Freedom plan users will be able to suspend and reactivate their service until their next annual renewal date unless they change to one of our newer plan options or cancel their subscription. All existing Annual plan users can remain in their current plan until they change to one of our newer plan options or cancel their subscription."
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ImYourHuckleberry
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This would have been a decisive factor for me had I known when I recently bought a new android phone. But now I'm all set for another 10 years I hope.
I'm not quite ready to give up the InReach Mini for just my iPhone. Eventually, probably. But at the moment I feel safer with a robust, dedicated device for satellite messages.
Yury
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Yeap.
Garmin jacked up inReach subscription fee in Canada as well.
My "Suspended" fee started with $2.95/month in December 2016 and now it's $7.85/month that constitute 21% annual inflation rate (166% increase over 8 years).
These are numbers through Roadpost that was original reseller of DeLorme inReach back there.
Garmin jacked up inReach subscription fee in Canada as well.
My "Suspended" fee started with $2.95/month in December 2016 and now it's $7.85/month that constitute 21% annual inflation rate (166% increase over 8 years).
These are numbers through Roadpost that was original reseller of DeLorme inReach back there.
Rhody Seth
Active member
So Garmin really sneaks in this big change to how the monthly service works in their FAQ. They don't even mention what this new low monthly cost would be. (I heard $8)
You can no longer suspend your subscription. Well, rather you can but then you would need to pay the $39.99 activation fee if you wanted to use it again. Instead you can put your inReach into Enabled mode for (I heard) $8 which allows you to still send SOS. So now instead of just cancelling for the months you don't need it, you have to pay $8.
While ******, this could work for me. I'll pay the $8 to have SOS on the inReach (with the ability to pay for texts if need be) and then I can use the iPhone for messaging purposes. Until Apple starts charging for satellite message but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.
You can no longer suspend your subscription. Well, rather you can but then you would need to pay the $39.99 activation fee if you wanted to use it again. Instead you can put your inReach into Enabled mode for (I heard) $8 which allows you to still send SOS. So now instead of just cancelling for the months you don't need it, you have to pay $8.
While ******, this could work for me. I'll pay the $8 to have SOS on the inReach (with the ability to pay for texts if need be) and then I can use the iPhone for messaging purposes. Until Apple starts charging for satellite message but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.
ImYourHuckleberry
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I'm going to be in the market for one of these devices because my daughter gets anxious when I end up camped somewhere where I cannot check in. I had pretty much decided on getting an In-Reach Mini. Are there other devices I should consider now in light of these service charges? I was just looking for low weight, ability to send texts, and getting the weather would be nice. (I would get an IPhone but I only recently bought a new Android prior to learning that IPhone was providing this service for free.)
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JoshandBaron
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Spot and Zoleo are also options
DayTrip
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I've been using the Zoleo for a few years now and like it overall. They have Cellular/WiFi/Satellite messaging, weather, custom messages and non-emergency medical texting service (in addition to the SOS feature for big time problems). It works seamlessly and has a good feature set. My only gripe is that the battery life has dwindled significantly over time and apparently it is not user replaceable (at least on mine). I rarely do more than 1-2 nights in the woods so having a back up charger is sufficient but other devices I've owned have not degraded to this extent.
The $8 plan only allows sending prewritten (check in, aka preset) messages, not typed messages.So Garmin really sneaks in this big change to how the monthly service works in their FAQ. They don't even mention what this new low monthly cost would be. (I heard $8)
You can no longer suspend your subscription. Well, rather you can but then you would need to pay the $39.99 activation fee if you wanted to use it again. Instead you can put your inReach into Enabled mode for (I heard) $8 which allows you to still send SOS. So now instead of just cancelling for the months you don't need it, you have to pay $8.
While ******, this could work for me. I'll pay the $8 to have SOS on the inReach (with the ability to pay for texts if need be) and then I can use the iPhone for messaging purposes. Until Apple starts charging for satellite message but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.
Rhody Seth
Active member
Good go know. That would be fine for me.
TEO
Well-known member
Break your connection and have a more wild experience; get a PLB!
Devices like the Spot and InReach are a crutch tethering us to the outside world that we are trying, in part, to escape when we go into the woods. They rob us of the experience of being fully disconnected and in the moment. They rob us of the the ability to build further trust with our loved ones and to act independently. There are similarities to the epidemic of parents tracking their children. Though there may not be the developmental damage, the supposed need for and practice of constant communication limits the growth of our relationships and independence, and fosters anxiety.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/a...e-text-email-surveillance-digital-age/675286/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/advice/2024/06/02/carolyn-hax-college-kids-tracking-apps/
I have carried a McMurdo FastFind for over a decade. (Currently, I would recommend an ACR PLB for those based in North America, given their local market presence.) I leave topo maps with my planned routes and any possible alternatives for my wife. On longer trips, I include contact numbers for the local state police and forest rangers. I remind her that if she doesn't hear from me when she expects to, not to worry, it is just taking longer than I had expected. If I am truly in an emergency, I will active my PLB.
Does she worry about me during my trips? Yes. Do I miss her? Yes. But these are healthy parts of a relationship. I have turned around after driving five hours and gone home to help with a sick child after making my last check-in call before going "off-grid." I was glad to do so. I have also called for a last check-in to learn that both wife and child were sick, but told to go ahead with my trip anyway. My wife has had to deal with basement flooding on her own when my child and I were on a trip and unreachable. Multiple times I have returned to a trailhead late at night, long after dark, and later than expected. Does that cause my wife to worry a little? Of course. But she has learned how to manage these feelings and she is reassured by the information I have left her, her knowledge that I am well-prepared, and that I do carry a PLB. She defends my solo hiking and bushwhacking to my mother-in-law, who before her body got too old, hiked and backpacked all over. My wife highlights how I keep her informed of my plans, am well-prepared, use good judgement, and carry a PLB. We have built the trust between us, so that we are both comfortable with me being in the wilderness and unable to communicate with each other.
Devices like the Spot and InReach are a crutch tethering us to the outside world that we are trying, in part, to escape when we go into the woods. They rob us of the experience of being fully disconnected and in the moment. They rob us of the the ability to build further trust with our loved ones and to act independently. There are similarities to the epidemic of parents tracking their children. Though there may not be the developmental damage, the supposed need for and practice of constant communication limits the growth of our relationships and independence, and fosters anxiety.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/a...e-text-email-surveillance-digital-age/675286/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/advice/2024/06/02/carolyn-hax-college-kids-tracking-apps/
I have carried a McMurdo FastFind for over a decade. (Currently, I would recommend an ACR PLB for those based in North America, given their local market presence.) I leave topo maps with my planned routes and any possible alternatives for my wife. On longer trips, I include contact numbers for the local state police and forest rangers. I remind her that if she doesn't hear from me when she expects to, not to worry, it is just taking longer than I had expected. If I am truly in an emergency, I will active my PLB.
Does she worry about me during my trips? Yes. Do I miss her? Yes. But these are healthy parts of a relationship. I have turned around after driving five hours and gone home to help with a sick child after making my last check-in call before going "off-grid." I was glad to do so. I have also called for a last check-in to learn that both wife and child were sick, but told to go ahead with my trip anyway. My wife has had to deal with basement flooding on her own when my child and I were on a trip and unreachable. Multiple times I have returned to a trailhead late at night, long after dark, and later than expected. Does that cause my wife to worry a little? Of course. But she has learned how to manage these feelings and she is reassured by the information I have left her, her knowledge that I am well-prepared, and that I do carry a PLB. She defends my solo hiking and bushwhacking to my mother-in-law, who before her body got too old, hiked and backpacked all over. My wife highlights how I keep her informed of my plans, am well-prepared, use good judgement, and carry a PLB. We have built the trust between us, so that we are both comfortable with me being in the wilderness and unable to communicate with each other.
Rhody Seth
Active member
Your wife sounds like a ******* saint. I think I'll stick to sending the occasional text rather than suggest to my wife that she manage her feelings.
My wife encourages me to finish the Terrible 25, complete my Winter 4Ks solo, and not waste our money on SPOT or InReach type devices.
Should I worry?
Should I worry?
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My wife doesn't know that I still hike solo on some of my ventures, but they are just small mountains. I text my buddy, so he knows where to tell rescuers to look for me if I don't return. I am decidedly low-tech but carry a map and compass. I usually know where I am. More or less.
Grinning emoji here. (Why is emoji button not working? I said I was low-tech)
Grinning emoji here. (Why is emoji button not working? I said I was low-tech)
ImYourHuckleberry
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I don't currently carry either one of these devices or a PLB, and until the past few years, used to leave my phone in the car too. But my daughter gets too anxious if I can't check in to let her know I'm ok. Texting with the phone mostly worked ok this season minus a few nights when I had no service, but next year I will be out hiking for a month, and so I am going to get something with satellite communications just so my daughter doesn't worry too much. But my general sentiments is that I would rather be completely d/c when out in the mountains so I understand that POV.
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