Various Retailers have Garmin inReach Mini 2 Compact Satellite Communicator (Flame Red 010-02602-00 or Black 010-02602-01) on sale from $299.98. Shipping is free.
Compact, lightweight satellite communicator enables two-way messaging and interactive SOS globally (Active satellite subscription required. Some jurisdictions regulate or prohibit the use of satellite communication devices)
Bluetooth
Water Resistant
Navigate back to where you started by using TracBack routing
Share your location with loved ones back home at any time (active satellite subscription required) by using your MapShare page or with your coordinates embedded in your messages
Get accurate heading information using the digital compass — even when you're not moving
Sync with the Garmin Explore app and website on your compatible smartphone for trip planning and topographical mapping, and create waypoints, courses, activities and collections you can sync to your device
Pair with Garmin devices, such as wearables and handhelds, and use them to send and receive messages and trigger an SOS (active satellite subscription required)
Battery life: up to 14 days in 10-minute tracking mode
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Various Retailers have Garmin inReach Mini 2 Compact Satellite Communicator (Flame Red 010-02602-00 or Black 010-02602-01) on sale from $299.98. Shipping is free.
Compact, lightweight satellite communicator enables two-way messaging and interactive SOS globally (Active satellite subscription required. Some jurisdictions regulate or prohibit the use of satellite communication devices)
Bluetooth
Water Resistant
Navigate back to where you started by using TracBack routing
Share your location with loved ones back home at any time (active satellite subscription required) by using your MapShare page or with your coordinates embedded in your messages
Get accurate heading information using the digital compass — even when you're not moving
Sync with the Garmin Explore app and website on your compatible smartphone for trip planning and topographical mapping, and create waypoints, courses, activities and collections you can sync to your device
Pair with Garmin devices, such as wearables and handhelds, and use them to send and receive messages and trigger an SOS (active satellite subscription required)
Battery life: up to 14 days in 10-minute tracking mode
For those who actually go out into the wilderness, you will NEVER rely on a cellphone. Phones break and die. You are using the phone for camera, comms, maps, etc. It will kill the battery in hours. You want a dedicated device like this. I personally use the SpotX and Garmin eTrex / GPSmap. Cell phone is just for camera.
Apple is using the globalstar sat network which is the same as spotx. Garmin uses the iridium sat network which is slightly better.
I pay for the annual subscription. SpotX allows you to have 14 predefined messages that do not count agaist you. You can use the cheapest plan with that. Just saying this because, I use garmin everything, but the inreach is not one of them. I find the spotx to better and I can use it WITHOUT a cellphone and get full functionality.
Garmin bought up the rescue service under spotx, raised prices, and more. Their plans were always more than spotx. I have been using these since 2018. I pay for the service, rescue plan and replacement plan. I lost my spotx and just got a new one sent to me. Again, I use Garmin Pilot, numerous fish finders and livescopes, mapping devices, etc.
Garmin recently changed their subscription plans to make it a LOT more expensive for people who only use this occasionally. I'd properly review these before you purchase so you know what you're committing to, otherwise this will end up being an expensive paperweight.
Feels like gps at the start of smartphones again, garmin's here too
just clarifying - I know some higher smartphones have satellite communication - are you saying that single or stand alone devices will be obsolete as they become common in smartphones?
I could see how this could be beneficial if you are out of range for cell connectivity.
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Garmin recently changed their subscription plans to make it a LOT more expensive for people who only use this occasionally. I'd properly review these before you purchase so you know what you're committing to, otherwise this will end up being an expensive paperweight.
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Quote
from TarleyT
:
Garmin recently changed their subscription plans to make it a LOT more expensive for people who only use this occasionally. I'd properly review these before you purchase so you know what you're committing to, otherwise this will end up being an expensive paperweight.
Agreed. I just got rid of my inReach Messenger because the cost jumped. With both iPhones and Androids starting to offer satellite messaging, they're trying to squeeze every dollar out of this market while they can.
The price structure has always been a confusing mess, but you used to be able to turn service on/off without a fee (after initial setup). Now, you either have to pay monthly to keep it "suspended" or pay $40 ever time you want to reactivate it.
If you use it every month, supposedly this is a couple bucks cheaper per year. For most people it's significantly more expensive.
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Quote
from fatwallet22
:
Feels like gps at the start of smartphones again, garmin's here too
For those who actually go out into the wilderness, you will NEVER rely on a cellphone. Phones break and die. You are using the phone for camera, comms, maps, etc. It will kill the battery in hours. You want a dedicated device like this. I personally use the SpotX and Garmin eTrex / GPSmap. Cell phone is just for camera.
Apple is using the globalstar sat network which is the same as spotx. Garmin uses the iridium sat network which is slightly better.
I pay for the annual subscription. SpotX allows you to have 14 predefined messages that do not count agaist you. You can use the cheapest plan with that. Just saying this because, I use garmin everything, but the inreach is not one of them. I find the spotx to better and I can use it WITHOUT a cellphone and get full functionality.
Garmin bought up the rescue service under spotx, raised prices, and more. Their plans were always more than spotx. I have been using these since 2018. I pay for the service, rescue plan and replacement plan. I lost my spotx and just got a new one sent to me. Again, I use Garmin Pilot, numerous fish finders and livescopes, mapping devices, etc.
Good luck out there.
Last edited by Bigbanks November 15, 2024 at 09:14 AM.
Man I've always considered getting one of these for my snowmobiling trips where there's zero connectivity but with the new plans and activation fee BS I'm gonna pass
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Quote
from MorningGrumpy
:
Man I've always considered getting one of these for my snowmobiling trips where there's zero connectivity but with the new plans and activation fee BS I'm gonna pass
If you are involved in a life and death situation out in the boondocks with no cell phone connection, the new plan and activation fee cost will instantly be a bargain compared to the alternative.....
Ask any first responder what they have heard over and over again in these situations (if the victim survives): "It always happens to someone else - I never thought it could happen to me".
The clock cannot be turned back to start over and try again. Plan for the worse and hope for the best.
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Quote
from Bigbanks
:
For those who actually go out into the wilderness, you will NEVER rely on a cellphone. Phones break and die. You are using the phone for camera, comms, maps, etc. It will kill the battery in hours. You want a dedicated device like this. I personally use the SpotX and Garmin eTrex / GPSmap. Cell phone is just for camera.
Apple is using the globalstar sat network which is the same as spotx. Garmin uses the iridium sat network which is slightly better.
I pay for the annual subscription. SpotX allows you to have 14 predefined messages that do not count agaist you. You can use the cheapest plan with that. Just saying this because, I use garmin everything, but the inreach is not one of them. I find the spotx to better and I can use it WITHOUT a cellphone and get full functionality.
Garmin bought up the rescue service under spotx, raised prices, and more. Their plans were always more than spotx. I have been using these since 2018. I pay for the service, rescue plan and replacement plan. I lost my spotx and just got a new one sent to me. Again, I use Garmin Pilot, numerous fish finders and livescopes, mapping devices, etc.
Good luck out there.
Exactly. Redundancy whether that be cellphone, gps communicator and starlink never hurts either. Depending on the situation two or more forms of communication is the difference between getting lost or found.
I'd rather risk death than pay the new subscription.
Your choice.
I was apprehensive at first about the new subscription, but doing the math I found that it is actually cheaper for my uses.
I suspend my device in the winter since my boondock travels are from April through October, and in the time that the device is active I only have it active for emergencies, not for casual communication.
I'm on the "freedom plan" for $15+tax/month. So, 7 months at $15 = $105 + the yearly $35 fee = $140+tax per year.
Under the new plan, if I remain on the cheapest "enabled plan" for $8 per month all year with no yearly fee, the total is $96+tax.
So that saves me around $45 per year and my device then remains active for SOS emergency use all year.
$96 per year would be considered by me to be the bargain of the century if I were ever out in the boondocks in a life and death situation with no cell coverage and with absolutely no solutions other than to experience a slow and painful death.
Unfortunately it does happen to people, and my goal is to minimize the chances of myself being one of those victims. I'm not going to be one of those who say "it could never happen to me".
Your choice and you live (or die) with it.
Last edited by BluegrassPicker November 15, 2024 at 11:46 AM.
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I was apprehensive at first about the new subscription, but doing the math I found that it is actually cheaper for my uses.
I suspend my device in the winter since my boondock travels are from April through October, and in the time that the device is active I only have it active for emergencies, not for casual communication.
I'm on the "freedom plan" for $15+tax/month. So, 7 months at $15 = $105 + the yearly $35 fee = $140+tax per year.
Under the new plan, if I remain on the cheapest "enabled plan" for $8 per month all year with no yearly fee, the total is $96+tax.
So that saves me around $45 per year and my device then remains active for SOS emergency use all year.
$96 per year would be considered by me to be the bargain of the century if I were ever out in the boondocks in a life and death situation with no cell coverage and with absolutely no solutions other than to experience a slow and painful death.
Unfortunately it does happen to people, and my goal is to minimize the chances of myself being one of those victims. I'm not going to be one of those who say "it could never happen to me".
Your choice and you live (or die) with it.
I think very few people are in your shoes. Most people I know use their devices for major trips, maybe a couple months at a time and deactivate. The math is much worse for casual users.
They didn't add a monthly "suspend" option to make less money. They want to make it a pain to reactivate, so they can earn money doing nothing most of the year.
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Apple is using the globalstar sat network which is the same as spotx. Garmin uses the iridium sat network which is slightly better.
I pay for the annual subscription. SpotX allows you to have 14 predefined messages that do not count agaist you. You can use the cheapest plan with that. Just saying this because, I use garmin everything, but the inreach is not one of them. I find the spotx to better and I can use it WITHOUT a cellphone and get full functionality.
Garmin bought up the rescue service under spotx, raised prices, and more. Their plans were always more than spotx. I have been using these since 2018. I pay for the service, rescue plan and replacement plan. I lost my spotx and just got a new one sent to me. Again, I use Garmin Pilot, numerous fish finders and livescopes, mapping devices, etc.
Good luck out there.
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just clarifying - I know some higher smartphones have satellite communication - are you saying that single or stand alone devices will be obsolete as they become common in smartphones?
I could see how this could be beneficial if you are out of range for cell connectivity.
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank TarleyT
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank hizzledizzle
The price structure has always been a confusing mess, but you used to be able to turn service on/off without a fee (after initial setup). Now, you either have to pay monthly to keep it "suspended" or pay $40 ever time you want to reactivate it.
If you use it every month, supposedly this is a couple bucks cheaper per year. For most people it's significantly more expensive.
https://www.garmin.com/en-US/prom...reach202
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There is also a $40 activation fee. If you deactivate, you have to pay another $40 to turn it back on.
You can suspend your account for $8 per month.
All this, and their devices are significantly more expensive than competitors like Bivy.
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Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank Bigbanks
Apple is using the globalstar sat network which is the same as spotx. Garmin uses the iridium sat network which is slightly better.
I pay for the annual subscription. SpotX allows you to have 14 predefined messages that do not count agaist you. You can use the cheapest plan with that. Just saying this because, I use garmin everything, but the inreach is not one of them. I find the spotx to better and I can use it WITHOUT a cellphone and get full functionality.
Garmin bought up the rescue service under spotx, raised prices, and more. Their plans were always more than spotx. I have been using these since 2018. I pay for the service, rescue plan and replacement plan. I lost my spotx and just got a new one sent to me. Again, I use Garmin Pilot, numerous fish finders and livescopes, mapping devices, etc.
Good luck out there.
There is also a $40 activation fee. If you deactivate, you have to pay another $40 to turn it back on.
You can suspend your account for $8 per month.
All this, and their devices are significantly more expensive than competitors like Bivy.
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank BluegrassPicker
Ask any first responder what they have heard over and over again in these situations (if the victim survives): "It always happens to someone else - I never thought it could happen to me".
The clock cannot be turned back to start over and try again. Plan for the worse and hope for the best.
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank sn_85
Apple is using the globalstar sat network which is the same as spotx. Garmin uses the iridium sat network which is slightly better.
I pay for the annual subscription. SpotX allows you to have 14 predefined messages that do not count agaist you. You can use the cheapest plan with that. Just saying this because, I use garmin everything, but the inreach is not one of them. I find the spotx to better and I can use it WITHOUT a cellphone and get full functionality.
Garmin bought up the rescue service under spotx, raised prices, and more. Their plans were always more than spotx. I have been using these since 2018. I pay for the service, rescue plan and replacement plan. I lost my spotx and just got a new one sent to me. Again, I use Garmin Pilot, numerous fish finders and livescopes, mapping devices, etc.
Good luck out there.
I was apprehensive at first about the new subscription, but doing the math I found that it is actually cheaper for my uses.
I suspend my device in the winter since my boondock travels are from April through October, and in the time that the device is active I only have it active for emergencies, not for casual communication.
I'm on the "freedom plan" for $15+tax/month. So, 7 months at $15 = $105 + the yearly $35 fee = $140+tax per year.
Under the new plan, if I remain on the cheapest "enabled plan" for $8 per month all year with no yearly fee, the total is $96+tax.
So that saves me around $45 per year and my device then remains active for SOS emergency use all year.
$96 per year would be considered by me to be the bargain of the century if I were ever out in the boondocks in a life and death situation with no cell coverage and with absolutely no solutions other than to experience a slow and painful death.
Unfortunately it does happen to people, and my goal is to minimize the chances of myself being one of those victims. I'm not going to be one of those who say "it could never happen to me".
Your choice and you live (or die) with it.
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
I was apprehensive at first about the new subscription, but doing the math I found that it is actually cheaper for my uses.
I suspend my device in the winter since my boondock travels are from April through October, and in the time that the device is active I only have it active for emergencies, not for casual communication.
I'm on the "freedom plan" for $15+tax/month. So, 7 months at $15 = $105 + the yearly $35 fee = $140+tax per year.
Under the new plan, if I remain on the cheapest "enabled plan" for $8 per month all year with no yearly fee, the total is $96+tax.
So that saves me around $45 per year and my device then remains active for SOS emergency use all year.
$96 per year would be considered by me to be the bargain of the century if I were ever out in the boondocks in a life and death situation with no cell coverage and with absolutely no solutions other than to experience a slow and painful death.
Unfortunately it does happen to people, and my goal is to minimize the chances of myself being one of those victims. I'm not going to be one of those who say "it could never happen to me".
Your choice and you live (or die) with it.
They didn't add a monthly "suspend" option to make less money. They want to make it a pain to reactivate, so they can earn money doing nothing most of the year.
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