popularphoinix | Staff posted Sep 27, 2025 07:07 AM
Item 1 of 4
Item 1 of 4
popularphoinix | Staff posted Sep 27, 2025 07:07 AM
$249.99*: Garmin inReach Mini 2 Compact Satellite Communicator (Orange or Black) at Amazon
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I only see this being useful in extreme niche cases (already a niche product). One of the reasons is to get Garmin Search and Rescue insurance. https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/906397/#overview
Standard cell phone satellite options:
https://support.apple.c
https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage...ne-service
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I've had to use my inReach for an emergency out in the boondocks where there's no cell service. Press the SOS button and the inReach does its thing when it connects with a satellite. After a few minutes you're notified that help is on its way. The comm center asks for information, but if you're unable to respond and the only thing you've been able to do was press the SOS, at least you know that eventually help will come.
With the cell phone, you must aim at the satellite to send a signal and hold the aim when sending a message. Not so with the inReach, just press SOS, hold or set the unit down and the inReach will connect and send your SOS out.
After using my inReach, someone came up with a cell phone and did the satellite SOS and they had to do exactly as I described. It took time and effort but they eventually were able to connect and send a message.
It's personal choice, but the inReach at this point in time is my choice because if I'm in a life and death situation, I don't want to have to rely on a cell phone that's not been charged for a while or if it's in a location where the satellites can't easily be pointed at (bottom of a deep canyon, etc.).
For a day stroll in wide open spaces, or for help with a flat tire, etc. the cell SOS might be an option. Or if the technology advances to make the inReach obsolete with the Starlink system or other tech, I'll definitely re-consider.
But for now the 8bux per month for the ability to quickly send an SOS from anywhere at any time and know that it's going to be received with no further action on my part is the choice I'm making. I know for a fact that it works.
I'm not affiliated in any way, just definitely been there-done-that and I'm just throwing in my two cents in the hope that it helps someone, since even though I've had the unit for a few years, like everyone else I thought it's good insurance but I'll probably never use it. I was wrong.
as with most things Garmin, your apple/Samsung/Google device can probably do an ok job, but your gonna get more bang for your buck with Garmin. Specifically battery and reliability.
ymmv. but I spend time in the wilderness and this thing is piece of mind. we only buy the sub as we need it. which isn't year round.
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I only see this being useful in extreme niche cases (already a niche product). One of the reasons is to get Garmin Search and Rescue insurance. https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/906397/#overview
Standard cell phone satellite options:
https://support.apple.c
https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage...ne-service [t-mobile.com]
Also re cell satellite taking over claim. You will find it unable to use when travel aboard like unsupported countries
I'm not saying do not buy, I'm just saying this is a quickly changing landscape so research before buying. It sounds like Satellite Texting via cell phone really does only make sense for iphones at the moment.
I'm very curious what Garmin will do with pricing though when their subscriber base drops dramatically. Will they raise the price to cover costs or will they reduce price to make it more appealing (this is assuming they can still make a profit with lower subscriber count)?
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If potential life and death SOS emergency capability is a necessity, then the inReach IMHO is still the way to go at this point in time.
Having said that, SMS text via inReach is very doable in two ways. One is through the inReach itself which is VERY clunky. Think ancient cell phone texting by moving the cursor over characters. Very slow and tedious. The other way that works very well is by pairing your cell phone via bluetooth with the inReach and using the Garmin app for texting, just like normal SMS messaging. However, each text on the cheapest $8 monthly plan costs 50 cents. There's a number of "free" texts allotment on the more pricier monthly plans.
I'm expecting that at some point in the near future Garmin's going to have to come up with a new sat unit that is competitive with iPhones / T-mobile / Starlink etc. at a competitive price point.
But as of right now as far as pricing goes on an inReach, the one in this thread is a good deal.
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