Review

Thanks for posting boonie.

Wow.......I might have to replace my Spot which has been surprisingly inconsistent. Last 2 trips I have sent "I'm OK" messages and at least 25% of the time my wife doesn't get the message despite the unit confirming "message sent". That probably adds more anxiety than if you had nothing.

I also like that you can just pay for months that you use. Not so crazy about the initial price........nor am I crazy about the idea of receiving texts. "The dog died, you need to come home" etc.

I will look into it. Thanks Boonie.

MT-

Read through the comments at the end, there's a question about receiving texts with some additional good information about that.

I have a McMurdo PLB, but contemplating a Garmin mini after some of the recent threads about emergencies. I originally got the PLB for my wife's peace of mind, and got it instead of a SPOT because my wife is a worrier and if she didn't get the daily OK message, she'd be a wreck.

I got a Delorme inReach SE 3 years ago and I couldn't be happier with its performance.

The Iridium Satellite Network has proven to be 100% reliable . I simply pair my iPhone with the inReach via Bluetooth and their Earthmate App. I can then use my cells key pad and my address book to send custom or preset messages or emails … and then get a response back.

I also like the fact that the inReach provides a weather report with barometer, wind speed, rainfall etc. for the area I am in. I have always bring a small weather radio on canoe trips and I am thinking of not bringing my weather radio as the inReach provides all the weather info I need.

I use the Garmin 30 Day Freedom Subscription Plan and that keeps using an inReach affordable after paying the fairly high initial purchase price.

I hope I never have to use the SOS feature but its nice to know it is there if I need it.

I use a 7 oz. Suntastics-5 Solar Charger and Anker Powercore 20100 batter pack to keep my iPhone and inReach SE charged up. I am getting a Anker Powercore 10000 as it only weighs 6.5 oz. vs. 12.6 oz. for the Powercore 20100 that I use for charging up items at home.

Suntastics 5 Solar Charger

ANKER Powercore 20100

ANKER Powercore 10000

Wally13 I got a Delorme Inreach explorer last winter, haven’t used it yet, but will in a week. Is the weather feature pretty easy to use? Is there an extra charge for weather reports? I will start my activation soon and start playing with it, but I haven’t looked in months.

T

mastertangler: "Wow.......I might have to replace my Spot which has been surprisingly inconsistent. Last 2 trips I have sent "I'm OK" messages and at least 25% of the time my wife doesn't get the message despite the unit confirming "message sent". That probably adds more anxiety than if you had nothing.


I also like that you can just pay for months that you use. Not so crazy about the initial price........nor am I crazy about the idea of receiving texts. "The dog died, you need to come home" etc.


I will look into it. Thanks Boonie. "

Just a note for Spot users - the led that I think you refer to as "message sent" is in fact "message sending". Don't assume it has sent until the message led ("OK") has gone out.

PS from the manual (thought I should check):

"USING ThE ChECK-IN/OK OR CUSTOM MESSAGE FUNCTION Press and hold the Check-In/OK or Custom Message button until the function button blinks green. The GPS light will blink green when SPOT sees the GPS satellites and continue while obtaining your GPS location. Once your GPS location is obtained, SPOT sends your message and GPS location. The GPS light and Message Sending light will both blink green for approximately 15 seconds. The Message Sending light continues to blink green after it transmits the most recent message and for one (1) hour after the end of the message cycle. Let SPOT work until the end of the message cycle when the Check-In/OK or Custom Message light stops blinking. "

T,

Yes, the Weather Feature on the inReach is pretty easy to use.

I think if you use the "Premium" Report I think there is a $1.00 charge per report. The Basic Weather Report is free depending on the Plan you choose.

I googled weather forecast instructions:

inReach Weather Earthmate Instructions Getting Weather Forecast inReach on IPhone Earthmate

The basic weather report costs you a text and not a freebie text of the 3 pre set ones. Yep $1.00 extra for the premium which as a weather professional - stick with the basic.

Great info thanks!

Per the Inreach Mini- You can also use the inReach widget on the f?nix (garmin watch) for phone-free messaging and tracking with the Inreach Mini.

Just an FYI if someone wants a lower priced Delorme Inreach explorer Cabelas still has them. I think they are $249 right now, but I got mine on sale for $189. So watch the deals. It is the older model and you cannot download maps but if you are just using messaging and SOS then it seems to be a good deal.

T

Thanks Bill Connor.

Makes me wonder just how long I have to leave the thing on. I already wait at least 15 minutes. Annoying........I will probably upgrade by next year.

The SOS feature worked well however and for that I am grateful. I might still be there.

Our group has rented a satelite phone foryears now. Between the rental fees and costs per minute our group is spending about $400 annually. We use the phone for a call to the outfitter now and again, and breif calls home to the families. Looking at this, maybe it would be cost effective to buy one of these for messaging, and have the satelite phone for emergency. Or, maybe buy/rent the satelite phone?

mastertangler: "Thanks Bill Connor.


Makes me wonder just how long I have to leave the thing on. I already wait at least 15 minutes. Annoying........I will probably upgrade by next year.


The SOS feature worked well however and for that I am grateful. I might still be there. "

I was paying attention to this last week while in Rockies and I'd say 30-45 minutes - estimate. Once I figured it out, never a failure. And even from deep cover, rare, and then it does indicate it doesn't find a satellite by a red LED on rare occasion. I usually set on a rock on fire ring when we land at a camp site, and pack it when camp is set up, wetfoot gear changed, clothes line up, and we are ready for dinner, reading, whatever.

Thanks Bill for taking the time to educate me, my wife will thank you. I usually left it on for about 20 minutes which I figured was more than enough time especially when you see a "message sent" icon lit.

I guess when all else fails read the instructions.

I have been living without any outside communication on the basis that this is wilderness travel as it has been since time began. Deal with it. Well, not so much anymore. We had a P.A. along on this years trip and guess who got injured? Yep, the fixer upper. Scared the crap out of me even though it turned out OK. NOW I am rethinking and going to investigate the available units. Thanks for the discussion.

Wally13: "T,


Yes, the Weather Feature on the inReach is pretty easy to use.


I think if you use the "Premium" Report I think there is a $1.00 charge per report. The Basic Weather Report is free depending on the Plan you choose.


I googled weather forecast instructions:


inReach Weather Earthmate Instructions Getting Weather Forecast inReach on IPhone Earthmate "

I have also been researching the 2 way communicators . I think after all of the reviews really leaning towards the in-Reach mini.

For weather reports. There was a good article by Andrew Skurka a few weeks ago that gave a link to have weather reports sent to your inreach by text called WX2InReach. His review was actually about the SPOT X but mentioned this service for the In-reach.


WX2InReach Weather

Andrew Skurka Spot X review

Been using the explorer for several years now and haven't really had any issues with it other than waiting a little longer for a message to go through. Mine is always attached to my pfd though so I can easily hear the 'beep' telling me that the message was sent through. If I were a thru-hiker I would love the idea of the Mini, but since I've already invested in this one, I'll stick with it.
I usually purchase the 'Premium' weather report when the weather is 'iffy' and I plan to travel. It is way more informative than the basic once you break it down. It will tell you each hour of the day what to expect (or what they think you should expect) for weather. Well worth the little extra $. It usually only adds about $5 for the duration of the trip when used as needed.

Thanks for sharing the link. I'd been wanting to get some kind of beacon/tracker for a while & like the ability to activate the InReach in 30 day increments. Think I'll apply 2017 & 2018's REI dividend to one next year.

Do the inReach weather reports tell you what the wind will do? I might be on some big water and it would be nice to know the wind reports.

T

T,

Yes, you get Wind Speed and Direction by hour of day and % Cloud Cover by hour of day , and Barometer and Precipitation % with an InReach Weather Report.

I too like the InReach Weather Report that includes the above info when I will be paddling Big Water.

Additionally, I like the 2 way communication one gets on an InReach. I have some paddling buds who Have been in the Q for the past 2 weeks. And they are sending me a SPOT map location showing me where they are camping each night. But I was wondering how they fared last week in the big rain and wind storm. I only recieved their location and the same daily preset messsge that “ All is well in Quetico Park. See you back in civilization on the afternoon July 5th “. With an InReach ... they could’ve emailed or texted me about the storm and I could have returned a message.

To me this 2 way communication feature on an InReach is as important as recieving daily weather forecasts.

Thanks again for the info!

T

mirth: "Think I'll apply 2017 & 2018's REI dividend to one next year."

That is what I did when I bought mine.

Too bad that the GPS units aren't included in the 20% off offers during the REI sales.

I have not had any issues with my Delorme Inreach except for one message sent several years ago on my first night out on a trip. As I sent the message from the west end of Knife Lake the Inreach said poor GPS coverage. I sent it anyway and the message reached my husband but showed my position as off the coast of Africa :-)

He said he was relieved when the next day's message showed me as back in the BWCA.