$10-15/ month for messaging to family. SOS is only for emergencies and you cant text family or friends. I think the majority of people who use Inreach use it for that. Having SOS on my phone is just a back up for a real emergency.
When att gets their data and voice from satellites I may reconsider. But right now the functionality of a dedicated device is worth having always on even though I rarely find myself needing the service.
I'd pay the same amount as the current Garmin plans, but not more. As it stands, most of my outdoor activities are in the PNW and usually under forest cover with thick cloud cover and rain/snow. I do not currently have iPhone or Android devices with sat capability, but I question their sat connection abilities under the circumstances if a dedicated device (e.g., Garmin, Zoleo, etc.) already has somewhat variable connections under difficult conditions (I've had signals delayed or must never transmitted until reaching large open spaces or storms ending). Open land under bluebird skies is easy, but trouble usually comes under more difficult conditions.
I'm just glad Apple and soon Google/Samsung are doing GPS communications now, hopefully it brings down the Garmin prices a peg or two, their subscriptions are expensive for what you get.
If Garmin's safety plan came down to $6/month or so I'd keep it as redundancy for any iOS/Android systems. It's the old "2 is 1, 1 is none" philosophy.
Or offer a free plan without any rescue insurance and just charge $100 when you send an SOS. In a real emergency, nobody would think twice about paying the fee
I voted “yes” on the value question, but mostly because I’m on the “safety” plan for $11.95 per month. I send very few messages and don’t use it for tracking (rather, GaiaGPS and experimenting with OnX). For me the InReach is just a safety net for solo hikes, biking, and even in the car off grid. My InReach is an oldie, the first gen Explorer, and is having issues (won’t power up unless connected to external power, even though the battery still holds a charge). I can’t bring myself to spend $350-400 on the Mini 2, especially with iPhone capabilities coming soon. However with the iPhone I’d miss the SAR insurance I pay for with the InReach (maybe there are non Garmin alternatives for that).
@@heiser_bill Garmin Safety Plan costs in Europe about 23 USD. For a half of this price you can have monthly mobile subscription with unlimited calls and data. Garmin has a strange policy here, especially if you look at their emergency call map. There are almost no such events in Eastern Europe.
I use Protegear with my Garmin Messenger. I only activate it, when I do my hikes and climbs in the Bavarian and Austrian Alps. Works fine and it´s much cheaper and flexible than Garmin plans for me.
Garmin is, and always has been, the undisputed king of the “nickle-and-dimers”. Zoleo is a much better choice for many reasons (and has been more reliable for me). That said, if the Apple system works, that’s what I’ll be using from now on.
Wow this is super helpful! Does one have to activate the device through Garmin first before moving on to Protegear or Trackme? That iOS 18 feature is something I'm truly looking forward to.
If you had to pick one device and one service what would it be? My wife is planning a 10 day hike in France and, should poop hit the fan, I want her to be able to contact emergency services so she can get rescued if needed?
I would look at a cellphone coverage map, Europe doesn't have a ton of dead zones like the USA west does. Otherwise a Motorola Defy with the $4.99 plan is a good deal for France: alnk.to/dWcxj8r - Check out my videos on it - otherwise check out a rental or upgrade an iPhone to a model with satellite SOS (14 or higher)
This sounds tempting! When does Garmin do their roll out of new products/service and do you think they will be big changes ahead given Apple’s new satellite service?
“SOS Only Plan”: Some legacy inReach owners will be tempted to completely opt out of their subscription plans after they acquire smartphones that have satellite texting capability. Considering this, I would like to see Garmin or one of these ‘reseller’ companies offer a very low cost plan that would preserve, as a redundancy, the “Emergency SOS” capability of the inReach devices (which are generally more rugged than a smartphone).
i have a garmin 66i and im confused on how to buy the 7 day tracking plan from protegear. is it the basic inreach plan or the A Live plan 7 day plan. i dont know what A Live is. when using the advisor it says the plan will be 15 for 7 days but on the A*Live for 7 days it says 7,56. 🤷♂
Do you know of a SAR insurance company that does not require the purchase of a device? I know about the Garmin SAR insurance, and I have that, but some of my group going to the GC in a couple of months are interested in a policy.
Stay tuned, I might have something in the near future that's new. Outside of that, I think the American Alpine Club offers something: americanalpineclub.org/rescue
So, Garmin is leasing their data to 3rd party but the 3rd party is cheaper and better? Also, Garmin will gladly allow you to sign you up with them and charge you more for shittier service? 😂
Just like a regular MVNO. But mamy MVNOs are now owned by their service provider, which means some services are missing to justify the cheaper prices. Translation: read the fine print carefully.
I've got an idea: What would you pay for an inReach plan from Garmin in this new world order where cell phones can do sat SOS and text?
$10-15/ month for messaging to family. SOS is only for emergencies and you cant text family or friends. I think the majority of people who use Inreach use it for that. Having SOS on my phone is just a back up for a real emergency.
When att gets their data and voice from satellites I may reconsider. But right now the functionality of a dedicated device is worth having always on even though I rarely find myself needing the service.
@@wolfeadventures iOS 18 allows you to text anyone if you have an iPhone 14 or newer.
I'd pay the same amount as the current Garmin plans, but not more. As it stands, most of my outdoor activities are in the PNW and usually under forest cover with thick cloud cover and rain/snow. I do not currently have iPhone or Android devices with sat capability, but I question their sat connection abilities under the circumstances if a dedicated device (e.g., Garmin, Zoleo, etc.) already has somewhat variable connections under difficult conditions (I've had signals delayed or must never transmitted until reaching large open spaces or storms ending). Open land under bluebird skies is easy, but trouble usually comes under more difficult conditions.
@@BillOzanne we still don't know the price and available countries
I'm just glad Apple and soon Google/Samsung are doing GPS communications now, hopefully it brings down the Garmin prices a peg or two, their subscriptions are expensive for what you get.
Very informative, I didn't know these alternatives existed.
If Garmin's safety plan came down to $6/month or so I'd keep it as redundancy for any iOS/Android systems. It's the old "2 is 1, 1 is none" philosophy.
Or offer a free plan without any rescue insurance and just charge $100 when you send an SOS. In a real emergency, nobody would think twice about paying the fee
I voted “yes” on the value question, but mostly because I’m on the “safety” plan for $11.95 per month. I send very few messages and don’t use it for tracking (rather, GaiaGPS and experimenting with OnX). For me the InReach is just a safety net for solo hikes, biking, and even in the car off grid. My InReach is an oldie, the first gen Explorer, and is having issues (won’t power up unless connected to external power, even though the battery still holds a charge). I can’t bring myself to spend $350-400 on the Mini 2, especially with iPhone capabilities coming soon. However with the iPhone I’d miss the SAR insurance I pay for with the InReach (maybe there are non Garmin alternatives for that).
@@heiser_bill Garmin Safety Plan costs in Europe about 23 USD. For a half of this price you can have monthly mobile subscription with unlimited calls and data. Garmin has a strange policy here, especially if you look at their emergency call map. There are almost no such events in Eastern Europe.
I use Protegear with my Garmin Messenger. I only activate it, when I do my hikes and climbs in the Bavarian and Austrian Alps. Works fine and it´s much cheaper and flexible than Garmin plans for me.
Good advice. Didn't know.
wow! thanks for this great info!
Garmin is, and always has been, the undisputed king of the “nickle-and-dimers”. Zoleo is a much better choice for many reasons (and has been more reliable for me). That said, if the Apple system works, that’s what I’ll be using from now on.
I would say Apple is right up there with Garmin in terms of nickel and diming their customers
Wow this is super helpful! Does one have to activate the device through Garmin first before moving on to Protegear or Trackme? That iOS 18 feature is something I'm truly looking forward to.
No you just sign up with TrackMe or Protegear, give them your device IEMI code and they handle it all. No need to have an existing Garmin account.
@@Hikingguy I had a Garmin account before I signed up with Protegear and they created a new one but then merged these two. Worked pretty well.
If you had to pick one device and one service what would it be? My wife is planning a 10 day hike in France and, should poop hit the fan, I want her to be able to contact emergency services so she can get rescued if needed?
I would look at a cellphone coverage map, Europe doesn't have a ton of dead zones like the USA west does. Otherwise a Motorola Defy with the $4.99 plan is a good deal for France: alnk.to/dWcxj8r - Check out my videos on it - otherwise check out a rental or upgrade an iPhone to a model with satellite SOS (14 or higher)
This sounds tempting! When does Garmin do their roll out of new products/service and do you think they will be big changes ahead given Apple’s new satellite service?
Hard to say but I'm hoping so.
“SOS Only Plan”: Some legacy inReach owners will be tempted to completely opt out of their subscription plans after they acquire smartphones that have satellite texting capability. Considering this, I would like to see Garmin or one of these ‘reseller’ companies offer a very low cost plan that would preserve, as a redundancy, the “Emergency SOS” capability of the inReach devices (which are generally more rugged than a smartphone).
@@billruttan117 I think that's a great idea, and I think it would probably save them some people that jump ship like you mentioned.
i have a garmin 66i and im confused on how to buy the 7 day tracking plan from protegear. is it the basic inreach plan or the A Live plan 7 day plan. i dont know what A Live is. when using the advisor it says the plan will be 15 for 7 days but on the A*Live for 7 days it says 7,56. 🤷♂
A*Live is a different device that they sell - I'd just email them and confirm what you're looking for
Do you know of a SAR insurance company that does not require the purchase of a device? I know about the Garmin SAR insurance, and I have that, but some of my group going to the GC in a couple of months are interested in a policy.
Stay tuned, I might have something in the near future that's new. Outside of that, I think the American Alpine Club offers something: americanalpineclub.org/rescue
@@Hikingguy thanks. Doing an R2R in a couple of weeks. I have an inreach but some of my group are looking for something.
If i signed up for protegear who handles the sos? Is it still garmin iercc?
Still Garmin unless you ask for Focuspoint and pay for the service
So, Garmin is leasing their data to 3rd party but the 3rd party is cheaper and better? Also, Garmin will gladly allow you to sign you up with them and charge you more for shittier service?
😂
Not necessarily cheaper, just packaged differently.
Just like a regular MVNO. But mamy MVNOs are now owned by their service provider, which means some services are missing to justify the cheaper prices. Translation: read the fine print carefully.