We all love the fact that ATVs can take us a long way off the beaten path. It’s not uncommon for a ride to be 60, 80 or even 100+ kms which usually means a significant portion of the ride is spent outside cell coverage.
Garmin inReach (and other satellite communicators such as Zoleo, Spot and more) use satellites to greatly increase where you can send/receive messages.
We’re taking a look at the pros and cons of the Garmin inReach SE+ device and its combination of reliability, features and fairly reasonable price ($499 CAD).
Pros:
- up to 100 hour battery life while in use or 30 days in power save mode
- send messages without relying on a phone app
- use the Garmin app to compose messages more quickly
- two way communications, send & receive messages
- unlimited sending of preset messages to cell phones, email addresses and other inReach devices
- bluetooth to your phone to improve accuracy of mapping apps on your phone
- a choice of subscription plans starting at $14.95/month (see table below)
Cons:
- No mapping available on the inReach SE+. It’s possible to upgrade to the inReach Explorer+ which includes maps but beware these inReach devices aren’t really Garmin, they’re legacy DeLorme products so mapping doesn’t work like your other Garmin GPS.
- The 3 preset messages must be composed and recipients assigned using the Sync & Update app on your computer, they can’t be modified on the inReach, they can only be sent.
- $499 CAD isn’t cheap, but what’s the cost of peace of mind?
Many of the Vernon ATV Club Ride Leaders carry an inReach on rides. Most have chosen the inReach SE+ to function solely as an emergency communicator, we weren’t looking for integrated mapping because we use other devices as our navigation/mapping tool. A feature we really like is the ability to send messages to other inReach devices which means it’s possible to stay in touch with other backcountry groups.
inReach provides the ability to get an SOS, preset or custom message sent out in most locations and receive messages as well. SOS is obviously the ultimate feature on inReach to summon help when needed but more often we find we can reduce worry on the homefront by sending a message to let friends and family know we’ve been delayed a couple of hours.
Depending on local terrain (height of mountains, tree cover) messages typically send anywhere from 30 seconds to 10 minutes and receiving messages can take up to another 10 minutes. It’s still possible to end up in a deep gulley or heavily wooded area where it may not be possible to send a message to satellites so we can never rely on our technology 100% of the time to save us.
Learn More – Garmin Video Resources
- Core inReach Features (41 minutes)
- Message Types (5:43)
- Edit Preset Messages (7:16)
- Edit Quick Text Messages (7:47)
- Contact Management (9:30)
- Mapshare (11:03)
- Sending Messages (24:05)
- SOS (34:58)
- inReach Best Practices (31 minutes)
- Explore the Garmin Explore website (1:29)
- Install the Garmin App for your device (7:47)
- Sync your device with Sync & Update (10:24)
- At the start of our trip (16:44)
- During your trip (21:04)
- During an SOS (24:51)
- After your trip (27:27)
inReach Subscription Plans
Want More Info?
Get in touch with the club for a demonstration of the inReach SE+ and to get answers to your GPS & satellite communicator questions.
What Device Do You Use?
Do you have one of the previous generations of inReach, Zoleo, Spot or other satellite communicators? What sold you on your device, what do you like or dislike – let us know.