Thread: Garmin Inreach

Yep, you can use it to say "broken ankle but have shelter, food and not in immediate danger, but can't walk out" in the SOS text response.

So's relies on the sat network no? so it's not a beacon as such?

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Originally Posted by Wildman

So's relies on the sat network no? so it's not a beacon as such?

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So do PLbs rely on the sat network. Thei homing becon is very short range.

I would suggest you should have both. But Inreach allows you to say "Waiting on weather or rivers to drop" to those who may be worried
also if you have a "drama" you have 2 way comms with Inreach rescue centre which is never a bad thing I think

Originally Posted by mikee

So do PLbs rely on the sat network. Thei homing becon is very short range.

I would suggest you should have both. But Inreach allows you to say "Waiting on weather or rivers to drop" to those who may be worried
also if you have a "drama" you have 2 way comms with Inreach rescue centre which is never a bad thing I think

Plbs are beacons as well. That is their advantage.that and battery life.... I suggest you carry both

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As I understand it, re: using messaging devices as PLB

inReach uses the commercial Iridium satellite network not the SARSAT network, they have worse coverage (as anyone trying to use a sat phone will have noticed). They also go through a commerical intermediary (out-sourced call centre in India?) before RCCNZ. They also don't have the beacon function that broadcasts on the aircraft frequencies as a backup, they also transmit at approx. 1/5 the power of a dedicated PLB, and depending on your battery level when you set it off, it may not transmit for very long at all, i.e. if you've been texting your mrs heaps, you might not get very long of emergency transmission.

Best to carry a comms device AND a dedicated PLB imo.

Thanks gimp helpful! What do you have?

My own PLB and an Iridium satphone borrowed from work when I need it. Have used inreach, spot

I have been advised that these will be available some time in May.
But there is no NZ pricing yet.

Also the Garmin inReach Explorer + GPS model will not be running Garmins own mapping software !
So looks like the first product release will be using the existing Delorme mapping.

Does anyone use the Delorme mapping ? and what are the local maps like for NZ ?

Im thinking that the first generation since Garmin brought Delorme might not be that well sorted if its not running the Garmin mapping !
What do you tech savvy guys think ?

once it starts running Garmin maps, the NZGPS forum maps will work on it.