For the few years I’ve owned an inReach mini, I’ve enjoyed the flexibility to pause service for the majority of the year when I’m not using it. Garmin recently sent me an email announcing that they are discontinuing the Freedom plan. pretending that they have an improved, more straightforward, and less expensive approach now. The $35 annual subscription charge was did get removed, but from what I understand, you now need to have a plan all year round. For four out of five months of the year, I am still spending more than $15, even at the lowest rate of $11.95. Although it states that you can end the new plan after a month, there is a sign up fee of $35. Is the sign-up cost required each time you deactivate and reactivate your device? Was wondering if anyone had further knowledge on the subject. It seems like Garmin will end up with more of the money I don’t have in the end. Regards ahead of time!
Most likely attempting to squeeze as much money as possible out of InReach customers before direct satellite-to-phone communication totally devours their market share.
Anytime I actually use my mini (it’s 90% security blanket), I see on the top of my phone “SOS” and think, “Wait. Why am I paying for this?”.
Because all it will take for your phone to malfunction is one serious blow if you fall down a mountainside and get flung around. A Garmin will withstand a lick and continue to function.
Extreme temperatures also have significantly less of an effect on Garmin functionality and battery life than they do on phones. I’ve had my phone get too hot (and too cold) and it has shut itself down. My phone’s battery has also been rapidly depleted by cold, whether it is on or off.
I believe I would still ponder about retaining my subscription if I were in a mountainous area. I spend much of my time on well-traveled rivers in temperate weather. I’m still going if it means having to decide between inReach money and petrol and livery money, or not going at all. I understand that it’s a highly personal choice, and I consider the risks involved in any excursion. For a very long period, people have been riding bikes without wearing helmets. Personally, as long as I can afford one, I don’t.
At that point, I believe an actual PLB would make more sense.
All of the messaging features connected to the inreach would be worthless as well if you were in a situation where you couldn’t access your phone.
This is the route I’m going if the iPhone messaging works out. I need a communications channel and an oh shit button, and I don’t want to be paying $15 a month in perpetuity for the emergency button.