Jerry:
I have had the Inreach Mini version 1 for several years.
I learned its use in pretty good detail, used it on multiday Sierra wilderness trips, and was even scheduled to give a lesson on it at the local REI in 2020 (cancelled for obvious reasons), and I have that powerpoint still.
All that said, I am glad I have it, but if I were buying first time now, I would re-research it all given what I understand now. So I'll try to point some of those things out.
I am glad I can subscribe to a rescue insurance, SARS100, yearly, having a Garmin device.
I used it mostly for sending daily preset messages with my location attached, and for tracking. I also could send messages to other trip mates in the wilderness if they also had the Inreach. I tracked on wilderness trips so that if I disappeared or dropped out of contact, they(someone at home or online) could see my last sent location, which uploads at a preprogrammed interval to the satellite system and hence to my Mapshare.
OK, what are the issues to consider?
1. Expectations on texting.
This is not like a phone on a cellular network with instant communication and back and forth conversations.
Satellite connections are intermittent, with 11 satellites in each of 6 circumpolar orbits on the Iridium network.
So when you send a text, it could be 15-20 minutes before it gets sent up to a satellite, and a reply from someone could take equally as long. I know current statements say 10 minute intervals but the satellite network has not changed, so I think the 10 min claim is fudging the numbers.
A friend I have who is a doctor hated the InReach and returned it. For emergencies he wants easy to use real time communications. He rents a sat phone for wilderness trips.
You will also not text back and forth with your spouse about planning your next vacation together.
The InReach mini 3 plus has some more options, but I can't tell if it actually does back and forth texting any faster or not. Or if the voice messages it can send still have the same hold up waiting for a satellite like texting does.
I would pay attention to the networks and the back and forth speed before making a choice today. I think Inreach and Zoleo both use the Iridium network, so that's probably equivalent.
2. What about composing text and will you use it paired with your phone? How about during emergencies, when you will need to compose text rather than sending preset messages?
composing text on the Inreach mini as a standalone device is slow and tedious. There is no keyboard. For basic use, sending preset messages you have created already in you online account works fine and the SOS button is there.
but if you did an SOS and then need to communicate with search and rescue, input as a stand alone device, esp when stressed, may not work if you have not already practiced and become adept with it as standalone.
3. Pairing with phone.
This is the solution for ease of texting. now you can use your phone keyboard as the input device. Works fine.
So before a trip, I always made sure I was set up and practiced to pair with phone if I had an emergency.
Downside of constant paired status is obviously battery usage on phone and for bluetooth power. But if you are not doing multi-day trips, and your phone is always going to be on, and battery usage is not a concern, you can be paired all the time and input text from the phone, in an app.
If you are always paired, inputting text during an emergency will be natural, but what about the app?
4. Apps, screens, and other options.
If you are going to be paired with a phone all the time anyway....
you could go with the Zoleo device. It is reputed to be much more user friendly in its app on the phone, and integrates with phone texting better. It has no screen but there are hard buttons for key functions in case you were not paired and needed to signal and SOS or send a preset message. It can do tracking. I would seriously consider this if I were buying my first device now.
The Inreach mini version one uses the Earthmate app, which is like a separate app altogether that you happen to be able to pair. It is not a dedicated app that mirrors the functions of the Inreach mini itself. After learning the ins and outs of the the InReach mini as a stand alone device, not trivial, the Earthmate app created a whole new level of confusion for me. OK, I got over it, reset my expectations, and learned it, but it was not at all simple and there was some trial and error.
[I dont know if Inreach 3 still uses Earthmate (a legacy app from De Lorme, I think) or if it has finally become integrated into the Garmin GPS system with Garmin software apps)
I do like that without my InReach, on local hikes, I can use my phone with Earthmate app for GPS, and start and end tracking in the Earthmate app, and see my path later on in my online Garmin account.
5. iPhone.
The iPhone satellite texting option works for me, but I did have to learn how to use it properly with the aiming aid it provides. It did not "just work" and this may lead others, and me initially, to say it does not work reliably. You have to use the initial aiming help. I have had no problems sending text messages home when at remote locations using iPhone 15 pro.
cellular phones using satellite networks raises an interesting question. Do these systems provide more frequent, or even continuous, satellite network connectivity, compared to the Iridium system which is unambiguously only intermittent.
Satellite connectivity depends on both your phone, and your carrier.
Maybe someone else on this forum knows.
It satellite connectivity, using your phone/carrier and its satellite networks, continuous or near continuous, this might be the differentiator that allows real back and forth texting, with loved ones, or with search and rescue.
FINALLY
Beware claims that say text send in seconds. Once a device is connected to a satellite, it may only take seconds to upload the text. But it might take many minutes of waiting before a connection is found, at least with devices on the Iridium network.
Jay
