Garmin inReach plans 2024 - Which one? Do I change?

[@keithjob]

Couple of comments about the iPhone 16 being better than the inReach... yes it does have satellite connectivity, but for messaging it currently only works in US and Canada. SOS messages do work in a lot more countries, including Australia. Check this video for a great comparison of iPhone vs inReach. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mnypg6OlaZaFnrs

[@r2herzog]

Found this video whie searching for this info... You did a fantastic job explaining it! Thank you!

[@MrHumpo75]

Thanks Keith for finding that enable plan I only ever use the sos function (hopefully never) on the mini as not interested in tracking or SMS will be switching down to it today.

[@AndrewBichan]

Nice explainer, thanks for your time and effort. Like others, I get frustrated with how opaque Garmin can be and what feels like a level of disrespect to the user community (cash cows?). I thought the additional messages were an incentive to change to a new plan but wasn't sure until you clarified the trade offs.

[@MarksMotoAdventures]

Good video Keith I just changed to enable plan thanks mate 👍

[@jethrowingnut13]

Ha ha , I swear KZbin can now read my mind. I purchased my first inreach(mini 2) about 2 weeks ago, and just said to myself (not out loud) I must set up the track point feature, low and behold I fire up KZbin tonight and your video was the first on the que. 😃 Anyway your breakdown is awesome, and when I joined up yeah enabled was a hidden option. But a bloody fantastic cheap failsafe to have the device always functional if shit hits the fan. You can imagine my confusion signing up as they were comparing old plans to new, so I had about 8 different plan names floating around in my head. Anyway awesome video, I may even swap back to enabled and see how I go, but they sort of got you by the balls if you want to use track points. I signed up to the $25 plan anyway. Let's face it, I pay that for Kayo and all I watch on it is the MotoGP. I'm sure my life and peace of mind for the Missus is worth that. 🤣 Thanks again, I love your videos. Why can't Garmin explain stuff so clearly. 👍👍

[@MartyH]

Thanks for this, watched a couple of US vids about his and got more confused and actually a little angry with Garmin.. but you have cleared it up. 👍

[@MyGapYears]

I was watching one guy from the US who mentioned a yearly fee to cover extraction in case of injury. This was on top of the plans you mention in this video. I don't see the extraction option offered anywhere on Garmin's website.

[@TAlyn7]

Thanks - the exact information I was looking for before purchasing

[@keithjob]

Glad it was helpful!

[@fjrsteve]

Thanks Keith. I also ran the numbers between the existing Safety and the Enabled plans and I found that for my usage it is better to stick to the Safety for now. Main features I want are the SOS and Check-In messages and tracking. I usually have the tracking at 20 mins. As the tracking is 5 cents cheaper per track point on the Safety and with unlimited check-ins, the $6.50 AUD price difference is exceeded just with tracking if you use the device for 3x10hr days or 4x8hr days in a month. However you need to factor in any idle months over a year as well. If I am forced off my current plan I will go to Enabled.

[@jeg569]

Thank you for breaking it down. I only use my 67i during mountain walks and usually just in the Scottish summer 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿☔️ my current plan renews in April so I might just do the less than 5 month one.

[@gonegliding2966]

Thanks Keith. I received the email a couple days ago but hadn't got to sorting out which way to go.

[@Rufus-OG]

Very helpful 👍🏻 Looking at an InReach after my Thuraya phone became a paperweight,

[@mabecka]

Very informative video! Cheers

[@dannysdirtbikeadventures2606]

Thank you for doing this break down on the new inreach plans. I did see the email, but I didn't read it....

[@richardlindsay9100]

Thanks Keith. Great info !!

[@seancjmatthews]

Regarding the tracking feature, Garmin lists there are two options: 1. Activity tracking where it only records a points locally to the garmin unit for wayfinding if you need to back track. 2. It sends your tracking data to map share so that other can see your route online. Does it cost money for option 1 as this is all I need for hiking?

[@rfk76]

Nice work, thank you!

[@keithjob]

Glad you liked it!

[@JasonRidesmoto]

Might try the Enabled Plan to have SOS and then my use my iPhone 16 for satellite messaging. Between the 2 devices I feel I'd be safely covered.

[@dirtskyfilms.7646]

Thanks for the explanation on the new plans. I deactivated my inreach mini 2 some time ago as i wasnt riding remote areas enough to warrant its use. Im now needing to activate it again with some big rides coming up. From what i understand i have to pay $70 activation fee (again) 😢 & sign up to basic package $25 per month. Then after the first month i can downgrade to Enabled plan. Is this correct?

[@keithjob]

That sounds correct.... not sure if you can sign up direct to Enabled... might be worth a call to Garmin. They are usually pretty good (The three times I've dealt with them;-)

[@eltica]

Thanks Keith for this vid. I’ve bought an InReach messenger just on the 19th of September just before the plans changed over. Unfortunately I oriented myself based on the old plans as I was keen to go for a plan where I had the possibility to suspend. The enabled plan seems interesting though, but since it's not mentioned on the Garmin website I'm still in doubt on whether to change to a different PLB as I'm still within the 30 days and the device is unused. I'm just a hit hesitant I suppose, like is the enabled plan definitely going to come up when I activate my device, and then try to change over to a different plan?

[@keithjob]

I honestly don't know if you can activate straight on to the Enabled plan. No idea. Call Garmin and ask them. At worst though you should be able to activate onto Essential, pay for a month then change to Enabled.

[@mototrailz]

perfect. Thank you

[@Chris_Z.]

Thanks for showing the differences. However I am a fan of the old plan. Happy to pay the $55 yearly sub and then pay for what I needed depending on the trip. Then suspend again. Did read you can cancel but you will have to make sure you log into your account otherwise Garmin will delete it after a couple of years. With Spot and Zoleo now offering suspended services it is weird Garmin has chosen to go the other way.

[@ShedBuiltStuff]

Agree. Crap change

[@bilaltahir9978]

For the enabled plan, if I receive a message from a friend or relative, will I be charged?

[@keithjob]

Yes. You pay for messages sent and received

[@raffs_adv]

I’m not positive but I believe that if you’re on Enable and want to upgrade like you mentioned for a month when traveling, that actually locks you into the upgraded plan for 12months, It might be worth checking.

[@keithjob]

What I read on Garmin page... "When downgrading to a lower plan the change takes place at the end of the current billing cycle." The billing cycle is monthly, is it not?

[@raffs_adv]

@@keithjob yes it’s monthly but the contract is for 12months once you jump on a higher plan, it’s very covertly placed on the website, I believe Garmin are feeling worried about Apple, the msg via satellite is definitely listed as in progress, and they are possibly doing a deal with starlink.

[@keithjob]

The very first para on the FAQ page is pretty clear: “Our new consumer plans are all month-to-month and only require a 30-day commitment.”

[@raffs_adv]

@@keithjob okay , that’s good news, but hey they don’t do themselves any favors at Garmin with their website, and they are clearly getting worried about these Apple products playing in their sandbox , thanks for looking into it more.

[@raffs_adv]

@@keithjob And please if you do the upgrade thing for a month etc in the future, let me know how it works out for you.

[@jethrowingnut13]

On another note when testing my new in reach around my neighbourhood walking the dog, I haven't been charged for any messages yet, even though I sent some custom ones from the device, is the in reach now using your phones cell service in preference to satellite now, like Zoleo, or has it always been that way , if you have Garmin messenger app fired up on your phone?

[@raffs_adv]

I canceled my $55au monthly because the new IPhone 16pro can fully connect with satellite to msg or ping 🆘, plus it’s about to be possible to msg a friend automatically when there’s zero cellular or data available, it asks you to connect to satellite, so Garmin can go jump.. Gaia gps has stated charging $89 per year for full functionality with offline maps , it’s not a problem in the 1T internal iPhone memory.

[@kiwipilot407]

Bloody Legend

[@ShedBuiltStuff]

Pretty crap change. Means its quite a bit more expensive for me compared to being able to suspend. I guess that’s why they have done it.

[@Squirrel-Chaser]

You choose C. None of them. You sell their equipment and get a company who's not trying to charge you 3 times the amount you were previously.... Im not paying monthly charges while im not using it. Goodbye Garmin

[@slakk5093]

Looks like I am upgrading my iphone and selling my inreach

[@jethrowingnut13]

Just don't smash your phone.

[@slakk5093]

@@jethrowingnut13 true. Have since decided to keep it on the “enabled” plan

[@jethrowingnut13]

@@slakk5093 Yeah, I think its a good deal, for peace of mind. and redundancy if you have an iPhone. 😃

[@volvogt21]

Or just go super cheap and buy a old iridium sat phone and dial 112 in an emergency. No.sim card or fees whatsoever. Worked for me after I broke my leg one up in central Australia

[@jethrowingnut13]

@@volvogt21 Nice solution 👍