Newbie wanting to purchase 66i or 66s

If you need to communicate while out of cellular phone coverage, 66i.  With 66i you can also communicate with Search & Rescue services via Iridium satellites.

If not, 66s.

My vote would be for the GPSMAP 66sr. 10 out of 10 times.

Communicate what exactly and to whom ? Thanks

Anything you want, to anyone with a cell phone that can receive SMS (text messages) or an email account.

Certainly, email works everywhere. There are places where SMS messages do not work (lack of a local SMS gateway or problems with the local cell phone providers). But these are relatively rare. Think of the iR device as a way to send short text messages to phone numbers, email addresses, or other iR devices. All you need to know is the address (phone number or email address).

All iR devices feature the ability to send track points via the Iridium satellite network in ore or less real time. These can be configured to show up on a MapShare web page so that the folks at home can follow along. They are also available to SAR if you trigger an SOS. Both real time tracking and SOS coverage require a data plan. Costs vary according to your home location and the number of messages and track points included in the plan.

If you trigger an SOS, that goes to GEOS - a global organization which coordinates local SAR resources. You can tell GEOS the nature of your emergency and converse with them. Once SAR is dispatched, you can usually communicate with SAR as well.

Indeed useful features twolpert on the 66i device. I think these reflect themselves in the higher price (aprox 200 USD) . The 66s can be purchased here in Romania (only with the .ro map) around 411 USD. The 66i is around 633 USD and includes Europe maps. Are these maps available on an anual fee ? What other charges may apply when using this device ?

Also I read that 66i has some extra features in satellite services which make it more accurate than the 66s.

Cheers

I doubt that the 66i is "more accurate" than the other 66 series devices. The 66i does support GPS+GALILEO. Not sure about the others in the 66 line. This type of thing usually does not result in a more precise fix, although it can contribute to faster time to first fix on a cold start. The only time it's going to help with the estimated error in the fix is if the one system or the other (GPS or GALILEO) happens to present a very poor constellation at that particular time and location.

Included maps do vary by location. However, the 66i supports all Garmin cartography. And it is subject to the same licensing rules. If you buy on SD card, you can move the card from one unit to another. However, there are no updates for those maps. If you buy for download (or DVD, if they still offer that), the maps are locked to the device on which you first install them. Updates are provided for some interval of time determined by Garmin. See the individual map page for any available details.

There are no other charges associated with the device. Plan costs for Romania can be found here: https://discover.garmin.com/ro-RO/inreach/personal/#subscriptions

If you decide to buy the 66i, carefully consider the distinction between annual and "freedom" plans. Depending on your usage pattern (year-round vs. just a few months a year), one or the other will be more cost-effective. Also note that you can use the 66i as a regular GPS without a subscription. However (last time I checked), you will be warned each time you boot the device that you need a plan in order to use SOS and messaging. And you will have to click once or twice to bypass activation.

FelixSteiner said:

Also I read that 66i has some extra features in satellite services which make it more accurate than the 66s.

Where did you read that?

If anything, the 66i might be more inaccurate, as it does not include access to GLONASS, which the 66s/st does.

The 66i can access GPS or GPS + Galileo.

The 66s/st can access GPS or GPS + Galileo or GPS + GLONASS.

The 66sr model uses GPS + GLONASS + Galileo simultaneously, and also is capable of using two distinct frequencies from each satellite in the GPS and Galileo systems (also simultaneously) - to consistently provide the user with a positional accuracy in the 1.5 meter range.

It depends if you want / would like emergency contact IF (note the IF) when out of telephone communication contact. ie no phone coverage

If there is no phone coverage then a phone is useless to call for help, if this does not interest you then the 66s is just fine

I use my 66i and my Fenix 6x, plus my Pixel 3 phone, all are just great but have been in quite a few place without telephone coverage (in France while trekking) so the 66i is the best choice, for me anyway

I have a 66st, 66i, and 66sr. I always take the 66sr. It is that good.