InReach Subscription activated or disable when needed to save battery

When the InReach service is activated, the device periodically checks the status of the mailbox every 10 minutes or so.

When you are outdoors or there is good coverage, this process is fast.
But when you are indoors or there is no good coverage, the device stays for a while trying to send the InReach connection periodically, which consumes a lot of battery.

Does anyone know if the InReach service can be left in 'Stand-by' and only be able to activate it when necessary?

Thanks a lot.

0 skyeye over 2 years ago

you can switch off inreach tracking manually from menu, tracking

0 twolpert over 2 years ago

The unit is going to check for messages on power up, every time it sends a track point, every time it sends a message, and automatically once an hour. After sending a message, the unit enters a "conversational" mode where it checks for messages more frequently than normal. Not sure how long this lasts, but it will be matter of 10 or 20 minutes.

You should not attempt to use iR features (sent track points, message sends, etc.) indoors. It's not going to work. And because the unit tries (and retries) very hard to do whatever you asked (send a track point, check for messages, or whatever) this is going to be a giant battery suck. Just don't do it.

There is nothing you can do about the message check on power up. Or about the hourly automatic check. But you can easily avoid trying to send track points or messages while indoors.

This is actually a little bit of an oversimplification with regard to message checking on sent messages and track points. But it's close enough for this discussion.

0 Garmin-Leslie over 2 years ago

Angel Hello, we offer two different plan types. The annual plan where it is active for 12 months straight, or the freedom plan which gives you the ability to suspend the service when you are not using it. You can then reactivate it at any time. This allows for the flexibility of using the device in some months and not in others as needed. There is no stand-by mode however, within a 30 day billing cycle when it is active. inReach Subscription Service Plans.

You could also consider other things for battery saving as well Improving the Battery Life of Garmin inReach Products. However, you are correct having your device turned on and inside for a long period of time will always drain the battery as it will continue to search for satellites.