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Messages sent to a cell phone also go to that user’s inReach. Way to avoid?

1028305
over 1 year ago

I use my inReach to message a friend on her android cell phone when I hike by myself and she’s back at home. She also has an inReach device listed in the contact I use for her. When I send her messages from my inReach to her cell phone, the messages often also go to her inReach. Is there a way to avoid this? Should I make two separate contacts for her in my address book?

  • 0 over 1 year ago

    I think that’s normal. If I send a message to myself, it will show on both my phone and my device. The message will also be in the messager app and the explore app. I don’t know if you can change it. As long as her device is on and paired to her phone she’s going to get it on both devices.

  • +1 over 1 year ago

    If your cell phone has an internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data), replies can still come over Satellite if the inReach is not actively connected via Bluetooth to the phone and the message is not read within about 15 seconds in the Messenger app. This ensures that the message is delivered to the inReach in the event the inReach is in use by the user but not connected to the smartphone.

    Examples:

    • If the inReach is powered on and actively Bluetooth-paired to the Messenger app and the phone has an internet connection, the message will be received by the inReach and will count as an Internet message that you are not charged for.
    • If the smartphone has an internet connection, but the inReach is not actively paired via Bluetooth to the phone or is powered off, if an incoming message is not read within about 15 seconds in the Messenger app, the message will automatically be sent to the inReach device via satellite to ensure the inReach receives the message. This results in a message that counts against your monthly plan's allotment.

    This would be for anyone using an inReach device and the messenger app. It makes sure that messages take a priority. 

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to Garmin-Leslie
    Garmin-Leslie said:
    If the smartphone has an internet connection, but the inReach is not actively paired via Bluetooth to the phone or is powered off, if an incoming message is not read within about 15 seconds in the Messenger app, the message will automatically be sent to the inReach device via satellite to ensure the inReach receives the message. This results in a message that counts against your monthly plan's allotment.

    Only 15 seconds? That is a very strange handling…

  • 0 6 days ago in reply to Garmin-Leslie

    This is insane. I expect only messages sent to my inReach to be delivered to my inReach. Here's an analogy: I don't expect an SMS to my phone number to also go to my email address. But unlike that analogy, I have a limited number of free custom inReach messages. How do I ONLY receive messages on my inReach that were sent to my inReach address?

  • +1 5 days ago in reply to 3912140

    This discussion is only about inReach messages. Messages sent to your phone number will not be sent to your inReach device. 

  • 0 5 days ago in reply to Garmin-Chris

    That is not correct. The initial poster specifically said:

    "When I send her messages from my inReach to her cell phone, the messages often also go to her inReach. Is there a way to avoid this?"

    Additionally, I *just* experienced this as well. I have messages being sent to my phone number that are coming to my inReach messenger and counting against my monthly quota.

  • +1 5 days ago in reply to 3912140

    I may have misunderstood your question. I thought you were talking about an SMS message sent from a phone to your phone number.

    If an inReach SMS message is being sent to your phone number and you have verified that phone number in the Garmin Messenger app on your phone, then, yes, the message will be delivered to your Garmin Messenger app rather than to your default texting app. 

    If you additionally have an active inReach device paired with your Garmin Messenger app and do not read the incoming message in the app within the allotted time, a copy of the message will be sent via satellite to ensure that it reaches you. 

  • 0 5 days ago in reply to 3912140

    If you want that, you need to stop using the Messenger app and remove your Garmin Messenger account (which is something different than your regular Garmin account).

    Without the Messenger app messages will be sent to your device. But they will also count against your plan.

  • 0 5 days ago in reply to Garmin-Chris

    It's even worse than that. The messages are going to my inReach Messenger when it is not paired with the phone at all (in fact, the phone is off). I wish I had known about this incredible feature before I bought this device. I was a prior inReach Mini user so had no experience with the messenger app since they were not compatible.

  • 0 5 days ago in reply to JungleJim

    Sounds like the solution is to stop using inReach Messenger, since having access to the app is pretty important for sending custom messages. I guess I could see if I could still use the Earthmate app like I did with my Mini but honestly this "functionality" is enough to make me switch to Zoelo even if I could go back to the Earthmate app.