I’m trying to decide which unteach mini2 plan that I really need. I don’t text often So I don’t mind a small charge now and then. I’m 65 and hike with my dogs daily, 2-5 miles per. I need the cheapest plan that will allow family/rescuers etc. to be able to
But if you mainly want the device as an SOS backup, the Enabled plan may be suitable, it costs USD 7.99 per month and has SOS messaging included. Regular messaging and tracking are on a pay-per-use base.
Yeah, you have to know which usage method you'll use and how many hours per month you'll be using it.
If using just tracking with one point every 10 minutes, the enabled plan is cheapest unless you will do more than about 36 hours of tracking in the month, at which point the $0.10/message costs could have paid for the Standard plan with its unlimited tracking points. So Enabled is how I'm using it when I just go to the wilderness for a few day hikes in a single month.
Essential might be worth it if you want to send a lot of check-in messages instead of tracking points. But, you'd have to send 70 check-in in a month before you hit the break-even point on Essential versus just Enabled plus $0.10/checkin.
On the other hand, if you want to do regular text messaging, these transitions happen faster. It only takes 14 messages on Enabled to pay as much as Essential. And it takes about 80 messages on Essential to pay as much as Standard. It would take about 190 messages on Standard to pay as much as Premium, at which point messages are also unlimited.
Thank you for the helpful information. Seems as is the bottom of my original message was cut off. My concern is if something catastrophic happens and I’m unconscious and can’t hit the SOS. I was wondering if I use the tracking option on the enabled plan can family/rescuers be able to see my last position? Or do I need a more expensive plan. Thank you
Enabled plan allows tracking, but you pay per tracking point sent. There's no allotment of included tracking points in the Enabled plan.
As for others being able to see your position, if you share the link to your MapShare or inReach Live Track page before you start your activity, they can see the tracking points that you have sent, connected by straight lines.
But for rescuers to see your location you need to trigger an SOS. The SOS message will always include your current location independent of whether you have tracking enabled or not. The SOS message is then handled by the Garmin Response coordination center, which will dispatch to the appropriate local organization depending on the situation you're in.
I think on any plan, you could send a check in message at the start of your walk, having given someone permission to access your Mapshare page. Even with tracking turned off (as long as the InReach is turned on) they will be able to send a location request anytime they feel concerned. So you could send a checkin with your starting time (if it's regularly the same time create a checkin message with that time and save it to the unit). No cost for check in messages. You could leave tracking off so no cost there either but if you are overdue your contact could send a location request to find where you are. The only cost would be the location request message. On a normal walk zero cost.
I had that mentality of just using manual check-ins when I started hiking with my inreach mini 2 a couple years ago, when the "safety" plan was much like the current Essential plan. But, I have to say that prior posts by JungleJim and others have sunk in a little bit.
I'm still not a believer that I will be saved if I have a sudden incapacitation while solo. I accept it is more likely a recovery mission in that case. Regardless of the polling method, your remote observer has to have faith that you're taking care of yourself until the next reporting interval. Of course, you could have stepped off a cliff, gotten crushed by a tree, or fed yourself to a mountain lion one second after the last normal check-in. ;-)
Anyway, I think there is value in trying to use the device and inReach system the way it was intended instead of fighting it. The periodic tracking updates are easier to manage on the trail and more or less mean the same things as "I'm starting", "everything is OK", and "I'm ending" just by pressing "start tracking" and "stop tracking" at the session endpoints, assuming your normal OK status is to be making progress along your route.
I think the lack of check-in message spam and the regularity of updates on MapShare was appreciated by my home observer. I can still see value in periodic manual check-ins if you are at risk even when stationary (e.g. high altitude or bad weather camping). The tracking updates will pause when you do, so they don't really communicate that you're taking a break versus having some crisis. As I understand, it will shift from the regular interval to 4h when you are not moving.
What I think is really important is to setup and use MapShare, including syncing your planned route(s) to the map ahead of time. Unless you're moving very slowly, the 10 minute update interval makes a jagged and noisy track. It is better understood when overlaid on the real route.
I set my device to send tracking during activities at the 10 minute interval. In three days, I generated: 30 points (11 miles, 5:15h), 28 points (7.5 miles, 4:20h), and 24 points (6.7 miles 3:35h). I also did some testing from home before the trip with both tracking points and a few full-fat messages. Now that I am back, I will set it to go back to suspended.
With Enabled, I expect to see $17-$19 total for the month ($8 subscription plus $9-11 usage). Perhaps I could have saved $3 by using Essential and only using check-ins instead of tracking. But, I think the ease of use was worthwhile. I suspect I'll continue to use this method in the future, and my only deliberation will be estimating my total tracking points usage in order to decide whether to select Enabled or Standard for that particular month.
