Needs some help using inReach

Former Member over 8 years ago

Hey, I need some help using a inReach I just bought.

I was told by the store I can use it 2 ways.

1st
-cost 3$ a month
-I can use the SOS feature
-I can send pre made texts
-not paired with a smart phone

2nd
19$ a month
-tracking feature
-paired with a smart phone

The guy at the store said, leave it on the 3$ a month until you know you need to use more features and than go on the website and bump up your plan to the 19$ a month. Then when you don't need all those features, bump it down to the 3$ a month.

All sounds good, except when I went on the website, registered it/password, I can't do anything except pick one of the plans and there is no 3$ plan option. The plans start at $17 and up.

So how do I use this thing for 3$ a month? How do I get on the website to add phone numbers to recieve text. How do I get on the website to make these texts?

Seems like I can't get past the pick a 19$ or more plan on the web site.

0 twolpert over 8 years ago

I have no idea where the retail outlet is getting its numbers. Assuming that you are located in the US, these are the available plans. I don't believe that prices have changed recently. Certainly, there has never been a plan for as little $3 per month. OTOH, I don't see a plan for $17, either. So maybe you aren't in the US? Plans and costs do vary by location because of differences in who provides the Iridium subscription in each locale.

No matter where you are, there are several different plans (safety, recreation, expedition, extreme). Each plan includes different features, including different limits on various kinds of messages (for example, text messages and "sent" tracking points). They may also differ in things like the minimum tracking interval which is available to you. As far as I know, all plans allow you to pair with a cell phone. There might have been exceptions to that with the now-obsolete original inReach SE, which had no navigation capabilities. I think there was a surcharge for using the app with that model.

All plans come in two "flavors". The "annual" plan is cheapest per month. But you commit to 12 continuous months. There is a one-time activation fee ($19.95). You can move to a "higher" plan at any time without a fee (other than the higher monthly charge). There is a fee to move to a lower plan ($24.95). Annual plans are best if you use the unit year-around. The "freedom" plans carry a somewhat higher monthly cost. There is an annual $24.95 enrollment fee for freedom plans. You can move to higher or lower plans at any time without a fee. You can also suspend service at any time. When you suspend or restart service (or change plans), the details are complicated. The best way to think of it, although it's not quite accurate, is that each time you start or resume a freedom plan, you commit to a minimum of one month - with its associated charge. Freedom plans are best if you only use the unit occasionally - for example, just during the summer months.

It appears to me that the salesman was talking about freedom plans. There are no plans at the prices he cited, so I think you were misled. You can't actually do anything with the unit without committing to one of plans that are actually available. When you do that, you will be have to provide a credit card, which will be charged for any activation/enrollment fees and for the first month of the plan you pick. If you choose an annual plan, you are committed to 12 months of monthly fees. If you pick a freedom plan, you are committed to a minimum of just one month.

If you feel that you were misled and no longer want the unit, you should insist that the retail outlet allow you to return it for a full refund.

Edited to add: Note that the availability of annual and freedom plans varies by location. As do the costs and terms. For example, in some cases, there are fees to suspend and resume freedom plan. The plans available to you are based on your billing address. The above discussion applies to US plans.