SOS / Global Rescue

inReach emergency response is provided by GEOS. The basic inReach subscription includes SOS response and emergency services dispatch by GEOS. GEOS offers both SAR and Medivac plans at an additional cost. At one time, you could subscribe to these plans via your inReach account. I don't know if that's true any longer. I was completely unable to find anything on the Garmin site regarding the existence of these plans, let alone the cost. You can get all necessary information and subscribe through the GEOS site. See the GEOS Memberships option on the menu bar at the top of the site.

Note that this a "prepaid subscription benefit", not insurance. There are a number of exclusions. It's also important to note that this is a secondary benefit. Any travel insurance that you might have must pay first. Even though GEOS does the dispatching, you must make a claim to collect. Depending on the plan, you may require multiple memberships if, for example, you travel with family. Bottom line is that you should read the terms and conditions carefully before subscribing - or depending on the benefit.

Finally found a support FAQ that at least admits to the existence of the GEOS add-on plans.

Here's a link with fine print details: https://files.delorme.com/support/inreachwebdocs/GEOS_Search_and_Rescue.pdf

If you go into "Account" tab you will see the 2 services listed, GEOS SAR for $17.95 USD/yr, and GEOS MediVac with two options - $175.00 USD International Coverage/Year or $129.95 USD US & Canada Coverage/Year.

Thanks for the replies/info.

inReach Ancestor Rescue

It started with the DeLorme SPOT which was just used in a rescue three days ago:
http://www.ktvz.com/news/lost-south-sister-climber-uses-spot-device-to-bring-rescue/532241855

I never go out of cell range without my inReach. :)

Oooops!

It started with the DeLorme SPOT which was just used in a rescue three days ago:
http://www.ktvz.com/news/lost-south-sister-climber-uses-spot-device-to-bring-rescue/532241855

I never go out of cell range without my inReach. :)

My most humble and deepest apologies. My son-in-law saw the following on TV this morning and passed it on to me. I did a whole bunch of Googling, but could not find the one that he told me about; however, I did find the one above, which is also a GPS SOS rescue.

I guess the TV website update is about 8 hours behind and the inReach SE rescue is now accessible:
http://abc7.com/technology/mans-location-device-helps-save-injured-hiker-in-sierra-madre/2081079/

OK, I never go out of cell range without my inReach EXPLORER+!

Inreach messaging and rescue

My most humble and deepest apologies. My son-in-law saw the following on TV this morning and passed it on to me. I did a whole bunch of Googling, but could not find the one that he told me about; however, I did find the one above, which is also a GPS SOS rescue.

I guess the TV website update is about 8 hours behind and the inReach SE rescue is now accessible:
http://abc7.com/technology/mans-location-device-helps-save-injured-hiker-in-sierra-madre/2081079/

OK, I never go out of cell range without my inReach EXPLORER+!

Slight correction, Slim - SPOT is a different company from Delorme/Garmin. They use a different satellite system. IIRC, they do use GEOS, though, same as Garmin does and Delorme did before Garmin bought them.

I appreciate the attempt at correction in the post above titled Oooops!.

OTOH, reviewing the link to which I referred to SPOT usage,
http://www.ktvz.com/news/lost-south-sister-climber-uses-spot-device-to-bring-rescue/532241855,
The news article definitely specifies "SPOT" and does refer to GPS satellites; however, it makes no mention of "GEOS".

Regarding my note of "DeLorme SPOT", with my SPOT device in my left hand while I type with my right, I see that SPOT is engraved in the black front piece and DELORME is printed in white.

Regarding my note of "DeLorme SPOT", with my SPOT device in my left hand while I type with my right, I see that SPOT is engraved in the black front piece and DELORME is printed in white.

I expect this is a SPOT device that was acquired back in the day when D was pairing SPOT with the PN-60w. I don't know if the hardware is actually any different from a standalone SPOT device (at that time) or not. Suspect it might be because of the Zigby interface, but I don't really know.

GEOS does support various current-generation SPOT devices. I don't know if that kind of dispatching is provided by anybody else for SPOT or not.

And I have absolutely no idea if you can still get coverage for that D-labeled SPOT device. I have one myself, but it has not had an airtime contract in forever. Switched to inReach instead.

10-4, and with the title of this thread being SOS / Global Rescue, I thought that the mention of an SOS/Rescue initiated by a SPOT device as appropriate.

SOS SPOT Global rescue

10-4, and with the title of this thread being SOS / Global Rescue, I thought that the mention of an SOS/Rescue initiated by a SPOT device as appropriate.

Since I spend a lot of time in remote places, I ran across SPOT first, since their HQ is/was within a few miles of my place in the SFBay region. Their company name is GlobalStar. Their communication satellite constellation is different from the one used by Delorme, which is now owned by Garmin. The Delorme/Garmin communication constellation is Iridium Communications. Both the SPOT and Garmin constellations use the same navigation satellites (the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System, operated the USAir Force). The big difference in the comsat constellations is that Iridium covers the whole Earth. This is important for me, since my research covers the entire planet. SPOT on the other hand is limited to the belt between +80° N and -80° S. Another difference is that Iridium is in effect a "cell" system where your messages are transferred among the satellites just like your cell phone. SPOT, on the other hand, uses ground-based repeater systems that act as the "cell towers". This need for ground-based relays means there are large areas on the Earth's surface that are not covered, large areas of ocean, for example, as well as some specific countries.

With the Russian GLONASS, European Galileo, Indian, and Chinese satcom satellite systems, we might someday have more complete phone coverge for the planet, although text messages put less demand on the satellites.