Does sending my location in Preset messages count/charge as tracking on Safety Plan?

I just got the inReach Explorer and cannot tell if sending my location in a preset message counts as a tracking point that costs 10 cents on the Safety plan. I understand if I turn on tracking it will send my location to MapShare at whatever interval I choose and each of those costs 10 cents.

What I do not understand is do the three ways there seem to be to share your location in a preset message count as tracking that I will be charged for. I see those three options as

On the Account page

1. Include my latitude and longitude as text in the message.

2. Include a link to an online map with the location of my message (not a MapShare map link).

On the modify preset messages page

3. Click the MapShare box

I played around with it both tracking points and sending messages but it is just not clear from my invoice if tracking charges were related to a message sent and what was related to the 30 minute tracking interval I started at 12:52pm.

Top Replies

twolpert over 3 years ago in reply to 8710615 +1

Unlimited preset messages are included with all plans, at least in the US. Can't speak to plans based in other countries.

Each preset message has a pre-defined list of recipients. You can include MapShare…

All Replies

0 twolpert over 3 years ago

Location is transmitted with every message, presets included. The three options you list govern the presentation of the location.

You should not be charged for a preset message.

0 carleson over 3 years ago

In this invoice if you look to the far right then you can see how much you were charged, such as $0.00 or $0.10. Note that you can have Tracking on and not send any points. Inside the Setup>Tracking menu there is a Send Interval and one of the choices is "off." There is also the "Log Interval", so in this way you can still record where you went without having to s end via satellite. In this case you then send the track to phone via Bluetooth and then to Explore website when you are in wifi or cell service.

0 8710615 over 3 years ago

If the location in the preset message is free and unlimited, why would anyone need to pay the 10 cents to send the location?

Couldnt you just create a preset message saying "I am here!" with the MapShare?

And couldnt you just make a free tracking by sending it every 2 hours?

0 twolpert over 3 years ago in reply to 8710615

Unlimited preset messages are included with all plans, at least in the US. Can't speak to plans based in other countries.

Each preset message has a pre-defined list of recipients. You can include MapShare. Like all messages, preset messages include location.

So yes, what you are suggesting is possible and will not result in additional charges, no matter what plan you are on.

That said, from a safety perspective, this is not a replacement for tracking. Safety-wise, tracking is intended to give SAR a starting point if you become disabled to the point where you cannot send an SOS. When somebody finally misses you, SAR can look at your track to determine your location. Typically, you will track at intervals much more frequent than 2 hours.

The other problem with this is that you must remember to manually send the preset message. If you don't, somebody watching MapShare will not know if (a) you are seriously injured or dead or (b) you just forgot. This is a big flaw in the plan.

IMO, unless you use the unit year-around, you are better off with a Recreation freedom plan, which includes unlimited track points at no additional charge. To look at this another way, how much is your life worth?