Suggestions for Quick Text

I posting a list of Quick Text messages I set up - so we can share ideas.

  • Yes. Affirm.
  • No. None. Not.  
  • Maybe. Not sure.
  • Probably.
  • I'm checking in, everything is okay. 
  • Yesterday.
  • Today.
  • Tomorrow.
  • Hours. Estimated...
  • I'm going to be late.
  • I'm starting from here.
  • I'm stopping here (for now).
  • Battery low.  Turning off sometimes.
  • Difficult to type a message, I'm using QuickText. Consider asking Yes or No questions.
  • I can't say more now, I'll write later if warranted.
  • We are the champions!
  • Having a great time!
  • We have a minor injury or issue, but we are trying to deal with it.
  • I might be lost...
  • I'm on my way. Making progress.

I have a bit of experience with sending messages from the field, but I'm sure there are others with more experience.  Do you think this is too many options?

(Bit of a pain to arrange. They stayed in the relative order I wanted, but on Sync the first one gets shifted to a new position for some reason. ) Note first 3 (as ordered on website) you can't delete, only edit.

  • I think it's too many, but we think alike on the messages. Here are some of mine, I removed from this list my boat and radio specific quick texts that readers would not find useful. Now reviewing these for the first time in a while, I've got a few that are essentially the same. I may edit and borrow some of yours.

    RUNNING LATE
    I'M AT THE BOAT RAMP
    NO CELL SERVICE USING SATELLITE TEXT
    I can't call now, text only, call later
    I'm checking in, everything is okay.
    I'm starting from here.
    I'm stopping here.
    GO TO PLAN B
    I'm on my way.
    I'm going to be late.
    HUNTING LATER THAN USUAL, ALL GOOD, TEXT/CALL LATER
  • Thanks for the feedback, helpful to see other ideas!

  • Done, heading home.

    Done, having a beer, then heading home.

  • Thanks Swamp. Some good variations to think about. And yeah, I'll try to shorten my list a bit.

  • I pretty much only ever use 1 quicktext:

    • "Can't text easily with this satcom device, will message you later."

    Then I have my 3 presets:

    • "Outside cell range, text this number if you need to reach me via Iridium satcom!" (includes tracking map link)
    • "Just checking in, all is good!"
    • "Back at the car, will be back in cell range soon!"

    I've found that those 3 presets and 1 quicktext have pretty much been all I've needed. I think I've only ever "typed" one custom text message, which was a nightmare lol.

    I use the Earthmate app, paired with my IR Mini, whenever I want to say anything else. So it's actually quite easy for me to have text conversations with people if I want to, but I like to pretend that my inreach is really hard to use, so people won't bug me :D

  • There are a lot of good ideas here. I added:

    Presets:

    Just checking in. Everything is OK. I love you.

    Heading back.

    Back safe.

    QuickText:

    - Cancel that last message.

    - Shot an animal.

    - Recovered animal.

    - Phone battery died.

    - Staying overnight in the field. All is well. Will head out after daybreak.

    - Stranded with vehicle. Please send help to my location.

    - Stranded away from vehicle. Please send help to my location.

    - Injured person in our group, non life-threatening. Please send help to this location.

    - Please update status of help on the way to my location.

    - Help has arrived.

    - Yes

    - No

    - Battery low. Turning off sometimes.

    - No cell signal. Difficult to text from satcom device. 

    - I love you.

    - I'm on my way.

    - I will be late.

    - I'm stopping here for now.

    (Note: I once received a message from my wife saying "I need you to call me." I was quite far from cell signal, but fearing it was an emergency, I rushed to signal. My 3 y/o was having a temper tantrum, and by the time I got the message and made it out to signal a couple hours later, he was sound asleep. I feared the worst. We now have a system. That prompted this question:

    - Is this (1)low-priority, (2)important, (3)urgent, or (4) emergency? [Respond]

  • You can see our messages relate to our activities. My activity is backcountry skiing. Here are my quick text entries:

    • I am starting here.
    • I am checking in. Everything is okay.
    • I am putting on my skins here.
    • I am pulling my skins here.
    • I am taking a break here.
    • I am stopping here.
    • I am down safely.
    • == MINOR ==
    • I am changing my plans slightly (probably changing where I am skiing). Everything is fine.
    • I am going to be late, but don't have a problem.
    • I have a problem (e.g., broken gear, minor injury, helping someone, etc), am okay, and will be late.
    • == INFO ==
    • The battery on this device is low.
    • I prefer to send preset "quick text" messages. Please ask Yes/No messages if possible (although I might be able to type messages).
    • Yes
      No
    • == MAJOR ==
    • Somebody else is injured. Please call SAR. I will press the emergency button on my device, too.
    • I am injured. Please call SAR. I will press the emergency button on my device, too.

    The items contained within "==" are simply headings for me to group quick text messages. UNFORTUNATELY, they messages don't appear on my inReach device in the same order they appear on the website when I enter them.

    My preset (aka free) messages are:

    • I am starting here.
    • I am checking in. Everything is okay.
    • I am down safely.

    I send the first when I leave me truck, the second periodically, and the third when I return to my truck.