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Tracking during safety plan

8053534
over 3 years ago

Hello,

curious about how tracking works on the safety plan. I don’t want to pay 10 cents per point, so I have it off. If I was to crash and was unconscious/unable to press the sos button, could my friends who have my inreach link give that to rescuers to locate me? As in can someone ping my device to find me?

  • 0 over 3 years ago

    Nope. You cant have it both ways. Sorry. My suggestion is change it to 20 minute intervals. I worked out that for a day trip it was costing me $5 or $6 NZ. If you bought the device  for a level of security when out by yourself then switch it on. You spend more on a beer/latte on your way home afterwards.

  • 0 over 3 years ago

    You can allow MapShare users to request your location. However, this can take quite a while and will not work if the device is off, does not have a clear view of the sky, and so forth. And it depends on when the device does its next active message check (in the absence of sent traffic such as track points or messages, this is typically once an hour). 

    Bottom line: Turn on sent point tracking at some interval. You can make the interval longer to minimize the traffic. This IS supposed to be a safety device. If you want SAR to have a starting point (once somebody notices that you are overdue), you have to send points.

  • 0 over 3 years ago

    Your friends can Ping your location from MapShare whether tracking is on or off.  Obviously the Mini has to be on to respond back.  As noted above it's not instantaneous and there can be some outside hindrances to doing this (like you crash in a canyon).  It does cost 1 message unit to do this.

  • 0 over 3 years ago

    As an option you can send regularly Preset Messages (unlimited in any plan) and allow these messages to be displayed on the MapShare, so visitors of your MapShare can see some kind of track. Other even more tricky option to allow (probably it is allowed by default) to display on MapShare waypoints created on device, it was amazing but waypoints created on device are going to be updated via satellite communication. Did you notice message sending arrow icon in the top of display immediately when some waypoint created / updated on device? These waypoints can be visible for your MapShare page and can be used as some kind of tracking and communication. Please note waypoints update via satellite is working in only one direction from device to cloud, but not in the opposite direction. Also, what is amazing too, device updates your position (Blue Arrow) on MapShare each time when you start / stop Navigation to waypoint or stored Route, but not for TrackBack.  I am not sure Navigate and waypoints originated on device satellite update are listed in the documentation, and not sure Garmin will keep this functionality forever.

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to Bodya

    I do not believe that these features are available on all devices. IIRC, Garmin is moving away from this functionality - probably because they are not charging for the associated messages.

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to Bodya

    I do exactly what Bodya is mentioning.  2 of my preset messages are:

    - Arrived at Trailhead

    - Checking in, all is good

    Both are configured to provide Lat/Lon as part of the message so my wife knows exactly where I am at the point that I send those messages. I send the trailhead message when I arrive at the trailhead on the way out and when back, that way she knows I'm done with my hike/ski/mountain bike ride/etc..   I send the Checking occassionally so she can see where I am and has a reasonable last known point in the event I can't respond or push the SOS button.  

    With all that, SAR has a known starting point where they will find my car, a valid last known point, and an approximate radius of search as they can see how frequently I send the Check-in (usually every 1 to 2 hours if the path is changing such as backcountry skiing, less often if on established trail).  

    My wife can also log into my Mapshare account if need be to request a location should I end up missing.

    If my hiking companion wants me to add their spouse or other person to the distribution I simply do that before I leave home.  Then they get to see messages as well.

    The whole concept works great at no cost for tracking point sending.

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to mtsarpilot

    As long as you remember to do all that :-D