WARNING - Locate feature locks out after timing out

2037472 over 3 years ago

I just found out that my Inreach mini has had the Locate feature locked out for the last few months. This is the feature where someone can find you on the Explore map or the web based, shareable map. Apparently, if someone tries to locate you, the service will attempt it for 5 days and then time out and lock itself from further Locate requests. So if someone accidentally tries to locate you while your unit is off, that feature will lock itself until you call in and request the lock gets taken off. There is no message, warning or indication of any kind that this feature has been disabled.

So, if you are compromised out in the backcountry and are not able to activate the SOS button, then someone recognizes that you haven't returned, they will not be able to find you if this feature is locked out.

That feature is 90% of why I purchased this unit and pay for the monthly service.

This is kinda' stupid.

0 twolpert over 3 years ago

This has nothing to do with the Mini. The problem (if this is true) is with the web site or the back end, not the device. Open a support ticket.

Note that depending on the locate function in this manner is a really bad idea (and not because of the eventual "lock"). Locate sends a request to the device, which responds with its location. But the device must be on and requires a clear view of the sky in order for this to work. If the service does not make contact on the first try, it will "back off" to increasingly long retry intervals before giving up. The net result is that even a successful locate request can take a long time. And if the device is off, the battery is depleted, or there is some other problem (for example, you fell on top of the device), it will not work at all.

With regard to safety, your best bet is to enable tracking (track points sent via the Iridium network in more or less real time) AT ALL TIMES when moving in the back country. That way, SAR always has a good starting point when somebody realizes you are overdue (but did not press SOS). These points will also show up on MapShare so that others can see your most recent location.

Note: I cannot remember if sent points on the MapShare page somehow depend on collections. If so, you need to make sure the track is going to show up on MapShare for this to work.