Before activation..

As I understand it, later versions of the firmware allow use of an inReach device without activation. I don't have any personal experience with this. My understanding is that use is limited to basic GPS functions. It does not include anything related to satellite messaging. That is, it does not include the ability to send or receive messages or the ability to send track points. It also does not include anything related to an account at inReach.garmin.com - which includes MapShare. Since a classic SE has no navigation capabilities, its usefulness in this mode is extremely limited. You would have somewhat more functionality with an SE+.

Service plans come in two flavors: annual and "freedom". Annual plans require a 12-month commitment, but the monthly cost is somewhat less. Freedom plans require only a 30-day commitment. If I recall correctly, they also require a fixed annual fee which is charged in advance. Both annual and freedom plans are billed monthly. The rules and costs for changing "levels" are somewhat different between annual and freedom plans as well. You don't say where you are located. The above information is for US plans. If you are outside the US, plans differ.

You can find full details on US plans on the Garmin web site.

Useful FAQs on freedom plans can be found here.

Freedom plans can be suspended temporarily or cancelled. You do all of this through your account at inreach.garmin.com. You establish this account as part of device activation. As long as you suspend or cancel the account before the next monthly anniversary, you will not be charged for an additional month. However, the freedom plans do auto-renew if you do not cancel. That is, an active freedom account will be automatically renewed monthly until you cancel or suspend it.

Thank you for the FAQs on freedom plan link.
I will not use my inreach without plan. I search only to understand before choose my plan.
Example : how can my friends send to me a message?

Messaging is arranged so that you are in control. This is because each message, whether sent or received, is charged against your plan.

The only way for someone to initiate a conversation is from your MapShare page. You must explicitly allow this via options associated with your MapShare page. You can also password-protect your MapShare page.

If you initiate the conversation from the inReach, the way your friend replies depends on whether you send a text message or an e-mail. If you send a text message, your friend can reply via text message, just as they would for a text message from another phone. The ability to reply in this way has a limited lifetime, but it's on the order of days or weeks, not hours. Most of us who use text messaging "prime the pump" by sending our friends a text message at the beginning of a trip. That way, we're sure they can "reply" at any time during the trip.

If you use e-mail, the message will contain a link to a web page from which your friend can reply. This is similar to the MapShare page, in that it shows your location and allows a reply. But it is not your MapShare page. This allows you to send e-mail and receive replies to people who do not have access to your MapShare page.

It's also possible to send inReach to inReach messages, which allow direct replies. This requires your friend to also have an active inReach. It doesn't sound like this would be of interest to you.

Great explains!
Preset messages are free for me not the answers. True?
I believed messages from MapShare page were not charged against my plan. True?
Do you know MapShare site only to see interfaces?
Best regards

Yes, preset messages you send are free. Any replies will be charged against your plan. Note that preset messages include both the message text and the recipient list. No flexibility from the field. And you are limited to 3 of them.

Messages from the MapShare page are charged against your plan.

Sorry, I don't currently have a publicly accessible MapShare page and don't know of any demo sites.

Edited to add: Jim Cyr has a number of nice video tutorials. I didn't see anything that stuck out as MapShare, but worth a look. Also, you might search YouTube for inReach to see what else might be out there.

Hi
if I want activate my Inreach only between 10 August and 9 September:
When should I suspend my plan? 11 August? 8 September?
Do I have to sync my Inreach?
What should I pay? full August and full September? only 30 days? pourcent of August and full September
best regards

You probably want to contact customer service to be sure of the answers to your questions - particularly with regard to exactly when to suspend. Billing is on the basis of the start date, not on the basis of calendar month. So if you use the service for only 30 days and suspend in a timely manner, you will be billed only for one month. Plus the annual fee for a freedom plan, which will be billed on activation. In general, it's a good idea to sync the unit any time there is a change in plan. You can do this over the air, but it's a cumbersome process. Much easier and faster via wired sync.

According to the FAQs linked above, you can schedule suspension any time during the last month in which you want service, other than the date on which you would normally be billed for the next month. So it sounds like any time between August 11 and September 8 would be fine. But I've never done this. Which is why you should contact customer service to be sure.

Thank you very much Tom. I live in France. Garmin customer service is bad: new product for them and not enough question about this.

Hi there,
late - but it may help somebody anyway
I ran into exactly the same questions.

So:
I have the same device, the Delorme SE (without + , pre-Garmin era).

The plan ist valid for 30 days from activation on, so if you choose to activate on 10 August it is valid until September 9th - you always can look up your current plan in your personal Inreach web page - you get a link via e-mail to that page once you have acrivated your device. On that page you will find a "Plan renewal" date.

After activating the plan on July 24 I got an e-mail from [email][email protected][/email] stating the following:

***
Subject: inReach Activation Confirmation Dear +++MyName+++,
You have successfully activated the following inReach device:
(+++my Device numer here +++) - Freedom Recreation Plan €44.99 (monthly)
Activation Fee: €0.00 (one time)
Your order number is: +++++
Your new inreach.garmin.com account is ready. If you haven't already, log in to add social media accounts, contacts, MapShare preferences, and your inReach will be ready to use on your next adventure.
IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT SOS: The SOS feature is now active. Only use SOS in a real emergency. Do not test SOS as any activation is considered real and you may be subject to fees associated with false activation.
Need assistance? Visit our support site. https://support.garmin.com
***

You have to log in on that page https://inreach.garmin.com/ to do the deactivation of your plan from there anytime BEFORE that Plan renewal date - the plan will the still be active within that 30-day-period, but the system will NOT automatically renew the plan. You need to have internet connection and a browser handy for that.

That is how it worked for me.

After I cancelled my renewal of the plan, I got another message:


***
Subject: Your pending inReach service suspension

Your inReach (+++my Device numer here +++) has a pending suspension on Aug 24.

Note: The device will NOT function for SOS while suspended.

This change can be altered or canceled prior to Aug 24 at https://inreach.garmin.com.

Need assistance? Visit our support site. https://support.garmin.com

***

In between you get an e-mail for every renewal of your plan, with a receipt attached, from [email][email protected][/email]

For everyday tasks regarding messages etc Jim Cyr has some excellent tutorials on Youtube and his web page that helped me a LOT!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCoASYysvzldY6Qyih4hO4tlFJrFY5uiT

http://avoidingchores.com/inreach/


Hope that helps,
Andy