Just activated Garmin Explorer +, what counts as track points?

Yesterday I signed up for the cheapest subscription that does not include track points. My Garmin in reach + , under data usage, says I have used 2 tracking points. Explore.garmin.com under my account also says 2 tracking points under 'Usage', but under stats for 'Tracks' it says 1. I got a bill already for yesterday and was charged for 1 tracking point. I have had my tracking turned off so I am unsure what exactly I'm charged for and also wondering why the discrepancy between it saying 1 track in some places and 2 in others. I'm not sweating a 10 cent charge, just curious. Could it be from when my spouse requested my location in the map page? Does it charge when I send a text that includes my location?

On another note, the battery lasts about 30 hours in my house, even with tracking off. Is this because it's constantly struggling for signal? I haven't used it on a backpacking trip yet but if it drains this fast then that would sucks I would like it to last at least 4 or 5 days. Suppose I could always turn it off. And last question, in my "check" on the in reach, what is the difference between a "check" and a "listen"? Sometimes it says "last check" and others "last listen".

0 twolpert over 3 years ago

In theory, track points are just that - they are generated when you enable tracking. You set the interval (10 minutes and up for most plans, but 2 minutes and up for the top-end plan). Each time a track point is sent, your account is charged. The fact that your account shows 1 track would indicate that you had tracking enabled at least once. (The Tracks tile at the top counts tracks, not track points. In my experience, the tiles are not entirely accurate. In your case, the important thing is that this is tracks, not track points.)

It is possible that the location request (actually, the response to the location request) was charged as a track point. It shows up as a separate item on the plan description, but is the same price as a track point. And there is no tile or counter for it on explore.garmin.com.

https://discover.garmin.com/en-US/inreach/personal/

You will not get accurate battery lifetime by testing indoors. The first mail check is going to last forever - giant battery suck. Even outdoors with a clear sky view, you will not get accurate battery life, even if you enable tracking. This is because the tracking interval will degenerate to 4 hour intervals as soon as the device notices it is not moving. In this case, you will get higher than realistic lifetime.

The only way to get accurate info is to use the device in the outdoors, moving, using your typical tracking interval.

Check vs. listen is an artifact of the legacy device. Check means a real "active" mail check. The device proactively contacts the Iridium network to ask if there are pending messages for the device. If you have a clear view of the sky, this is a reliable check - messages will be received if any are pending. A listen is a passive check. Basically, the device turns the Iridium modem on for a brief interval, hoping to hear a "ring" which means that a message is pending. I don't even know if the network sends the rings anymore. Even if it does, your chances of receiving pending messages in this way are virtually zero. The device must be listening at the precise moment that the network sends the ring. Ain't happening.