PSA for anyone thinking of a Garmin Inreach. They have binned off the Freedom tariff and replaced it with a low priced monthly with a pay per track point.

It doesn’t work for me as I use mine once or twice a year and will end up costing a lot more. I’ll probably sell mine now which is a shame as it’s a great little device.

https://www.protegear.de/
Never ever used Garmin's services, but always relied on Protegear. Perhaps you can find a plan that suits you there.
Service is extremely good. I've written about them on here many times before (as well as other did), so using the search function will get you more informed if you're interested.

That's a shame. As someone that only makes use of a device a handful of times per year, monthly / yearly subscription options don't really work well for me at all.

Alpinum wrote: ↑Thu Sep 26, 2024 11:15 am https://www.protegear.de/
Never ever used Garmin's services, but always relied on Protegear. Perhaps you can find a plan that suits you there.
Service is extremely good. I've written about them on here many times before (as well as other did), so using the search function will get you more informed if you're interested.

I’m struggling to understand their website tariffs. It seems like minimum €39+€19 per year and €3 per day when activated? That’s better than Garmin’s base €9 per month minimum. But I wonder how long they will be allowed to offer that tariff?

Dave Barter wrote: ↑Tue Oct 01, 2024 12:20 pm €39+€19 per year and €3 per day

I see you checked the "tracking" tariff..?

Only 19 if you don't use it for (in your case seemingly) more than 6 days. Once you go to 7 days, it'll be 39 + 21 (7 d x €3). If you use it for 10 days you get the bill for 7 d + 3 d => €15 + €9.
Also eg 2 x 7 d of use will cost you 2 x €15.
You just get the tracking tariff and as soon as you start your tracking the days will be counted and later billed as shown in the chart. Perhaps read it again, it's all there.

Dave Barter wrote: ↑Tue Oct 01, 2024 12:20 pm But I wonder how long they will be allowed to offer that tariff?

they've been doing it for many years... InReach since 2013, other sat comms, eprib and others possibly longer, can't remember.

Another vote for Protegear.
I went with them on Alpinium's recommendation from a previous post.
A bit complex initially to get your head around all of the various options, but definitely a better deal compared to Garmin's plans (for me at least).
They were very helpful and were quick to answer all of my queries.

I’ll message them tomorrow. If I can pay €39 a year and only add more money when I’m out there it would be worth it

I also went with Protegear. Turning it on for a single day whenever you want, and preprogramming when it turns on and off through the browser; I find it much more flexible than Garmin's own (paying for a whole month to use it for five days).

Make sure you use a different email to your previous Garmin account, I used the same one and it caused me issues.

Protegear £49a year then pay per day as you use it. Sooo much cheaper and the Garmin works better than the Spot. Still IOS sat messaging might replace that soon.

I have an InReach Mini 2 I got for a motorbike trip through the Pyrenees.
Mostly just for SOS, I don't really message my girlfriend enough I can't wait until I get a phone signal.

So, now it's £60 a year for SOS which isn't horrendous.

However, I have thought about a PLB instead.
But also just getting an iPhone 14 - refurbs are down to £350 now.
I've read they may not be quite as good as a proper sat messenger, but it's also one device that I will generally always have with me and no subscription (yet?)

Still haven't made my mind up

yourguitarhero wrote: ↑Wed Nov 13, 2024 8:55 am
However, I have thought about a PLB instead.
But also just getting an iPhone 14 - refurbs are down to £350 now.
I've read they may not be quite as good as a proper sat messenger, but it's also one device that I will generally always have with me and no subscription (yet?)

I didn't realise this was a feature ! I have an iphone 15 Pro, so I'll look into how this feature works
https://support.apple.com/en-us/105097 well who knew! Does mention only free for first two years.
Hopefully I'll never need it !

My Motorola phone just updated to Android 15
In the "New Features" screen it says that Satellite Messaging is now available when I don't have a mobile or wifi signal

But I can't find anything in the phone settings and online searching about if it is available on EE or in the UK or if it is even linked to your sim card provider is... confused.

yourguitarhero wrote: ↑Thu Feb 13, 2025 9:03 pm My Motorola phone just updated to Android 15
In the "New Features" screen it says that Satellite Messaging is now available when I don't have a mobile or wifi signal

But I can't find anything in the phone settings and online searching about if it is available on EE or in the UK or if it is even linked to your sim card provider is... confused.

I'm not sure about Android, although suspect it's the same as iPhone and _think_ it relies on your network provider as well as OS and hardware. FWIW, I noticed the satellite icon for the first time at the weekend while out of network range on iPhone 16 and Vodafone.

Hyppy wrote: ↑Thu Feb 13, 2025 10:36 pm

yourguitarhero wrote: ↑Thu Feb 13, 2025 9:03 pm My Motorola phone just updated to Android 15
In the "New Features" screen it says that Satellite Messaging is now available when I don't have a mobile or wifi signal

But I can't find anything in the phone settings and online searching about if it is available on EE or in the UK or if it is even linked to your sim card provider is... confused.

I'm not sure about Android, although suspect it's the same as iPhone and _think_ it relies on your network provider as well as OS and hardware. FWIW, I noticed the satellite icon for the first time at the weekend while out of network range on iPhone 16 and Vodafone.

Well, I disabled my SIM and WiFi and stood outside for a while and nothing happened about satellites...