New satellite texting GPS

[Tigger]

I put this hear in elk hunting rather than gear but it could be moved.

I hear that Garmin is coming out with a GPS that texts via satellite. There are 2 models, the InReach SE+ and the InReach Explorer+. For topo mapping you need the Explorer+ which is the one I think you would want for elk hunting. To our group, that is a game changer. From safety to convenience, this has a lot of application to 2 groups of guys hunting elk in the back country. Imagine if you will (yes, this will require a lot of imagination on your part so sit down and concentrate!) ....that I shot a bull....and I could text you to come over and take a load back thus saving a trip. Or how about "I broke my ankle and need help!". Or even simply, "we got delayed and will be back an hour late". think of being able to text your family at home. It also has an SOS function to the Search and Rescue coming to you.

Does anybody know much about it? Apparently, it was debuted at SHOT show. MSRP is $450.

Yeah, I know it is another gadget, but I really like this one and it provides something that up to this point has not been available.

Thoughts?

[TimeOnTarget]

I heard this was coming shortly after garmin bought delorme. I know nothing more than what you have stated already but it would be nice.

I also enjoy the peacefulness of not having all that communication as well...

[Kessler10]

I purchased a Delorme Inreach this past season. It was great being able to text from anywhere, especially when I was solo and out in the back country for several nights at a time. My wife loves it.\
i can text anyone that has a device/phone that receives texts.

I did not use the GPS/map function as I already owned a Garmin Oregon that I am much more familiar with using and has all my data points.

Is this what your talking about, or are you talking about a new Inreach model that has an improved GPS/map function? the one I have the GPS/map function leaves a bit to be desired. I solely bought it for the satellite texting function.

[Mathewsz7-elkridge]

Definitely thinking about this one. Only thing I don't like so far is it has a internal battery. This is copied right off the battery life "100 hours at 10-minute tracking mode (default); up to 75 hours at 10-minute tracking with 1-second logging; up to 30 days at the 30-minute interval power save mode; and up to 3 years when powered off" 100 hrs is pushing it for 8 day hunt used 12 hrs. Thinking out loud and little here I guess I could always not use my GPS as much or take both this one and my current one.

The peace of mind of being able to reach help in more locations is great. I am guessing the service is still limited. Never used a sate phone. Will definitely be researching the reliability of them in the mountains.

[Mathewsz7-elkridge]

I purchased a Delorme Inreach this past season. It was great being able to text from anywhere, especially when I was solo and out in the back country for several nights at a time. My wife loves it.\
i can text anyone that has a device/phone that receives texts.

I did not use the GPS/map function as I already owned a Garmin Oregon that I am much more familiar with using and has all my data points.

Is this what your talking about, or are you talking about a new Inreach model that has an improved GPS/map function? the one I have the GPS/map function leaves a bit to be desired. I solely bought it for the satellite texting function.

Was the sate phone pretty reliable in deep heavy covered canyons?

[Brendan]

I've used the Inreach SE since 2014, so three seasons now. The ones released this year aren't new, just minor revisions now that Delorme was purchased by Garmin. I think the only differences are: Design / Form Factor slightly different. The SE now has a bigger screen and some basic maps. The Explorer now can load in better Delorme Topo maps (but not custom maps, garmin maps, etc.)

I personally prefer the mapping capabilities on my Phone (Gaia) and my Garmin GPS (Montana 650) so have no need for the mapping on these units, and thus no real experience with the Explorer. Also, this is primarily a communication and emergency device for me, I don't want to be draining the batteries using the mapping part.

Neither of them are Sat Phones. They are used for texting only, SOS capabilities, and leaving a tracking / breadcrumb trail that people at home can view to keep tabs on you if you send them the link. They also have the ability to get Satellite Weather updates for a charge.

I love mine for it's emergency capabilities, and the ability to text people at home and have them keep tabs on me. Battery life has been excellent, never had a reception issue, but it's text only not voice.

If it were me and you were in the market, I'd try to find a discount on last year's Delorme Inreach SE as opposed to one of the newer Garmin Units.

In the future - I'd love to see an option of AA or Rechargeable batteries, similar to the Montana I have. If they also upgraded the mapping to use Garmin's Maps, or OnX land ownership maps in the future, that could be a real plus.

Any questions, let me know.

[Tigger]

Some good insights here. After looking at it, I think we will wait a year or two. I don't like that it wont take a mapping chip. So that leaves the topo mapping less than stellar. It is $20 for a setup fee and $25 for initiation fee and $25 bucks per month for 40 texts. I think this technology is great, they just need to add some features to make it better. If you add the user-friendliness and big screen of a cell phone plus make it chip or download compatible for better maps and work on the price a wee bit, this will be a winner.

[ElkNut1]

I have one, yes you can text. I'd have to look at which model but they are pretty sweet!

ElkNut1

[Bolt]

My wife wouldn't let me go hunting without it, I haven't hunted one place for elk that I had cell service, also from the other end if something happened back home I want to know as well. I only turn it on one time a day to check in, I have the SE version and I also carry a Garmin because I didn't like the Explorer for my only GPS so I decided to carry a little extra weight. If Garmin has a new unit coming out I may be interested in combining the two, that way I can transfer all of my waypoints.

[N2mywake]

We used one on our last hunt. It worked great, even better if you load the app on your cell phone and use it as the interface to type your messages.

I have mixed emotions on the 2 way communication. My fear is an emergency at home (that wouldn't really be an emergency enough to come off the mt...But would overshadow the hunt). I'm afraid work would track me down...

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[Lefty]

Ive read a couple reviews in two magazines. kind of impressed.
If my wife finds out they exist, I'll end up with one. Not a bad thing. but maybe not totally nessisary. Last year my wife spent a lot of time seeking out the hot spots and dead locations for our phone.


how did we ever hunt with such technology


























no

[bowhuntermojo]

Sounds pretty neat. I like the texting feature but would appreciate the capability to use my onX maps with it too. Maybe after a year or so they will be able to incorporate more of these types of features.

[Brendan]

One of the Delorme/Garmin reps posted recently on another forum - it looks like there may actually be some land ownership information built into at least one of the two units, but it sounds like it's probably a Garmin product and not OnX, so no feedback on how it compares yet though.

[Texasgamehunter]

So there are fees that are needing to be paid to have the service to use this device. But my main question is for the people who have used these, do you have to pay this "fee" every month or can you pay for only the month you are hunting?

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