How does the Garmin InAttain Messenger work for SOS and messaging?The InAttain Messenger relays Garmin Messenger messages out of your cellphone by way of Bluetooth or sends fast pre-written messages straight on the machine, so you may contact somebody by way of satellite tv for pc when you haven’t any mobile service.
You may press and maintain the SOS button on the machine to set off an automated emergency response and rescue to your location. However, for each messaging and SOS, you will want an energetic InAttain subscription. How the Garmin InAttain Messenger works(Image credit score: Michael Hicks / Android Central)The principal perform of the Garmin InAttain Messenger is in its title: it helps you to message individuals by way of satellite tv for pc for those who’re someplace with no mobile sign. Specifically, it makes use of an Iridium communication satellite tv for pc touring in low orbit, which is not as sturdy as GPS and will not penetrate thick obstacles like buildings or mountains — that means it will not work indoors and can transmit extra slowly by means of thick tree cowl. But it can penetrate most pure obstacles fairly dependably. The InAttain Messenger listens by default for messages each ten minutes, so members of the family can keep involved, and you’ll examine manually for messages or ship your personal at any time.To use InAttain Messenger, you will must obtain the Garmin Messenger app, register to your Garmin account, and share your cellphone contacts with the app, making you simply findable to different customers. You can then ship Garmin Messages by way of SMS or e-mail, in addition to by means of the app itself. (Note: You may ship fast messages by means of the app in your Garmin watch of alternative.)You can use Garmin Messenger to ship or obtain messages totally free anytime you are inside mobile vary. Otherwise, for sending satellite tv for pc messages, you will want a subscription; we’ll clarify extra about prices and restrictions beneath. Basically, any subscription gives you limitless SOS indicators to emergency providers and 3 default “check-in messages” like “I’m okay” or “I’m ending my trip” to reassure family members; however you will should pay extra to ship, and obtain customized messages or your location information. As a aspect be aware, Garmin used to allow you to customise your three preset messages, and its unchangeable check-in messages appear to be a irritating strategy to drive you to spend cash as a substitute of letting you script extra pure and helpful messages like “I’m stopping for the day.” You’ll even be charged each time you obtain a message over satellite tv for pc, so you will need to warn your family members to not textual content your Garmin account until it is important.Swipe to scroll horizontallyCategoryGarmin InAttain MessengerDimensions3.1 x 2.5 x 0.9″ (7.8 x 6.4 x 2.3 cm)Display1.08″ diagonal (160 x 68 pixels) sunlight-readable, monochrome, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP)Weight4 oz (113.9 g)Water protectionIPX7Battery (Message or location despatched each 30 minutes)Up to 46 days (23 with tree cowl)Battery (10-minute monitoring interval)Up to 28 days (14 with tree cowl)Battery (2-minute monitoring interval)Up to 6 days (3 with tree cowl)SensorsReceiver, GPS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou, CompassReverse charging✔️ (USB-C)You can technically use the Garmin InAttain Messenger with no cellphone in a pickle, however it solely has three bodily buttons — left, proper, and OK — which might be fairly inflexible and hard to press, which makes scrolling by means of an alphabet to pick every letter in a message frustratingly sluggish. That’s why you will need to ensure that your cellphone is absolutely charged since you may sort a message on the Garmin Messenger app and ship it by means of the InAttain Messenger machine by way of a Bluetooth connection. Otherwise, you will must depend on these generic check-in messages.After every part is ready up, you may set the InAttain Messenger to ship your messages to particular individuals in your contact checklist, in addition to ship your location information at common intervals that your mates can see in your Mapshare web page. You can alter the regularity of your location check-ins from each jiffy to each few hours, which you’ll select if you wish to protect its battery life.If one thing have been to occur to you and also you could not name SOS, your contacts may see the place you stopped transferring and ship emergency providers themselves. Otherwise, you may press the devoted SOS button — which is hidden beneath a flap so you may’t press it by accident — and the 24/7 Garmin Response Team will ship your location and data to the closest native emergency providers, whereas additionally trying to contact you. Help will come whether or not or not you reply, however you may reply a name in your related cellphone or ship messages on the InAttain Messenger to clarify your state of affairs.How a lot does utilizing the Garmin InAttain Messenger value?(Image credit score: Android Central)In addition to the $299 value of the Garmin InAttain Messenger, you will must pay for a satellite tv for pc subscription. You can both select an annual “Contract” plan or a “Freedom” plan that permits you to pay for only a month or extra at a time, providing you with extra flexibility for those who solely journey to distant areas throughout particular instances of the yr. We’ve outlined the foremost variations between the plans beneath:Swipe to scroll horizontallyPlanCostSOSMessagingTrackingWeatherSafety Plan (Contract)$11.95/month + $29.95 activation feeUnlimited10 texts + limitless check-ins; $0.50 per textual content over limitCharged $0.10 per monitoring level or location requestBasic climate report for 1 textual content message; $1 for premium reportSafety Plan (Freedom)$14.95/month + $34.95 activation feeUnlimited10 texts + limitless check-ins; $0.50 per textual content over limitCharged $0.10 per monitoring level or location requestBasic climate report for 1 textual content message; $1 for premium reportRecreation Plan (Contract)$24.95/month + $29.95 activation feeUnlimited40 texts + limitless check-ins; $0.50 per textual content over limitUnlimited 10-minute monitoring and placement requestsBasic climate report for 1 textual content message; $1 for premium reportRecreation Plan (Freedom)$34.95/month + $34.95 activation feeUnlimited40 texts + limitless check-ins; $0.50 per textual content over limitUnlimited 10-minute monitoring and placement requestsBasic climate report for 1 textual content message; $1 for premium reportExpedition Plan (Contract)$49.95/month + $29.95 activation feeUnlimitedUnlimited textsUnlimited 2-minute trackingBasic climate report free; $1 for premium reportExpedition Plan (Freedom)$64.95/month + $34.95 activation feeUnlimitedUnlimited textsUnlimited 2-minute trackingBasic climate report free; $1 for premium reportSo along with the excessive value of the InAttain Messenger itself, the minimal you might pay to make use of it for a visit could be both $50 for a month or $170 for an annual contract, with the associated fee solely rising in alternate for extra premium plans. Who wants the Garmin InAttain Messenger, and why?(Image credit score: Michael Hicks / Android Central)Anyone with an iPhone 14 Pro will be aware that it could actually ship emergency SOS messages by way of satellite tv for pc at any time totally free. And we have heard sturdy rumors that Android satellite tv for pc telephones will quickly arrive, too. It could also be a function that solely involves pricier telephones, however InAttain Messenger is not a smartphone alternative for outdoorsy sorts (or anybody), so is it nonetheless value shopping for on prime of your cellphone?Here are a couple of causes to think about it: you may’t use an iPhone 14 Pro’s satellite tv for pc connectivity for normal messages or monitoring check-ins. An iPhone battery will die in a day or two at most, whereas the InAttain Messenger can final about 28 days with rare location monitoring and messaging. Plus, the InAttain Messenger has perks like a sturdy waterproof design, reverse charging to offer your cellphone some emergency juice, and Tracback routing that factors you again to your place to begin for those who get misplaced — all nice perks if you’re roughing it. In different phrases, the rugged Garmin InAttain Messenger will probably be extra more likely to survive some catastrophic harm or retain battery life than a cellphone, will give emergency providers extra precise details about your location, and will probably be higher for “casual” check-ins with household for those who’re incessantly caught in useless zones away from wi-fi or mobile networks. These are all wonderful perks to have in your pocket in an emergency, however the excessive value of entry and ponderous design signifies that it is one thing we might advocate just for severe hikers and adventurers who spend an unhealthy period of time off the grid however do not need to be unsafe about it. Otherwise, with telephones just like the Galaxy S23 tipped to obtain satellite tv for pc connectivity this yr, extra informal outdoorsy sorts who not often spend time in useless zones could not want one thing so specialised.
Send your loved ones common check-ins about the way you’re doing and your present location, even in spots the place mobile networks cannot discover you. The SOS button will name emergency providers for those who ever want them; and the powerful design and highly effective battery will make sure the InAttain Messenger is all the time prepared to assist.