2-Way Emergency Only PLB Recommendations

I’d say an Inreach Mini/Mini2/messenger are your best choices given that they have standalone 2way capability in case your phone gets eaten by a polar bear. If you won’t have a need beyond this trip perhaps consider renting or borrowing one or even reselling afterwards. You can use the cheapest plan and give yourself a little time to become familiar with it.

I looked into emergency-only devices, but ultimately concluded that their time has passed. IMO, the technology has advanced to the point that there is basically no downside to the devices with additional capabilities.

Maybe you could indicate what your specific concern is with the InReach Mini. That might help people to provide alternatives. Complexity of use? Price? Size/weight? Battery life? I did use the SOS feature in my InReach Mini one time, and it was straightforward, so I wouldn’t be concerned on that score.

Dan……. thanks for responding.

I’m simply hoping for something simple, emergency two-way only, so I’m not spending money on items I know I wont use.

I know I won’t be reaching out to friends and family, keeping a record of my way points, etc.   My Fastfind 220 has no monthly fee like the Garmin Inreach does.

I read a previous article by Ryan Jordan regarding these devices.   I couldn’t find what I was looking for.  Maybe there isn’t such a basic unit out there?   I may have to go with the Garmin Inreach.

There will be no cell service on the hike.

If you have no problems, than anything cheap will do.  Having used the inreach in an emergency, I can tell you it is worth every dime you spend on it.  Having the ability to describe the emergency to the rescue crew makes for faster and more directed response to your specific emergancy.  It also allows the SARS to not endanger their people for your rescue.  They can send only who and what is needed and not the whole carvery because you just pushed a button and they have no idea your real needs.  Think about them in your decision too.  If you are really stretched for cash, buy one, subscribe for a month or so, and sell it.

What happens when you push the sos button, do they send you a message back?

Do you need a phone to compose a reply?

If you had to use the mini, to select one character at a time it would be difficult.

I thought i posted a report on BPL, but I could not find it.  Basically it goes like this.  I first text my wife to tell her the situation and not to be alarmed when they call her.  Next I push the button.  The service simultaneously sends me back a text request for the nature of the emergency and they call the contact number (her) to ask them things like how long have been out, my survival skills, how many in the group, and medical issues we might have.  In this case, it was not life threatening, I was able to tell them what our situation was, how much food and water we had, and how far of a walk/drive to get us.  Rather than send a helicopter or other unnecessary responses, they put is in direct texting contact with the local park ranger (Death Valley) and he came to our assistance within a few hours.  He was anxious to get away from his desk with the rest of the crew and get into the field!!.  He gave us a location for one of us to meet him on the closest road.  Another important issue is that the Garmin continues to send our location every 10 minutes as long as the emergency is activated. In 6 hours, it used about 50% of the battery with all the communications.  So, don’t let it get too low on battery during normal usage.  If i had tried to use this without a Bluetooth to the phone, I might still be out there 8 months later sending texts with its terrible interface.

Here is a thread where @Arthur and I both gave a little more context about the SOS feature. Remarkably, Jerry asked almost identical questions in that thread as in this thread above. :-)

https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/2023-garmin-inreach-sos-year-in-review/

Unremarkable

Old people ask the same questions over and over because they forgot

And jokes:)

Appears Jerry and I have something in common, forgetfulness!

That’s interesting.  When I tried to post the same thing again, in an attempt to be humorous, it said “Error: Duplicate reply detected; it looks as though you’ve already said that.”

At least it didn’t say it was because I was old : )

Humor-detection requires a high level of AI.

Arthur – that’s a great description of how an “SOS” plays out with an InReach.  Thank you for sharing.  I’ve owned an DeLorme InReach SE (yes, before they were acquired by Garmin) for YEARS and it’s still going strong.

John – I understand that an InReach seems like overkill, but your “2-way emergency PLB” requirements can only be met by one of the commercial satellite communicators such as this, which requires both a purchase and having a data plan.  Further, since your plan takes place at significant northern latitudes,  if you pick a device that does NOT use the Irridum satellite network (like InReach does), be sure to do your research and look at their claimed coverage area.  Some of the competing satellite systems concentrate their constellation of satellites closer to the equator and may not have good coverage in high northern latitudes, or if you are on a north facing slope of a mountain.

If this seems like an enormous investment, why don’t you look into renting one for the duration of your expedition?  There are multiple companies that offer InReach rentals.  You won’t have to worry about an expensive item sitting unused in a drawer afterwards, or about being stuck on an expensive data plan that you have to cancel.

I’ve loaned out my InReach SE to several friends on a couple of occasions.  All I’ve asked them in the past is that they pay for the data plan for that month.   Since I’ve had my device for like, a decade, i’ve already amortized the purchase cost.

Jeff:   Thank you for your advice.   It’s looking like I should upgrade my 20+ year old Fastfind 220 and pick up the inreach or, as you say, rent one.

the one thing I don’t like about inreach is sometimes it takes a long time to acquire satellites

my phone always acquires gps satellites within a couple minutes

sometimes, my ineach will acquire the communication satellite, gps satellites, and send a reply within 15 minutes.  Sometimes it takes several hours.

sometimes it won’t be done before I go to bed so I just set it next to me and it dings when it’s done

sometimes, I’ve forgotten about it and the next morning I’ll remember and then turn it off.  This does consume a bit of battery which is annoying.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/12/t-mobile-opens-beta-registration-for-starlink-enabled-cell-phone-service/

Jerry, you can override the wait for gps location and it will send as soon as it can contact an Iridium satellite.  Note that in case of SOS it starts trying to send immediately and will send the last few locations as it tries to update its position. The mini2 and messenger could conceivably have a shorter time to get location as you can set them to receive from multiple GNSS that may yield a quicker fix. I do think the carrying location can affect reception, often on backpack strap, right next to body may not be the best. I try to mount in the brain and send most messages via watch and occasionally phone.The longest I’ve ever had to wait for a message send was about 45 min in a narrow cove with tree cover and very limited sky.

Terran….  I was excited until I saw the beta testing was only in the USA.

I have T-mobile.

Thanks Chris

All my questions, even the ones I wasn’t aware of, are being answered.