Gear Guide: Satellite Messaging Devices (“Messengers”)

Surprised you would leave out the Motorola Defy Satellite Link.

DISCLOSURE (Updated November 7, 2019)

The disclosure itself was updated in 2019. Not the article.

The table needs to be updated for the Garmin inReach Mini 2, specifically two fields:

1. companion app.  Garmin Messenger has been supported for several months.  I know because I recently used Garmin Messenger with my inReach Mini 2 and per the list of compatible devices listed at https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/893837#devices

2. seamless messaging (network-independent)**    Should be changed to yes if the latest firmware versions have been applied.

I originally posted this review of the inReach Messenger at REI:

To me the Messenger design is somewhat like a Chromebook. It requires a cloud data link for track recording functionality. And that data stream means you would want a mid-range or high-end data plan. I’ve previously owned both the inReach Mini and the inReach Mini 2. I decided to upgrade to the inReach Messenger based on the 2x battery life. Most of my outings are day hikes, but I do an occasional weeklong backpack. A typical comment I’ve seen is that the Messenger’s longer battery life allows you to record a seven-day trek route on a single charge. That is a compelling.

I pay for the monthly ‘Safety’ plan, $12.95/month. That plan has a per track point upload fee. Fortunately, the inReach Mini 2 has a setting (Send Interval: off) to disable data upload and just save recorded track points on the device for later transfer at home. I was very surprised to find out that the Messenger does not have that option. If you record a track point, it uploads. No choice. The ‘Recreation’ $24.95/month and ‘Expedition’ $49.95/month plans do not charge for uploading track points. So, if you one of those plans the Messenger could be a very good match to your needs. But it was not a good match for me.

I’m confused about your ratings. First, the Garmin inReach Mini 2 is listed by itself with a Highly Recommended label and the Highly Recommended seal. Later, the Garmin inReach Messenger is labeled as Highly Recommended, but without the seal. In the highlights, the pattern repeats.

My interpretation is that both are highly recommended, but maybe the InReach 2 is more highly recommended? That would seem to align with the final description of the InReach 2.

I’m still using an old InReach SE, which offers all of the raw functions that I need, if not all that well. I could save 3-3.5 ounces by upgrading, but I also don’t like tossing working equipment in the E-Waste pile.

I would still like to see a proper test of messaging performance for these devices. That would require having all devices send and receive messages at the same time in the same location with enough test data to draw a reasonable conclusion. Satellite messengers are highly dependent upon satellite coverage at the moment. Comparisons of performance without similar/same conditions are meaningless.

What is the “the hardware (button delay) issues associated with the SPOT X “? I have not ever seen it. I have used both the original SPOT and InReach, but I changed back to the SPOT X to have a proper keyboard and complete independence from a cell phone. And I saved about $200.

Eric, the inReach Messenger has gone through enough testing to earn our Recommended rating, but not enough yet to earn a Highly Recommended Rating. We have one more round of tests to do with it – antenna performance at low battery levels. We’ve completed this test with the inReach Mini 2 and it performs very well at low battery levels.

We have the data on the simultaneous use of all of these devices. This is why the two inReach models and the Zoleo remain our top picks. The Spot Gen4 offers the best messaging in tree cover and in “mountain shade” of the non-Iridium devices. And these side-by-side tests are why we absolutely can’t recommend the Motorola device. We’re putting this data together and that data will appear in the gear guide in the next update.

Barry – the SPOT X devices we’ve tested (one from 2018 and one of the new 2023/4 models) both have keypress delay issues (press a key but the character-on-the-screen response is not instantaneous). The older one, in addition, developed a neighbor-key error, where pressing one key caused the typing of a character from a neighboring key on the keyboard. Both of these are known issues with the SPOT X.

I have my spot X in my hand and cannot detect any delay or debounce issues. Nor have I ever. I have the original, non-bluetooth version. As a technician, I can tell you that triggering an adjacent PHYSICAL  key is impossible. The keys are electronically isolated. Someone has fat fingers or finger slip. Physical keys are far more reliable than virtual ones on a phone. That’s vital in an emergency.

“Known issues”? Please state a source.  I have owned three Spot devices and still use many Garmin devices.

I don’t suppose there is information coming as to why the Somewear or ACR Bivy are no longer recommended.  Simply the competition distancing themselves or some sort of problems discovered in testing?

I took a trip earlier this month, in the mid Atlantic, where I did some testing with my iPhone’s satellite connectivity. It was hit or miss if it worked readily and easily or not. There where times it worked immediately and easily when I wouldn’t have expected it and then there where times I thought I had a nice clear view and yet had to hold my phone up for what felt like forever only for the message to fail sending. In a true emergency, as long as you have either A.) the ability to move for a better signal and B.) you can hold the phone and rotate as needed it’ll work as intended. On the other hand my garmin Inreach messenger is literally set and forget, as long as the antenna is facing up eventually it works without any of the additional hassle!

That’s too bad it doesn’t work better

My inreach mini sometimes initializes and sends a message within 10 minutes, sometimes it takes as long as a couple hours.  It always eventually succeeds.

It doesn’t seem to matter where I am.  Maybe it depends on where the sattelites are?

Just like iPhones, InReach minis depend on being able to connect to a satellite. The difference is that the iPhone has to connect in real time while you are holding it while the InReach can passively wait for a satellite to appear. In my experience the InReach can take from almost instant sending to waiting 20 or 30 minutes if there are no satellites overhead (The last emergency I needed it for was due to a trailhead car breakdown in a deep canyon). It does have a timeout period so it is possible for it to not send, but it will let you know if it fails. This is on contrast to Spot Messengers, (at least early generations) that would fail silently. I had a friend who thought he had gotten a message out but it hadn’t gone through and that, in turn, caused a cascade of problems. He immediately switched to an InReach.

My inreach mini always indicates when the message has been sent

It never times out – the message always gets sent, but it might take a couple hours.

I think the biggest delay is waiting to acquire the gps sattelites.  My phone always takes just a couple minutes to acquire the gps sattelites

IIRC, InReach and iPhones use different satellite networks? I have only used InReach, so I don’t have any firsthand experience comparing the connection reliability of the different networks, but it wouldn’t shock me if that were part of the issue.

Like many other iPhone users, I am eagerly awaiting the day when my iPhone becomes even more multi-use.

The Gear Guide that this thread is referring to notes “significant differences were observed between satellite networks'”, with Iridium (used by Garmin among others) outperforming Globalstar (Apple and others) for messaging time and message failure rates. This is, at least in part, due to the way the respective satellite systems work, with Iridium satellites able to communicate with each other, but Globalstar satellites only able to communicate with a ground station.
Iridium also has global coverage, which Globalstar does not.

In Maine this past month I made extensive use of the iPhone satellite capability. I was impressed with how fast and easy it was. The only thing I wish is that it worked in the background vice actively orienting. I did find it worked well just laying on top of my sleeping bag oriented the right way, which was nice until the satellite oribited away and I had to acquire the next one. My main tracker is a Garmin 67i, which I just love – I use it to capture detailed local GPX files as I hike, while letting my family know where I am via the tracker. The GPX tracking does eat up the battery though, and I find I can only get about 5 days out of it in that mode.

Has anyone been able to successfully share their location using the satellite feature on an I Phone? I have tried several times with no success. On my end, I can see it is working but when I return from my trip the contacts that I tried to share with did not receive or see anything. Should they be getting some kind of notification that I am trying to share?

Jerry, the inReach can time out eventually. I tested this by telling it to send and putting it in a closet where it could never possibly see a satellite. It eventually returned a message that said it could not send. I don’t know how long it took.

good point Brian.  Mine has never timed out before it found satellites.

axel, that’s a big feature of inreach – it sends a message with a link to a map that shows my location.  My wife can click on it.  Either topo map or satellite.  She can ask what that building is over there (it’s an outhouse)

Jerry, Apple is really good about showing how to do it but lacking in what the recipient should be seeing or how to know if someone is trying to share their location. Hard to test too, since you have to be out of WiFi range to access a satellite.

I have had access to T-Mobile’s StarLink service on a iPhone 16pro for a few months (and the built in Apple / GlobalStar service). I have not been impressed when compared to a first generation Garmin inReach. I have not been able to get a message out without a significant amount of care.

First, it seems to require a completely clear view of the sky. I have repeatedly be told I am on StarLink (notification is by text) only to have the service not to be available.  I have repeatedly been told I have service only to have it drop. It seems nearby trees, structures or hills that are too close, etc you are SOL.  Likewise the Apple / GlobalStar is also super sensitive. The phone will tell you that it doesn’t have a clear sky.  I also noticed that I didn’t have coverage even with a clear view of sky.

With the Apple/GlobalStar… even when in an open field at the top of a peak I have typically been told that I will need to wait some period of time (seemed like 4-6 minutes was common) for a satellite to be in a good positions. The screen guided me as to how to position the phone which is a pain, and not something I would count on if injured.  In more challenging locations (including canyons that weren’t too narrow) I could activate the inReach, place it on a rock, and expect the signal to go out in the next several minutes without me having to do any “aiming”.

Using a phone with StarLink / GlobalStar might be a way to send a loved one a note to say “I am thinking of you”, but I would not recommend it as a primary safety device.

From the forum thread https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/tmobile-satellite-communication/#post-3835334 there is a much more complete (and accurate review) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzP2mxfbToA

I’m still confused about how you feel about the Messenger Plus. The comments are glowing, the performance seems comparable to and arguably better than the Mini 2, I’m fairly sure it’s your preferred choice — yet there is no recommended or highly-recommended label. A year ago, you were waiting for one more test to complete — has that occurred? If so, what were the results? Do you have a review of the product that is not the product preview that you link to?

Ryan, what are your thoughts on on the new subscription prices being charged by garmin? There is no now an 8.00a month charge with no suspension of you account available. I may try a cheaper option like the zoleo.