Starlink or Garmin in reach

[ThundahBeagle]

My point still stands.

Even if you are in a place where you can hit a tower, what freq do you call on, is that freq monitored 24/7/365? And if someone does answer, is that person capable/willing to effectively, quickly and correctly pass that emergency communication. Also do they know where and who to pass that communication too?

Unless you have made previous arrangements to have someone monitor 24/7 for the duration you will be relying on it, and have briefed what actions to take on an emergency. It simply is not effective.

You are literally calling in the blind hoping on a wish and a prayer that someone may be listening and they know what to do.

I don't know about you, but the lives of my loved ones and my life are worth more than that. Emergency contingency communications need to work the first time every time, to the extent that is possible.

Is it possible to use those services to get help? Yes. Is it reliable? NO

Purposefully handicapping yourself makes no sense and is dangerous.

Shawn

Correct. If you only have one shot , make it count. Having said that, I have only CB, handheld GMRS, and cell phone at the moment. InReach is no doubt the best at this. But I dont have one. Looking at an Alpha system for my Beagle when out in the field. They are very expensive, but I have read that InReach is now a part of the Alpha system. If that is the case, there is no sense in my getting the Dogtra Pathfinder2 system for my Beagle AND InReach, I'd I can kill 2 birds with one stone. In my radar

 

[ThundahBeagle]

"We all got it comin, kid".

Yep. Especially if one figures on decorating their porch with my best friend.

 

[Datsun Man]

Something I just don't understand...going out into a remote area to get away from everybody - but taking all that electronic crap with you to stay connected??? Me, when I head into the outback I even turn off my cell phone. I don't want ANYTHING to disrupt the wilderness experience, I want to communicate with nature and not that hectic world I just left behind.

Yes, I do have an InReach with me but thankfully I've never had to use it (other than to test it).

I'm with you on this one. So give me wrong, I have my GPS for navigation purposes and some books with different trail information beyond that I don't really carry anything that should try and connect me to anyone with the exception of the InReach or the GMRS if I'm in range of another

 

[ThundahBeagle]

I will agree and disagree within reason...

...Now if I was working out of my truck while remote often, then I would look into Starlink or something similar for as needed Internet. That said I do not have a business like such and can't justify it.

For most individuals a good 2 way radio and a InReach Device of sorts will do all that they need for emergency communication as needed. Both have been proven to do very well. How long will it be around? A lot longer than you would believe.

Sir, in many ways I like where your head is at. I like to stick to tried and true. However, in this case, despite being less than prepared compared to others, I can not disagree with them.

It would appear StarLink may actually be less expensive than the Inreach, as you speak about costs.

Also, you may beleive that sending a Morse Code SOS via CB 13 will reach the US Coast Guard, or that doing the same on CB 9 will reach California Highway Patrol.

However, you would literally be dead wrong.

Coast Guard stopped monitoring for Morse SOS in 1995, and most police departments (by a LONG shot) stopped monitoring CB channels including 9 emergency, back around 20-25 years ago.

It would be good to embrace the newer technologies. Once PLB, or InReach or StarLink are set in motion, keep yourself busy by reaching out by HAM, GMRS or even CB all you like, and you may even reach someone. But if you dont, at least you've started a sure thing along its way.

 

[Datsun Man]

Sir, in many ways I like where your head is at. I like to stick to tried and true. However, in this case, despite being less than prepared compared to others, I can not disagree with them.

It would appear StarLink may actually be less expensive than the Inreach, as you speak about costs.

Also, you may beleive that sending a Morse Code SOS via CB 13 will reach the US Coast Guard, or that doing the same on CB 9 will reach California Highway Patrol.

However, you would literally be dead wrong.

Coast Guard stopped monitoring for Morse SOS in 1995, and most police departments (by a LONG shot) stopped monitoring CB channels including 9 emergency, back around 20-25 years ago.

It would be good to embrace the newer technologies. Once PLB, or InReach or StarLink are set in motion, keep yourself busy by reaching out by HAM, GMRS or even CB all you like, and you may even reach someone. But if you dont, at least you've started a sure thing along its way.

depending on the device you get will depend on the initial price of the unit when it comes to the InReach. I know that my Garmin InReach MINI cost me $200 when I got it. That is lower than the Starlink MINI with the sale. Now if you compare my Garmin Tread Overland, the. It is a different story, but then again it is a completely different device altogether. If I was getting that for only the InReach, then I would be a complete imbecile. If anything it was simply an extra benefit of the package.

As for a radio, regardless what I e would think, it's still a good idea to have. Will it work every time? Nope, but that is why it's not the only tool to carry. Also depending on on the situation you may need that radio for communication. Let's say you use the InReach to get ahold of emergency services, but it's more of needing to get someone to assist with a recovery of the vehicle you have? You can let the individual on the other side of the type of radio you have available. How will this benefit? This will allow emergency services to relay that information to whoever is able to come out and help and may inform you what channel to set the radio to. Now of course this won't happen for every situation as each situation will be different, but if you think having Starlink and calling AAA will do the trick, chances are they will tell you that "You're on your own" in an OffRoad situation.

 

[Clymber]

The time we needed a rescue the Starlink wasn't able to do a 911 call. Garmin you hit the SOS button and things start to happen almost instantly
Starlink is great if you need to make calls when remote, surf YouTube etc
Garmin is great so family and friends know where you are and when the crap hits the fan

 

[ThundahBeagle]

depending on the device you get will depend on the initial price of the unit when it comes to the InReach. I know that my Garmin InReach MINI cost me $200 when I got it. That is lower than the Starlink MINI with the sale. Now if you compare my Garmin Tread Overland, the. It is a different story, but then again it is a completely different device altogether. If I was getting that for only the InReach, then I would be a complete imbecile. If anything it was simply an extra benefit of the package.

As for a radio, regardless what I e would think, it's still a good idea to have. Will it work every time? Nope, but that is why it's not the only tool to carry. Also depending on on the situation you may need that radio for communication. Let's say you use the InReach to get ahold of emergency services, but it's more of needing to get someone to assist with a recovery of the vehicle you have? You can let the individual on the other side of the type of radio you have available. How will this benefit? This will allow emergency services to relay that information to whoever is able to come out and help and may inform you what channel to set the radio to. Now of course this won't happen for every situation as each situation will be different, but if you think having Starlink and calling AAA will do the trick, chances are they will tell you that "You're on your own" in an OffRoad situation.

If you simply need recovery of a vehicle, you probably should not be using the SOS button. Send a Text to Matt's Off-Road Recovery. Hope you packed a lunch and a big wallet

 

[Datsun Man]

If you simply need recovery of a vehicle, you probably should not be using the SOS button. Send a Text to Matt's Off-Road Recovery. Hope you packed a lunch and a big wallet

You are aware that he isn't the only one that does recovery right? Depending on where you are, there most likely will be a local 4WD club that is able to help(and most likely it will still cost you). In reality it all depends on the situation

 

[ThundahBeagle]

You are aware that he isn't the only one that does recovery right? Depending on where you are, there most likely will be a local 4WD club that is able to help(and most likely it will still cost you). In reality it all depends on the situation

Tongue in cheek, sir. Tongue in cheek.

 

[gator70]

The time we needed a rescue the Starlink wasn't able to do a 911 call. Garmin you hit the SOS button and things start to happen almost instantly
Starlink is great if you need to make calls when remote, surf YouTube etc
Garmin is great so family and friends know where you are and when the crap hits the fan

Theses folks show how to make cell calls on starlink

 

[dstefan]

I have an older (large) InReach I always take, but never had to use. I don’t track or send updates with it. Also a WeBoost that is great much of the time, but can’t make up a signal— and those are the places I wanna be.

WRT to DTC phone satellite: recently had to upgrade my many generations old phone and got an iPhone 16. Part of the decision was the satellite texting.

It sort of works — if you are texting another iPhone user in your contacts. If you want to hold the phone pointed at the satellite and track it as it moves position pretty rapidly. Can’t do data (yet), who knows when and how much and how that will work or cost. It’s a nice feature, but I’m not gonna rely on it for emergencies. Not at all sure how you could text Matt’s Off-Road Recovery for example unless you have a personal iphone number, etc. Sure, maybe 911 works, but maybe not. IMO it’s not ready for serious primetime safety reliance.

Seriously thinking about a Starlink. I just want to get real weather info, fire and smoke updates and emergency communication short of sending in the helicopters and not have to rely on ATT or Verizon (which I don’t have and is more expensive plan wise to add than Starlink!) and their myriad dead spots in the West.

 

[gator70]

SpaceX just dropped a game-changing Starlink Roam plan for only $10/month

Time to cancel the cell phone data plan.

 

[rruff]

Time to cancel the cell phone data plan.

If you use less than 10GB/mo that might work. It's $2/GB if you go over.

The standard Roam is $50 for 50GB/mo and $1/GB above that.

 

[dstefan]

SpaceX just dropped a game-changing Starlink Roam plan for only $10/month

Time to cancel the cell phone data plan.

Interesting that it was announced in March and the Starlink website doesn’t include it. Just shows the $50 plan. Are they really offering that or did it die? Can you see an actual plan you can sign up to somewhere?

 

[Datsun Man]

SpaceX just dropped a game-changing Starlink Roam plan for only $10/month

Time to cancel the cell phone data plan.

That's great and all if you have the Starlink and Phone with you at all times(and I bet you don't). Not sure why you are trying to replace everything with Starlink. For the price it goes for you can use it for other things at a better price. Also as mentioned before, if you are going off the grid to get away from the norm, then what would be the point of getting Starlink to have the norm with you?