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What about their Inreach products, which are designed for backcountry SOS emergency calls to search and rescue? That certainly needs a network.

izzydata 6y ago
From my understanding it doesn't rely on the internet or Garmin servers. I believe it was called Iridium satellite network. It needs to work anywhere on the planet. It is a separate subscription based service.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
- petee 6y ago
  They do use Iridium, but its not clear who runs the end-service...if you use the SOS feature, it contacts a Garmin center (i believe), who then dispatch the appropriate services. Its not an actual sarsat plb. So if Garmin's system is down, there is a very real risk that these services won't have anyone on the other end to answer the call.
  - zachware 6y ago
    It doesn't contact Garmin. It's a shared emergency response center akin to some home security system companies. They share with a few tracker services. Update: The use GEOS https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=garmin+geos+response https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=garmin+...
    - petee 6y ago
      Do you happen to know the name of the company? I didn't see one while i've been browsing for it, and it doesn't seem to be iridium themselves edit: Thanks!
      - zachware 6y ago
        GEOS https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=garmin+geos+response https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=garmin+...
parliament32 6y ago
Messaging and SOS are up, billing is the only thing that's down: https://status.inreach.garmin.com/ https://status.inreach.garmin.com/
- 22fred 6y ago
  InReach messaging was down for quite some time. It worked wed am, did not work at all after that (either sending or receiving) through mid day fri at which point sending was very spotty (messages sent to groups were not received by all group members). Appears to have improved by Friday evening but not 100% even then. Saturday 25th it seems to be working... no idea if SOS was similarly impacted but I would suspect it may have been.
centimeter 6y ago
For anyone considering an InReach: If you only need it for SOS (not for messaging), it’s a very bad investment. You can get a cospas/sarsat based PLB which has the same SOS functionality with no subscription fee. It’s funded by various governments.
- biomcgary 6y ago
  About two weeks ago, my wife, young sons, and father-in-law saved the life of a hiker in Colorado using an InReach. The messaging helped dispatch decide to send helicopter. According to doctors, she had less than an hour to live by the time she arrived. Also, having the messaging functionality meant that we knew they weren't injured. Beacons don't allow you to provide details, but they are better than nothing. Out of 30 hikers that passed by, my family was the only one with satellite-based emergency reporting capability.

izzydata 6y ago

From my understanding it doesn't rely on the internet or Garmin servers. I believe it was called Iridium satellite network. It needs to work anywhere on the planet. It is a separate subscription based service.

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
petee 6y ago
They do use Iridium, but its not clear who runs the end-service...if you use the SOS feature, it contacts a Garmin center (i believe), who then dispatch the appropriate services. Its not an actual sarsat plb. So if Garmin's system is down, there is a very real risk that these services won't have anyone on the other end to answer the call.
- zachware 6y ago
  It doesn't contact Garmin. It's a shared emergency response center akin to some home security system companies. They share with a few tracker services. Update: The use GEOS https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=garmin+geos+response https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=garmin+...
  - petee 6y ago
    Do you happen to know the name of the company? I didn't see one while i've been browsing for it, and it doesn't seem to be iridium themselves edit: Thanks!
    - zachware 6y ago
      GEOS https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=garmin+geos+response https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=garmin+...

parliament32 6y ago

Messaging and SOS are up, billing is the only thing that's down: https://status.inreach.garmin.com/ https://status.inreach.garmin.com/

22fred 6y ago
InReach messaging was down for quite some time. It worked wed am, did not work at all after that (either sending or receiving) through mid day fri at which point sending was very spotty (messages sent to groups were not received by all group members). Appears to have improved by Friday evening but not 100% even then. Saturday 25th it seems to be working... no idea if SOS was similarly impacted but I would suspect it may have been.

centimeter 6y ago

For anyone considering an InReach: If you only need it for SOS (not for messaging), it’s a very bad investment. You can get a cospas/sarsat based PLB which has the same SOS functionality with no subscription fee. It’s funded by various governments.

biomcgary 6y ago
About two weeks ago, my wife, young sons, and father-in-law saved the life of a hiker in Colorado using an InReach. The messaging helped dispatch decide to send helicopter. According to doctors, she had less than an hour to live by the time she arrived. Also, having the messaging functionality meant that we knew they weren't injured. Beacons don't allow you to provide details, but they are better than nothing. Out of 30 hikers that passed by, my family was the only one with satellite-based emergency reporting capability.