Two-Way Satellite Texting

It wasn’t too long ago that if you were boating out of cell range, your smartphone virtually became a brick. With no cell coverage, communication was limited to VHF.

Today, even though VHF is still an essential means of communication aboard, an ever-widening array of technology can now keep you in touch no matter where you are. Some may be expensive, but others are cost-effective and have more features than ever. The all-new Garmin inReach Messenger Plus is one such satellite communicator offering more than most at a reasonable price of $499.99.

Garmin and other companies have brought compact and feature-rich satellite messenger products to the market over the past few years. These messengers can communicate by two-way texting via a regular assigned telephone number that utilizes a satellite system to send and receive texts. Some units require a connection to an app on a cellphone to accomplish the texting, while others use onboard keys or keypads, such as the Spot X line. Devices such as the Spot X, ACR’s Bivy Stick and Garmin’s inReach Mini quickly grew in popularity for their texting capability and as a proven SOS device that saves lives. As great as all of these are, they are limited to just texting.

Features at a reasonable cost

Enter Garmin’s latest satellite communicator, the inReach Messenger Plus, which sends and receives texts, acting as a rescue device summoning help in emergencies. The device also exchanges voice messages and photos all without cell service, making it more like a full-functioning satellite phone at a fraction of the price.

It can do these tasks and more, such as get weather information and use a tracking feature anywhere in the world while utilizing the robust global Iridium Satellite system. The inReach Messenger can be used either on its own or in combination with a smartphone loaded with the Garmin Messenger Mobile App. By doing so, users can easily send and receive texts, send photos of their adventures and even leave voice messages. All this is possible through a monthly subscription starting at around $14. There are several subscriptions available, and some can be paused and reactivated. Of course, the more you plan on using the messenger, the more data is required and the higher the subscription rates will be. Even with the higher plan rates, the cost is well below traditional satellite phone rates, making this unit a viable option even for those on a tight budget.

Use is not restricted to boating, and this device can prove handy while traveling or in difficult situations such as a national disaster or weather events where regular cellular communication goes down.

Compact and rugged

All this capability is crammed into a unit that’s small enough to fit in your pocket. It’s a compact but rugged unit that is IPX7-rated, which means it can be submerged in over 3 feet of water for 30 minutes. Sealed against water and dust, it is tough enough to withstand bad weather and a hostile and wet environment. It also has an impressive battery life, so much so that it can also be used to recharge a dead cellphone and still have enough power to act efficiently as a communication device.

The inReach Messenger Plus is Garmin’s latest addition to the inReach line of communicators, which have already proved themselves capable communicators and have been credited for many life-saving rescues. Users can send an interactive SOS message to the Garmin Response International Emergency Center in a life-threatening emergency. Operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week, this center can arrange a rescue with the most appropriate and nearby resources. With the new inReach Messenger Plus, photos and voice messages can also be utilized in the rescue efforts, bringing an improved and more informed response to the rescue. It is nice to be able to send voice messages and photos to friends and family, but it can also make a difference in life-threatening emergencies.

For a reasonable cost, one can now have the capability of sending and receiving photos, voice messages and texts from anywhere in the world, no matter if you’re in cell range or not Dave Dunn, senior director of Garmin’s marine and RV sales, says it best: “Whether you are fishing offshore or conquering the Great Loop, the best plan is to always be prepared before you leave the dock.

“With Garmin inReach onboard, anglers and boaters can feel confident knowing they have robust communication, location sharing and SOS capabilities in the palm of their hand,” Dunn continues, “and now, thanks to the new inReach Messenger Plus, they can even send a real-time photo of their big catch or a voice message telling loved ones they have made it to their next anchoring.”