Article by Capt. Steve Katz
Modern satellite technology provides many ways to keep in contact with others while away from traditional cell phone coverage. Up until recently, communication using satellites was expensive and inconsistent.
Back in February of 2016, Garmin bought Delores, a Yarmouth, Maine mapmaker, primarily for the inReach series of two-way satellite communication devices. The inReach devices are a futuristic type of walkie-talkie that uses the Iridium satellite constellation to provide global pole to pole coverage.
In January of 2017, Garmin introduced the newly redesigned inReach, with two models, SE+ and Explorer+. The inReach device is designed as an outdoor product for use in areas without cell phone coverage, which makes it great for boaters. The inReach is basically a two way messaging device with built-in GPS to track the device’s location. The inReach device can send and receive text messages to another inReach device or to a cell phone. If you are wondering, the inReach device cannot make phone calls, even when paired with a Smartphone.
The device is handheld, with a small screen, as compared to a Smartphone screen, measuring 2.3-inches diagonal. The inReach’s water rating is IPX7, which is suitable for splashes, rain or snow, showering and incidental exposure to water of up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes – perfect for all weather during boating use. The battery life is great as compared to a smart phone, with more than enough battery power when fully charged to leave the unit on and tracking for a multi-day trip. Garmin promotes up to 75 hours of run time at 10-minute tracking with 1-second logging and longer run time with less data usage.
The built-in antenna needs to have a good view of the sky to send and receive messages, often working reasonably well from a boats covered bridge. Even if the unit does not have a signal, messages are queued for both sending and receiving once a good signal is obtained.
The cost for service is very reasonable for a satellite device, with prices starting at $12 month and going as high as $99 month. The higher monthly costs include a larger message allowance, up to unlimited, and more tracking points sent to an on-line map.
On the subject of tracking, the device originally designed by a map company has the ability to plot and track the devices location on an on-line map, while in use. This map is available on a MapShare™ internet web page to message recipients and other users depending on how you set-up the device. It even includes Facebook integration, automatically posting a link to your tracking map on your Facebook account. There are many ways to access this tracking data. The most common is when a text message is sent by the device, the location is sent in a website link, allowing the recipient to see where the sender is located. If you are trying to keep your fishing spot a secret, you may want to disable this feature.
The two models, the yellow SE+ and orange Explorer+ are very similar, sharing the same size, shape, screen, buttons etc. The Explorer+ adds a pre-loaded topographic map of the USA, digital compass, barometer, and accelerometer and 2BG storage for maps. Maps of other countries can be loaded into the Explorer+ if desired. Unfortunately for boaters, the unit is not compatible with the familiar Garmin marine charts.
Even though the SE+ does not include a map, it does have the ability to plot points and routes on a screen. Using either device, this plotting ability can be helpful as a back-up navigation device if your primary navigation electronics experience a failure. The digital compass in the Explorer+ works like a traditional compass and does not need a GPS signal and be moving to calculate your heading. This feature makes a good back-up to your boats compass in the event of a failure.
Both models have the ability to create and save waypoints and routes, in addition to creating breadcrumb tracks. You can also navigate to saved inReach waypoints. Just like a traditional chart plotter, you could save a waypoint at the inlet or your dock and navigate back to that saved point when it’s time to head back home.
It is immediately evident once you begin to use the device that the small screen and limited buttons make composing a message slow and painful, navigating the tiny onscreen keyboard with a tiny pointer. Luckily the inReach has built-in Bluetooth and can connect to your Smartphone using the free Earthmate app, allowing you to use your phones phonebook for your contacts and using your phones keyboard and screen to and compose and read messages on your Smartphone screen along.
The yellow SE+ is priced at $400 and the range Explorer+ is $450.
Captain Steve Katz is the owner of Steve’s Marine Service and holds NMEA, AMEI and NMEA2000 certificates along with ABYC Master Technician certification and factory training from many manufacturers.
