What are your favorite InReach Preset messages to use?

[Franziska]

Hi,

I just defined our 3 Preset messages for our Garmin InReach device.
We can pre-configure three different of these messages.

I went for:
1)All ok on board.
2)Delayed but all OK on board.
3)Difficulties, but we can deal with them.

We can sent unlimited of those and also unlimited of the real emergency messages.

There are also 40 free definable messages per month which we'll keep for any other important message to our contacts.
I think weather requests also use some of these.

In case of a real but not life threatening emergency we would use their officiel emergency center.
In anything life threatening we have a real Epirb as backup.

I was wondering what other preset messages people use and found useful.
Thanks for your input.

[sailorboy1]

I have

- started our trip
- still underway and OK
- arrived

the people who get these also have our tracking page info and knew our plans (they are our float plan)

[CaptTom]

Our preset messages are:
1) Checking In, everything OK.
2) Arrived OK.
3) Leaving Here Now.

Each message also has the following:
... Track us on [our blog site] or see our location now at

Not sure if they're still doing this, but InReach used to append the tracking web page at the end of each message, so with my ending it all makes sense for the recipient.

I never really used the "Quick Text" messages. I think they're charged the same as creating an ad-hoc message. The idea is they are better than typing in a new message using the arrow keys on the InReach. But we use Bluetooth from a cell phone, so typing in a new message is no harder than texting. I think something generic like "having a great time, track us at..." might be useful for people who don't already have the link.

[Franziska]

Thanks, sounds all good.
Still we can send leaving and arrival messages also via UMTS.
Hence I did not include those...

[sailorboy1]

well I definitely feel you just have an "I am all right" type as 1 of the 3. Once I spend 3 days out of near gale conditions and MY wife of course could see that on the weather. Plus we could tell I had a lot of wind just by my speed. She liked those "I am good" messages once in a while.

We are just talking the free preset messages here. Any real message of concern I send via a regular text on and in that case even if I have used all my free ones I don't care about the small cost.

BTW I find the "cheaper" freedom plan not really cheap if you spend a few days underway with 30 minute position uploads. May as well get the next plan up.

[CaptTom]

I had to look up the plans to confirm what I remembered.

The middle one is the one I usually activate. They all offer unlimited "preset" messages. The middle tier also gives you 10-minute (or longer) tracking. That's plenty. The top tier allows unlimited text, which would be nice if you're out of cell range a lot. It also allows 2-minute intervals for tracking, which might be a bit excessive for most cruising boats.

[giliganthegreat]

Mine are as follows:
1 Starting my trip. Stay tuned for more information.

2 Delayed but everything is ok.

3 Here is my location. I am safe. Stay tuned for updates.

[ParL]

Depends on your recipient. It is quite possible to build a logic tree such that two of them read (e.g.)

1. (Stopping here) OR (yes/positive to your question)
2. (Starting from here now) OR (no/negative to your question)

Or just make them

1. Short
2. Long

And send very slow morse code.

In real life I have one that reads

1. All is well, stopping or starting from here now.
2. All is well, but will a bit late home[1]

The latter is good for alleviating worries when weather or other circumstances forces you to take an extra day.

[1] This did for a while read "The Fair Folk is nice, will stay another day in the forest enjoying their hospitality" :-)

[ozdigennaro]

My only message is


Sell everything. Send the money.

[CaptTom]

Originally Posted by Franziska

Still we can send leaving and arrival messages also via UMTS.

You're not cruising to the right places if you have good cellular service at your departure and destination locations.

[ozdigennaro]

This thread is about Garmin InReach messages, which is a wildly modern and complex process:


tiny (3 cm x 5 cm) hand-held Garmin device receives GPS signals and knows lat, long.

Garmin device is controlled by local smart phone (no cell service necessary): originate message with lat, long coordinates included.

device communicates with satellites
satellites communicate with their ground stations
ground stations are on the Internet, and send email messages
friends are on the Internet and receive email messages.


cell service is never involved.


And I agree, some wonderful cruising visits places without cell service.


Oz

[Franziska]

Originally Posted by ozdigennaro

This thread is about Garmin InReach messages, which is a wildly modern and complex process:


tiny (3 cm x 5 cm) hand-held Garmin device receives GPS signals and knows lat, long.

Garmin device is controlled by local smart phone (no cell service necessary): originate message with lat, long coordinates included.

device communicates with satellites
satellites communicate with their ground stations
ground stations are on the Internet, and send email messages
friends are on the Internet and receive email messages.


cell service is never involved.


And I agree, some wonderful cruising visits places without cell service.


Oz

I agree with this, but in our current situation (Europe, crossing the infamous Bay of Biskay) ) we have cell inshore, but not offshore, so inReach is a welcome means for basic 2 way communication when out of reach of cell networks.

Primarily keeps family and friends calm and allows limited two way communication in an emergency at a very reasonable price.

More remote places to come. Hopefully.

[CaptTom]

Here's a good preset message:

"I've dropped my phone overboard again. This will be the only way you can contact me for a while."

I could have used that a couple of times.