Satellite texting- Garmin inReach or others
Apr 11, 2021, 8:25 pm
#61
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,417
Besides, the main factor that made me choose the inReach over the mini was that the mini requires the phone for texting--without the it's no better than a locator beacon. As I am not a likely candidate for health issues severe enough to make me push the button I would say a fall would be the most likely reason I would need it--and the inReach is built far tougher than a phone. (I do not do the dangerous stuff, but things can happen anyway. I landed on my butt once when the ground I stepped on gave way.)
Apr 12, 2021, 6:14 am
#62
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: ARN
Programs: AC, SK, Marriott
Posts: 1,160
Besides, the main factor that made me choose the inReach over the mini was that the mini requires the phone for texting--without the it's no better than a locator beacon. As I am not a likely candidate for health issues severe enough to make me push the button I would say a fall would be the most likely reason I would need it--and the inReach is built far tougher than a phone. (I do not do the dangerous stuff, but things can happen anyway. I landed on my butt once when the ground I stepped on gave way.)
Garmin lineup from a recent hut trip
Last edited by TechnoTourist; Apr 12, 2021 at 6:27 am
Apr 13, 2021, 11:26 am
#63
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LAS ORD
Programs: AA Pro (mostly B6) OZ♦ (flying BR/UA), BA Silver Hyatt LT, Wynn Black, Cosmo Plat, Mlife Noir
Posts: 5,992
The mini definitely supports on-device texting and even composition - it's just very slow to do customs, for obvious reasons. But sending the preset and quick texts is easy.
Apr 14, 2021, 7:20 pm
#64
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,417
Huh? My understanding was that the inReach is slow to do customs on the device, the mini can't do them at all.
Apr 15, 2021, 7:12 am
#65
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: ARN
Programs: AC, SK, Marriott
Posts: 1,160
Composing a Message on an inReach Mini
- Scroll to the Messages page and press OK
- Choose New Message or select an existing conversation
- New Message
- Select New Message
- Select Select Contacts
- Select the desired contacts
- Select Done
- Select Write Message
- Existing conversation
- Select the conversation
- Select Reply
- Select Write Message
- New Message
- Use the up/down arrows to scroll through the alphabet
- Press OK to select a letter
- After entering a letter the autocomplete prompt will appear:
- After entering a letter the autocomplete prompt will appear:
- Continue typing letters to complete the message
- To use autocomplete:
- Hold OK
- Select a word from the list of suggestions
- Press
to go back to selecting individual letters
- To use autocomplete:
- After finishing the message select
- Select Send
Apr 17, 2021, 8:09 am
#67
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 389
Apr 17, 2021, 4:22 pm
#69
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 19,930
Apr 17, 2021, 5:41 pm
#70
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,172
Wifi on board can be very challenging. It all depends on how many people are trying to access the wifi at the same time, and where the ship is in relationship to satellites. Best not to rely on it for life and death communication.
My absolute best experience with wifi on board was using Skype to make an urgent call which lasted 45 minutes (which would have cost about $150 if not for the Skype connection). I was shocked that the call was not dropped. N.B.: My experience is that many lines block internet calling.
FYI: https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1752
My absolute best experience with wifi on board was using Skype to make an urgent call which lasted 45 minutes (which would have cost about $150 if not for the Skype connection). I was shocked that the call was not dropped. N.B.: My experience is that many lines block internet calling.
FYI: https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1752
Apr 17, 2021, 6:20 pm
#71
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,786
Wifi on board can be very challenging. It all depends on how many people are trying to access the wifi at the same time, and where the ship is in relationship to satellites. Best not to rely on it for life and death communication.
My absolute best experience with wifi on board was using Skype to make an urgent call which lasted 45 minutes (which would have cost about $150 if not for the Skype connection). I was shocked that the call was not dropped. N.B.: My experience is that many lines block internet calling.
FYI: https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1752
My absolute best experience with wifi on board was using Skype to make an urgent call which lasted 45 minutes (which would have cost about $150 if not for the Skype connection). I was shocked that the call was not dropped. N.B.: My experience is that many lines block internet calling.
FYI: https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1752
Apr 17, 2021, 6:40 pm
#72
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 19,930
When I was on Celebrity cruise a few years ago, their internet package was pretty fast. Fast enough to stream video. Now they are including internet for free in all their cruises, so it could be slower when more people have access to them. I think soon all the ships (small and big) will be using Starlink when it is so cheap and fast.
Apr 9, 2024, 10:41 pm
#73
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Somewhere in Florida
Posts: 2,639
Hi all,
So a friend gifted me with an Isatphone2 (Inmarsat). Does anyone else here have a sat phone? It appears this device is sold world-wide. Is there any one place to get cheaper airtime than another?
This also has spurred me to look into satellite communicators like the Garmin inReach and Zoleo. Any thoughts on these?
So a friend gifted me with an Isatphone2 (Inmarsat). Does anyone else here have a sat phone? It appears this device is sold world-wide. Is there any one place to get cheaper airtime than another?
This also has spurred me to look into satellite communicators like the Garmin inReach and Zoleo. Any thoughts on these?
Apr 9, 2024, 11:00 pm
#74
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: ARN
Programs: AC, SK, Marriott
Posts: 1,160
Apr 10, 2024, 3:11 pm
#75
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Somewhere in Florida
Posts: 2,639
@TechnoTourist: I guess I'm trying to figure out if I'd use one. Yes, I do find myself and get sent to disaster areas somewhat often. BUT, I've always managed to keep communications going. I'll give the cell carriers some credit in Florida. Even with Cat 5 hurricanes, I've usually been able to get basic communications (text, voice on the PSTN) for a few minutes at a time, enough to get the basic "we're okay" or "sending generator & batteries".
I do fly in small aircraft a lot, which is where I think the satellite communicators might come in handy, as data service for small aircraft is ridiculously expensive, both equipment and airtime. I usually tell people to call Flight Service in an emergency and have them relay a message and I can drop down to ~2000' AGL and pick up mobile reception again.
With the inReach, how do people reach you, ie: they initiate the conversation? How long does it take for messages to be sent? The monthly rates seem a bit high for what you get, but at the same time, satellite phone airtime isn't exactly cheap and I don't think it'd be stable in-flight.
I do fly in small aircraft a lot, which is where I think the satellite communicators might come in handy, as data service for small aircraft is ridiculously expensive, both equipment and airtime. I usually tell people to call Flight Service in an emergency and have them relay a message and I can drop down to ~2000' AGL and pick up mobile reception again.
With the inReach, how do people reach you, ie: they initiate the conversation? How long does it take for messages to be sent? The monthly rates seem a bit high for what you get, but at the same time, satellite phone airtime isn't exactly cheap and I don't think it'd be stable in-flight.