If you have experience using Garmin inReach Professional as part of a team, please share your experience. I'm sure it will be helpful for others out there. There's not a ton of info on the Professional plans aside from Garmin's manual.
REALLY helpful as I have Garmin InReach and planning to get one for my son who hikes faster than me. Didn't realize both couldn't be on same consumer plan. Primary objective is ability for us to both see each other on a shared map.
If you send each other inReach to inReach messages with geolocation, you'll be able to click on the geo link and see it on a map (if your unit has maps). You could even set it up as a preset.
Fascinating stuff Cris. Have you used the Garmin Messenger app with the users in your test organization? Adding in the complexity of phone number "registration" to the easy swap capability of generic users in a pro organization seems likely to break things. Anyway, I suspect Garmin will refocus on enterprise users as Apple, Google, Starlink, etc. satisfy more and more of the recreational use cases. Hopefully that will lead to better group functionality in a new generation of professional inReach devices, even if few of us can justify the expense.
I did use a Messenger device, and it worked fine, just had to do the standard phone number setup on the app. Overall I wish it wasn't so complex with all the apps, etc. but it works. I think they can do a lot better though.
At first, I thought you can pay once and add as many devices, share the message count among the devices with no extra charges, but then at 4:40 in the video, it looks more like each device that is added is an additional cost. So, if I understand it correctly, the monthly cost increases by the plan that you select for each device that you add. In your example at 4:40, Chris, you have a pro Advanced, and two Pro Basic plans. So, after the single activation fee for the account, that would be ($34.95 for the Pro Advanced device) + ($19.95*2 for the two Pro Basic devices), for a total of $74.95/mo. Am I understanding that correctly?
Thanks, this is very helpful. I might have to watch it several times. I'm researching how I can use Inreach devices for a 4 motorcycle volunteer team that sweeps bicycle racing courses in the mountains. We need something that will allow a third party that is not the Inreach plan account holder (like Amateur Radio Operators, or Race Coordinators at base camp) to view position updates from all of the course sweeps together on a map and to be able to send and receive group texts (via satellite). If anyone else does anything like this and has ideas or advice, I'd love to hear it.
Hey, I am in a very similar boat. I'm trying between two inreach devices to appear on a shared map as part of a desert race. The objective is for a support vehicle at the starting point to be able to track the race vehicle at set intervals till they reach the finish line. Do you have any recommendations?
Excellent overview as usual. 🌿 The cost overall of Garmin equipment + all necessary subs, plans, activation, insurance, etc., makes this financially out of reach for many. Also the learning curve for usage of the device and its many cost-per-use or per person makes the real possibility of racking up unexpected charges. Garmin’s business model leaves me cold and feeling ripped off.
Yea I wish there was some competition. Hoping that Starlink or similar can offer an alternative. Just wonder if the market is too niche for anyone to address it.
@@Hikingguy Niche market is a good point. That Apple has added satt service has made the IPhone my choice. Otherwise, I still mostly rely on paper maps and a compass and proper preplanning on my hikes. Thanks for your always comprehensive coverage of a complicated topic. 🌿
I use Gaia GPS on an old phone and I have no trouble recording my tracks. I use that with AllTrails , CalTopo and HikeAZ to organize my old hikes and find new hikes. No need for an expensive Garmin for any of this. And, Gaia GPS on the phone is easier to use. So, that is one part of the equation solved. For emergency response, prices will come down with competition.
I just ordered the Garmin 67i. I have a Zoleo but the 67 and 67i were the same price so what the heck. The basic professional plan through Garmin looks similar to the basic Zoleo plan. With the Garmin professional can you just have one user? I’ve asked this same question to Garmin but haven’t gotten a response. Thanks for all of your reviews. Appreciate them.
Team Tracking is available on some newer products like Tread XL Baja, but that serves a pretty specific market and doesn't invalidate your point that it is left out of newer handheld devices. When discussing profiles, you mentioned you couldn't send Waypoints to your team. You did touch on it briefly at the end of the video, but sending reference points to your team members might be a good solution, as long as you only have a few team members and a relatively small number of points you want to send. I love that web page where you can customize your old inReach's Home Screens. Does that configuration happen over the satellites or do you need to use the inReach Sync app to apply those settings? Great video.
If you have experience using Garmin inReach Professional as part of a team, please share your experience. I'm sure it will be helpful for others out there. There's not a ton of info on the Professional plans aside from Garmin's manual.
REALLY helpful as I have Garmin InReach and planning to get one for my son who hikes faster than me. Didn't realize both couldn't be on same consumer plan. Primary objective is ability for us to both see each other on a shared map.
If you send each other inReach to inReach messages with geolocation, you'll be able to click on the geo link and see it on a map (if your unit has maps). You could even set it up as a preset.
This video was insightful. It answered a bunch of questions on my list. Thank you!
Fascinating stuff Cris. Have you used the Garmin Messenger app with the users in your test organization? Adding in the complexity of phone number "registration" to the easy swap capability of generic users in a pro organization seems likely to break things. Anyway, I suspect Garmin will refocus on enterprise users as Apple, Google, Starlink, etc. satisfy more and more of the recreational use cases. Hopefully that will lead to better group functionality in a new generation of professional inReach devices, even if few of us can justify the expense.
I did use a Messenger device, and it worked fine, just had to do the standard phone number setup on the app. Overall I wish it wasn't so complex with all the apps, etc. but it works. I think they can do a lot better though.
At first, I thought you can pay once and add as many devices, share the message count among the devices with no extra charges, but then at 4:40 in the video, it looks more like each device that is added is an additional cost. So, if I understand it correctly, the monthly cost increases by the plan that you select for each device that you add. In your example at 4:40, Chris, you have a pro Advanced, and two Pro Basic plans. So, after the single activation fee for the account, that would be ($34.95 for the Pro Advanced device) + ($19.95*2 for the two Pro Basic devices), for a total of $74.95/mo. Am I understanding that correctly?
Yes you have to pay for a plan for each device. The plan isn't split among devices unfortunately.
Thank you!
Thanks, this is very helpful. I might have to watch it several times. I'm researching how I can use Inreach devices for a 4 motorcycle volunteer team that sweeps bicycle racing courses in the mountains. We need something that will allow a third party that is not the Inreach plan account holder (like Amateur Radio Operators, or Race Coordinators at base camp) to view position updates from all of the course sweeps together on a map and to be able to send and receive group texts (via satellite). If anyone else does anything like this and has ideas or advice, I'd love to hear it.
Hey, I am in a very similar boat. I'm trying between two inreach devices to appear on a shared map as part of a desert race. The objective is for a support vehicle at the starting point to be able to track the race vehicle at set intervals till they reach the finish line. Do you have any recommendations?
Excellent overview as usual. 🌿
The cost overall of Garmin equipment + all necessary subs, plans, activation, insurance, etc., makes this financially out of reach for many. Also the learning curve for usage of the device and its many cost-per-use or per person makes the real possibility of racking up unexpected charges. Garmin’s business model leaves me cold and feeling ripped off.
Yea I wish there was some competition. Hoping that Starlink or similar can offer an alternative. Just wonder if the market is too niche for anyone to address it.
@@Hikingguy Niche market is a good point. That Apple has added satt service has made the IPhone my choice. Otherwise, I still mostly rely on paper maps and a compass and proper preplanning on my hikes. Thanks for your always comprehensive coverage of a complicated topic. 🌿
I use Gaia GPS on an old phone and I have no trouble recording my tracks. I use that with AllTrails , CalTopo and HikeAZ to organize my old hikes and find new hikes. No need for an expensive Garmin for any of this. And, Gaia GPS on the phone is easier to use. So, that is one part of the equation solved. For emergency response, prices will come down with competition.
I just ordered the Garmin 67i. I have a Zoleo but the 67 and 67i were the same price so what the heck. The basic professional plan through Garmin looks similar to the basic Zoleo plan. With the Garmin professional can you just have one user? I’ve asked this same question to Garmin but haven’t gotten a response. Thanks for all of your reviews. Appreciate them.
On the pro plans you can have as many users as you'd like - this may help: th-cam.com/video/Rfzrd9IAMMQ/w-d-xo.html
Team Tracking is available on some newer products like Tread XL Baja, but that serves a pretty specific market and doesn't invalidate your point that it is left out of newer handheld devices.
When discussing profiles, you mentioned you couldn't send Waypoints to your team. You did touch on it briefly at the end of the video, but sending reference points to your team members might be a good solution, as long as you only have a few team members and a relatively small number of points you want to send.
I love that web page where you can customize your old inReach's Home Screens. Does that configuration happen over the satellites or do you need to use the inReach Sync app to apply those settings?
Great video.
Did you manage Team Tracking? Got any insights?
Thanks
Hello thanks for the video. Could you please assist me with the creation of the professional account (administrator account). Thanks.
I don't even hike and I want a 67i.
Why do you want that one?
Hi Cris! Thank you for useful video! Please explain, if I switched from active consumer to pro plan, will I be charged activation fee $35?
Just looked through the old invoices - yes I was charged the fee when I switched.
@@Hikingguy Thanks! Well, if so I will change account type near the end of my financial year.
Thanks