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For Garmin Inreach Se+, 72 customer reviews collected from 1 e-commerce sites, and the average score is 4.2.

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24.2.2017

So, this is a nifty little device, be it for serious hiking, for travel to rural areas, or for emergency preparedness.But first, let me briefly go over what's *not* included in the purchase: you need a subscription from Garmin to even boot this thing up. They have annual plans that (as of this writing) start from $144 a year, as well as more flexible "freedom" subscriptions - a bit more costly, but with the ability to suspend service during off-season months.Even at the lowest tier, you can define up to three predefined messages (e.g., "I'm OK", "doing fine but going to be late", or "please come and pick me up") and keep sending them for free to an e-mail addresses, a cell phone number,or another inReach device of your choice. This is actually more useful than it sounds, because each message automatically includes your precise location (which can be viewed on a map), as well as some other details about your trip. The only caveat is that you can't change the predefined messages or the recipients in the field - you need to log onto their website for that. But if all you really need is to periodically let your friends or family know where you are, this is a pretty good deal.Of course, free-form two-way texting is also available (again, supporting e-mail, text messages, and other inReach devices), but you only get 10 of these every month before you're charged $0.50 a pop. The limit is marginally higher for the $300 plan, but if you want unlimited free-form messaging, you better have some serious disposable income: that plan is currently about $600 a year.You can also have the device publish your location at regular intervals; the price is $0.10 per data point at the lowest tier, making this a pretty expensive deal - but you get unlimited tracking with the $300 plan. For people who do a lot of high-risk travel, this may be a good choice.You get a couple other satellite-related features, such as the ability to request weather forecasts for your location (at normal messaging rates) or to locate any device associated with your account via the web app. Finally, you can request emergency help. This service is operated by GEOS, a third-party firm; they get your location, the details of the incident, call the authorities, and keep you updated on the progress. GEOS also offers some optional SAR / medevac benefits, but you need to pay separately for that.All in all, while it's certainly not a drop-in replacement for your mobile phone, inReach is fairly affordable if you can stay within the constraints of the platform - and it is dramatically cheaper than any other satellite phone subscription out there. The costs are comparable to SPOT GEN3, but this only gives you one-way messaging.As for the device itself: the satellite bits aside, it has all the features you'd expect in a hiking GPS. The higher-end (orange) device has topo maps and several extra sensors, so it can show you more accurate compass data without requiring you to walk in a straight line for a while. Both can plot your route, capture all the usual trip stats, etc. You can also define routes and waypoints via the web app and sync them to the device.Assuming you're turning it for the night and not making a heavy use of tracking features, the battery should probably last a week without recharging. The unit seems pretty rugged; basically no different from any other Garmin GPS. It is not particularly small, in part because of its thick rubberized shell. I think it's actually a bit bigger than the previous (DeLorme-branded) model, but it is very lightweight. It also has a nice color screen and the UI is very responsive and easy to figure out. Typing is relatively cumbersome, since you need to navigate an on-screen keyboard using arrow keys - but it ain't too bad.There are several other small annoyances; for example, if you add a waypoint on the device and then attempt to turn it off before syncing to a PC, you get a warning saying that your waypoints will be lost. You also need to go through some extra hops if you have multiple devices tied to a single billing account and way to update preset messages or waypoints on both. But again, not a big deal.The Iridium network works globally, although you'd be lucky to get reception indoors (especially in multi-story buildings). Also keep in mind that transmission rates are fairly slow, and the device only checks with the satellite every 10 minutes or so. This is configurable and an extra check can be forced manually, but if you're longing for low-latency chats, be sure to also carry your phone.
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27.8.2020

I have not used it for an emergency yet, but the text messaging works fine as well as the basic weather function. It took a few minutes to TX/RX messages, but that is because one may need to wait for satellite coverage if the location is blocked by terrain, trees, etc. I did a test pairing with an iPhone 8+ and an Android phone. Both paired and function fine, although pairing is with only one at a time. Simply pick one phone and stick with it. The GPS works well and acquires a fix quick enough. The interaction with the maps one downloads using the Earthmate app also works well.Battery testing appears to be at or near the 100 hours uptime. Fortunately, new batteries can be purchased whenever this one cooks out,which is probably years with constant use. I do like the USB charging and have plenty of USB batteries to easily keep it topped up at night while sleeping. Basically, once you start your trip, turn it on and leave it on with a charge once in a while if your trip is longer than four days.Coverage is pretty good. I use the same Iridium satellites with an Icom IC-SAT100 two-way radio. Clear view of the sky is best of course and I do not mean only directly above. The Icom radio needs a constant line of sight to the satellites, whereas the Garmin will TX/RX quickly as it is sending data. Still, position the unit in a wide open area when sending/receiving to ensure data transfer sooner rather than later. A red light lights up on the unit and the display shows animated arrow icons when transfer is occurring.Last but not least, you need to subscribe to a plan to use it. This must be done before one departs on a trip, so things can be tested. This requires Internet access. I don't recall seeing a phone number to call. There was a firmware update or something as well, which was painless to do. I believe I purchased the Basic Freedom plan which is month-to-month. Basically, a $25 annual fee and then $15/month. I only plan on using it five to six months a year, so I will suspend the service until needed again. There are plans that cost more which could be used if you want to constantly send your position for someone to track, or want to send more messages etc.I purchased the Garmin SE+ via Amazon for $280. Costco had it as well for $10 more.
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21.7.2017

I bought this for solo munros etc and have had it on a few trips now. I'm giving it five stars for the way it does what it is designed to do. It's a tracking, communicating and emergency device, it is NOT designed for use on its own for navigation of UK hills. You need a contract to use its satellite network, much like a mobile phone.Tracking, comms, emergency. It will track and publish your position on your individual webpage for others to see. You can send/receive text/email. An emergency button will put you immediately into a satellite SMS conversation with a global emergency room (who can contact local services etc). It works on the Irridium network so these features will always work anywhere around the world.Navigation.The main drawback is that you can't download UK maps (OS etc). The downloadable and free mapping isn't horrendous tho, it's just not detailed enough for serious use. The pretty tiny screen doesn't help either. Minor drawback is that you can't get UK grids. You can upload .gpx and other format routes and it is easy to track against these. Most importantly the device will give you a lat/long grid, a barometric altimeter reading, and all the usual trip and other basic data which you can feed into your overall navigation calculations.There's an app for your phone which bluetooths to the device. This gives a bigger screen to work with and makes writing messages much easier. Another plus is that it charges using a standard phone charger, so you can top up from the powerpack you already have with you for your phone.There is a reasonable manual online and I suggest reading that fully, and looking at the garmin inreach websites (the main one, and the realtime tracking one you can make available to friends and family etc) and there are a few youtube videos out now at time of writing.The emergency and comms features are what i bought this for and, for me, these alone more than justify the spend - the peace of mind for me and family is worth every penny. As a bonus, the grid/altitude/track data is an excellent support to map and compass etc for navigation.
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11.12.2017

Got one of these and the basic yearly subscription with unlimited preset messages (I don't care about tracking). Its been used on a few trips now and seems to do exactly what you'd hope it would, and my wife seems much happier getting updates from my solo stravaiging around phone-receptionless Scotland than in the past when I'd be out of communication for days. You get to set three preset messages (besides the SOS); I have "All well", "On top" (I have that one set to do a facebook post too) and "Camped". Anything not covered by those I could always send a spelled-out text message. Messages generally do seem to send within a few minutes of initiating them; maybe 10-15 maximum but usually much quicker.The main thing stopping me giving this 5 stars is: no support for OS grid references at all! All it does is GPS-ey lat-long coords, which is probably fine if you pair it with some mapping/navigation app on your phone (or if you do ever hit the "SOS" button) and obviously the website links it texts to people come up fine on the mapping site it links to... it's not so good for UK paper map users like myself wanting to use their inReach for a second opinion navigation device though. So incredibly I still find myself lugging my old eTrex out with me as well as this thing just in case I want to double-check my position in the clag or a white-out. The only other gripe might be that the keys feel a little flimsy; I'm not worried about that for just the minimal clicking needed to select and send a preset message, but if I was going to be a hardcore user spelling out long text messages I think I'd be worried I was going to wear it out (but picking out individual letters using the arrow keys would be so painful that probably using a proper on-screen keyboard on a paired tablet or phone would be the way to go for anyone wanting to do much of that).
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25.10.2018

As soon as you unpack the SE+, connect the phone with the supplied USB cable to your personal computer, or laptop. Go to inreach.garmin.com, and sign up for the satellite subscription package of your choice. You must load InReach Sync V1.4.20.3366 on your PC, and use this software to upgrade the SE+ firmware to SE+ V4.0196211 (as of 25-October-2018). Once the firmware is loaded, which could require disconnecting the SE+ from the PC at least once in the process, you are free and clear to go outside and connect to the satellite. You will receive at least five updates from the satellite, hitting the restart function each time you are prompted. Finally, you can send a test message,and your good to go as far as satellite activation!Essentially what this all means is that the firmware in the existing stock of InReach SE+ units are out of date since the October 23 to 24th, 2018 Iridium satellite software update implemented by Garmin recently. This means that it is highly unlikely that you can unbox an InReach SE+, and have it connect to the satellite and activate without the firmware update. Tech support said it could happen in up to 40 minutes, but I doubt it. This will most likely apply to the Explorer+ and Mini units as well, which are based on the DeLorme platform.Garmin Express will not work with this unit. Garmin Earthmate for Android works flawlessly on Bluetooth connect. Very robust and dependable platform.
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8.4.2019

I'm a saltwater boater/fisherman in Florida, and frequently I'm far enough offshore that cell phones don't work. I have a PLB for a true emergencies, and a VHF. However, the most likely scenario where I might need assistance is if the boat becomes disabled due to an engine problem. Relying on VHF to hail a towboat is not the easiest thing to coordinate, and it's not a true emergency for using the PLB.Now I have a pre-set message on my InReach set to go to my wife that says I need towing assistance and it gives my location. She can call the tow boat company and we can have 2 way communication until they reach me.I can also send messages to friends and family letting them know I'm safe,but we are running a little late due to a hot bite, or rough weather.I was concerned when I purchased this unit due to some conflicting reviews, but my experience has been positive. I followed the instructions and created an InReach account, and set-up my pre-set messages and contacts and synced my device on my laptop. I have sent and received multiple messages, and the timing was very quick. Note - you can change how often your device "looks" for incoming messages. I believe the default is 10 minutes to preserve battery life, but you can shorten that interval in the settings. I could pair my InReach to my phone, but thus far I really don't see a need for it. It has 100% working for me as I desired. Couldn't be happier.
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19.10.2018

Item was received promptly and safely packaged. The battery was about 50% when I retrieved the unit from the box. Instructions were easy to follow but I found YouTube extremely helpful for a crash course on the SE+.Using a Samsung S8 and a Dell with Windows 10, all applications installed fine. A bit quirky getting the software (app) for the computer to download, but I was finally successful.I updated the firmware and it was on to programming all the contacts. Easily synced with the SE+ and my computer. I signed up my specific plan and found that just as easy. Then, it was the true test. Outdoors I went. The unit activated within 5 minutes of being outdoors. I sent the "Test" message and all was well.I then sent a few texts to a few in my contact list and responses were received in approximately 3 minutes.I travel through locations with no cellular service on a regular basis. I will also have additional peace of mind when I go hiking or are off the beaten path. From start to finish, pretty easy for someone with a bit of computer and electronic know-how.The location is extremely accurate when I went returned indoors to look at my tracking data on the Garmin site. I have a feeling I'll be purchasing a few more for family members whom I know spend lots of time outdoors and in areas of poor cellular coverage.
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4.5.2019

We thought this would be great to have because we are an active family - camping and hiking. Plus we could use it in the car if my wife breaks down in some remote place. As a test, my wife took it on a trip to Hong Kong and China to test it out. About half the time, it sent the wrong location. And it was not off by just a little bit - it was off by thousands of miles. So we talked about the problem while she was still on her trip and we tried a few different things in order to get it work. Finally, we had good luck if she left the unit on all the time and then sent the message when she was in the open. It then seemed to give a good location. Before that, she would turn it on, wait 10 minutes,then send a message. Waiting 10 minutes seems like enough time for the unit to get a GPS lock but it did not and sent a location anyway. So this thing does not wait for a GPS lock before sending a location - of course, without a GPS lock the unit really has no idea where you are. So if you are thinking that you will just throw this in a bag and wait to turn it on when you need help - think again. You position will be reported wrong. It is really too bad that the software does not wait for a GPS lock before sending a location.
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1.9.2019

The gadget is usable enough. It does what it's advertised to do IF YOU HOLD IT STILL.I don't know why it wants me to rate a touchscreen, when it has no touchscreen. This is the model without the map.I chose it over the Spot products because it uses the many moving Iridium satellites instead of three geostationary Inmarsat ones.However, the actual experience using it is somewhat mixed. It doesn't work much real-time. Sending a message out takes about two minutes. Neither does it work very well in canyons; one of the reasons why I opted for it. Real experience is that in Kolob Canyon (Zion NP) it would take maybe 10 minutes of holding it still, before a message went out.If you don't hold it still,it doesn't work, meaning if you're hiking and it's on the loose strap with carbine that you can attach to your backpack strap, it won't send/receive a message within an hour of hiking. Same goes for putting it in the backpack.Still, if you find yourself stuck in an area without cell coverage, it seems to do what's advertised- you should be able to communicate your urgency or emergency. Not in real time, but in a matter of minutes/tens of minutes. And anywhere on the globe.
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26.8.2018

I was and still am a huge fan of the Delorme company. Their maps, GPS, and software were awesome and I suspect that's why Garmin bought them. I had one of the original Delorme InReach units, which worked fine for a few years and then went TU just a few weeks after Garmin bought them out. I went ahead and bought a new Garmin InReach SE+ and have been very happy with it. It seems to be "snappier" , i.e., faster, than the original In Reach and Garmin's customer service is awesome. In preparation for a float trip I'm taking in Alaska in 2 weeks, I sent the outfitter a test message today (from NH) and we exchanged messages in about 10 minutes. A couple of weeks ago,I went fishing here in NH and sent my wife a text saying I'd be a few hours late as I was having superb luck. Again, took just a few minutes.You have the up front costs and maybe $15 a month for the service, but being able to communicate from anywhere on the planet is a real +. As an old geezer (66) who floats remote Alaskan rivers and deer hunts in country where cell phone service does not exist, this thing is a no-brainer!!
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29.4.2020

I wanted an insurance policy for section hiking parts of the Florida Trail (I didnt want to only rely on spotty cell phone coverage in an emergency) I bought the SE instead of the Explorer because I didnt need a full blown map ready GPS. The user interface seems to be very easy, along with the ability to use the Garmin (Earthmate) app on my phone. Besides the emergency SOS feature, the best feature is the battery life is excellent! I was on a 5 day/4 night hike and the battery used was less than 20%. I did turn off the GPS at night while I slept to conserve the battery life. YOU DO HAVE TO HAVE A SUBSCRIPTION FOR MOST FEATURES TO WORK. You have a few options with Garmin, so do your research before you buy.For a peace of mind while you're out in the wilderness, this is a must have.
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8.5.2017

Having just spent 48 hours walking and camping in a remote part of Scotland, I was so pleased to have this with me. Previously I had a Spot Gen3, the advantage of having the means to send and receive free text messages is a huge benefit over the Spot. Requesting a weather report is another key feature and providing friends and family with a means to track your progress and whereabouts is great. It's incredibly easy to use and with the peace of mind that help is at hand if needed, I wouldn't hesitate recommending it to anyone heading out into remote places.Only negs: location info doesn't support British National Grid. I don't think this is a substitute for a proper GPS navigation device.I use the Garmin GPSMap 64s, and the inReach is by no means a replacement.
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27.3.2019

I love this satellite communicator! The peace of mind I get from being able to send and receive texts and know my wife and youngest son are ok while I'm off Scouting with my oldest son, way out of cell range, is absolutely awesome. And affordable! And knowing that SOS button is there in case something really bad happens is great. I already had a really good GPS unit and the reviews of the maps on the Inreach with built in maps were only so so, making this the perfect choice for me. Also, I don't think it's mentioned elsewhere, but you can opt in for $100,000 of insurance for like $20 a year, to be used in case you do have to use the SOS button. That's just good sense.

31.10.2017

Not too much to be said that hasn't already been discussed, just wanted to add my thumbs-up for the device and the service. I do a lot of off road motorcycle riding in New Mexico and this has allowed me to go into some remote locations not served by cell coverage with the knowledge that I'm not alone. It is peace of mind that I can contact friends and family for updates and, conversely, emergency services if it turns out to be a bad day on the trail. I have been using this device for the past month and so far it has performed well. Just be sure to know the limitations of the device and subscription service before you head out and life will be good.

8.5.2020

I just purchased this device as a handheld for backpacking. It does everything is says it will do however, that may be confusing for some as it was for me. The device itself does not display any mapping on the screen, while it does track your location and send/receive messages you MUST pair it to your mobile phone to be able to see your location on a map, and then only on your mobile device screen. I called Garmin and they confirmed that the Inreach SE+ does not come with any maps and therefore you cannot add any or get them to display on the device itself. I am returning the device as it doesn't do what I THOUGHT it would do.
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