What are your preset messages on Garmin inReach?
I can have three preset messages and send an u limited amount of them. Any advice on presets you have found most useful?
Posted Jul 26, 2019, 3:38 AM UTC
5967
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Help!
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HELP!
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FOR THE LOVE OF GOD SOMEONE HELP ME!!!
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Starting Day/checking in. All Good.
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Stopping here. All Good.
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Change of plans/weather here. Will follow up.
With the thought that you message any problems change of plans when you’re able for the 3rd one. I share the inReach with a family member so they’re all universal for ease of use.
27
I like your idea with #3. Good to get a quick heads up out there.
7
Yeah. The other thing I’ll add is I have my mom (the other user) basically spam me with presets. They’re free and they always include the location. That way if tracking isn’t on; and something happens I have a last known location within 12-24 hours.
When I’m using it I send 2-3 a day most of the time.
4
That’s helpful to know! Thanks.
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These ones are pretty good. Should update mine
2
Your 1 and 2 are very similar to mine. As most of my trips tend to be shorter (overnight, weekend, or even just day trips when I'm trail running in out-of-service areas), I have my 3 set up as "packed up and heading home" so my wife knows I'm done and on my way.
2
I liked these enough that I changed my presets to match. Thanks for the ideas.
2
How many can you send in a given timeframe? One thing I'd thought about was pre-arranging a set of messages based on numeric codes to get around limits on the number of preset messages you can use. E.g. sending preset-1, preset-3, preset-1, preset-2 might have been agreed to mean "going slower than planned but still okay,"; while 1-3-1-3 is "going slower, been slightly injured."
20
I wouldn’t trust that the messages are delivered in the same order you send them, unless you leave a significant amount of time between them. I’ve used these for quite a few years now and based on my experience, my confidence is very low on this. Cool idea though.
28
Well then maybe set up a system based on quantity, not order? So 11 would translate to a, 12 would translate to b and 112 would translate to c?
Seems like a lot of work to me, but if someone wants that many messages I'm not gonna judge.
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Agree. Lots of work.
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You could do a lot of communicating like this.
10
I don't think there is a limit to how many you can send in a timeframe, but they do take a little bit to send each one. I'll commonly send my "stopping here" and "checking in, everything is okay" presets at the same time and it's never given me any issues.
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That’s a creative idea!
4
Learn Morse code, preset 1 is for dot preset 2 is dash. Do t even need preset three for unlimited open communication!
1
to be honest the preset messages are a bit of hit and miss, recipients don't receive them every time. I'm try|ing to put my finger on it but it seems pretty random :|
1
Safe at camp, love ya
Just checking in, love ya
Garmin battery is about to die but all is well, love ya
All going to my mommy who bought me the device
I just did half the pct and used it, left it off and only turn it on for check in messages/save battery for emergencies. Also turned the bluetooth off on the device, and turned off the backlight. I never used the custom messaging feature but the easy check in feature is really nice.
20
I might use that battery low message. Seems it could save a lot of worry.
1
- I’m awake, device is on
- Breaking camp, track me here (link to my map share with it tracking every 30min)
- Camping here for the night, turning device off.
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I never use my presets so I have no idea. It's not that hard to type out a custom message and I always have something to say.
7
Pre-Sets don't count towards your message usage.
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- Just checking in. All is good.
- Made it to the starting/stopping point.
- Running behind but all is good.
6
I usually have the first one saying I'm starting my hike. Second is that I'm camping out. Third is to call authorities in case someone else gets hurt on the trail.
But I usually change it depending on how the trip will be.
3
Have you ever used it to call authorities?
2
Nope. When I say authorities, I mean for the contacts I send it to call for rescue.
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Got it!
1
"Getting started" "Heading down/Heading back" "Back at the car"
3
Nice and simple! I like it.
2
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Starting/continuing my trip.
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Stopping to eat/rest/sleep.
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Just checking in, everything is okay.
I could probably stand to change them up a bit and shorten the first two, but it works well enough. For anything else I just send a "quick text" (I've added a few into the list but it's mostly the stock set of options) or type out a message - either on my phone or the device itself (kinda a pain cause it's an inreach mini but definitely doable. Odds are it's at the end of the day after camp is setup anyway, the extra minute it takes isn't exactly getting in the way).
3
All good, on schedule.
Behind schedule, but all good.
Camping here tonight.
If I need to send more than that, it's probably pretty important and the overage cost per text won't be a big deal.
3
The Earthshare app has a list of 10 or so quick messages that I was confusing with the preset messages. FYI, they will charge you for these, that lightning bolt just means you don't have to type it out.
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I've been using my Mini for about eight months now and never realized the lightning bolt was where they'd hidden the preset quick messages in there. Thanks for mentioning it!
edit: wrong terminology
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No no, you got my post wrong. Those aren't the preset messages, they are the quick messages which they will charge you for.
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No, I understood it because I looked and saw them. Just used the wrong phrase. They're all technically "pre-set" after all, right?
Fixed my original post.
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I don't have an in reach. But if you can use 3 messages:
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- _
- I'm too drunk for Morse code, but i'm ok.
3
Message 1 Like the great Livingston of yore, I'm plunging into the unknown now. Keep a good thought for me.
Message 2 Well crap, I've been delayed but fear not for I am doing fine and expect to be on my way soon.
Message 3 I'm going to remain away from my beloved abode a little longer than my original plan. I will be thinking warmly of you until we meet again.
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I love yours!
1
- all good
- Summit
- descending.
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2
Pretty much exactly what I do too. Tracking costs money, but unlimited presets with location are essentially free tracking.
I also fire off a custom to family before a bigger day hike too. "Hiking up My Washington from Joe Dodge. Great forecast." Because I likely won't hit the 10 messages anyway.
2
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Starting my hike
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Stopping here for the night. All is well.
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All done, will call when I get cell service.
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Mine are:
- I’m a happy camper!
- I’m late but I’m OK
- Non-life threatening but I need a pick up. Can you come get me?
The first is whenever I stop for the night. The second is so my wife doesn’t worry if I’m late coming home (sometimes things take longer than you think). The third is if I need help but I’m not dying and don’t need SAR (maybe I bum up my knee and need someone to pick me up).
2
- Checking in. Everything is okay! (Please DON'T respond to this message unless it is critical) - Sent from InReach
- Starting a trip from here. (Please DON'T respond to this message unless it is critical) - Sent from InReach
- Running behind, but all is well. (Please DON'T respond to this message unless it is critical) - Sent from InReach
My contacts are aware of not to respond back (uses messages) now so I might remove that warming. Might also make messaging faster as there would be less data.
2
I don't put any scary messages because if I'm in any trouble it's SOS or sit my butt down and text out an explanation of what's going on. As for my preset's, I use #1 the most just to calm the family down and let them know things are fine.
Thanks kind of what I was thinking as well. How often to you send messages?
I send a message about 2-3 times a day. Always one at lunch and one when I get to camp. It sometimes takes 15 minutes to get a signal lock so short breaks may not be enough time to send a message. I agree with the other replies that I turn off the inreach most of the day to conserve battery. When it's turned on I make sue Bluetooth is off and have the back light set to 0.
Same here.
I think my inReach mini battery will last about 15 days with this approach.
This is very helpful. Thank you!
I have one message that says something along the lines of "I'm OK, but I am going to be later than expected."
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