Delorme InReach SE owners - beware

Posted by: JustWalking

Delorme InReach SE owners - beware - 09/21/17 02:36 PM

Saw this on another forum. Seems that a long press on an InReach SE, even with the SOS button locked off, can still cause an SOS to be sent. Delorme said it's made that way on purpose.

More here
Posted by: Pika

Re: Delorme InReach SE owners - beware - 09/21/17 06:44 PM

I use my Inreach mostly for communicating with home but like the "scream for help" feature too. I usually have my iPhone with me and have the Earthmate app which uses a Bluetooth connection that lets you use the iPhone keyboard instead of the slow and cumbersome one on the Inreach. I suspect that this issue is much reduced if you use this free app. I have been using an Inreach for 3 -1/2 years with the Earthmate app and have never experienced an uncommanded SOS. YMMV.
Posted by: JustWalking

Re: Delorme InReach SE owners - beware - 09/21/17 07:04 PM

Hi Pika,

Not sure if you read the stuff at the link, but it's got nothing to do with using Earthmate (I use the app as well). If you've got it packed somewhere where something can press against it continuously, it can send an SOS without your knowledge. This has been repeated by a number of people with their devices.

I've also never had an uncommanded SOS sent, but that's probably because I carry it by itself in a loose pocket, not tightly against anything. My post is kind of a warning for folks to be careful how they carry one, if they carry one.
Posted by: Pika

Re: Delorme InReach SE owners - beware - 09/22/17 06:08 AM

You are right, I haven't yet read the link. I, too, carry mine in a loose outside pocket specifically to keep pressure off the buttons. In my case the thinking was to prevent it being turned on. I use it primarily for communication and turn it off between messages to conserve power: I don't use the tracking feature. I guess I don't understand Delorme's thinking on this.
Posted by: aimless

Re: Delorme InReach SE owners - beware - 09/22/17 03:33 PM

I don't understand Delorme's thinking on this.

Ignorance is probably the simplest explanation. Delorme's designers may not be backpackers themselves and thus unaware that their device would be crammed into tight spaces where a button might receive continuous pressure for hours at a time. They may have thought it would always be in the user's shirt pocket.
Posted by: JustWalking

Re: Delorme InReach SE owners - beware - 09/22/17 08:39 PM

"I use it primarily for communication and turn it off between messages to conserve power"

Interestingly enough, the device can be turned off with the SOS button locked and still send an SOS (by turning itself on) if the button is pressed for a certain amount of time. Delorme thinks that's a feature, not a bug (it's actually in the manual, I'm told).
Posted by: Pika

Re: Delorme InReach SE owners - beware - 09/22/17 08:51 PM

Nice to know. Thanks. But still, forevermore why?
Posted by: wandering_daisy

Re: Delorme InReach SE owners - beware - 09/25/17 02:13 PM

Nothing to do with the help button - but to me having an inReach (about 7oz) and an i-phone (not sure the weight but say 8 oz) and the need for batteries for both, makes your system very heavy. If you need the i-phone to make the inReach user friendly and easier to read, to me, that is a lot of money for something that really is not a stand alone.

So now we have GPS, PLB, camera and i-phone. Why on earth cannot we have one gadget.

I do longer trips (about 10 days) so at this point, given the battery problems and weight, I go old fashioned- paper maps, an itenery left with family and search for me if I am not back 2 days after I was supposed to return.
Posted by: Rick_D

Re: Delorme InReach SE owners - beware - 09/27/17 03:04 PM

Originally Posted By wandering_daisy
Nothing to do with the help button - but to me having an inReach (about 7oz) and an i-phone (not sure the weight but say 8 oz) and the need for batteries for both, makes your system very heavy. If you need the i-phone to make the inReach user friendly and easier to read, to me, that is a lot of money for something that really is not a stand alone.

So now we have GPS, PLB, camera and i-phone. Why on earth cannot we have one gadget.

I do longer trips (about 10 days) so at this point, given the battery problems and weight, I go old fashioned- paper maps, an itenery left with family and search for me if I am not back 2 days after I was supposed to return.

With the Garmin acquisition of Delorme the InReach system is in the midst of model consolidation, service term reconfiguration and frankly, a buttload of monetization steps making it more expen$ive.

I have the old InReach brick, smaller and no display. It requires a phone to access all the features but can also work as a standalone if you don't need two-way messaging. It also takes AA batteries, unlike the current internal-battery models, making it useful on trips of any length.

A SPOT or PRB are alternatives and while SPOT allows non-emergency communication and tracking neither has two-way messaging, something now expected back home when I'm out.

Evaluating my options as I'm not pleased at the current InReach devices and subscription options but would feel limited with a PLB (and irritated at their battery configurations).