How to Use Satellite Communications on the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro

If I’ve learned 1 point from listening to nan full backmost catalog of nan fantabulous podcast Real Survival Stories, it’s this: Whether you’re upland biking Californian trails aliases kayaking nan westbound seashore of England, nan proverbial, you know, tin deed nan instrumentality really fast. When an escapade flips unexpectedly into an emergency situation, nan 1 point you decidedly want is simply a measurement to summon rescue, moreover erstwhile you're acold from compartment networks.

Until now, tapping into off-grid comms meant carrying a dedicated outer messenger. But alongside competitors for illustration Google and Apple, Garmin—makers of nan champion outdoor sports watches—have made it imaginable to person outer information backmost up strapped to your wrist 24/7. The caller Garmin Fenix 8 Pro now packs Garmin’s inReach outer connection smarts, including satellite-powered matter messaging, location check-ins and Emergency SOS–a virtual flare that hails assistance via Garmin Response. Here's really to usage it.

What You Pay For

First off, you must cognize that nan caller Fenix 8 Pro is $200 much than nan original Fenix 8. You besides request an inReach subscription plan, which starts from $8 per period and rises to $50 per period for nan apical tier. Picking nan correct scheme depends connected really galore messages you want to nonstop and really overmuch you scheme to usage nan unrecorded tracking.

All inReach packages see nan Emergency SOS and LTE services and require a 30-day commitment. Monthly subscriptions are available, and if your search aliases connection needs change, you tin besides move up aliases down tiers. For situations erstwhile you’re without your telephone but still person web coverage, there’s besides phone-free LTE calls, sound messages, matter messages, and unrecorded tracking.

How to Set Up Satellite Comms

From setup to send, I put nan caller outer and LTE devices to nan trial utilizing nan Fenix 8 Pro 51-millimeter AMOLED. You need:

• The Garmin Fenix 8 Pro
• A smartphone pinch Garmin Connect and Garmin Messenger apps installed
• A Garmin relationship (that you motion into connected your telephone and watch)
• A Garmin Messenger account, linked to your telephone number
• An inReach/satellite work plan–a free proceedings tin beryllium activated during setup

The first setup is simply a spot of a faff, involving aggregate Garmin apps, creating an relationship wrong Garmin’s inReach platform, and lastly, deciphering which subs package you need. Still, nan full process took astir 15 minutes and tin beryllium done connected your telephone and nan watch. You'll see that clip good invested if you find yourself stuck successful a ravine, being circled by predators, successful request of help.