Garmin has changed its rules for satellite emergency calls. If you own a premium Garmin smartwatch or a handheld GPS device, you can now get emergency help from space almost entirely for free.
While smartphones like the iPhone have offered free satellite SOS for a while, Garmin used to force its users to pay for an expensive monthly subscription to keep the emergency feature active. A new software update changes this, but there is a small catch you need to know about.
How the New Loophole Works
Garmin is now letting users access the SOS feature even when their “inReach” subscription is paused (or suspended).
You can pause a Garmin subscription for up to 12 months at a time before it automatically renews. Because of this, you only need to pay for the cheapest plan once a year to keep the service alive. This lowers your cost significantly. Instead of paying every single month, you can pay a tiny amount just once a year and enjoy free emergency satellite protection for the other 11 months.
Which Devices Can Use This?
To get free emergency tracking while your plan is paused, your device must have the latest software update. The feature works on these specific models:
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Smartwatches: Fenix 8 Pro, Quatix 8 Pro, and D2 Mach 2 Pro.
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Handheld GPS & Trackers: Alpha 300i and GPSMAP 67i.
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Satellite Messengers: inReach Messenger, Messenger Plus, Mini 2, and the newer Mini 3.
What is the Catch?
This trick only works for emergencies. If your plan is paused, you cannot use any other satellite features. This means you won’t be able to send casual text messages to friends, share your live location map, or send photos while you are off the grid. If you want to use the device for daily messaging outside of cell phone range, you will still need to pay for an active monthly plan.
Also Read:Â Massive Garmin Sale: Newest Watches Receiving Big Discounts Including Fenix, Venu, Enduro, Instinct & More
