I have been using the Delorme (now Garmin) Inreach SE for multiple years now and find it excellent for texting with the wife. If your hunting partner has one you can also text Inreach-to-inreach when no cell service is available at either end. I have a second unit for my wife for when we are camped in the mountains at a base camp and I am out all day hunting or even a bivy overnight and she is back at the camper. With her health I need to be sure she can reach me in case I need to get back and take her into a doc. Paired wth a cell phone makes typing super easy but not needed. Takes a little longer using the curser to spell out words if not paired.
I use the fredom plans that allow you to suspend your device and not get charged every month if not using. They also allow unlimited sending of 3 different pre-set messages for free. If you choose you pre-sets well you can check in everything is OK or Moved camp to new spot, etc. for free!
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Forgot to add the used SE’s are going for around 130-190 on ebay depending on condition. Also if you buy a used one make sure the unit is no longer on the owner’s Service Plan (Cancel Service must be performed) and has been Facory Reset. See here
https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=Mot3ht8UMb31d93oYWCni5 otherwise Garmin will not allow you to activate it on your account using its IMEI number. Ask me how I know!,
Usually this is because the original owner simply “Suspended” the device on his account so as not to accrue monthly charges but as far as Garmin can tell he still owns the device and will not let its IMEI change accounts in case it was stolen or lost. Safest way to avoid problems is to buy from ads where it is the original/current owner is selling it. Otherwise you could get stuck with an unusable unit.
In my case the original owner quickly logged into his account confirming he had simply suspended it and he immediately canceled service for it. Garmin’s website then immediately let me activate it on my account with its IMEI.
Only downside is some risk that Garmin will not continue to support these older units sometime in the future. For the money i am saving over two sat phones I am willing to assume that risk.