Yep, I’m surprised that people don’t understand the difference between a PLB (beacon/one-way) and a satellite communicator (satcomm/two way). Different satellite constellations so different coverage. The Iridium network that the inReach devices use is good and they seem to take the SAR role seriously, but it isn’t a dedicated SAR system. As I understand the 9-1-1 function piggybacks on the larger sat-comm system, that should work if you’re within the network coverage.

My hesitation in buying one up to now is that it would be one more way for people to reach me at a time I may not want to be reached. That’s the misanthrope in me exerting itself. However, a beacon that goes only one way and reaches out to a dedicated SAR network is a good thing. That small piece of me that wants to be on my own is suppressed when it comes to survival. So I carry a PLB... and a cell-phone in airplane mode or turned off.

BTW, the full size inReach SE®+ has twice the battery life of the mini.