LTE and Satellite Connected Features
The LTE and satellite connected features, including SOS, require an active inReach® service plan, and are only available for the fēnix® 8 Pro watch.
On a fēnix 8 Pro watch with an active inReach service plan, you can stay connected while leaving your phone at home. By default, when your phone is within Bluetooth® range, your watch uses your phone's LTE connection. When your phone is not within range, your watch connects to the LTE network. If an LTE network is not available, some features are available through communication satellites.
|
Feature |
Available Using Phone Connection |
Available Using fēnix 8 Pro LTE Connection |
Available Using fēnix 8 Pro Communication Satellite Connection |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Messenger app check-ins and text messages (Using the Messenger App) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Messenger app photo messages |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
Messenger app voice messages (Using the Messenger App) |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
Messenger Calls voice calls (Calling from the Messenger Calls App) |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
Safety and tracking features, such as assistance, incident detection, and LiveTrack (Safety and Tracking Features) |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
SOS (SOS for fēnix 8 Pro) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Weather |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes, only on the Garmin Messenger™ app on your phone |
Connecting to Communication Satellites
On a fēnix 8 Pro watch with an active inReach service plan, you can connect to a two-way communication satellite when you are outside of an LTE coverage area. Communication satellites travel in a geostationary orbit, and are much farther away than the GNSS satellites in low Earth orbit that are used for navigation. In order to connect to a communication satellite, you must be in an area of coverage and point the antenna on your watch directly at the satellite.
-
Hold your arm up, and turn until you are
facing the satellite with the highlighted region on the compass covering the
icon.
-
Rotate your arm away from or towards
your body until the icon is enclosed in the circle .
Sending a Test Message
You should send a test message outdoors before using the watch on a trip to ensure your service plan is active.
-
Select an option:
-
Hold
, and select Messenger. -
From the watch face, press
, and select Messenger.
-
-
Select
.
Sending a Check-In Message
Check-in messages are messages with predefined text and recipients.
-
Select an option:
-
Hold
, and select Messenger Check-in. -
Hold
, and select Messenger > 
. -
From the watch face, press
, and select Messenger > .
-
- Select a message.
- If you are outside of an LTE coverage area, connect to a communication satellite (Connecting to Communication Satellites).
Checking for Messages
Your watch continuously checks for new messages in Always On LTE mode (LTE and Satellite Settings). In Auto LTE mode, when you use an LTE feature, such as the Messenger or Messenger Calls app, your watch temporarily turns on LTE connectivity and checks for new messages.
When you are not connected to an LTE network, the watch does not automatically check for messages, but you can manually check for messages. During a manual check, your watch connects to the LTE or satellite network and receives messages waiting to be sent to your watch.
-
Select an option:
-
Hold
, and select Messenger > 
. -
From the watch face, press
, and select Messenger > .
-
- If you are outside of an LTE coverage area, connect to a communication satellite (Connecting to Communication Satellites).
LTE and Satellite Settings
From the watch face, hold 
, and select .
- Status
-
Enables LTE and communication satellite connectivity. You can enable one, both, or neither connectivity type.
- LTE Mode
-
Sets the LTE connectivity mode. The Auto option temporarily turns on LTE connectivity when you use an LTE feature, such as the Messenger or Messenger Calls apps.