Garmin 010-01879-00 InReach Mini, Lightweight and Compact Satellite Communicator, Orange

Importante per la sicurezza. Ha sempre preso il segnale. Un po macchinoso.

I carry my 3.5 year old inReach Mini primarily for the SOS feature, and to send occasional preset messages, while mountain hiking solo year-round. Recently I tested battery life (with bluetooth off, ant off, display illumination off, track log off, track send off), and obtained: 28 hours life while inside with no sattelite signals available, and only 3 days life while outside with clear sky view. I also verified that to fully charge the battery from empty took over 1000mA-hr, so battery capacity is still within 80% of specified 1250 mA-hr, and is not the solurce of the low battery life. I believe that it is the automatic, hourly checking for messages function of the device that drains the battery almost ten times faster than advertised by Garmin--the manufacturer should allow the user to turn off the automatic checking for messages function of the device (its my device, let me control it!).

Used the mini during a recent backpacking trip to Colorado. The activation and set-up was very straightforward. It seems like a very high quality unit that will prove to be very durable. Worked like a charm in the Sangre de Christo mountains however it was hit and miss in the Flattops Wilderness area. I understand that any GPS unit requires an open view of the sky but just did jot realize what that truly means. My experience was that mini reqired an open area in the forest to communicate not simply a view of the sky. Certainly not a deal breaker, just a word of caution. If you get in real distress and are in dense forest, the mini may not work.

Setup has taken hours, with multiple calls to Garnin because of contradictory web instructions and because it just does not work much of the time. The support staff has been very friendly and responsive, but not always too helpful. They tell me it only works with the browser in incognito mode. Then they say it only works if I clear my browser cache, but are unable to say how to do that. I even got on a different computer and the thing will still not import contact edits to the InReach. If there were some other brand that does similar things satellite communication , I would send this thing back

I’ve had this for 2 years, paid a monthly subscription to use it maybe 10x a year. My unit won’t work without being connected to external power. I’m into this for way too much for it only work for 2 years

Without an external battery the battery life is not very long, the tracking is not very accurate. But the ability to send and receive messages while afield is indispensable

Update: Thr Inreach Mini is still ticking and works great! I’m often alone and this is like a 2nd person. If I’m in the rim country, Grand Canyon, or 4x4’ing on a desert trail it has worked. Yeah it’s a bit to configure, but the key to success is to synchronize before leaving and test it before hitting the trail. Insurance knowing I can communicate w/my wife when out & visa versa not to mention the SOS feature which I hope I never use.

I love this device and take it everywhere when I travel. Only thing is prescription fee. Signals sometime not work if you are inside of building. You will probably have to charge this device every night.

Takes a bit to work out the features. Like all my Garmin’s. Not intuitive. Once you get out there ie -up in the Sierras on new trails. It’s worth every penny Tracking my route, marking Waypoints like go to W. Points. Lots more features to test.

This little device really rocks compared to the SPOT systems. Yes the SPOT systems are less expensive but very frustrating to work with. The Mini is easy to set up, easy to use, easy to interface, easy to change plans, and most importantly more accurate and reliable than my SPOT systems.