Biere a Terre
Paddler
Well! Garmin just dropped a new inReach product, the Messenger. It is $100 less than the Mini 2, and includes a couple of differentiating features compared to the Mini 2:
But the Mini 2 is probably still the best option for us, being kayakers & canoers, plus backpackers, horsebackers, skiers, etc. When you're fully away from powered exfiltration, need a digital compass and routing, and want to hang it on your pack or person for immediate access and SOS.
The new Garmin Messenger smartphone app will become available via firmware update for the GPSMAP 66i, Montana 700i/750i, Alpha 200i, and the inReach Mini 2 units. It seems like a departure from previous Garmin inReach messaging via app, which happened fully and only through inReach satellite communication. The new app will rely on your phone's data connection (wifi or cellular) when available, and then fall back to inReach satellite, while keeping the threaded communications in one app rather than split out. I believe this is what the Zoleo app does?
www.garmin.com
There is already an extensive write-up on DC Rainmaker.
www.dcrainmaker.com
- Bigger battery (28 days with 10-minute tracking; Mini 2 is at 14 days for 10-minute tracking)
- Tiny screen
- No digital compass
- No route-loading capability
- Reverse USB-C charging (ie power your smartphone off of the inReach USB-C port)
- New Garmin Messenger smartphone app (which will soon come to the Mini 2 via firmware update)
But the Mini 2 is probably still the best option for us, being kayakers & canoers, plus backpackers, horsebackers, skiers, etc. When you're fully away from powered exfiltration, need a digital compass and routing, and want to hang it on your pack or person for immediate access and SOS.
The new Garmin Messenger smartphone app will become available via firmware update for the GPSMAP 66i, Montana 700i/750i, Alpha 200i, and the inReach Mini 2 units. It seems like a departure from previous Garmin inReach messaging via app, which happened fully and only through inReach satellite communication. The new app will rely on your phone's data connection (wifi or cellular) when available, and then fall back to inReach satellite, while keeping the threaded communications in one app rather than split out. I believe this is what the Zoleo app does?
Garmin inReach® Messenger | Satellite Communicator
inReach Messenger is a satellite communicator to keep you connected when there’s no cellphone coverage, featuring global two-way text messaging and SOS alerts.
www.garmin.com
There is already an extensive write-up on DC Rainmaker.
Garmin inReach Messenger Satellite Communicator: Hands-On Details
Garmin’s just announced a new model in their inReach satellite communicator lineup – the inReach Messenger ($299). And with it, also a new app called Messenger, which will soon work with a number of recent inReach devices. This new app
www.dcrainmaker.com
