All things InReach

**rideit** · 08-12-2023, 01:01 PM

Yes, it was certainly linked to my phone yesterday, or I wouldn't have been able to track them yesterday for so long. I zip tied it to the top of Wifey's pack so she couldn't bury it.
I'll post a few screenshots of what I'm seeing on my phone, hang tight. And thanks.

**Foggy_Goggles** · 08-12-2023, 01:07 PM

It kinda sounds like you are doing it wrong. In the "social" tab of the Explore.garmin.com account, you need the mapshare URL. Then paste that into your browser.

Caveat: I'm going from memory and I haven't messed with the Mini2.

...or maybe that's what you are doing?

Sent from my Turbo 850 Flatbrimed Highhorse

**rideit** · 08-12-2023, 01:13 PM

So, I can't seem to post screenshots right now. When I open explore, it shows a map with my current location. Yesterday it showed their tracks.
Device disconnected shows up in the messages screen.

**rideit** · 08-12-2023, 01:14 PM

Where is the 'social' tab? Can you post a screenshot?

**rideit** · 08-12-2023, 01:15 PM

When I click on the 'tracking' feature, it is in grey scale (not clickable). This was not the case yesterday.

**rideit** · 08-12-2023, 01:19 PM

I may have just fucked up, I tried logging out and then back into explore, and not it prompts me to resync the in reach device. This doesn't seem correct?

**Foggy_Goggles** · 08-12-2023, 01:23 PM

Yeah, sync is to pair the users phone to the InReach via Bluetooth.

Sent from my Turbo 850 Flatbrimed Highhorse

**Foggy_Goggles** · 08-12-2023, 01:26 PM

Drop down menu on top left with 2 bars

Sent from my Turbo 850 Flatbrimed Highhorse

**Foggy_Goggles** · 08-12-2023, 01:28 PM

The url convension is share.garmin/username

You've got this!

Sent from my Turbo 850 Flatbrimed Highhorse

**rideit** · 08-12-2023, 01:48 PM

Mine doesn't have that layout.
BRB

**rideit** · 08-12-2023, 01:50 PM

It won't let me log back in or navigate the account without syncing the device? Is there a way to enter the app without doing that?

**rideit** · 08-12-2023, 01:51 PM

DID IT! You guys are the best. I owe you an e-beer!

**Foggy_Goggles** · 08-12-2023, 02:05 PM

You are basically realizing a weakness of the system. You are trying to parent the Mini. You are in essence trying to track yourself. It doesn't work like that. You won't be able to send a message to yourself either.

Try using the app to send a message to your cell number. Then reply to that and it will go to the mini.

And minis are designed to be bluetoothed to a phone. Then you get all the mapping functionality and you can send messages to your phones contact list.

Basically, read the fucking instructions.

Sent from my Turbo 850 Flatbrimed Highhorse

**rideit** · 08-12-2023, 03:17 PM

Originally Posted by Foggy_Goggles

Basically, read the fucking instructions.

LOL, I’m a 50-something ‘Murican male, does not compute!

TBF, we tested the system yesterday, it sent messages to my own phone just fine.
Which leads to a question, can we feasibly share the Inreach like this without another account?
Would that even work?

**Foggy_Goggles** · 08-12-2023, 03:26 PM

Anytime you are testing the InReach, have your phone in airplane mode. I think you fundamentally I having a problem distinguishing between bluetooth, cell network and satellite.

The GPS mapshare is a stand alone feature. The messaging either InReach>cell phone or InReach>email address is gonna be clunky with out it being consistently bluetooth paired to one phone.

If that important to you, the full size with a screen and a keyboard is probably a better option.

Sent from my Turbo 850 Flatbrimed Highhorse

**Foggy_Goggles** · 08-12-2023, 03:42 PM

It's hard to know exactly what you had going on but I think perhaps you synced it to your phone thinking it was some kind of texting and location sharing walkie talkie?

There are a ton of online resources. Really, an InReach is pretty amazing but Garmins software isn't the best and it's not really intuitive.

Sent from my Turbo 850 Flatbrimed Highhorse

**rideit** · 08-12-2023, 03:43 PM

Curious you mention that, Foggy. . We wanted to add/sync it to my wife’s phone as well. But my (very, very) tech savvy 15 year old talked us out of it, as he said he had no problem texting on the Inreach.
I didn’t think about mapping, because my wife has her garmin watch, and downloaded maps on her phone, so there is some redundancy.
Thanks for your advice, we are getting it sorted slowly.
Wifey bought it for me because now with an ebike, I can get insanely out there in just an hour or two so easily.
This is quite rare that she would be using it without me.

**Stuntmonkey** · 11-10-2023, 10:32 AM

Bumping this - keen on an inreach mini2 but the price delta to a full handheld with map screen is like an extra $200. Are they garmins worth their salt for BC or should I just stick with the inreach?

Primarily just using it for navigation over my cellphone and then same emergency/comms functions as the inreach

**rod9301** · 11-10-2023, 10:48 AM

I think you're fine

Sent from my moto g 5G using Tapatalk

**caulfield** · 11-10-2023, 04:42 PM

Originally Posted by Stuntmonkey

Bumping this - keen on an inreach mini2 but the price delta to a full handheld with map screen is like an extra $200. Are they garmins worth their salt for BC or should I just stick with the inreach?

Primarily just using it for navigation over my cellphone and then same emergency/comms functions as the inreach

do you need/want it for navigation, or just would use that option if available? I wouldn't get the mini as a dedicated nav device

I still think phone apps are better, but I'm pretty casual and my nav usage is for curiosity and never super critical. Primary garmin experience is a few different generations of rinos, which had clunky UIs, bad battery life and the newest one had a bad touchscreen. Assuming you're looking at the 67i, battery life seems much better. No idea what the UI/button situation is like now. If you're picky about that kind of thing, probably worth finding a place you could test one out.

**Goniff** · 07-24-2024, 07:51 AM

Just ordered the inreach messenger. I've read reports that the messenger can't be paired with the phone via bluetooth unless the phone has internet access. Is this true?

If I'm on a 3-night bikepacking trip and I turn my phone off each night, will I be unable to pair the phone with the messenger in the morning if there is no cell service?

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**Iowagriz** · 07-24-2024, 08:44 AM

Android here, no problem pairing to inreach when in airplane mode.

Side note, get in the habit of pairing each time you use it, especially if using a tracking feature. Ultimately makes it easier to see your maps on the phone.

**Goniff** · 07-24-2024, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by Iowagriz

Android here, no problem pairing to inreach when in airplane mode.

Side note, get in the habit of pairing each time you use it, especially if using a tracking feature. Ultimately makes it easier to see your maps on the phone.

Thanks. It appears a recent software update is causing pairing problems for some people.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Garmin/comm...connecting_to/