Satellite communication: Inreach Mini 2: Satellite emergency transmitter with up to 30 days of battery life
Hauke Schmidt
· 03.02.2022
The Inreach Mini 2 from Garmin weighs just 100 grams. The handheld device works with Iridium satellites and offers worldwide coverage regardless of the mobile phone network. Text messages can be sent to and received from stored contacts and it is possible to share your location in real time via MapShare. In emergency situations, an SOS button can be used to contact the Garmin International Emergency Response Coordination Center (IERCC), a 24/7 rescue centre.
During the coordination of the rescue operation, the IERCC remains in contact with the device thanks to bidirectional communication. The stored emergency contacts can also be notified directly by the IERCC in this way. The battery life depends on the selected tracking interval. With a ten-minute recording, the transmitter works autonomously for 14 days. If a position is only determined every 30 minutes, the tracker runs for a full 30 days without an external power supply, according to the manufacturer.
The tracker also offers a rudimentary navigation function thanks to arrow navigation to waypoints or on predefined routes and the integrated digital compass. According to the manufacturer, the Inreach Mini can also be paired with Garmin map plotters, which can be used to start and stop tracking or trigger an emergency call, for example. Incoming text messages can also be displayed and answered.
The handheld device is specified as waterproof in accordance with IPX7. With the separately available underwater housing, even dives to a depth of 100 metres are no problem. The Inreach Mini 2 is expected to cost 400 euros. A subscription is required to use satellite communication. Tariffs start at around 15 euros per month. An overview can be found here.
Further information at Garmin
The promotional video for the Inreach Mini 2 from Garmin
