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The coverage map isn't that impressive though: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/connectivity/fenix8pro/coverage/ https://www.garmin.com/en-US/connectivity/fenix8pro

The coverage map isn't that impressive though: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/connectivity/fenix8pro/coverage/ https://www.garmin.com/en-US/connectivity/fenix8pro/coverage... They're using geostationary satellites, but their Inreach stuff is using Iridium. Anyone know which satellites they're using for this, and if the coverage can be expected to increase in the future?

mikestew 1y ago
Skylo: https://www.skylo.tech/newsroom/skylo-expands-collaboration-with-garmin-to-bring-satellite-connectivity-to-new-fenix-r-8-pro-smartwatches https://www.skylo.tech/newsroom/skylo-expands-collaboration-...
wongarsu 1y ago
Wow. Full coverage of the contiguous US is nice, but other than that you can mostly send emergency messages in places that are already close to civilization. Places that probably have cell coverage anyways
- wbl 1y ago
  The West has much less cell service than you think especially in the pretty places.
  - SoftTalker 1y ago
    The US in general has much less cell service than you might think. I'm on a major carrier, I get 1 bar at home, there are places in my neighborhood that effectively have none, and I'm within a few miles of state forest where there is definitely no service. If you never leave a city or major transportation routes, you might not realize how much "dark" space there is. Those red maps the mobile service providers like to promote seem to me to be extremely deceptive.
- mikestew 1y ago
  In a ten minute drive from Issaquah, WA (major suburb 20 minutes from Seattle), I can be in the woods with no cell coverage on a mountain frequented by many hikers (parts of Cougar Mt. are especially dead to cell phones). Let alone driving another half hour and having no cell coverage at all once you walk from the trailhead. And cell service is surprisingly poor at my home in the heart of Redmond suburbs, even. If you rely on a cell phone to get out of a tight spot, stay out of the woods, at least in the U. S. West.
  - unshavedyak 1y ago
    Yea I don’t even hike or do anything woodsy and I frequently have zero coverage in western WA. It’s a real issue, common even, depending on where you live (I’m near the capital)
- nradov 1y ago
  Even in the SF Bay Area, a short road bike ride into the hills can quickly get you into areas with zero cell coverage.
kotaKat 1y ago
It's Skylo, which makes me really sad about this. This 'breaks' the InReach name completely if they're selling both global pole-to-pole Iridium and limited Skylo coverage devices under the same umbrella, and almost angling it as if you should put more faith in "just carry one less thing!" when it might doom you when you need it.
- Melatonic 1y ago
  Wow. When I saw "inReach" I totally assumed it was Iridium just like every other device. Guess I won't be selling my Mini anytime soon !

mikestew 1y ago

Skylo: https://www.skylo.tech/newsroom/skylo-expands-collaboration-with-garmin-to-bring-satellite-connectivity-to-new-fenix-r-8-pro-smartwatches https://www.skylo.tech/newsroom/skylo-expands-collaboration-...

wongarsu 1y ago

Wow. Full coverage of the contiguous US is nice, but other than that you can mostly send emergency messages in places that are already close to civilization. Places that probably have cell coverage anyways

wbl 1y ago
The West has much less cell service than you think especially in the pretty places.
- SoftTalker 1y ago
  The US in general has much less cell service than you might think. I'm on a major carrier, I get 1 bar at home, there are places in my neighborhood that effectively have none, and I'm within a few miles of state forest where there is definitely no service. If you never leave a city or major transportation routes, you might not realize how much "dark" space there is. Those red maps the mobile service providers like to promote seem to me to be extremely deceptive.
mikestew 1y ago
In a ten minute drive from Issaquah, WA (major suburb 20 minutes from Seattle), I can be in the woods with no cell coverage on a mountain frequented by many hikers (parts of Cougar Mt. are especially dead to cell phones). Let alone driving another half hour and having no cell coverage at all once you walk from the trailhead. And cell service is surprisingly poor at my home in the heart of Redmond suburbs, even. If you rely on a cell phone to get out of a tight spot, stay out of the woods, at least in the U. S. West.
- unshavedyak 1y ago
  Yea I don’t even hike or do anything woodsy and I frequently have zero coverage in western WA. It’s a real issue, common even, depending on where you live (I’m near the capital)
nradov 1y ago
Even in the SF Bay Area, a short road bike ride into the hills can quickly get you into areas with zero cell coverage.

kotaKat 1y ago

It's Skylo, which makes me really sad about this. This 'breaks' the InReach name completely if they're selling both global pole-to-pole Iridium and limited Skylo coverage devices under the same umbrella, and almost angling it as if you should put more faith in "just carry one less thing!" when it might doom you when you need it.

Melatonic 1y ago
Wow. When I saw "inReach" I totally assumed it was Iridium just like every other device. Guess I won't be selling my Mini anytime soon !