GPSMAP 66i Version for using AA batteries

Is there a plan to launch a 66i which can be used with AA /rechargeable batteries?

A GPS-Iridium device without the option to run on batteries in an emergency is as useful as a 4x4 SUV in the city. Nice for a family holiday, nothing more unfortunately ...

Best regards

Karsten

Top Replies

Brad over 4 years ago +3

I was initially of this opinion too but battery powerbanks solve this situation these day I reckon.
Ferris938 over 4 years ago in reply to Garmin-Andrew +3

But a device failure due to dead or faulty built-in battery is okay?
Garmin-Andrew over 4 years ago +2 verified

For message and location transmission to Iridium satellites, we chose to use a rechargeable lithium-ion battery to ensure the right amount of power is available, especially for emergency situations. AA…

All Replies

0 twolpert over 4 years ago

Somebody from Garmin would have weigh in to get an "official" answer. However, I would not count on this. My understanding is that the peak power requirements are such that lithium-ion batteries are required.

+1 Garmin-Andrew over 4 years ago

For message and location transmission to Iridium satellites, we chose to use a rechargeable lithium-ion battery to ensure the right amount of power is available, especially for emergency situations. AA batteries have varying degrees of quality and we did not want those to be the reason for any device failures in an important situation.

0 MAIERK1 over 4 years ago

Nice to see, I'm not alone with this request. When you look over the user reactions to the 66i you'll find several posts in which customers require a version with AA batteries.

Better a moderate AA battery I can exchange outdoor than an empty Li-Ion that can't be switched even in an emergency situation...

0 Brad over 4 years ago

I was initially of this opinion too but battery powerbanks solve this situation these day I reckon.

0 Ferris938 over 4 years ago in reply to Garmin-Andrew

But a device failure due to dead or faulty built-in battery is okay?

0 rjmlakota over 4 years ago in reply to Ferris938

This is the exact reason i won't buy the Garmin version of the inReach. I'll stick with my old Delorme inReach SE version.

0 El_Dze over 4 years ago in reply to Garmin-Andrew

Excuse me, but it sounds more like an excuse for poorly thought-out product development. A built-in battery is not more reliable. Que pena ...

0 twolpert over 4 years ago in reply to El_Dze

The issue is not the reliability of the battery. I believe that what Nikas meant is that ONLY a LiIon rechargeable provides sufficient peak power to reliably power the Iridium modem. This is why I don't think you're ever going to see an iR device that runs on AA batteries. This has been mentioned in other threads over the years, and that's usually the "answer" if one appears in the thread at all.

0 MAIERK1 over 4 years ago in reply to twolpert

18 years ago Motorola released the Iridium Pager 9501. Powered by one Alkaline AA battery...

0 twolpert over 4 years ago in reply to MAIERK1

Not an apples to apples comparison. Likely an entirely different modem. Perhaps more to the point, I'm sure that the 66i itself (exclusive of the Iridium features) puts a much larger load on the battery than the pager. That results in a higher peak load when the modem kicks in.

Personally, I'm satisfied that Garmin is telling the truth when they say there is a good technical reason for sticking with LiIon. Either way, I don't think you're going to see an iR device powered by AA batteries anytime soon. Garmin (like other manufacturers) does not publicize future product plans, so we can't tell anything for sure other than what they tell us here. If the power source is the deciding factor for you and you're going to buy soon, then you're probably going to have to look elsewhere.