InReach Mini 2 messages sent successfully but do not reach the mobile number

Hi, just purchased the device and have been been trying to test it. I got the Expedition subscription and wanted to thoroughly test the workflow before heading anywhere.

I know the functionality requires clear sky and replies to sms messages have to be within the thread / emails replies have to be done via the link, just to skip the obvious topics.

I have noticed that some 20% of the messages did not actually arrive when testing via the web link. More worryingly though, the replies sent from Slovakian mobile numbers to the mini2 do not get delivered at all. I have even checked via the explore web interface in the inbox tab, they do not appear there either. So I did some more testing as the success rate was only 60-80% which is definitely not good enough when the device is a question of life and death.....

I have sent text messages (replies) from an O2 number and it stopped working last night, but I did get some messages through initially = before that. When the replies stopped working, I was still able to send a message from the mini2 to the mobile number successfully. Now in the next step, messages appear sent from the mini though they do not reach the mobile, in other words its not working in either direction.

I have tried a different slovakian mobile number provided by a different operator (Orange), and the the text got through to the mobile (at the point where it does not to o2) but the reply did not reach the mini (while other replies, like email and mapshare already have).

The very same exercise with an austrian number works straight away, messages pass either direction without problems. Is this a problem at the terrestrial routing level on the slovakian geographical node? Is there a similar problem with the web? Or did I reach some sort of a limit of the amount of messages? (I have sent tens, not hundreds)
If it is an infrastructure problem, Garmin, could you please raise a ticket and fix this? Am guessing you do not have a lot of slovakian tickets, though one of the primary functions I personally need this for would involve my messaging going through the web, slovakian and austrian mobile phones. So far only the austrian mobiles work flawlessly, the rest of the coms channels is very unreliable.

0 twolpert over 3 years ago

Your chances of getting a ticket opened via the forums are very, very low. Since your are not in the US, contact your LOCAL Garmin support point to open a ticket.

By "testing via the web link", do you mean "replying to an email sent from the inReach device"? If so, there are a couple of possibilities. First thing to do is to check the Inbox on the your account. IF the message did not make it that far, this is definitely a Garmin problem. That will require a ticket. If it made it to the Inbox, it's possible that it's hanging around in the Iridium satellite infrastructure. This is particularly likely if your iR device has been off, or in a situation with no/poor sky view, or whatever. One easy way to check for this is to perform an active message check on your device - "check for mail". A successful mail check should deliver all messages which are waiting for the device in the Iridium network.

There is no limit on the number of messages.

As to the problems with messages to mobile numbers: There are a lot of moving parts. Garmin does not have a "Slovakian geographical node." Garmin uses third-party SMS gateways. The gateways are spread around geographically, but they do not belong to Garmin. In order for SMS messages from your iR device to be delivered, the gateway has to be working. AND the recipient's cell provider must pass the message.

Under default settings, the Garmin servers add a shortened link to a map page. For SMS, the use of the link is not required in order to reply. It's just a convenience so the recipient can see your location. SOME cell providers (in the US, at least) sometimes block SMS messages which contain shortened links. The provider assumes such messages are spam.

You can check to see if that's the problem by turning off the link. Do this from the lower right corner of the Account tab on your account at explore.garmin.com. Under the heading SMS Message Configuration, make sure that "Include a link to an online map..." is NOT checked.

In order for REPLIES to SMS messages to work, the gateway must support some additional functionality. The details are not important. Just be aware that some gateways can successfully deliver messages from iR to the phone but do not support delivering replies from the phone to the iR device. If the gateway lacks this ability, it will NEVER successfully deliver a reply. If it sometimes works but sometimes fails, then the gateway HAS the functionality. It just does not work correctly.

Garmin will try to work with the gateway provider and/or the cell provider in order to address issues like yours. But you will have open a support ticket with your local Garmin support folks

0 Zephy over 3 years ago in reply to twolpert

Hi,

many thanks for having clarified a lot of details. I have opened a ticket with Garmin and the sending to the mobile numbers have been solved. Most of the replies have been solved as well, but we are still iterating on one of the numbers being stuck regarding the replies.

I have found, since posting, the inbox feature thats a really good mid point in finding out where the problem lies and it seems that all of the problems encountered were in fact outside of the Iridium network. Based on what you ve said either in the SMS gateways or in the Garmin backend. Hopefully the remainder of the issues will cear soon.

Thanks again.