Is InReach service reliable?

Just to make sure: you talk about the Mini 2 but have posted in the Mini (not 2) forum. Is it in fact a Mini 2 device you own? This does matter when talking about the responsiveness of the GPS receiver, so it's important to set that straight. I'm proceeding on the basis that you do indeed own a Mini 2.

James Chung said:

"how many satellites do Garmin own up there?

The answer is: none. The inReach devices use the Iridium NEXT satellite constellation, owned by Iridium Communications Inc. There are 66 active Iridium satellites, orbiting in six planes of 11 satellites each.

The first thing I tell people when teaching them how to use an inReach device is that they should not expect this thing to work just like a mobile phone that just happens to communicate via satellite. That's setting yourself up for disappointment at best, or getting yourself into a gnarly situation in the field at worst. You cannot expect the same snappy response times you'd get from a phone-based messenger when using satcom (at least, not from the Iridium network). Instead, view it as an email service with very short messages and a slow but reliable mail server infrastructure.

When sending a message, what in fact happens is that the device queues the message for transmission, and then starts trying to contact a nearby satellite. There should always be at least one Iridium satellite visible from any location on the planet, but it could take a few minutes for it to get within line-of-sight and for the message to be transmitted. In a mountainous or urban environment with restricted views of the sky, this could take 10-15 minutes at times (but could also take much less time if you happen to have a sat overhead).

So no, I don't think you're using the device incorrectly, but you probably do need to manage your expectations. Think "minutes" instead of "seconds" for messages to be sent, and you should be fine.

As for the "Poor GPS signal" message: I do consider this more of a UI bug than something wrong with the GNSS receiver. The receiver in the Mini 2 is, in fact, hugely improved over the one in the Mini, and it will get a fix within seconds (especially without any nearby obstructions). The problem lies in that the device must first power up the GPS receiver when sending a message, then get a fix, and then add the coordinates to the message before transmission. My educated guess is that Garmin chose to pop up that "Poor GPS signal" message too soon; if they'd just wait a few seconds, the fix would be ready and the message could be sent without all the scary error messages. My advice would be to just ignore the message and select "Wait for GPS". The message would then be added to the send queue within a few seconds.

Thanks MushyTomato for your gentle and thoughtful response.  Yes, I do own the inReach Mini 2.   My apology for posting in the wrong section.

Garmin should hire you to write up the FAQs for their devices and services.   For example, I cannot readily discern the difference between "Wait for GPS" and "Send Anyway" when sending preset messages.    

I do have the "minutes" mindset when using SatCom services.   As I wait for over 10 minutes in San Jose, California, at the trailhead with blue sky overhead, I wonder what this device is doing.  This kind of user experience makes me doubt its marketing promises. 

Thanks again.  I'll use it for a year and cross my fingers that I don't use the SOS feature.  Cheers.

Moved to appropriate forum.

Really good advice from MushyTomato and twolpert (as always). I've been learning the hard way that Garmin's technical capabilities are always way ahead of its UI and UX capabilities, so user knowledge is hugely valuable.

You mention "blue sky overhead" or such a couple of times. I can tell you this was my mistake: assuming a satellite in space is always high overhead. But just like with satellite radio in my car, even a 1-storey expanse of tract houses is enough to block out Mini2 reception when the birds are only on the horizon. I added a widget called IridiumWhere (CIQ) to my fenix watch, which indicates compass-like direction and angle to the nearest satellites at any given time. For home tests, standing in the front yard versus the back yard makes all the difference.

(You also mention trouble while scuba diving. How deep? I don't dive but I don't know how well GPS is expected to work under water.)

I got the Mini 2 because I like to hike solo in deep canyons in the SoCal backcountry. I did splurge on the recreation plan and send tracks during the entire hike. I am also training myself to send messages when I first get to a rest point so I can wait for signal and confirmation before moving on.

Personally, I'm still trying to discover the limitations of the device and the service precisely so that I can have more confidence I will know how to use it in an emergency. 

He was on the surface when tried to transmit. The mini is a recommended tool for divers in areas with strong currents in case they're lost. I myself am interested too how well does the transmission work if the mini/mini2 is held 1 foot above the water in the real world.

Your experience pretty much matches mine. Hit or miss service for no real reason. I would really hate to need it in a life threatening situation. 

On the rare occasion mine actually sends a text message, it can take up to 30 minutes. Very light tree cover kills it. Nearby hills or mountains render it useless. Clouds, rain, snow also limit its usability. 

Garmin's marketing hype is way out of line compared to how this unit actually performs. If there's ever a class action lawsuit on this, they can count me in. 

This is atypical. Light tree cover or "nearby" hills/mountains should not be this big impediment. Of course, wet foliage is a bigger impediment than dry. But it's not the clouds/rain/snow itself - it's water on the barrier (tree cover, your pack, or whatever).

30 minutes is way too long.

Be sure you are are carrying the device in the ideal position - on a pack strap, on top of your shoulder. This minimizes the sky segment blocked by your body.

If you are carrying it that way and still having problems, you can try a factory reset. This is a big hammer. You will lose all your data on the device. You will have to repeat the outdoor portion of device activation. But this is the conventional wisdom when an iR device acts up. It's probably the first thing tech support will suggest.

If you still have problems after the reset, open a support ticket. You may have a defective device.