Very unreliable connection to Fenix 5X Plus

My inReach Mini seems to drop its connection to my Fenix 5X Plus very frequently. If I try to carry it in my pack (on my back), it won’t connect at all, and even when carried on my shoulder or in the front it seems to drop the connection occasionally.

Is anyone else having this issue, or do you have any tips on strengthening the connection?

0 CowboySlim over 6 years ago

I get the response noted in the third paragraph in the post above when I walk out of the house leaving my Mini inside. Upon returning, the connection is reestablished.

I agree with Tom's suggestion, I do not see these disconnections as being a shortcoming of either device. I think that the connection range is 30 feet, without an obstruction. Walking around 30 feet without an intervening obstruction just now did not cause a disconnect.

0 jburchm1 over 6 years ago

The 4.65 beta firmware for the 5X Plus seems to have resolved this issue for me, which suggests it was caused by having the watch connected to my iPhone X at the same time. I did a 4 hour run in the mountains on Saturday with both my phone and the inReach connected and didn't get a single connection lost message. This was with the older inReach mini firmware, I haven't had a chance to get out with 2.30 yet.

0 twolpert over 6 years ago

4.65 did seem to help. However, I had one case (with 4.65) where I did not receive any disconnect or "searching for inReach" messages - BUT the watch was no longer communicating with the iR at all. I was independently tracking on the iR. The iR tracking screen on the watch froze at 20 minutes in. A couple of hours later, the watch didn't even notice when I powered down the iR... So we're getting better, but not quite there yet.