When is an Inreach 2 with voice calls?


Good morning all,
this device is an excellent tool for sending sms, its position, for emergency reports with Geos, but it lacks a function: being able to call,
as I already connect my Mini to my S20 Ultra for the main functions, it would be nice to have the function for additional calls, an "all in one" device, I will soon buy an Iridium 9575, but that costs money in addition, and an all-in-one device would be nice, a "super Mini" ...
but I dream a little ...

  • and...PTT via Iridium, as well as two way terrestrial digital radio with messaging and location sharing (like Rino), and point projection built in with ability to share projected point for a group via radio or/and Iridium, plus full integration with watch to exchange received waypoints. Well what else? Or yes, solar charging.

  • I forgot some functions ...
    Yes why not ? I do not mean that the 9575 is outdated but I had and used the latest Thuraya device, the X5 Touch and even if it is not with the latest version of Android, this phone is very powerful, the only restrictions concern the satellite coverage which is not global and the grip of the satellites which must be more precise compared to Iridium, but otherwise having a smartphone with satellite reception makes the X5 a very good device,
    I could just have a device allowing me to make calls in addition to the Inreach functions with a suitable package would suit me, the 9575 is quite expensive, even if there is a satellite phone but its functions are not very advanced compared to the X5 .
    I also had the 66i which posed me a lot of problems with its many bugs and I returned to the Mini, if Garmin manages to make a device "all in one" calls + Inreach functions, I take .. .

  • I am pretty new for satellite communications...What is 9575? I can google 9575A - something for government US usage.

    If we are going to Android based satellite phone like mentioned Thuraya X5 Touch, I prefer to see some version of iPhone ;)

    Beside of jokes, iR MINI is unique cos of size and weight, I am using it as beacon and emergency device for long solo run and open water swimming (inside safety buoy). If Garmin can manage to pack next version with voice calls and keep similar size and weight - yes, it will be perfect.

  • yes I did not specify as I know the model, the 9575 is "Iridium 9575 Extreme", like the Mini it also works on the Iridium network, it allows voice communications, sms and with a low speed internet, and also allows sending of SOS / Geos,
    but it’s quite expensive and lacks the feel of Garmin’s Earthmate app,
    the models, although expensive, have not evolved much and it looks like "basic" devices from the beginning of the telephony, this is why the X5 is a huge improvement ...
    the 9575 can be used all over the world, which cannot be done by devices working with Thuraya in satellite mode, the X5 also has a gsm mode and therefore operate this time where we receive the gsm networks.
    there is indeed a Thuraya model working with all types of phones, the "Sat Sleeve Hot Spot" is a Thuraya receiver that can be placed outside or on the edge of a window and which works with an application that you install on your phone, Ios or Android,
    but the fact remains that it works on Thuraya, whose satellites are geostationary, therefore fixed, which can be problematic in certain situations, unlike Iridium whose satellites "wander" above us ...
    Thuraya works very well, BUT you have to have the view towards the east and it is not always obvious,
    but also the big advantage of Thuraya, is that most of the smodeles could work with the own sim card of its local operator, and the price of the communications are then deferred on its invoice, therefore no subscription, cost per month = 0 if not used ...
    It's a shame that Globalstar also no longer has good coverage as it did at the start, only Iridium and Inmarsat remain as a satellite network covering the whole world.

  • Based on what I quickly got for satellite communication topic, there is no ideal solution deployed yet. Global coverage by Iridium but very very slow internet connection (2.4 kbps), or partial coverage by Thuraya, but much faster connection for data. I still think till something like StarLink, but with small end-user terminals will be deployed, best solution is a small and lightweight beacon / messenger / SOS like iR MINI.

  • yes it's true, it would require a mixture of several solutions ... Inmarsat or Thuraya more stable due to fixed satellites than with Iridium which can lose the connection between two satellite passes,
    OR put the means in price and material to have something complete, it is true that the Garmin solution is already a solid evolution in terms of response to connect quickly for simple messages,
    It’s also true that if everything that is prepared comes to fruition, there will be major upheavals to predict, if only for the operators,
    even if we don't have to wait for "miracles" for the internet either, it will always be only "troubleshooting" solutions, just by distance, the speed to wait will not be the same as for terrestrial networks, the connection "ping" will always be higher, which currently exists allows, for most users, to help out to get quick information, not yet to see an episode on netflix above a mountain ...
    but we're always looking for the best,
    I knew the beginnings of Globalstar, which had been launched with many operators and it was already excellent, voice and sms were sent without problems, too bad this network is no longer as efficient, the only problem was that it was necessary to have ground stations to receive communications, it must have increased costs a lot and that is what had to play compared to Iridium, the Telit 550 was big, but the Ericsson 290 was the size of 'a 9575, communications were clear, with a small normal offset.
    I don’t think their Spot tag is of the same quality as the Mini,
    but I'm still waiting for Garmin to outdo himself to offer us the voice on his Mini 2, or an equivalent of an Iridium Go, which has a size that remains very acceptable and allows "almost" all communications solutions. . they just "just" buy a mobile manufacturer, as they did with Inreach
  • I am not sure at all, but going to put some thoughts. I guess iR MINI is using Short Burst Data (SBD), as far as I can understand it is service to send limited by size packets of data. Implementing voice can require to support some others  'protocols' and probably these protocols can be implemented on the different hardware, what is again rise up question re size, weight and battery life. As far as I can find info Iridium Go is much much heavier. 

  • correct too, the technologies between an Inreach and a phone are not the same, but question size, it remains very correct all the same, we are still dependent on the smartphone which will have to be used with the Go, but it also allows not have to remain stable unlike a 9575, and there are also interchangeable batteries