Syncing inReach mini with iPhone

I am able to sync my inReach Mini with my iPhone at home but as soon as I get into backcountry my phone says no connection and I can not use the texting. The mini indicates that it is connected to my phone. Please help.

Thank you, Don

0 twolpert over 4 years ago

Moved to the appropriate forum.

You need a cell connection to sync to the web site. You do not need a connection to send a message from the Earthmate app via the Mini. The app connects to the Mini via Bluetooth. As long as the are connected, you can send a message from the app. Sync and message handling are not dependent on one another.

0 Don over 4 years ago in reply to twolpert

Thank you twolpert. My "Start Tracking" is greyed out when my phone bluetooth indicates that it is not connected to the mini. Is this a related issue?

0 twolpert over 4 years ago in reply to Don

I assume you mean it is grayed out in the app. The app cannot control the Mini in any way - start/stop tracking, send messages or see received messages, or initiate SOS - unless it has a Bluetooth connection to the device.

You can always do those things from the Mini itself, BT connection or not.

0 Don over 4 years ago in reply to twolpert

Thank s again twolpert,

I think I have not been very clear. I appreciate your patience. I was using "Sync" when I should have been using "Connected". My phone indicates that it is not connected, via BT, to the mini. And the mini indicates that it is connected to my phone. I am able to monitor my tracks on my earth mate app on the phone. I just can not seem to communicate from my phone through the mini to start/stop tracking and/or text.

Right now sitting at my desk everything is in good order and I have not addressed anything since I got back yesterday from multiple days backcountry. I was using all functions directly on the mini as you stated is possible. I am just puzzled why my phone automatically connects with the mini in town but not in the backcountry.

Before I left I updated firmware and all of my edits and additions.

Thanks again, Don

0 twolpert over 4 years ago in reply to Don

When things go sideways with the BT connection, the conventional wisdom is to start over from scratch. Forget the phone from the Mini. Forget the Mini from the BT settings “app” on the phone. Then go through the pairing dance on the Mini and in the Earthmate app. That should solve the problem. If not, a call to tech support is probably in order.

You may want to test this by disabling cellular data - which would simulate no coverage. Make sure the Mini reconnects to the Earthmate app when it powers up. I just tested this myself and it worked for me.