How best to hold/aim a Garmin InReach for satellite messaging?
On a recent camping trip, I was having great difficulty sending messages with a Garmin InReach. I was in a woods with a moderately thick canopy overhead, but next to a small river so I could step out into the clear to get at least some view of the sky. Even in the semi-clear, the connection to the Iridium satellites was very spotty.
I have scoured the web looking for advice about how to best hold the InReach for optimum transmitting power, and there’s nothing out there. Not even basic advice of whether it’s best to hold it horizontally or vertically oriented. Other factors, like the distance it is held away from the ground, may affect it as well (extrapolating from ham radio antenna theory).
So, does anyone have knowledge (either from experience or from radio theory) that could help out with making the InReach more effective at reaching its satellites?
This post was sourced from https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/q/19891. It is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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next to a small river so I could step out into the clear to get at least some view of the sky
That's really the bare minimum for good signal. This will have much more impact than how you hold it. If you can go to a clear high ground not too far away, it will help. If not, there isn't much to do but try until you get good signal.
This post was sourced from https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/a/19894. It is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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I have used a Garmin inReach for many miles, and your location will be more important than how you hold it.
Deep canyons with throw off the GPS Signal and sometimes being under thick trees will prevent the signal from going through the first time. I have also had trouble when under trees plus a tarp with a shiny reflective side.
The good thing is that the inReach will flash when a message doesn't go through, and while I have had to wait for the inReach to try again, I have never been unable to send or receive for an extended period of time.
It's worth pointing out that the less things between you and the sky the better, and higher ground with less obstructions is also better.
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As I cannot find the exact specs of the type of antenna they use I can only speculate.
My guess is that the antenna is either unidirectional or placed along the length axis of the device.
If the antenna is not (completely) unidirectional it should work best when the device is laying on it's back.
This way the radio waves will definitely radiate upwards out of the device.
And besides that, it's meant to be used being held in such a position anyway.
This post was sourced from https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/a/19892. It is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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