Garmin InReach Mini + Apple iPad Mini for navigation

[MikekiM]

I've been relying on my iPhone for gps & navigation and started looking for a solution . I don't want to install a double DIN headunit and the iPhone is a bit too small most times.

I was looking for a solution that would let me use an old, retired non-cellular iPad mini 4, for nav with GaiaGPS, Google/orApple Maps and Garmin Earthmate.

Since a non-cellular iPad doesn't have onboard GPS (cellular equipped units do, and they can be used even if you don't have a cellular subscription activated), I could mount a nearby iPhone and use its GPS via Personal Hot Spot, but it is slow as molasses and stresses two important batteries simultaneously .

I purchased a Garmin Glo2 external GPS receiver and paired it with the iPad and it seemed to work fairly well. Although the battery performance on the Glo2 is questionable.. I think they report 13 hours of tracking but it takes more than that to fully charge if depleted.

Then it dawned on me that I might be able to pair the Garmin InReach Mini I already have (and use primarily for SOS security when solo backpacking) and use it with the iPad. Sure enough, as long as I unpair the Mini from my iPhone (it can only be paired to one device at a time) it paired to the iPad with no problem. Gaia's technical bulletin says the iPad+InReach Mini won't work, but it seems to perform great. The two devices pair in a few seconds, the Mini locks onto satellites faster than the Glo2 and my experience with the Mini over the last few years of backpacking with it is that the battery is an absolute rockstar.

The InReach Mini works with Gaia, CalTopo, Garmin Earthmate, Garmin Explore, Apple & Google maps. Also found that with the Mini clipped to the footmans loop on the windshield surround it was able to secure and hold satellite connection through the soft top fabric. I returned the Glo2, repurposed the old iPad and now have all the mapping apps I use most. The aging pad battery might be the weak link.. it draws down faster than it charges. If needed I have a newer iPad Mini 6 that might be at battery management.

 

[JMT]

It’s your call, of course, but I got tired of all the other gadgets in the Jeep. Apple CarPlay was the answer for me.

 

[MikekiM]

It’s your call, of course, but I got tired of all the other gadgets in the Jeep. Apple CarPlay was the answer for me.

I've looked into the 1.5 DIN and single DIN head unites that have nav and I've keep coming back to the same thing.. it's going to get stolen. Sadly, it's a fact of life here. Especially given that it's my daily driver and soft top only. I keep nothing in the glove box or arm rest. The audio head unit has a removable face. Anything that has to stay in the Jeep has to go in the Bestop under seat concealed carry draw or the InstaTrunk.

The inReach is always with me when camping, which is when the larger iPad screen is useful. Otherwise I just use my phone for daily nav. For that it's fine. Both the InReach and iPad fit in the underseat concealed carry locking draw so it's secure.

 

[JMT]

I've looked into the 1.5 DIN and single DIN head unites that have nav and I've keep coming back to the same thing.. it's going to get stolen. Sadly, it's a fact of life here. Especially given that it's my daily driver and soft top only. I keep nothing in the glove box or arm rest. The audio head unit has a removable face. Anything that has to stay in the Jeep has to go in the Bestop under seat concealed carry draw or the InstaTrunk.

The inReach is always with me when camping, which is when the larger iPad screen is useful. Otherwise I just use my phone for daily nav. For that it's fine. Both the InReach and iPad fit in the underseat concealed carry locking draw so it's secure.

Sad there are so many thieves. Blah . Good setup you have!

 

[MikekiM]

Sad there are so many thieves. Blah . Good setup you have!

I live in a great neighborhood. Super safe. Only two roads in/out to our community so a thief has a 50/50 chance of getting nabbed if they are fleeing. Still, 2:00 - 3:00 AM is the witching hour. Kids run through the neighbor checking for unlocked cars to do a snatch and run. I don't lock the TJ. I'd rather someone easily get in and scrounge around only to find nothing than have them slash the top or windows.

 

[JMT]

I live in a great neighborhood. Super safe. Only two roads in/out to our community so a thief has a 50/50 chance of getting nabbed if they are fleeing. Still, 2:00 - 3:00 AM is the witching hour. Kids run through the neighbor checking for unlocked cars to do a snatch and run. I don't lock the TJ. I'd rather someone easily get in and scrounge around only to find nothing than have them slash the top or windows.

I’m very thankful to have a garage because we have those types come through our neighborhood every few months. Sometimes I think they are scouting things out because we live in a cul de sac and cars will drive in it and just turn around and go out. There are too many of them to be accidents. I always glare at them the entire time and look at the plates. They are usually suspicious looking run down cars.

We’ve had stuff stolen when we left our cars out, and I tell my boys not to leave stuff in their cars, but the electrician apprentice leaves his drills and all that in the car. At least he has a hardtop, but one day, one day they will break in I’m afraid.

I just got the DD, but I keep mine in a garage, so I think I’ll be ok. All summer the top is off and I go all over, but not out late at night.

 

[Zorba]

The aging pad battery might be the weak link.. it draws down faster than it charges. If needed I have a newer iPad Mini 6 that might be at battery management.

So fuck the battery - why can't you just run the whole thing from the Jeep's electrical system?

 

[MikekiM]

So fuck the battery - why can't you just run the whole thing from the Jeep's electrical system?

Of course I charge it off the Jeeps electrical. Just mentioning that the battery isn't so great in the ten year old iPad.

 

[Zorba]

Of course I charge it off the Jeeps electrical. Just mentioning that the battery isn't so great in the ten year old iPad.

I didn't say "charge", I said "run". Why do you even need the iPad's battery in this particular application? Just wondering what I'm missing here - I have Garmin GPSes in all 3 of my vehicles and couldn't care less about their batteries; they come on with the car, and go off when I shut down. *shrug*

 

[IPerkWVU]

I’m very thankful to have a garage because we have those types come through our neighborhood every few months. Sometimes I think they are scouting things out because we live in a cul de sac and cars will drive in it and just turn around and go out. There are too many of them to be accidents. I always glare at them the entire time and look at the plates. They are usually suspicious looking run down cars.

We’ve had stuff stolen when we left our cars out, and I tell my boys not to leave stuff in their cars, but the electrician apprentice leaves his drills and all that in the car. At least he has a hardtop, but one day, one day they will break in I’m afraid.

I just got the DD, but I keep mine in a garage, so I think I’ll be ok. All summer the top is off and I go all over, but not out late at night.

pioneer makes a double din with detachable screen, not cheep at $900 but a nice option

 

[MikekiM]

I didn't say "charge", I said "run". Why do you even need the iPad's battery in this particular application? Just wondering what I'm missing here - I have Garmin GPSes in all 3 of my vehicles and couldn't care less about their batteries; they come on with the car, and go off when I shut down. *shrug*

I see what you mean.

When the iPad is in use it is plugged in but it still draws down faster than it charges.

pioneer makes a double din with detachable screen, not cheep at $900 but a nice option

I prefer silence when I drive. $900 for an in dash nav unit? I’ll pass.

 

[Zorba]

I see what you mean.

When the iPad is in use it is plugged in but it still draws down faster than it charges.

Hmmmm, I'd be tempted to simply remove the battery if that's what's going on. *shrug*

EDIT: I would "think" that a lower impedance power source (from the Jeep) would eliminate this problem, but not being familiar with iPad battery/power system design, I couldn't tell you for sure.

 

[MikekiM]

Hmmmm, I'd be tempted to simply remove the battery if that's what's going on. *shrug*

EDIT: I would "think" that a lower impedance power source (from the Jeep) would eliminate this problem, but not being familiar with iPad battery/power system design, I couldn't tell you for sure.

Can't remove the battery.. Apple might be able to, but that defeats the purpose of trying to repurpose hardware I already have.

 

[squirrelmaster]

I've been doing something similar for the last 7-8 years. Garmin InReach connected to a tablet running Gaia, Earthmate, and OnX.

I recently installed a cheap ($55 on Amazon) 1.5-DIN head unit that does Android Auto/Carplay so I can avoid the tablet and run OnX and Google Maps right from my phone (still connected to the InReach for messaging purposes).

I was game for using the tablet for longer, but a new "no mobile devices while driving" law came into effect in Colorado on January 1st and the cops are on the prowl to ticket everyone and I nearly got pulled over simply for having the turned off tablet hanging off my dash (the cop tailed me, pulled up next to me and glared at me shaking his head, then got back behind me, flashed his lights for a second, and then dropped off and U-turned to pull someone else over). I miss the size of the tablet screen, but I just use the AA/Carplay head unit for active navigation and keep the tablet next to me on the passenger seat for moments when I stop to chart my path.

 

[lBasket]

I prefer silence when I drive. $900 for an in dash nav unit? I’ll pass.

Huh forreal, no music at all?

 

[Zorba]

Huh forreal, no music at all?

Its not unheard of. My first vehicle, an '81 Datsun pickup, didn't come with a radio. I never bothered to install one. Although I installed a nice radio in my Jeep with my double DIN setup holding both that and a CB, if I were to do it again, I'd probably omit the radio and install my GMRS in that location. I generally only listen to the radio on long trips, and not always then. I can take it or leave it in other words.

 

[lBasket]

Its not unheard of. My first vehicle, an '81 Datsun pickup, didn't come with a radio. I never bothered to install one. Although I installed a nice radio in my Jeep with my double DIN setup holding both that and a CB, if I were to do it again, I'd probably omit the radio and install my GMRS in that location. I generally only listen to the radio on long trips, and not always then. I can take it or leave it in other words.

Wow! Surprising. I am a big music guy so that is wild to me. I can do no music of course, but I certainly don't prefer it. A different life than mine lol. My truck has no way to play my phone through the radio yet so I just play it straight from my phone.

According to Spotify I listened to almost 4h of music a day on average in 2024. Gotta have them tunes.

 

[Zorba]

Wow! Surprising. I am a big music guy so that is wild to me. I can do no music of course, but I certainly don't prefer it. A different life than mine lol. My truck has no way to play my phone through the radio yet so I just play it straight from my phone.

According to Spotify I listened to almost 4h of music a day on average in 2024. Gotta have them tunes.

When I do listen, I generally use geek sticks. Considerably less, I use the radio, or listen to Joe Pag (sp?) on AM. The old MBZ still has a CD player, so I alternate between that and the Geek sticks. I listened to geek sticks on my way to/from a special dance rehearsal just yesterday, but I'll probably turn it all off going to tonite's class. *shrug*

 

[Plumber1]

When I do listen, I generally use geek sticks. Considerably less, I use the radio, or listen to Joe Pag (sp?) on AM. The old MBZ still has a CD player, so I alternate between that and the Geek sticks. I listened to geek sticks on my way to/from a special dance rehearsal just yesterday, but I'll probably turn it all off going to tonite's class. *shrug*

There is just something about a guy, a jeep, a rifle w/ a bayonet , and skirt that crakes me up. Which one is not like the others

 

[lBasket]

There is just something about a guy, a jeep, a rifle, and skirt that crakes me up

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