DeLorme inReach SE: Tracks Well on a Pack Strap?

I've always just crammed it vertically into the back pocket of my pack and I've never had a problem. Sometimes it was even behind stuff (windshirt, etc) and it always has sent points without any difficulty

Great.
Thanks.

I was hoping that is the case, but you just never know …

I always use it hanging from a side pack strap (see photo below). Never had an issue with it at all.

Even used it inside my shelter one night, under tree cover, to text my brother. Worked fine then as well.

Greg is correct that the satellite antenna prefers to be flat side up. Hanging vertically like in the photo is not too bad, although you might see a bit of loss of accuracy for position, especially vertical position. It might take the sat receiver longer to lock if you hang it in a very bad orientation. I would not expect it to crap out completely. If you face the antenna directly toward a human body, you will get more loss of accuracy and loss of lock.

I know this is not easy, but the best way to get accuracy is to hold it in your palm with an outstretched arm so that it is fully away from most of your body. The signals will go through all fabrics except for fabric with metal threads included. It makes it a bit harder if the fabric has snow piled up over it, since water tends to absorb the signals. Mesh pockets tend to work good. A ziplock plastic bag will work as a holder.

I've seen some people go so far as to place the receiver flat side up on a sheet of metal, which acts as a ground plane. I think that might be overkill.

–B.G.–

I had the same issue with the Spot, very hard to place optimally. The Spot has a patch antenna which has a narrow angle of reception and needs to sit facing up for best signal reception.

The inReach uses a quad helix antenna which works in most positions (greater angle of reception) but my inReach documentation told me I should place it in an upright position with the screen facing away from me (not sure why).

So on the pack strap would be perfect. I place mine pointing up in my pack pocket and it works very well.

Geez Doug that DeLorme looks huge. I'm scared for mine to arrive.

Have no fear it is not to big at all
I get messages when i'm driving down the freeway.Or sitting in my trailer.

My inReach SE tracks just fine on a pack strap, or vertical in an upper side pack pocket, or lying sideways in a top pack pocket.

It even tracks when the pack is in the back of my truck at a random orientation under a fiberglass shell.

— Rex