Garmin 66i Settings Help

Hi all,

The Garmin 66i units have just arrived in New Zealand so I have picked one up. Overall I am loving the new device but there are a few settings that I was able to achieve on my old Inreach Explorer + that I can't seem to find on the 66i. I've checked out the 66i User Manual and I've looked online but there's limited information out there at the moment.

Can anyone help with:

1. Displaying the Battery % - Most electronic devices (including the Explorer +) allow the user too display the remaining device battery %. Does anyone know if this setting can be engaged on the 66i? It would be more helpful than the battery icon that has me guessing how much battery life I've got left.

2. Displaying InReach Messages sent and Tracking Points sent - My old Garmin Explorer + had a setting that enabled me too view how many Inreach Messages and Tracking points I had sent during the month. This helped me manage my message allocation when out in the field. Does anyone know how to enable this on the 66i? At present the only way that I can keep track of InReach messages and tracking points sent is to log in to Garmin Explore on the web.

3. Setting to include location link in new InReach messages by default - Does anyone know how to set Inreach Messages to include a location link by default? It would be useful to know how to do this either from the device itself, or via the Garmin Explore App (iOS). At the moment the default appears to be that the location link is NOT on by default - I can toggle adding a location link in Garmin Explore but this is on a message by message basis rather than by default.

Thanks in advance for any help.

0 IceBear over 5 years ago

The only place I've found so far for message statistics is the Explore website. On the Home screen it gives you the monthly totals. I know it isn't on the device, but it is something, keen to find out if there is an on-device solution. Maybe a CIQ app?

0 twolpert over 5 years ago

AFAIK, the only place that displays numeric charge percentage is the charging screen. Not useful in the field. Adding it as a data field on any screen shows the same icon you see in the status bar.

Location is always included in messages sent directly from the 66i. Only the Explore app has this annoying behavior. I am not aware of any way to change the default behavior.

0 CandiedGold_NZ over 5 years ago in reply to IceBear

Thanks IceBear. Here’s hoping that this is addressed in a future firmware release.

Is there a forum anywhere where we can make feature requests?

cheers.

0 CandiedGold_NZ over 5 years ago in reply to twolpert

Thanks twolpert. I hoped that maybe the battery percentage display was buried in a menu somewhere that I just hadn’t found but maybe it’s just not there at all. I’ve also tried adding it as a data field but it just shows the same (but larger) icon that’s in the status bar.

Thanks for the info on the location link. I didn’t realise that the device sends location link by default but the Explore app doesn’t. Good to know. Cheers.

0 trig_01 over 1 year ago in reply to CandiedGold_NZ

3 years have past since your post and still no battery percentage I have submitting a request to Garmin for the next firmware update but I'm not holding my breath...

0 Wombo24 over 1 year ago in reply to trig_01

If you haven't already seen this alternative it's what many of us use & works OK: apps.garmin.com/.../ca654b94-b219-433c-a00a-2f93e0c5ded5

0 trig_01 over 1 year ago in reply to Wombo24

Thanks Wombo24, no I hadn't seen that. I will give that a go. Still be nice if Garmin introduced as standard as well though