Boot up error

Each time I boot up the Garmin GPSMAP 66st I get an error. (Data request failed. Check connection and try again.)

Both the wifi and bluetooth are enabled and turned on. I have a clear connection to the internet. Any idea how to fix this?

I would expect more from the most expensive handheld GPS on the market..

0 Garmin-Andrew over 4 years ago

This error message is likely coming from the Active Weather feature on the device. Is your 66st actively paired to your phone with the Garmin Connect App? If it is, try opening the Garmin Connect app and ensuring the 66st is showing as connected. If you haven't paired it yet, this article has steps: Pairing a Compatible GPSMAP with the Garmin Connect App

If it is paired and you're still getting the error, please use this article to troubleshoot your Bluetooth connection: Troubleshooting Bluetooth Issues With GPSMAP 66/86 Series Devices

I would also recommend using Garmin Express to confirm the software on the device is up to date: Installing the Latest Software Updates to Your Outdoor Handheld

0 8460554 over 4 years ago in reply to Garmin-Andrew

The Garmin was paired with a phone and was working correctly. I recently updated software. Since then I have deleted the phone information and turned the bluetooth off. I still get the connection error when booting up. I am still connected to my home router through wifi. It say's I am connected. However when I turn the wifi connection off I get no error message when booting up. Am I going to have to use the Garmin without the wifi and bluetooth features?

0 twolpert over 4 years ago in reply to 8460554

There are some features which do not work correctly unless WiFi is set up via Garmin Express. I have no idea why. I don't know if active weather (in the absence of a BT connection - or maybe even with a BT connection, but with a WiFi connection available) is one of those features. I suggest you try connecting the unit to the PC, then use Garmin Express to set up the WiFi network.

Note that the unit will connect to WiFi no matter how you set it up. And most WiFi-related features will work either way. But some do not.

I was unable to find any way to disable active weather on the device. Personally do no use it since (in the field) it requires a cell connection. And there are better weather apps available for my phone.

0 8460554 over 4 years ago in reply to twolpert

Thank you.

I would love to hook up the Garmin to my computer using Garmin Express. However for some reason Garmin seems to think that support for the worlds second largest operating system (Linux) is not important. I'm sure that I am not the only one disappointed at the lack of support for Linux operating systems.

0 twolpert over 4 years ago in reply to 8460554

Apparently, there are people who have managed to get it working with Wine. I can't vouch for this particular guy, but it's the first thing that Uncle Google coughed up and it looks reasonable.

https://christitus.com/garmin-express-linux/

0 M&B over 3 years ago

I've got exactly the same problem on GPSMAP 66s. Did you find out solution for this?

0 skyeye over 3 years ago in reply to M&B

I am just experimenting with wifi on a 66i. I have the latest FW on it. Yes, it is possible to connect to a wifi network just from the device, simpky add network etc.

But this is of no real use. The FW update is supposed to work, can not test if it does. The other thing would be BirdsEye pictures. Does not work this way too. The next would be weather. I can watch the radar rain echos, the temperature map, but when I select the first tap, forecats, it tells me this can be done only after I configure the wifi with Garmin Express.

So the configuration of the wifi on the device itself has no real purpose.

0 twolpert over 3 years ago in reply to skyeye

I THINK that OTA data sync might work with just on-device configuration. But it's hard to tell for sure.

0 skyeye over 3 years ago in reply to twolpert

also a part I am experimenting with now, but so far no luck over wifi either.

0 twolpert over 3 years ago in reply to skyeye

This is not magic. First try it (with WiFi coverage) with the Explore mobile app. Unlike wearables, I have not found an explicit "sync now" feature on the device itself. If it syncs OTA on its own, I don't know how long it takes. Mine is set up via Express. I do get firmware updates OTA with no explicit intervention.

I believe that activities should also sync via Explore. I do not believe that you need GCM for this.