GPSMAP 66i & Garmin Instict 1 - hiking with HRM

For almost three years I used my Garmin Instict when hiking. I would create a track I want to follow, export to GPX, load in Garmin Connect, use Garmin Express to load it to a watch, and lastly go to Navigation - Courses and choose my course.

Recently I purchased GPSMAP 66i for few reasons, mainly I wanted to stop using phone that became too distracting, and maps on the Instinct watch are okay for general direction but many times I ended up on a wrong path.

I'm trying to understand the interconecitivity between the watch, GPS, and other sensors (I have Tempe & Chest HRM).

1. Is the correct way of setting GPSMAP to just send the GPX file to the gps, choose course and select Go? And then going separately to record an activity?

What I'm missing is things like number of steps and such. Is it possible to change the data fields that are displayed when viewing current activity?

The watch used to alert me if there were sharp turns and such every now and then, which was quite useful, as well as showing the distance until next turn, is it possible to show on gps as well?

2. Calories are not calculated at all. How can I enable it?

Does it make sense to record the same activity on both the watch and gps but have hrm connected to the watch and have activity info accessible but keep GPS for geographical data?

0 Like2Hike over 1 year ago

I don't have a watch, but I can assist somewhat.

1. GPX files are Tracks or Routes in the 66i. Courses are FIT files. I import a GPX file into the Explore website from my computer. The website will ask if you want to import as a Track or Route. A Route acts like an automotive GPS and provides the type of navigation instructions you described. A Track only provides you with a warning when you go "off course" (should say "off track") and when you are back on course (should be track), if you select Go.

After importing the GPX file to the website, I synch to the 66i using the Explore app. You can convert a Track or Route to a Course on the 66i or Explore website, if desired.

1 & 2. When you record an Activity, it saves as a FIT file, by default. Within Recording Controls, there are 3 data pages...a Trip Computer, a Map, and an Altimeter. The fields associated with the Recording Controls Trip Computer are fixed. However, there is a main page Trip Computer which is more powerful. You can change the fields in that, and one of the available fields is calories. There is no field for steps.

It's subjective as to what you do with a watch and the 66i. I would see no reason to use both devices when hiking, and I would only use the 66i. A hrm can be used with the 66i.

0 twolpert over 1 year ago

You can pair the ANT+ sensors to 66i. I know there are data fields for the three temperature values which the Tempe generates. I assume there are similar fields for the HRM, but I do not know for sure.

I don't believe you are going to get step count from the 66i. Only the watches AFAIK. I THINK the only useful feature in pairing the watch with the 66i is the remote control widget (control some inReach features on the 66i form the watch). I don't THINK you're going to get data (such as step count) from the watch to the 66i. In any case, if you have the watch, why not just look there?

0 Moseleyi over 1 year ago in reply to twolpert

Mostly because the watch shows total step count, not just for the activity. Hence I thought to capture the same activity on both devices. Plus 66i doesn't seem to calculate calories at all..

0 twolpert over 1 year ago in reply to Moseleyi

Both of those two things are true. I know my average pace length, so I back into steps for the activity from activity distance.