GPSMAP 66i - Recent Threads

how to skip inrich activation

3290483 — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 04:44:50 GMT

Hello,

Because of some problems with the newest firmware, I choose 6.30 for my 66i. Every time turning on, it want me to activate the inRreach. Is there a way to avoid it?

Thanks.

RE: how to skip inrich activation

KiwiGPS — Sun, 18 Oct 2026 00:06:00 GMT

Oh well, believe what you like but you better tell Garmin that inReach does not have to be used /activated / registered / subscribed to use the actual GPS.

Using a GPSMAP Satellite Communicator Without an inReach Subscription

I suggest when your subscription lapses you try switching on the unit, press Skip at the annoying inReach activation prompt and note that the unit behaves just fine, the same as the non-inReach version.

RE: how to skip inrich activation

skyeye — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 23:37:43 GMT

since it is not possible to switch the Iridium part off, it will try to get activated all the time, waisting power as it will not succed.

Clearly I can subscribe monthly for the inreach use, but not registered device with Iridium will need to be registered first. This has nothing to do with the actual service you can buy from Garmin. This is two separate things. IR device needs to be activated in order to allow you to make any subscription.

The IR is not optional , it is on all the time and can not be disabled. (as it is with all other IR devices)

RE: how to skip inrich activation

KiwiGPS — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 23:29:50 GMT

Rubbish. Where I live the inReach subscription is optional and can be bought 1 month at a time or for longer periods to suit the owners usage. The device is a GPS with inReach added in and works just fine as a GPS without an inReach subscription.

Agreed, inReach won't work without a $ubscription but the GPS itself works just fine. Maybe you're wealthy enough to have several of them all activated permanently - that's ideal. Some of us just pay for a short term subscription when the inReach feature is required.

RE: how to skip inrich activation

skyeye — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 23:18:14 GMT

I have number of 66i in operation. There is no way to have any inReach device used unless iit is registered with the provider (Irirdium)

There is also no way, for good reason, to somehow switch the Iridium part off.

This so since the invention of InReach by Delorme

The purpose of InReach devices is to communicate via Iridium network. Each such device needs to have positioning receiver build in otherwise it can not work. While the posititoning receiver does not need any activation, regsitration with the Irirdium is essential for the device to work. Therefore activation is needed, the device is then registered with the satellite provider and can work.

If a device without inreach is needed, then something like 66i is definitely wrong choice.

RE: how to skip inrich activation

KiwiGPS — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 21:04:02 GMT

It's a GPS device with inReach added for optional usage. It's not an inReach device primarily. The OP asked a good question.

RE: Error trying to update software and map

9282878 — Sun, 11 Oct 2026 02:54:31 GMT

Yes, the same problem here!

The error message is

"We're unable to install the updates. The latest version of these maps have so much new information that we're not going to be able to fit it all on your device's internal memory. Please contact Product Support for help with updating your maps."

I've just updated the software Version 10.20 (released August 18, 2025).

The Garmin North America TopoActive 2026.11 (13 GB +) latest map I'm still finding the way to download to the micro SD card

Error trying to update software and map

1704604 — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 20:09:00 GMT

I am receiving an error while trying to update the software and map through Garmin Express. I have factory reset the unit, it connects but will not even begin the update without a red error message.

GPS map won't render and has trouble locating satellites

5388587 — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 14:11:37 GMT

I have been using my GPS for a good few years with no issue. Then one day in June I trued to use it on a hike to see that the map wouldn't render everything. Some roads would render, as well as some lakes and streams, but not all would render in the area. And there are no contours. It makes it very hard to know where I am on the GPS. On top of that, the device would have trouble locating satellites. It could find 1 or 2, but it makes it very unreliable. I tried to download an update through Garmin connect, but it says I need at least 22 GBs of storage. I haven't downloaded it because of size, and I'm not sure if it would even fix my problem. The GPS device only has 14 GB of storage anyway, so I don't know how that would work on my Garmin. I am heading on a big trip in a week, and would like to use the Inreach features, and I am wondering if the problems I am currently having with it would effect the inreach capabilities. Please let me know if anyone has had the same problem and if they were able to fix it.

RE: GPS map won't render and has trouble locating satellites

skyeye — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 14:16:31 GMT

something is not quite clear. Is this a gps map 66i ?

I do updates normally directly with the device connected to wlan without problems

RE: wrong gps altitude

skyeye — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 12:57:35 GMT

this is quite normal. Altitude calculated from GPS has much less accuracy then the 2dimensional surface calculation

this is simply so. 15m is still very nice

wrong gps altitude

Antonio — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 16:02:07 GMT

Hi, has anyone noticed a discrepancy between the altitude detected by the GPS and the map in the last few months? Knowing the altitude of a mountain or even a seashore for sure, I've noticed that, with a maximum signal and accuracy of 3 meters, the altitude detected by the GPS differs up to 15 meters from the actual altitude. I understand that it's not a major problem, but I wanted to get some feedback from other users.

abnormal infromation in "Recording Controls" and "Trip Computer"

Former Member — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 11:07:06 GMT

Good evening, everyone.

I encounter some problems with GPSMAP 66i.

Have you ever encountered such problems?

RE: abnormal infromation in "Recording Controls" and "Trip Computer"

1424693 — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 15:45:27 GMT

Yes, I've seen similar issues before. In some cases, it was caused by a temporary software glitch or corrupted activity data. A restart of the device and checking for the latest firmware update helped resolve it. Could you share a screenshot of the abnormal values you're seeing?

Track not in Track Manager.

1992102 — Wed, 06 May 2026 00:16:11 GMT

Sorry if I am posting in the wrong place. I was unable to find an area for the Garmin GPSMAP 65s which is what I have. I recently synced a collection to my device. The track I want to load is in the Collection Manager but not in the Track Manager. Why not? Is there a solution to this problem? - Scotty

P.S. Updated device software today.

RE: how to skip inrich activation

skyeye — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 13:33:02 GMT

InReach devices need to be activated in order to operate. Non activated device is not very much useful.

What do you want do with an InReach device which is not activated?

RE: abnormal infromation in "Recording Controls" and "Trip Computer"

Former Member — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 00:11:46 GMT

calibrate what right?

RE: abnormal infromation in "Recording Controls" and "Trip Computer"

9695440 — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 15:44:20 GMT

From my experience, this usually happens when the GPS signal isn’t strong or the device isn’t calibrated right. I just check the signal and maybe restart it, and it mostly works fine.

RE: Setup - Recording - Auto Start

skyeye — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 20:16:21 GMT

but does it not end the recording when switched off?

Setup - Recording - Auto Start

Former Member — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 14:05:29 GMT

Good evening, everyone.

Track Settings Explained on the GPSMAP 66i/67i/86i/86sci:

Auto Start

When enabled, the handheld will start a new recording automatically when the previous recording ends.

Is it true? It seems to me that it starts when it is powered on.

RE: Software Version after Master Reset

JungleJim — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 06:16:35 GMT

That’s normal, a factory reset will clear out user data and settings. It will no revert the installed firmware to a previous version.

Software Version after Master Reset

Former Member — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 02:43:10 GMT

Good morning, everyone.

After Master Reset, the Software Version of my 66i is 10.20, the latest version, not the factory default.

How about your 66i?

Auto Save - Daily doesn't work?

Former Member — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 02:25:56 GMT

Good morning, everyone.

I tested "Auto Save - Daily," but there is only "Current Activity" in "Recorded Activities" and nothing in "Saved Tracks."

I tested it this way:

Setup - Reset - Delete All;

Setup - Recording - Advanced Setup - Auto Save - Daily;

Setup - Display - Battery Save - On.

Software version is 2.90.

Move the 66i outdoors one day evening, the next day morning, I get the result above.

Where is the problem? What should I do to see the result of "Auto Save - Daily?"

Thank you so much in advance.

RE: Auto Save - Daily doesn't work?

reinhardz — Sat, 18 Oct 2025 23:00:37 GMT

Ah, thanks!

wrong "date modified" of .fit and .gpx

Former Member — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:29:53 GMT

Good morning, everyone.

What I do as below:

reset - delete all

setup - recording - record method - time; interal 3 seconds; advanced setup - auto save - daily.

20251016 11:29 local time to start recording; 16:44 lose signal; 17:04 power off; 20151017 06:37 power on.

Then the "date modified" of .fit and .gpx is 16 May, 2025.

Is it a bug?