My GPSMAP H1 is continuously rebooting.

WQ81 said:

From what I’ve read, Garmin recommends planning courses via the Explore app. However, the web version lacks a routing engine, and the mobile app requires an internet connection for routing to work. Since the device itself supports offline routing, I am looking for other options. Is there any way to get offline routing functionality other than using Locus Map and BRouter?

I find it contradictory to depend on apps and connectivity when one of the reasons for buying a dedicated GPS device  is precisely to have maximum reliability and full operability without depending on anything else.

I simply create GPX tracks with GIS software, which is far more capable than Garmin Explore, load them, and expect nothing more than to be able to view them on the map.

I’ve done this with many other Garmin devices over the past 25 years, without ever experiencing the kinds of disasters that are happening with this H1 Plus.

KDubTX said:

I’ve found that keeping the internal storage out of the box with only the factory installed maps is the better way to go. Any additionally purchased Garmin downloaded or 3rd party maps always go on external SD storage.

Extra maps only on the SD card is the condition under which I have always used Garmin devices. (In the past, an Oregon model failed to start, and simply removing the SD card was enough to get it running again.)

Here, what’s happening is that the H1 can crash and go into a continuous reboot loop even without having added any maps or apps to the main memory.

In my case, I wasn’t even doing any routing; I was simply following a track, watching the cursor move on the map.

I completely understand your point about reliability and independence. Like you, I usually create my GPX tracks beforehand and upload them to the device. However, my trips often last over two weeks, and plans frequently change on the fly, making it necessary to create new routes in the field.

While following a pre-loaded track is ideal, my situation is a bit specific. I travel to Arctic regions in winter, often moving at night, in blizzards, or during whiteouts where visual orientation is impossible. When you're on skis with poles in your hands, you can't constantly stare at the screen. This is why 'Course Navigation' and 'Off-Course' alarms are essential for me—I only need to look at the GPS when I hear the alert.

On my previous Garmin InReach Explorer+, creating a new track using only the buttons was nearly impossible. While manual plotting in BaseCamp is easy on a PC, doing it on a small phone screen in the middle of nowhere is a challenge. That’s where reliable routing (following existing trails) becomes a game-changer—it drastically speeds up the planning process when conditions are tough.

Ultimately, my main hope for the H1 was the ability to stop relying on a smartphone in the field, using it only as a backup rather than a mandatory companion to the Garmin. However, from what I see, the H1 seems to operate exclusively with 'Courses.' It doesn’t seem to allow for using a simple 'Track'—the scenario you described where you just load a GPX and visually confirm your position on the map without the device's constant intervention.

Interesting! And yes you still can follow simplr tracks: The new Garmin word for a track is a course. 

The H1 does indeed only support Courses, but that doesn't mean you can't use them like you describe.

There are two navigation experiences with Courses: one is where you follow the course as a track, like a breadcrumb trail on the map. You do not get turn-by-turn instructions. If you go off course, you get an alert and the device will not recalculate the course. The other navigation experience is where you do get turn-by-turn instructions and the H1 will recalculate the course if you deviate.

When you navigate a course on the H1, you get the option to use Routing (toggle on or off). If you leave this toggle to Off, you will get the Track experience. If you toggle the Routing setting to On, the H1 will recalculate the course using the active map, and you will get turn-by-turn and recalculation of the Course if you go off route.

As for GPX files, you can get those in different ways on the H1:

• copy them to the Garmin\NewFiles folder. If the GPX contains a track (or a route), the H1 will convert those to a course on start up
• import the GPX track in the Garmin Explore app, and convert it to a Course. It will get synced to the H1.
• or you can use a 3rd party platform like Komoot to plan your routes and sync those wirelessly to the H1 via Garmin Connect. Komoot also provides a Connect IQ application that you can use to download individual tours to your device.

THX ! 

I experienced the same solution, but ... with a Mac, I can't see the content of the GPSMAP H1. Maybe Garmin doesn't test their devices with Apple laptops. So I can't edit and delete the last (probably corrupt) file which was added to the device. And another issue : this solutions doen't work if you are in the middle of a snow blizzard without a laptop. So reliability of the GPSMAP does not meet expectations if you use the device for what it's made : serious expeditions. 

Meanwhile the issue occurred 6 times. It's a mess. 

Thx for your solution ! An for the best wishes ! 

After deleting the ACTIVITIES and COURSE folders, the device restarts and seems to work normally. However, after recording some tracks and trying various settings, we are back to square one. In this case it happens with TrackBack; other times the reboot occurs with different settings. The problem does not seem to be related to loaded files, but rather to when you start recording an activity.

What map are you using? The default TopoActive, Outdoor Maps+ or a different map? When you select Current Activity the map display becomes garbled.

And does the device also crash if you do a TracBack when you have a valid position fix?

It could also be a defective device, maybe you can get Garmin to exchange your unit?