Devices become unresponsive since 4.01 update. Is anyone else having issues?

After updating our company devices, some will freeze and become unresponsive which prevents satellite updates and message transmission.

We've done a lot of fault finding and have been unable to replicate the issue; It seems to be random.

Force power cycling the device seems to be a temporary fix but we don't know when it will freeze up again.

We have 30 Messengers and we never experienced this issue prior to the 4.01 update, so it's not a device issue.

I've been told that Garmin are working on an update but this has been going on for nearly 6 months.

Is anyone else having issues like this?

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0 skyeye 4 months ago

number of other issues, but not this one so far

0 2163562 4 months ago

Yes, I am having this issue. The Messenger freezes and/or loses connection with my phone. It happens very frequently, like many times per minute. It makes the app and device practically unusable. Sometimes the device unfreezes on its own, but sometimes I also need to reboot it.

0 skyeye 4 months ago in reply to 2163562

I have one messenger just now, this does operate normal for some time, like some hours for example, but then it starts rebooting itself frequently, meaning some kind of crash-reboot. After every reboot it usually sends a tracking point, just to reboot after that immediately, thus consuming lot of power.

I am just in progress to send it to Garmin for replacement.

Other messengers with 4.01 seems to operate normally

0 Rusty V 4 months ago in reply to 2163562

Your description does not match our experience.

The issue we have is once the device freezes, it's locked until power cycled.

0 skyeye 4 months ago in reply to Rusty V

we have not so many messengers, so I can not confirm this in our fleet, but I think this is a case for <[email protected]>

+1 Garmin-Chris 4 months ago

We are sorry your inReach Messenger is freezing, locking up, or rebooting. We are releasing a software update soon that will resolve this issue.

If your inReach Messenger is unusable due to this issue and you need to use the device right now or in the near future, we are happy to replace the device for you. Please work with Product Support to set up an exchange.

Otherwise, we appreciate your patience while waiting for the software update to be released.

0 5282175 2 months ago in reply to Garmin-Chris

What you are not telling them is if you are going to charge them $130 for that replacement.

I have been back-and-forth with “customer support“ and all I got was links to articles. I have tried every step to update the firmware to no avail. Told that I can have a replacement, but it’s going to cost me $130… For a software that failed not related to my misuse or damage to the product. very unfortunate policy.

Looks like it’s time to invest in another brand That will actually stand by its product.

0 Rusty V 2 months ago in reply to 5282175

We had 3 devices swapped by Garmin at the cost of postage to return the malfunctioning units.

The 4.04 update has now been released after dealing with the commented issue for more than 6 months.

Hopefully it holds up.