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How to set up tracking show up on the explore.garmin.com in real time on my Montana

jameshaskell
over 2 years ago

I just purchased a Garmin Montana 700i, and I'm having trouble understanding the tracking setup.  I previously used a Garmin Explorer+. When starting a hike, I would turn on Tracking, which would also prompt me to send a preset to one or more of my contacts, typically my wife. My wife could also easily monitor my progress and location on the Garmin site.

How exactly do I do that with the Montana? When I start a long hike, I want to let my wife know (by sending her an SMS text with a link to the map URL), and I want her to be able to see my location and progress on a map on her browser in close to real time.  I went for a hike today.  In iR I started Tracking, and then apparently had to manually send her a preset message, also in iR.  She got the message, but there's no sign of my route or whereabouts on the Garmin map.

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    The preset messages only have a link the location that the message was sent from.

    If configured w/ the right options, she has your MapShare link, she should be able to see your 'track' - the collection of waypoints sent every 10min (depending on plan).

    Your Mapshare link would be something like https://share.garmin.com/share/jameshaskell, and can be configured in the Explore link below. This is the link she should go to.

    In https://explore.garmin.com/Social, check the Mapshare and Filter settings as well, particularly the 'Show waypoints created in the field on MapShare.' option in the MapShare Settings button. If your old Explorer+ is still on the account, you may also have to make the Montana the active device (not sure about this, but check the device tab).

    Hope it helps.

  • +1 over 2 years ago

    The flow has changed. When you tap the Tracking icon on the inReach menu, you will see two buttons at the bottom. Start Tracking and Send MapShare. To send the message with the MapShare link, tap Send MapShare, then OK. Set recipients, customize the message if desired, then tap Send Message to send.

    To start sending track points, tap Start Trackng and confirm. You can send an additional MapShare link message by tapping Send MapShare on the tracking status page (same flow as above). The send interval (the time between track points sent via the satellite network) can be customized within the limits of your plan. Setup > Tracking > Moving Interval. You can also set things up to automatically start tracking on power-up.

    You DO have to set up MapShare on the account. Usually when the tracks do not show up on your MapShare page, the problem has to do with collections. Collections confuse everybody. Use the Filter MapShare Data button (on the Social tab at explore.garmin.com) to access the filter popup. Make SURE that the primary collection for the Montana is checked in the list of collections visible on the MapShare page. The primary collection is where the sent track points end up. OR check the Library box (although that is kind of big hammer).

    To check/set your primary collection, go to the Plans & Devices tab at explore.garmin.com. Look for the Collections link on the right, below the Sync & Update link. Verify that the primary collection is set as you want it. Change it if needed.

    Of course, you cannot ADD a collection from there. You have to add collections from the Map tab. Why? Who knows.

    I do not think that the "Show waypoints created in the field" option matters for viewing tracks. In fact, I am no longer sure that waypoints are sent via satellite as they used to be. Nor do I know if navigation events are sent as they used to be.

    Note that Preset messages have a link to A map page. This is NOT your MapShare page. It displays the location from which the preset message was sent. Nothing else. So if you need to give the MapShare link, you need to use Send MapShare.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to twolpert

    Thank you!! Very useful, clear explanation. Much appreciated.