inReach firmware update killed connection with Earthmate

Former Member over 8 years ago

I last used my inReach SE about a year ago when in South America. It was a great tool and proved invaluable. Getting ready to head back to the Andes in 3 weeks and fired up the inReach again and now have all sorts of problems (good reminder about "test before you go").

First thing I did was start up the inReach and send a few test messages with Earthmate (with firmware and Earthmate version from a year ago). Worked fine. The next thing was connect to my computer and download the latest inReach firmware. Everything worked great from the inReach itself and it connected via bluetooth to my iPhone just fine. Started up "Earthmate" to send some test messages and it wouldn't work, insisting my iPhone wasn't connected to my inReach. Thinking my version of Earthmate might be outdated, I downloaded the latest "Garmin Earthmate." Connected to my Delorme account from the main screen and then went to "pair device." My inReach shows up in the available devices but when I try to connect I just get a "Bluetooth Error 1 - Make sure bluetooth is turned on." The "My inReach" tab shows "Device not connected." Thus far Garmin Earthmate is incapable of communicating with my inReach.

Fixes tried so far: Uninstalled and reinstalled Earthmate a few times. "Forgot" and re-paired bluetooth both on the inReach and my phone. Phone is connected to the inReach just fine. It's just that Earthmate can't communicate. Advice? Tips?

0 twolpert over 8 years ago

You've already done everything that the conventional wisdom suggests. In particular, you've "forgotten" the devices from both ends and redone the pairing operations from the ground up.

Just to be sure I understand, you paired the inReach and the iPhone with the Earthmate app not running. That pairing succeeded. You started the Earthmate app, tried to "pair" it with the inReach, and that failed?

I'm not a regular Earthmate user. The next thing I would try personally would be a factory reset of the inReach, followed by "forgetting" the inReach on the iPhone, then re-pairing from the ground up. However, that's kind of an extreme option. Hopefully somebody who uses the inReach/iPhone/Earthmate combination regularly will chime in.

Meantime, you might want to post inReach f/w version, Earthmate version, and iOS version just in case it's relevant. You might also want to open a call with Garmin tech support if nobody else chimes in fairly soon.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

Thank you very much for the reply and the advice. I think you're right. First thing I'm going to do this morning is try a factory reset on the inReach (I presume that option is in there somewhere). I'll also open a support request with Garmin. Suddenly my departure looms and I've got an inReach that'll be no more useful than a brick to me if I can't get Earthmate working (no way I can send messages via the inReach itself...I don't know how anyone has the patience to do that).

Yes, you've understood everything that's happened so far. The "pair" option in Earthmate is a bit of a mystery. At first I thought it was used to pair the inReach itself to Earthmate but now I'm not sure. If I attempt to use Earthmate's "Pair" with the inReach already connected to the iPhone, I get the aforementioned "Bluetooth Error 1." If I use it without the inReach connected to the iPhone, it seems to connect the inReach to the phone. But in either instance Earthmate still shows me a "not connected" status and refuses to let me send any messages. I'm definitely regretting downloading the firmware update right now. Should have just left well enough alone. I'll report back what I find.

0 HL649 over 8 years ago

I use the Earthmate app a lot, but on an Android. Sounds like you've tried just about everything. I always pair my inReach through the actual phone bluetooth settings, not through Earthmate. It seems to work better that way.

Also, after you forget and unpair both the phone and inReach you should reboot, then pair the 2 devices, then reboot both devices again. If that doesn't work I would try the factory reset as mentioned.

0 twolpert over 8 years ago

CALLE access

Just be aware that a factory reset is going to require reactivation of the device. You don't need to set up a new account or anything, but you do need to take it outside and go through the activation process again.

This also wipes all user data on the device. If you have tracks or other data on the device which is not on the web site, be sure to sync before you wipe it. You will also have to sync after you wipe it in order to get your contacts, messages, waypoints, routes, etc. back on the device. And you will have to manually change any settings which did not match the default values back to the values you like.

As I mentioned, it's a very big hammer, which is why it's a last resort :D

Edited to add: Sorry, you said it's an SE. Tracks aren't an issue. Still, doesn't hurt to sync before the reset.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

Solved!

I use the Earthmate app a lot, but on an Android. Sounds like you've tried just about everything. I always pair my inReach through the actual phone bluetooth settings, not through Earthmate. It seems to work better that way.

Also, after you forget and unpair both the phone and inReach you should reboot, then pair the 2 devices, then reboot both devices again. If that doesn't work I would try the factory reset as mentioned.

The gold star goes to HL649! I followed your recommendation to the letter and when I started up Earthmate again it automatically shows "connected" and all seems well. I avoided a factory reset and I'm up and running. Thanks for the advice!

0 HL649 over 8 years ago

Good to hear. Next time you can help me!

0 bounceswoosh over 7 years ago

I use the Earthmate app a lot, but on an Android. Sounds like you've tried just about everything. I always pair my inReach through the actual phone bluetooth settings, not through Earthmate. It seems to work better that way.

Also, after you forget and unpair both the phone and inReach you should reboot, then pair the 2 devices, then reboot both devices again. If that doesn't work I would try the factory reset as mentioned.

I just used your suggestion of pairing via the phone's settings, and indeed, the connection worked better (Galaxy S7). Thank you!

0 Former Member over 7 years ago

I just use the guide to pair through the phone settings and of course the connection works better (Galaxy S7). Thanks!

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