Help getting started

I see that question about getting old tracks off the device and Earthmate was answered in the Earthmate forum. The answer is very disappointing to me. Seems so basic.

I'm not sure where you found disappointing answer regarding getting getting tracks off of your PN-60 and into explore.garmin.com.

The short version follows. Mount the internal memory or SD card (depending on where you've been storing your tracks) as a USB disk device. There is one .gpx file per track. Using Windows Explorer, copy the .gpx files in which you are interested onto your PC. Upload them, one at a time, to explore.garmin.com on the Map tab. Each one will turn into a route, which you can selectively sync to the inReach Explorer+.

A couple of caveats. There is an upper limit on the number of points in an imported track. I don't remember what it is. If you hit it, you will have to manually break the track into segments before uploading. If you know what you're doing, you can do it in Notepad. If not, you can use TNA. Also, the process of creating a route may "thin" the track points. This usually does not cause problems except for intricate routes such as along a switchback trail. In that case, you may find that the resulting route does not follow the trail.

Aside: If you already have your tracks in TNA, you can export to .gpx from there. There is no need to go back to the PN-60 itself.

Garmin does not provide forums for any of its classic handheld devices - let alone for DeLorme devices which Garmin discontinued immediately upon acquiring DeLorme. You can try the Geocaching GPS forums. Not sure how many DeLorme users are left. And the Geocaching forums in general suffer from intolerance and flame wars. You can also try posting somewhere here in the Garmin forums - but the thread will almost certainly be closed or removed as being OT. And you might get a warning/suspension for repeat offenses.

Much as I like my PN-60, I'd probably invest in a Garmin handheld if I was doing serious back country hiking.

Under Garmin, the inReach is an evolving product. They started with something tied at the hip to the DeLorme ecosystem. For example, the devices still use cartography in the old DeLorme format, as opposed to the common Garmin format. The only real interface to the device is explore.garmin.com and the associated Sync program for wired synchronization. The web site, in particular, has evolved quite a bit. But it's still independent of the Garmin ecosystem. Guessing that will change as time goes by - but for now, it is what it is.

However, I suspect that the inReach feature set will continue to concentrate on satellite communication, with navigation and tracking playing somewhat secondary roles. Continuing to use a handheld, in conjunction with a backup map and compass, is probably well-advised.

Thanks twolpert for your response. I don't have any problems with the PN-60. I have used the PN series for years and love it. It was you who wrote the "disappointing answer" in the Earthmate App forum. I meant that I was disappointed in the lack of sophistication in the inReach. I don't understand why Garmin did not incorporate the functions already developed by DeLorm. Garmin owns those functions now; why not use them? The PN made it easy to show, hide, recall data on the device, and to download tracks, waypoints, etc. to the computer. And from the computer to the device. And, while I am ranting, with the topo software one could easily create waypoints, routes, etc. In fact, I use the program on a laptop wuth the usp gps receiver to navigate across country and into the back country. What's around the bend? Where's that FS road? Where am I? Drop a pin at this location, or a location on the map. I love it, and when this computer dies I will miss it.

Unfortunately, those "already available" DeLorme functions where never part of the inReach, even when DeLorme was directly guiding development.

I didn't know that the DeLorm inReach lacked these functions. I stuck with the PN because the inReach lacked the ability to interface with the Topo NA application. I once stopped by DeLorm headquarters in ME and talked to a developer. He told me that they might incorporate that feature in the future. (Or that's what I think he said - it's been a while.) I would love to see the PN and inReach combined into one.

Track files can be synced from an inReach to the user's account site and then exported as a GPX file using the Map page. This file can be then imported into the Topo 10 and then the track should appear as if it recorded on a PN, IIRC. Or, export it as a KML file and import to Google Earth.

Thanks y'all. Looks like I have a steep learning curve ahead and it will have to wait till after my trip. BTW, do you know if it is possible to download the last version of Topo 10 from somewhere?

TNA died along with DeLorme. Your best bet would be to look for a second-hand copy on eBay or somewhere similar.