Preset message sometimes does not include LatLon

1 out of 4 preset messages I sent did not send the LatLon coordinates. Also, the 4 preset messages were recorded in https://explore.garmin.com/Map but only 1 shows the arrow on the map. Anyone else seeing these problems?

0 twolpert over 3 years ago

Watch the length of the preset messages. The actual coordinates are always sent. But the display of the coordinates (depending on where you look for them - you don't specify) may be missing if the preset message itself is close to 140 characters.

I am not sure what you mean by "the arrow on the map". The blue triangle is the "head pointer". It shows the last known position of the device. Has nothing to do with messages unless the last known position was the result of sending a message.

Note that ALL messages should show on the map tab of your account at explore.garmin.com. For the MapShare map, messages only show if addressed specifically to MapShare (along with other recipients, of course).

0 8953053 over 3 years ago in reply to twolpert

Definitely not the length of the preset message, it's only 30 characters. When I dug a little deeper, it looks like it is a known issue that sometimes a message can be sent without coordinates.

https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=VixYRxXuOf4VwcvpylRDzA

I meant the head pointer as you indicated and yes all the preset messages also include MapShare. My question is why it doesn't just show the location of each message when I clicked on it assuming the message has the coordinates.

0 8953053 over 3 years ago

Talked to support and have the answers for both questions. The device works with 2 different satellites, Iridium for message sending/receiving and regular GPS for tracking, it does not support Galileo or GLONASS. Hence, it's possible that the message is sent without coordinates because it did not acquire the GPS in time. As a side note, you can see where the Iridium satellites are on this site, https://iridiumwhere.com/, unaffiliated with Garmin.

To see all the locations on MapShare, you have to set "Date & Time" to "All Time" in "Map Filters" (top left on MapShare page).

According to support, the activity that uses the most battery juice is communicating with Iridium. Keeping the GPS on passively records the data with lot less impact on the battery and allows more accurate tracking of your location.

0 twolpert over 3 years ago in reply to 8953053

Call it an issue if you want. But if the device has no fix and you insist on sending anyway, you will get a message without coordinates. (I am pretty sure that the device will warn you and give you an opportunity to wait for a fix when this happens. But I can't vouch for ALL the various devices.) This would be particularly important for the Mini, which is notorious for taking forever to obtain a fix - even in good conditions.

You point about clicking the message and moving to that location the map makes perfect sense. Unfortunately, nothing about explore.garmin.com makes any sense at all. You can submit an enhancement request here:

https://www.garmin.com/en-US/forms/ideas/

0 twolpert over 3 years ago in reply to 8953053

AFAIK, the only way to keep the GPS radio on is to set the logging interval to 30 seconds or less. When you do this, the device will warn you that it sucks battery. It's all relative - the Iridium radio IS worse. But that does not mean that the GPS radio is free.