Importing new maps into Garmin Inreach Explorer+

All,

Happy new year ! My wife and I got a Garmin InReach Explorer+ and are enjoying using it. We understand the limited capabilities of the Explorer's built in display.. but Im having trouble getting around how clunky the Garmin Earthmate interface on the iPhone is compared to all the modern iPhone apps for navigation (Gaia, Alltrails, all forks, google maps, avenue... pick any of them) which use the real resolution and interactivity of a phone screen. Also , I understand the limits of what can be downloaded on the Explorer+ , but I'm surprised at the limited type of maps available for earthmate to download. There are so many great sources of maps these days that have different interests (eg trail associations, historical maps, agricultural maps, natural resource maps, etc. that are available for apps like all trails, caltopo, Etc. .. So my questions:|

is it possible to link the Explorer+ to one of those other apps ? I know I can use this e other apps in parallel with earthmate .. but Id like them to be also able to edit/view routes, tracks and waypoints..
If not.. is there a way for me to use my own maps with Earthmate while still using the supported downloadable maps inside the devices

I'm interested in hearing from other users on how stye handle these issues.. and I'm *really* interested to hear from Garmin product management on their plans wrt. these questions.

Thanks !

-jc

0 twolpert over 3 years ago

On an iPhone, you can use other applications to display maps and to show your current position. However, the only way to "navigate" with such an app is to visually follow something displayed on the map. The third-party applications cannot send waypoints or routes to the device. This much works because the Explorer+ is exposed to other applications via location services. I don't think you can do even that much with an Android phone.

The only way to install maps into Earthmate is to download them from Garmin. I am fairly certain that you are limited to the same set of maps that you place directly on the Explorer+. I no longer have an active legacy device. But I just checked. In Earthmate, I have access to Topo North America, OpenStreetMap, USGS quads, public-domain color aerial imagery, and digital atlas of the earth (which is a basemap, I think). YMMV depending on your location.

Note that newer (non-legacy) iR devices, such as the GPSMAP 66i and the Montana 7x0i, are full members of the Garmin ecosystem. They can use any Garmin map, download BirdsEye imagery via WiFi, and so forth. But there are tradeoffs. In particular, with features come additional complexity and power drain.

0 MacDowra over 3 years ago

I too would like to find a better map, the ones garmin offer are poor quality compared to gaiagps and other apps. Hoping someone has a map better than what garmin offers for download

0 twolpert over 3 years ago in reply to MacDowra

Both the legacy iR device itself (Explorer+) and the Earthmate app use maps in the original DeLorme format. I do not think you are going to find anything more in this format than what is available in the Earthmate app or in the explore.Garmin.com web site for your account/device. If you want access to Garmin or Garmin-compatible maps, you will have to invest in a 66i or 7x0i.