Hide InReach datascreen?

This is a by Garmin known issue (was already reported to the fw team), I think ist was introduced with fw 9.91 or >) but good, that you bring it back to attention for the fw team, because it still is not fixend.

Totally agree.  I'd prefer to always be able to turn it on/off like the elevation and most other pages since I access the in-reach info from the Controls menu.  It's not like you need the time and distance information since that's already on your other pages.  The only thing I'm doing with the inReach during an activity is sending and receiving messages.  It's really odd that this one page they've decided it is so critical you can't disable it, even when you don't have the in-reach with you.

As a workaround, disabling the sensor when you haven't got it with you removes/hides the IR data screen added to all activities. A tad simpler than removing / re-adding the sensor each time.

100% agree the data screen should be optional though even when the IR is being used (just noticed it's appeared on the default Track activity!) - I find zero value in the info it displayed, and if I want to interact with the IR (turn tracking on/off, send message presets, read messages) it's simpler (and usually less key presses) to hold the Controls button down and launch from there.

Will be interest to see if behaviour has changed at all with the latest fw update including the IR battery drain bug fix - not sure if a logic of it not continually searching for it - ie. accepting it's not there - means the data page might autohide at least when not connected?

SpikySimonW said:

Will be interest to see if behaviour has changed at all with the latest fw update including the IR battery drain bug fix - not sure if a logic of it not continually searching for it - ie. accepting it's not there - means the data page might autohide at least when not connected?

Unfortunately, I can confirm that the IR datascreens are still persistant, even when not connected, on all outdoor (GPS) activities, even on firmware 16.60. And there still doesn't appear to be any way to get rid of it, without disabling the InReach in the Sensors and Accessories menu. Fortunately it doesn't appear on non-GPS activities (but that was true before, too).

That's a good tip about disabling the InReach device from the sensor settings when not in use. That's a tolerable workaround for me because I only use my IR maybe once or twice a month, the vast majority of my activities are done without an IR. So I can just leave it always off, and turn it on only for the occasions where I do use it.

That does mean, though, that before I start an activity with InReach, I'll need to remember to re-enable the IR in the watch settings first, and I'm betting I'll forget to do that most of the time. I wonder if you can still re-enable it after you've already started an activity. If so, then that's probably ok, but if not then that's a problem, as I'm not going to be inclined to end my activity and start a new one just to connect to the inreach.

I hope Garmin addresses this at some point, though. I went to great lengths to customize my activities to show (only) the information I want, so it's annoying to have another whole datascreen on every activity that just says "Searching for inreach"

Ideally, the watch should treat the InReach datascreen exactly the same way as it already treats the Running Dynamics datascreens - have them disappear automatically when the device isn't connected. Maybe there can also be a setting in the Sensors and Accessories menu to toggle the datascreen on or off completely, for people (like yourself) who might not ever want to have the IR datascreen.

Yes, you'll still be able to re-enable your IR after you start an activity.  Still a bit of a PITA, but as you say, tolerable.  

C.sco said:

That's a good tip about disabling the InReach device from the sensor settings when not in use. That's a tolerable workaround for me because I only use my IR maybe once or twice a month, the vast majority of my activities are done without an IR. So I can just leave it always off, and turn it on only for the occasions where I do use it.

Like you say, while not ideal - tolerable. My usage frequency sounds similar to yours, generally by the nature of things I'm doing whereby I'm taking the IR with me there's a bit of prep./thinking before setting off, so I generally remember right around the time I switch the IR on (while getting the rest of my stuff together pre-setting off) - as opposed to more casual activities were I just fly out the front door carefree.. often forgetting even some water or a key!  :)

Owning an inReach for less than 24 hours I didn’t know about it but boy I hate this choice made by Garmin to always show that screen once you ever paired an inReach.

I’m definitely reporting that along with the ever-searching-widget bug which I’ve written about on the other thread.

In my experience, the persistantly-searching InReach widget doesn't actually drain the battery. Once I exit the widget wheel, the battery drain is normal. At least, on my watch.

Ant+ really uses negligible power.  It's in the noise category when compared to GPS and OHR.  So the Searching shouldn't be of concern from a battery stand point. 

So is also Bluetooth LE, despite the fact people seems to freak out when talking about leaving Bluetooth on. Newer Apple Airtag has an always on Bluetooth LE chip and it's CR2032 battery lasts a year.

No, my concern is related to the CPU trying desperately to resolve some issue with a turned off device, which in turn drains the battery for no reason, as it's been before the (partial?) 16.60 firmware fix. As reported elsewhere my watch face battery consumption raised around 50% since I've bought the inReach Mini and installed its ever-searching widget.