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[Yosemite]

Garmin problems?

Hiking, backpacking, running, biking, climbing, rafting, and other human-powered activities in Yosemite National Park

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Garmin problems?

Postby balzaccom » Fri Jul 29, 2022 8:31 pm

Anybody ever had any trouble trying to register a Garmin device with their website? Apparently there's an issue. When I fill out the form correctly I get this message: "The user object contains invalid values."

And in checking their Q&A, they are aware of the problem, because lots of people have reported it, and don't have a fix--at least not one that's simple and effective. Their engineers say "they are working on this issue."

Makes you wonder exactly how well their system works, if they can't figure this stuff out...

The good news is that I bought the thing through REI, so I should be able to return it if Garmin can't get me up and running.

Oh, and when you send Garmin an email with a problem, they promise to get back to you in three to five days, unless they're really busy.

These folks are selling an emergency device.
Check our our website: http://www.backpackthesierra.com/
Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-Rocks-Paul-Wagner/dp/0984884963
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Re: Garmin problems?

Postby AlmostThere » Fri Jul 29, 2022 8:47 pm

Don't think any of them are so great - I have an ACR beacon, the kind that's just a 911 button and a battery. It's old but I keep registering it on schedule every two years with NOAA. Second time I registered it, the sticker (you get a new one each registration) sat in the unopened envelope for a while.

I got an email one day, from a search and rescue org in Chile. They wanted to know if my beacon was going off somewhere around Easter Island. A few emails back and forth and I started to wonder. I called NOAA, ended up with a phone number for some division of the Air Force -- apparently international search and rescue is some department of the military? -- talking to a fellow who looked up the serial number on the beacon. Finally opened the envelope too. Apparently there was a screwup in the database. My beacon was listed as belonging to Space X.

I was able to re-register and correct the error but never got the answers to my questions. While they were emailing did anyone go find the people who set off a beacon near Easter Island? Is that how all beacon activations are handled in Chile, they start... EMAILING? Why is EMAIL going to be the default communication mode for a beacon owner ostensibly sitting in the ocean somewhere?

There's a reason the national parks keep warning you not to rely 100% on these devices.
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Re: Garmin problems?

Postby balzaccom » Fri Jul 29, 2022 9:26 pm

I'm still laughing about your story, AT! (I think it's the Coast Guard that originally was in charge of monitoring these things--but that may just be because i was doing a lot of sailing back then.)

I think I am going to trade the Garmin in for a Zoleo...

I have never owned one of these things, but I am now doing a bunch of volunteer work for Desolation Wilderness, and they really recommend that if we're wearing the shirt, we ought to have some way of asking for help if we're approached by someone with an emergency.
Check our our website: http://www.backpackthesierra.com/
Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-Rocks-Paul-Wagner/dp/0984884963
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Re: Garmin problems?

Postby AlmostThere » Sat Jul 30, 2022 5:47 am

I still have the InReach i used to get us out of the Creek Fire End of Days Death March successfully. It would have been a much different story without it. At least we were unscathed and still got our vehicles six weeks later.... two way devices have become important, sadly.
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Re: Garmin problems?

Postby balzaccom » Mon Aug 01, 2022 8:23 am

UPDATE; I spoke to Garmin's customer service department. Very nice guy, very efficient. And he told me they are aware of this issue, and it is a top priority with them. But he has no timeline for when it will be fixed, and based on their own troubleshooting message boards, it's been going on for at least three weeks.

He told me there is nothing he can do. He suggested that I try a different email (!) or a different browser. I tried two different emails, and both Chrome and Edge, and none of the combinations work.

What a mess! You'd think that they would tell people about this, rather than just continuing to sell these devices as if there is no problem.
Check our our website: http://www.backpackthesierra.com/
Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-Rocks-Paul-Wagner/dp/0984884963
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Re: Garmin problems?

Postby AlmostThere » Mon Aug 01, 2022 8:41 am

They should give you account credits - for every week you can't resolve, a month of free service. Shouldn't have to have a backup device!
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Re: Garmin problems?

Postby balzaccom » Mon Aug 01, 2022 4:42 pm

I returned it to REI--no questions asked. And I got a Zoleo instead. Seems to work just fine, and costs $200 less. We'll see how it works out. I still have 90 days to return it if I'm not happy.
Check our our website: http://www.backpackthesierra.com/
Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-Rocks-Paul-Wagner/dp/0984884963
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