GPSrChive Discussion Forum

This is the sequence, starting with a factory reset.
This sequence causes expedition mode to lock the unit after 12 minutes:

1. Perform factory reset per instruction manual
2. Select “English” as language
3. Skip inReach setup
4. go to “Home’
5. Click on “setup”
6. Click on “Expedition Mode”
7. Click on “OK”
8. Change Start mode from “Auto” to “Prompted”
9. Click on “OK”
10. Return to “Home” (main menu)
11. Click on “Setup”
12. Click on “Recording”
13. Change “Auto Start”
14. “ON” to “OFF”
15. Return to “Home” (main menu)
16. Click on “Recorded Activity”
17. Click on “Current Activity”
18. Allow “Trip time” equal to 5 minutes or greater
19. Click on “Save” (disk icon)
20. Click on “Save” (disk icon)
21. Return arrow, “X” to “Home”
22. Push On/Off power button and hold for “Expedition Mode”
23. Select “Expedition Mode”
24. Green light flashes, but after approximately 12 minutes stops flashing.
25. Unit locks up and will not resume.
26. Remove and reinstall battery.
27. Unit will now lock after 12 minutes in “Expedition Mode” and will display “Lost Satellite Reception” about once every minute.

I just completed a chat session with Chris at Garmin. Looks like they are working on a fix for this issue, and understand what causes it. Here's a transcript of the chat:

Garmin Chat wrote:Chris : Here is the latest information from the Garmin engineers on the issue, which they are still looking into:
Chris : We found that having Auto Start off can cause this issue, our engineering team is currently working on a fix. In the meantime we recommend having Auto Start on.

On your Montana:

Go to the Main Menu (home icon)
Tap on Setup
Tap on Routing
Tap Auto Start to turn On

RH: Excellent info, that matches what I have found. The act of saving an activity while activity recording auto start is off apparently overwrites the operating system in the area of the expedition mode, triggering the fault. I can work with this resolution, and would definitely want to know when a permanent fix is available!

Chris : you will be sent an email once the issue is resolved.

RH: Very good, thanks for the update!

Chris : Thanks for choosing Garmin. Have a great day!