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BirdsEye Direct not working...
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2025 10:39 am
by tzig
Hi everyone, I can't connect my device (66i) to the BirdsEye Direct server and I don't know why. I've tried different Wi-Fi networks, including my phone's hotspot, and I've used Garmin Express to set up Wi-Fi. The GPS is also connected and synced to the Garmin Explore app on my phone. I keep getting the same error message (cannot connect to image servers...). I noticed that my phone clock is 20 seconds behind the GPS clock.
Any sugestions? Could there be a regional restriction? Please help! Thanks
Re: BirdsEye Direct not working...
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2025 12:11 pm
by GPSrChive
FWIW, we just dusted off our GPSMAP 66i (v10.20) and once it had satellite lock we were able to download BirdsEye direct satellite imagery without issue.
Which firmware version are you running on your 66i?
Re: BirdsEye Direct not working...
Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2025 10:12 am
by tzig
Hello, thank you for your reply. I have the same version, 10.20. As far as I know, downloading BirdsEye satellite images doesn't require satellite coverage, just a Wi-Fi connection. I've tried it with and without satellite reception, and with both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi. Nothing worked. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong or if the device is defective.
Re: BirdsEye Direct not working...
Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2025 12:19 am
by paulxtr
I was having this issue on my 66s and found that if I removed all the .fit files from the '\Garmin\Activities' folder on the device I was able to connect to the BirdsEye imagery server straight away.
Switching between an 'Activities' folder full of .fit files and an empty 'Activities' folder the result is repeatable: the device gets stuck at the 'connecting to servers' message when there are a lot of (unsynced) .fit files but connection to the imagery servers is almost immediate when the folder is empty.
I've not monitored the network traffic but presume that before the connection to the imagery server is allowed all .fit files in the 'Activities' folder must first be uploaded to Garmin's servers.
Re: BirdsEye Direct not working...
Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2025 8:40 am
by tzig
paulxtr wrote: Wed Dec 24, 2025 12:19 am
I was having this issue on my 66s and found that if I removed all the .fit files from the '\Garmin\Activities' folder on the device I was able to connect to the BirdsEye imagery server straight away.
Switching between an 'Activities' folder full of .fit files and an empty 'Activities' folder the result is repeatable: the device gets stuck at the 'connecting to servers' message when there are a lot of (unsynced) .fit files but connection to the imagery servers is almost immediate when the folder is empty.
I've not monitored the network traffic but presume that before the connection to the imagery server is allowed all .fit files in the 'Activities' folder must first be uploaded to Garmin's servers.
Thanks for reply!
I removed all the .fit files but still no connection to the imagery server
Without even pressing "Download", It stays for about 10 sec to "Waiting for connection to BirdsEye imagery server" and after that "Cannot connect..."
Re: BirdsEye Direct not working...
Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2025 11:08 am
by tzig
I think ChatGPT solved the mystery.
Apparently downloading BirdsEye satellite images doesn't require satellite coverage but still require an ative InReach plan. WIch I don't have yet.
I'll check that with Garmin Customer Support.
ChatGPT wrote:"Why does my device NOT show up as "Registered" Garmin Explore?
Garmin sees the device, but inReach is NOT enabled so the device cannot be fully "Registered" yet.
"Registered" only shows up after inReach service is active (with subscription)"
"Related to the "Cannot connect to imagery servers" issue
Very important:
without inReach active → satellite imagery is NOT downloaded,
the message from your GPS is normal in its current state"
Re: BirdsEye Direct not working...
Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2025 12:18 pm
by GPSrChive
ChatGPT doesn't have the slightest clue what its talking about.
An inReach subscription is NOT required to download BirdsEye Direct satellite imagery. These services are not related in any way.
Please do no post any more garbage from that disservice in this forum.
Re: BirdsEye Direct not working...
Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2026 3:42 am
by Wojtas81
On GPSMAP 66sr BirdsEye works without issues. Tested on 2 devices without any subscriptions of any kind.
So I think that it should work on 66i too. Try to perform full reset if nothing helps, or try different WiFi (internet source).
Re: BirdsEye Direct not working...
Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2026 8:15 pm
by tzig
Wojtas81 wrote: Sun Jan 04, 2026 3:42 am
On GPSMAP 66sr BirdsEye works without issues. Tested on 2 devices without any subscriptions of any kind.
So I think that it should work on 66i too. Try to perform full reset if nothing helps, or try different WiFi (internet source).
Thanks for the reply! I've already tried everything, but nothing has worked. It seems my only option left is to reset the device to factory settings. However, I'm still waiting for confirmation from Garmin customer service, whom I contacted about a week ago to report the problem. I sent them some requested files from the device.
Happy new year!
Re: BirdsEye Direct not working...
Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2026 12:45 pm
by tzig
Hello everyone!
I've reset the device, but the problem persists: it can't connect to the imagery server. Garmin customer support told me their technicians haven't found a solution yet.
Is there a way to check if the device's Wi-Fi connection is working? The Wi-Fi connection icon is displayed at the top of the screen.
I ran out of options, so I'd be grateful for any suggestions.
Thank you!
"Registered" only shows up after inReach service is active (with subscription)"
Very important: