56 The Garmin EXPLORE Link

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To display Tracks with Explore:

The Zumo XT behaves differently with Tracks, Waypoints and Routes depending on whether you have linked your XT to your Garmin Explore Account. Setting up an Explore account seems to be something that you are supposed to do when you first start to use your XT - so you may not remember doing it. The XT doesn’t need it, but once it is set up it behaves differently with some displays. You don’t get an option to get rid of it from the normal menus and once done you don’t get to see the option again, so it is difficult to tell what it was like before.

So this next section describes:- how to tell if it is set up already; how to set it up; and how to get rid of it.

To find out if my XT is linked to my Explore Account.

On the main screen, click Where To -> Explore.

Setting up Garmin Explore

For the First Time

When you install and Activate Garmin Explore, the XT will behave slightly differently when trying to access Waypoints and Tracks. In some ways access to routes is a also a tad different.

It is quite a lengthy process, but can be summarised in 4 bullet points:-

Connect your smartphone and Zumo by Bluetooth;

Load and install the Drive App on your Smartphone;

Set up an Account on https://explore.garmin.com;

Link the Zumo XT to your Explore Account.

I have created a video playlist to guide you through the process - Here

Subsequent Times.

If you get the screen indicating that you have not linked your Zumo to your Explore account (Pic 1), then you can reinstate it by clicking on Connect Now. You may be asked for your username and password for the Garmin Explore account, but it should remember it from before. Everything else is set up already.

If you have uninstalled the Drive App on your smartphone, or you have turned off your BlueTooth connections the best method is to start from scratch and to follow the video instructions in the link above.

Break the Connection with your Explore Account

This restores your use of Waypoints, tracks and routes back to how it was when you first got your Zumo. It is relatively easy to reinstate, as described in the previous paragraph, and nothing else is broken by performing this simple operation.

It is now necessary to completely un-install the Garmin Drive App from your phone. I don't mean just disable it. Get rid of it completely.

With that out of the way, you can reset the Explore database on your XT. This option is in the system’s Diagnostic Page -> Developer Tests and Tools. which you can access as described below.

Select: Home Screen -> View Map -> Click Speed Button -> Hold Speedo for 10 secs.

This opens up the system Diagnostic Page. Be careful what you do in here!

Scroll down for Developer Tests and Tools -> Click

Scroll down to near the bottom Reset Explore Database -> Click.

Nothing seems to happen. Back out using the return button until you get to the Home page.

Immediately turn the XT completely off - hold the power button in until the screen asks if you want to switch it off. Yes you do. Then restart. If you do not do this immediately, the XT will have chance to start talking to your phone and it will reactivate some of Explore's features.

Select Where To -> Explore and check that you get the screen indicating you are not connected to your Explore account.

You can now reinstall Garmin Drive and set the various options and notifications. Any suggestion that you must install Explore - ignore it. On the Android phone, there is a 3 screen animation which obscures the Skip button. If you can get a pointy finger on it, then press Skip. If not, just wait a few seconds for the animation to complete. I think it then suggests that you want to set up Explore. No you don't - but that option isn't available. 'Maybe Later' will have to do.

The first video in the link above on how to set up Explore deals with seeting up Garmin Drive to talk with your XT. Ignore the other 3 videos - they are to do with setting up Explore !

Thanks @fatfeet for feeding back about this issue.

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The information on these pages has been acquired from personal experience of using and testing the behaviour of Basecamp and my Zumo XT. I have no links with Garmin, and these pages should not be regarded as instructions. They are presented for interest only. The contents of these pages must not be shared, copied, transmitted, redistributed or re-published in any form without my permission. (C) JHeath 2021.