Expedition Mode Bug #56 satellite connection shut down

[Spiney]

I usually use my 66st with GNSS set to GPS + GALILEO and WAAS/EGNOS SBAS enabled (currently using device firmware 3.40/GPS firmware 2.70).

As per Bug #56 seen with several previous firmware iterations, if I enable Expedition Mode with this satellite setup, when it has entered EM and I press the power button to resume normal use, it simply turns the satellite connection off completely until the device is powered down and switched back on. At this point the rebooting changes the satellite set up to GPS only and WAAS/EGNOS disabled and EM seems to work properly.

I only recently found out that EM is only designed to work with GPS only and with WAAS disabled, presumably to minimise power use in this mode.
I have found that if I first set my 66st to GPS only and WAAS/EGNOS disabled, then power it down and back on, then select EM, EM seems to work properly from the start.

When EM is working properly, if the satellite set up is changed either to use a second GNSS or to enable SBAS, and the device allowed to go into EM, on resuming, the satellite connection is terminated as above.

The moral of the story seems to be to set the satellite to GPS only and disable WAAS/EGNOS before enabling EM and then not altering the satellite set up until EM is no longer required. At this point, first set EM to Never, then alter the satellite set up to your preference if necessary.

Can anyone else confirm this behaviour?

Also, has anyone been able to use EM with GNSS set to GPS + GALILEO or GPS + GLONASS, with or without enabling WAAS/EGNOS?

[987]

with version 4.10 and GPS 2.70 using GPS+GALILEO and WAAS/EGNOS on.
entering and going out of expedition mode works well, and i cannot see that problem.

[Spiney]

Agreed, I can confirm that the update to version 4.10 with GPS 2.70 has fixed this annoying bug and it now works as I expected with GPS + GALILEO and WAAS/EGNOS enabled.

[987]

with GPSMAP 66st software 4.20, and gps software 2.80 i did now once (but only once out of many times) experience what is described in this bug.
I had GPS+GALILEO and WAAS/EGNOS on when i entered expedition mode, after approximately 22 hours i turned on the unit again to resume operation.
For some reason it took very long time to fix the satellites, i checked the satellite page and settings, the setting was now only GPS. WAAS/EGNOS was on (as per setting).
to make it work as normal, i simply changed to GPS+GALILEO, i did not restart.

[gpsrchive]

987, was your EPO Status (Setup > About) 'Expired' when this occurred?

[987]

I don't know for sure, but now and any time i have checked the EPO status it says missing. I guess it was missing at the time as well. I have not registered the device, almost never connect to garmin express, nor to wifi in general.

[gpsrchive]

That was likely a contributing factor.

You can manually acquire EPO files for your GPSMAP 66 at GPSrChive > GPSMAP 66 > Operation > Connected Features > EPO Downloads if you desire, but the best way is to let the device frequently connect to Garmin Connect or another Wi-Fi internet source.

[987]

Maybe EPO can help to faster fix the position, but EPO should have no impact on the settings, and the settings actually changed...