Garmin wifi connection to iPad/iPhone

[Gin]

We have the Garmin 7616 chartplotter, which has build in wifi. That, in turn, permits connecting to Active Captain for purposes of downloads and remote helm viewing (on the connected device, such an an iPad or iPhone).

Is anyone else experiencing problems connecting to the Garmin chartplotter wifi? In our case, everything works for awhile, but eventually I hit connection problems. Primarily, what happens, is that I lose the connection to my Apple device, and when I try to reconnect, I get the message that the password is wrong. I then rinse and repeat, and rinse and repeat. Without change. So no joy (and instead, much frustration).

My experience yesterday is a good example of my issue and frustration. My iPad was to the chartplotter. Active Captain told me a software update was available, but I needed to disconnect from the Garmin network to download it it. So I did. And, using my iPad cell connection, I downloaded the updates. Then I tried to reconnect to the Garmin network. But when I tried, I got the message that the password was incorrect.

No, it’s wasn’t. The password hadn’t changed. Even so, I set. Then when I tried to connect my iPhone and IPad, I entered the new password when it asked for it. No joy again! I tried several times, but no success. I then reset the Garmin network to the password I had used before. I tried to connect my iPhone and iPad again, using that password. Stll no joy.

I’ve had the same experience in the past. I haven’t figured out why or when it resolves. At some point each time, just got in to the network.

Has anyone had a similar problem and figured out how to get past it?

Gini

 

[BB marine]

Yes this has happened many times to me also. I use the Active Captain app linking iPad to Garmin 7612 often. At least once a week to update Active Captain in the chart plotter, update routes that I have made, and if software updates are available for the Garmin equipment I will download and update. While linking the Ipad to the chart plotter it has indicated wrong password. Most of the time if I repeat steps it will link. Sometimes when it doesn't I shut both plotter and iPad off for a couple minutes and then turn both on and it works flawlessly. The last few times I have used Active Captain, last couple of weeks I noticed it was slow and not responding properly. Slow to down load, slow to open, I'm hoping a Garmin Active Captain app update is in the near future.

 

[ShortCut]

I went to the Roche Harbor Rendezvous and managed to get a Garmin representative to come over to my boat to work on it. He did some software updates and it seemed to be working at first but then showed other problems. He experienced several failed attempts at fixing it. Finally he removed the entire setup and uninstalled all related software. He then re-installed all related software and established an entirely new Active Captain setup. Finally everything worked. He is very experienced with Active Captain installations and Garmin software and it still took him a full hour to make it work correctly. He said that he has seen these problems many time and they are always difficult to solve.

It looks like the best solution is to uninstall everything and start from scratch with a completely updated Garmin, completely updated cell phone, and a completely updated Active Captain.

 

[Gin]

Dang . . . I was hoping someone had found an easy solution. For now, I think I will do what Brian does -- turn everything off, give it a rest, then try again. That has been more or less what has worked for me in the past. Uninstalling all software seems fraught with peril. If I need to, I might uninstall Active Captain, and reinstall it to see how it goes. But I think that's as much as I would try on my own.

Maybe an update to Active Captain is in the works and will help. Maybe.

Gini

 

[Wee Venture]

Can’t offer an easy solution. But it’s somehow reassuring to know others out there are having the same issue. I had this same problem of not being able to connect to the Garmin 7616XSV from the first time that I tried using Active Captain, shortly after buying the boat about two years ago. When I called Garmin support, they said they hadn’t heard of that before and suggested I make sure I was updated to the latest software. I did update but it didn’t help.

I finally had a factory guy (Kevin) and a Garmin guy on the boat at the same time at the 2018 Rendezvous. The Garmin guy said, “it must be your phone; it connects fine with my phone.” But then Kevin said, “I can’t connect to it either.” Turns out it was connecting fine with Android devices but not Apple. At that point, they replaced the entire Chartplotter unit and the new one started working fine.

Well, since then I have started having problems again. Oddly, my iPad can log onto the WiFi but my iPhone cannot. It mostly says “incorrect password” but sometimes “cannot connect to network” or words to that effect. Very rarely it does work, usually after the Garmin unit has been first turned on after being off for some time. I have had occasional success with reconfiguring the Garmin WiFi including a new password but more often than not that doesn’t work either. Have also tried configuring different WiFi channels to no avail. I have been hoping that an update will fix the problem but it’s going on two years and that hasn’t happened yet.

 

[Gin]

John of Wee Venture has done a great job describing the issue I have been running into. I have used both an iPad and an iPhone, with successful connections to both. But then the connection drops for no apparent reason, and it takes many efforts, and sometimes the passage of time, to get a connection going again. And yes, I also get both the "incorrect password" and sometimes the other message about not being able to connect to the network.

I was considering calling Garmin support and seeing if they could talk me through it over the phone, but I've been pessimistic about the chances of getting anywhere that way. But if it goes on long enough without being able to get a connection going, I may just have to give it a try.

Gini

 

[Kaptajnen]

I don’t know if the following is relevant to your Garmin installation, but you might want to check that you have the latest software for the Garmin installation on your boat. In our case, it involved getting a chip mailed from Garmin support and following a very slow installation process after inserting it in slot 1 in the chartplotter.

I had used the ActiveCaptain app to transfer routes from my iPad to the chartplotter using Garmin Wifi - and that caused some serious problems by turning the plotter off when navigating.The support guy told me that ActiveCaptain has some bugs and that routes should always be made on the plotter with the latest software installed.

 

[Gin]

What a catch-22. The reason I disconnected my iPad from the chart plotter wifi was because I had to do that in order to download the latest Garmin software updates to the iPad for installation through Active Captain. The updates are ready to go, but then I couldn't get back on the network. That's when I did the same thing with my iPhone, hoping I could get back on to install the updates with it. But I couldn't. In hindsight, I shouldn't have disconnected them both.

So I know my software isn't the most current, although it is close because only 3 days before Active Captain had reported that everything was up to date.

I plan to try to reconnect today, if I get to the boat for a few hours as I hope to do. If I can't reconnect, I know there is a way to install updates without going through Active Captain, but I'll have to read up on what it is (back to an SD card, maybe).

Gini

 

[SJI Sailor]

I had so many problems trying to do updates using Active Captain that I gave up. All I ever achieved -- using an Android phone and an iPad -- was to start the update transfer, but it always crashed (usually after 1-2 hours!) Luckily leaving the chartplottter OK.

Eventually I bought a cheap PC (being mostly a Mac user) so I could use Garmin's web download program plus SD card. That has worked fine (twice so far). The PC purchase has been tolerable overall as I can now run some other PC-only boating apps.

 

[BB marine]

I can't say this is the fix for others but it was for my issue. I did a software update on my iPad 13.1.3 after doing the update I opened the ActiveCaptain app on the iPad. Now everything is responded as designed. My connection between the iPad and 7612 is working properly. My chart information is correct ,Active captain information transferred as designed. My Garmin software updates are are now up to date and my new routes that I set up on the iPad using Active Captain Garmin G3 charts and Navionic app are all loaded in the Garmin 7612 found in my data. It seems it was the previous iPad software that may have been giving me my issues. All seems to be working properly now. The unfortunate problem with all this technology is there are always little clitches.

 

[Gin]

Brian, thanks. Finally, something encouraging to try!

 

[Wee Venture]

Ok, I updated my iPhone to V 13.1.3 and at first it seemed to still refuse to connect. But then I told the phone to “forget” the network and then re-entered the password. It connected immediately and has connected every time since that I have tried it. Unfortunately I have no way of knowing if the previously stored password truly was incorrect, since I have changed it back and forth while experimenting in the past to see if I could get it to work. I do know for sure that under previous versions of the iOS, the password was entered correctly and the phone still would not connect. So maybe this update finally fixed it. (Thanks Brian!)

 

[Gin]

Quick update everyone. After installing the latest and greatest OS on my iPhone, my iPhone has now connected without issues. I will be trying the iPad this weekend after similarly updating it's operating system. Fingers crossed . . .

 

[ixlr8]

Ok, I updated my iPhone to V 13.1.3 and at first it seemed to still refuse to connect. But then I told the phone to “forget” the network and then re-entered the password. It connected immediately and has connected every time since that I have tried it. Unfortunately I have no way of knowing if the previously stored password truly was incorrect, since I have changed it back and forth while experimenting in the past to see if I could get it to work. I do know for sure that under previous versions of the iOS, the password was entered correctly and the phone still would not connect. So maybe this update finally fixed it. (Thanks Brian!)

I have an app that worked for a while then suddenly I couldn't connect. Did a bunch of research and I found it was recommended to "reset" the network. After I did that and then re-entered the password, it has worked fine since. Sounds like the "reset" or "forget" the network might be the key.

 

[Remedy2]

Question related to this thread: I have no problem getting the wifi to connect, however, the chart transfer takes FOREVER. In fact, I've gotten to about 45% and bailed...that was after an hour....and you have to keep the iphone Active Captain app open. Any help?

 

[Gin]

Sorry, can't offer any particular help on that. My chart transfer goes pretty fast. A matter of a few minutes, at most, I think. Fast enough that I haven't timed it. Because it goes reasonably quickly, Active Captain stays awake. You might at least start by making sure your app stays active and see if that helps.