You can connect a personal Garmin inReach device to your EarthRanger site to automatically display its tracked location on the map. This configuration enables EarthRanger Admin to pull your device’s MapShare feed and display updates as live subject tracks.

You will:

Enable MapShare and collect your feed information in Garmin Explore.

Configure a matching inReach Personal Plugin and Source in EarthRanger Admin.

Create a Subject so the device appears on the map.
 

Before You Begin 

You’ll need:

• A valid Garmin inReach account with MapShare enabled
  • If LiveTrack is enabled instead of MapShare, make sure to make the switch first. 
• Access to your EarthRanger Admin site
• The IMEI number of your inReach device

Part 1: Configure MapShare on the Garmin inReach Website
 

Step 1: Sign in and enable MapShare

1. Log in to your Garmin Explore account: https://explore.garmin.com
2. Select the MapShare
3. Under Settings, click MapShare to open the MapShare view.
4. If the MapShare button shows MapShare: Off, toggle it On (green).

Step 2: Configure your MapShare URL

1. Click the red pencil icon to edit your MapShare URL path.
2. Enter a short, identifiable name (for example, EarthRangerIona).
3. Your MapShare URL will look like:
4. Example: http://share.garmin.com/EarthRangerIona
5. If Garmin doesn’t allow custom URLs, keep the default.
6. Click Save Update.

Step 3: Complete MapShare settings

On the MapShare Settings page, fill in all fields (none should be left blank):

• Name: EarthRanger – [Site Name] Account 1
• Description: Map share to [your EarthRanger site URL]
• Leave the first two checkboxes unchanged (unticked).
• Ensure Show waypoints created in the field on MapShare is ticked on.
• Click Save Changes.

Step 4: Copy your Raw KML feed path

1. In the MapShare view, click Feeds.
2. Under Raw KML Data, copy the part of the feed URL that follows:
   https://share.garmin.com
   1. Example: Full URL: https://share.garmin.com/Feed/Share/EarthRangerIona
   2. Copy: /Feed/Share/EarthRangerIona
3. Click OK to close the Feeds window.
   
   You will paste this value into EarthRanger as the Service Share Path.

Step 5: Confirm and copy your MapShare password

1. Return to MapShare Settings and confirm the Password field is filled.
2. Copy the password to use in EarthRanger Admin.
3. Click Save Changes.
    

Part 2: Configure inReach in EarthRanger Admin 

Step 1: Add a Source Provider

1. Log in to your EarthRanger Admin site.
2. Navigate to: Home > Observations > Source Providers
3. Select Add Source Provider.
4. Enter:
   1. Natural Key: [site-name]-inreach (example: iona-inreach)
   2. Display Name: [Site Name] inReach (example: Iona inReach)
5. Click Save.
    

Step 2: Add an inReach Plugin
 

1. Navigate to: Home > Tracking > inReach Personal Plugins
2. Click Add inReach Plugin.
3. Enter the following values:
   1. Unique Name: A descriptive identifier (e.g. Iona inReach)
   2. Status: Enabled
   3. Additional: Leave empty
   4. Provider: Select the Source Provider created earlier (e.g. iona-inreach)
   5. Service Share Path: Paste the KML feed path from Garmin (e.g.: /Feed/Share/EarthRangerIona)
   6. Service Password: Paste the MapShare password from Garmin
   7. Service Username: Enter only the MapShare handle/username from your URL
      1. Example: for share.garmin.com/EarthRangerIona, enter EarthRangerIona
4. Click Save.

Step 3: Add a Source Plugin and Source

1. Navigate to: Home > Tracking > Source Plugins
2. Select Add Source Plugin.
3. Under Source, click the green (+) icon and complete the form:
   1. Device Manufacturer ID: Device IMEI (15 digits, found in Garmin Explore)
   2. Type of Data Expected: Tracking Device
   3. Device Model Name: inReach Explorer (or applicable model)
   4. Provider: Select your inReach Source Provider (e.g.: iona-inreach)
4. Click Save to return to the Add Source Plugin page.
5. Leave Source and Status unchanged.
6. Under Plugin Configuration, choose the matching configuration from the drop-down list
   1. Example: Iona inReach (inReach Personal Plugin)
7. Click Save.

Step 4: Add a Subject to Track
 

1. Go to Home > Observations > Subjects.
2. Click Add Subject.
3. Complete the following fields:
   1. Name: The person or entity being tracked (e.g., Camila, Ranger 1).
   2. Subject Subtype: Choose the relevant subtype (e.g., Ranger).
   3. Active: Check to display on the map.
   4. Group: Assign to an existing subject group (e.g., Rangers).
   5. Color: Choose the tracking line color.
   6. Source: Select the IMEI linked to your Source.
   7. Assigned Range:
      1. Start: Enter the activation date/time (e.g., 2024-10-05 09:15:00+0000).
      2. End: Enter a far-future deactivation date (e.g., 2099-12-31 23:59:59+0000).
4. Click Save. 

Completion

Your Garmin inReach device is now connected to your EarthRanger site. Location data from the device will appear as live subject tracks on the map.

To add another inReach device, repeat the same steps using its unique MapShare and IMEI details.

Troubleshooting

If you don’t see locations coming through, check the following:

• MapShare is enabled: In Garmin Explore, confirm MapShare is toggled On.
• Correct Service Share Path: Confirm you copied the full path starting with /Feed/Share/....
• Service Username is handle only: Enter just the MapShare handle (example: EarthRangerIona), not the full URL.
• Password matches MapShare settings: Ensure the MapShare password in Garmin is the same one pasted into EarthRanger.
• Plugin is Enabled: In EarthRanger Admin, confirm the inReach Personal Plugin status is Enabled.
• Source and Subject are linked: Verify the Subject’s Source is set to the correct IMEI.

If issues persist, contact EarthRanger Support for help with plugin or feed configuration.

Up Next: Create and Manage Authentication Tokens for Secure Integrations