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Getting Started With the Garmin Explore App and a Pro 550 Plus

Using a Pro 550 Plus dog training handheld and the Garmin Explore™ app, you can view a map of your live hunting activities right on your smartphone. The Garmin Explore app has many helpful features such as marking waypoints, reviewing previous activities, creating routes, and downloading higher grade maps. The following guide will get you started with pairing and using the Pro 550 Plus handheld with the Garmin Explore app.

The Garmin Explore app does not provide controls for training commands such as tone, vibration, or stimulation.

Before getting started download and install the Garmin Explore app from your phone's app store.

Pairing the Pro 550 Plus Handheld With the Garmin Explore App

Instructions for pairing will vary slightly depending on whether or not you have used the Garmin Explore app previously.

NOTE: In order to pair your Pro 550 Plus handheld, a data connection is required and the app on your phone or tablet and the software on the handheld must both be up to date. Apps on your phone or tablet can be updated via the app store. For instructions on updating the PRO 550 Plus software, see - Installing Software Updates to Garmin Dog Products Using Garmin Express™.

First Time Users

Install and open the Garmin Explore app.
Select Create Account.
- NOTE: If you already have a Garmin account or have previously used other Garmin apps, you can select Sign In (or Continue as ['username'], if prompted).
Tap Next after reading and agreeing to the EULA.
Tap Enable Cloud Storage (or Not Now).
Continue selecting Done to proceed through the information about new app features.
Select Add Device when prompted.
The app will then begin searching for devices. It may take several moments for the app to find the PRO 550 Plus.
Once the PRO 550 Plus is found, select Connect It and follow the prompts to complete the setup.

The PRO 550 Plus will now be paired with the Garmin Explore app.

Existing Garmin Explore App Users

Open the Garmin Explore app.
- If prompted, read and agree to EULA, and sign in.
Select Devices.
Select either + Pair a New Device or .
The app will then begin searching for devices. It may take several moments for the app to find the PRO 550 Plus.
Once the PRO 550 Plus is found, select Connect It and follow the prompts to complete the setup.

The PRO 550 Plus will now be paired with the Garmin Explore app.

Using the Garmin Explore App

Some of the main features of the Garmin Explore app include:

Create and edit waypoints and routes/courses
Review recorded tracks and/or activities
Download maps directly to the smartphone
Organize data into Collections to show or hide previous activities on the map
Sync data to the Garmin Explore website for cloud based storage

New features and tools will be enabled in the Garmin Explore app when a Pro 550 Plus handheld has been paired:

Shows Dog Status icon – treeing, pointing, sitting
Shows Dog Name
Dog Track Color matches the colors on handheld – red, blue, black
You can adjust how long the dog tracks show on the map
Dog movement Speed Indicator
- Any part of the track that shows a segment of the dog moving faster than a certain speed will show up as a thicker line on the map
- Useful to know if the dog is chasing something during a hunt
- Choose either faster than 5 mph, 10 mph, 15 mph, or Off
  1. Open the Garmin Explore app.
  2. Select Map.
  3. Select .
  4. Select .
  5. Select Map Settings.
  6. Select Line Display Settings (Android) / Dog Mode Settings (iOS).
  7. Select Speed Indicator.
Dog Hunts saved as an Activity
Play Back feature: Plays back the dog's hunting activity
1. Select Saved.
2. Select the name of the hunt you want to review.
3. Select the dog you want to review from the List.
4. Touch the play button.

For guidance on how to use many other features of the Garmin Explore app, see the following videos and the Related Content links below.