kemis

Interesting you mention this because I happened to plug it into my laptop last night (same cable) and it worked great! So I think you're right with the USB line of thought, but it may be more with my PC. I should be able to fix this & will let you know my findings. I'm in the mood to dig into some GSAK macro code, but not sure if I'll have time. I will definitely let you know if I ever figure something out. Matt

I just purchased a 3790t and am having trouble getting GPX's on (the way I'd like). The problem is, I can drop a GPX into the GPX folder, but they all show up as favorites!! Not cool. Furthermore, they show only GC name (not name or smart name) by default. With this unit, it seems like I need to use the POI Loader utility combined with a GSAK macro. Unfortunately, that macro is from 2008 and doesn't seem to natively support the newer models. I tried it anyway last night, and the unit said it loaded up my waypoints, but they don't show up properly on the unit (very small icon where the cache is that isn't clickable) and they aren't found when I search POI's by name. I might be able to hack the macro to get it to work right if I can figure out the new POI Loader format. In any case, whil ei was messing with it last night, my 3790t eventually would never show up on my computer. It would boot up, show the connected to PC screen, then reboot. Argh. Very disappointed. Not sure what I'm going to do, but I'm already looking around for other models that may better support geocaching. Note: In my case, I don't want my Nuvi to be an all-in-one. I plan to use it for "look what caches are nearby!" combined with my real GPSr for actually going out to find it. Nonetheless, I need a stupid-simple way to keep my caches updated on my nuvi just like it is already for my 60CSx. Matt

Unfortunately, I had to return my new MTK-based unit to REI since there was no way to return my used SIRF, so I can no longer do any sort of real side-by-side comparison other than the points I've touched on already in this post. Furthermore, I'm still not convinced that my SIRF unit behaves the same way a NEW SIRF unit would. Actually, I am working to borrow one of my friend's older SIRF units for a while so I can see for sure if it's the "older/SIRF" that's the problem, or if my particular unit has maybe just been dropped a few too many times. ;-) From what I've read on other forum posts concerning the differences between the two units, everyone tends to come to the conclusion that the chipset inside the 60CSx has no real effect on the model's offerings feature-wise. Although my particular experience proves otherwise (the SIRF unit appears inferior), I may be a special case. Once I get my hands on another SIRF unit for side-by-side comparison, I'll update this thread. THANKS AGAIN FOR EVERYONE'S HELP!!! Matt

Am I allowed to call Garmin for support on a used, second-hand 2007-model unit? Also, I just entered diagnostics mode (held down ENTER while powering up on both units). Here are some interesting comaprisons, but I have no clue what these figures really mean. I'm only highlighting those which seem to be way off: MTK: Software Ver: 4.10 XO Drift - 0.00 C/NO - -1.00 (steady) SIRF: Software Ver: 4.00 XO Drift - -1.89 C/NO - bounces around 25 (ranges 10 - 30+) NOTE: I did swap batteries in the units, but nothing changed, so I'm sure the batteries are not the source of any problem. Does this info help at all? Matt

Am I allowed to call Garmin for support on a used, second-hand 2007-model unit? Matt

I have been wondering this the whole time. Especially since almost all the satellites seem to be getting a "stronger" signal with the MTK, especially when inside the house. My SIRF unit was mfg in 2007 or so. I will investigate the cracked antenna link you posted & let you know what I think. Who sells external antennas where I can return it if necessary? REI? Academy? FYI, both units were setup the exact same way when those pics were taken. Record method for track was set to Auto for both. THANKS! Matt

Thanks! Will someone please post something similar for a SIRF-based unit? Matt

Hey, Robert! One of my friends just had me read that article the other day. He's a big Magellan fan. Anyway, so I'm assuming that the MTK units are programmed by Garmin for the latter? That makes sense considering that even moving the MTK unit around a bit (slowly) still produces nothing on the odometer. Nonetheless, if I can find a few other people who say their map track looks nothing like mine after 15 mins of sitting still, then I'd say I have a leg to stand on claiming that this unit I just received is defective. Do you agree? Update: Even after turning WAAS off and coming back inside my home, the SIRF unit is drifting around way more than the MTK. I don't think my hard reset or even turning WAAS off really did much. I must say that I think the accuracy number improved just a few seconds after turning WAAS off. This just bugs me, though, since WAAS shouldn't hinder accuracy, right? Matt

Thanks! That helps. Did you just know that 48 or 51 are the WAAS for my area, or did you see that on the unit? In my living room, I'm picking up 48, whereas I think 51 is the only one visible in my pics. So, I did a HARD reset (held down page & enter while turning on) and left the unit outside for 20 minutes. Take a look at the pics 9182, 9183, and 9186 on my pics site now. BIG difference! Is it fixed? Not sure yet... A major question I had was why no WAAS data was being used, but then as I typed this, I realized that it was never re-enabled after the reset. I have to wonder if WAAS is the cause of my problem!? I will turn it back on & do another baking in the open sky over the weekend. Well, nevermind. I just enabled it, & in just 30 seconds, I've "moved" over 31 feet and counting. So WAAS is the problem on this new device!? Isn't WAAS supposed to HELP and not hinder accuracy/reliability? Suggestions? Matt

Yeah - ignoring the EPE difference, the track alone is pretty ugly. My MediaTek Summit HC looks like your MediaTek 60CSx. Rock stable once it's been on for a few seconds. My buddy's SiRFIII 60CSx doesn't wander much, either - certainly nothing like what you had there. I neither case can I say I'm really impressed with the number and height of the bars in photos #2 and #3. Satellite #23 was right above you, and barely running the signal level up at all in those pics. Could be because you were standing over both of them when you took the photos Seriously, there's a huge difference between photo #1 and the other two. Under what circumstances were you taking these measurements? A big problem I have right now is not knowing what exactly I'm looking at on the satellite view page. I have no clue, for example, what an empty bar means versus a solid bar. I'm pretty sure a D means WAAS is locked in, but I thought the last 2 satellites were reserved for WAAS lock. Anyway, what you're seeing there is the first picture was taken very shortly after both units had a lock after turning on at the exact same time. The other pics were 30+ minutes later. What you said about your friend's SIRF unit not looking like that is what I'm needing to hear (besides suggestions on how to fix it, if possible). I need to know that this isn't "normal" SIRF-based 60CSx behavior, as opposed to just "assuming" it's not what SIRF users are so proud of! :-) I just did a hard reset & have the unit sitting out in my front yard (as opposed to my back yard). I'll let you know what happens... THANKS! Matt

Umm... not so happy with the almanac reset. After leaving outside for about 45 minutes (another popular site says it only really takes 15 minutes), I reset the logs & let it sit for another 15 minutes. Attached are some pics of the units before/after this process. The track map is 15 mins worth of standing completely still. Please review these pictures: http://clearchoiceit.com/files/index.php?dir=gpspics%2F I'm about to cold reset the unit & see what happens... Matt P.S. - My MTK unit says I've traveled 0ft on the odometer whereas the SIRF says I've traveled .13 miles at a speed of 2 miles per hour!!!

Yes, the chipset firmware is the latest 3.0s. I'll try the almanac thing later tonight. Thanks! Matt 3.0s is for the Sirfstar chipset. OP said he had Mediatek Seldom_sn: I am the OP. :-) Currently, I have _both_ a brand new 60CSx from REI with an MTK chipset, but I wish to return it because I just bought a used one with a SIRF. Unfortunately, the SIRF unit is proving very unreliable & I'm very surprised by how inaccurate & literally "all over the map" it is, hence my post comparing/contrasting the accuracy between the two "same" model units. I'm about to put it outside for an hour, so we'll see what happens. I really do think the unit is defective, though. If that's the case, is there any chance of repair? Could the antenna just be loose inside or something? Matt

Yes, the chipset firmware is the latest 3.0s. I'll try the almanac thing later tonight. Thanks! Matt

So, I'm assuming this is simply re-introducing all the possible satellites to the GPSr? What exactly is happening? Would this fix the inability to maintain a lock? Matt

Dang! For some reason, I wasn't subscribed to this thread even though I'm OP. I will remedy that ASAP so I know you guys are trying to help!! Anyway, I love this suggestion & inadvertently observed something similar yesterday, but will make it more formal as soon as I can. Yesterday, I was parked in my car waiting for someone comparing the two units again. After sitting there for 10 minutes, I noticed that my SIRF unit's tracklog in Map mode looked like a 2-year old's scribble. Meanwhile, the MTK unit was sitting still. This, combined with the fact my SIRF had a 50' accuracy reading, while the MTK claimed about 14'. I am honestly beginning to wonder if this isn't so much a "chipset" problem as much as it's likely that this used SIRF model I purchased is simply defective. I just don't see how my experience so far lines up with everyone's reviews of the "trusty" SIRF-based 60CSx's. As for RonFisk's suggestion to rebuild the almanac, how do I do that? THANK YOU, EVERYONE!!! Matt

I bought a new 60CSx from REI (my very first real GPSr) which came with a Mediatek chipset. I later found an older 60CSx on Craigslist for $213 cheaper, which turned out to have a SIRFstar III chipset. The difference between chipsets has been discussed elsewhere, and the main conclusion seemed to be a general preference for the SIRF, but that it didn't really matter in the end. Well.... out of the box, my new MTK-based Garmin inside my home was claiming 14 feet accuracy, while the older SIRF-based model was claiming 40 feet accuracy. Hmmm... not something I wanted to see out of the box. Yesterday, I took them both on my first caching trip to find a cache I was completely unsuccesful finding with my iPhone. The entire time, both devices were telling me to go in different directions for different measurements. Finally, I gave up, looked at the hint, and found it that way. Yeah, I know you shouldn't rely too much on your GPSr & go for geosense instead, but both units were telling me I was about 30 feet away when I was over the cache. This makes me question reliability. Furthermore, I decided to take a 100-sample average using BOTH devices. This morning, I measured the distance between each one and the posted coords... The new MTK device's recorded average waypoint above the cache was about 5' from the posted coords, yet it didn't say that on the screen when I was over it. The older SIRF model (which claims a less-accurate +/- signal lock) recorded an average waypoint that measured about 31' away! That's a big difference in my mind & makes me question the reliability of the unit. This makes me wonder which coords were closer to correct--the posted one which matched my MTK unit, or my SIRF unit. If this were a democracy, my SIRF unit would lose the election. Both devices have the exact same settings, WAAS enabled, etc. The only difference I can't account for besides the chipset itself was the OS version on the new one is 4.1 (yet unpublished on Garmin's site) while the SIRF model has the "latest" v4.0 version. Not sure if v4.1 made the device any more accurate, so I'm assuming this is a chipset thing. Okay, so I'm relatively new to caching & GPSr's in general, but do I have a valid concern here about accuracy/reliability of this SIRF-based model? Thanks for taking the time to read this! --Matt