Magellin

There might be an object lodged in the dash mounted lighter socket! it should be a 20 amper and might not "pop" when used with the cig lighter element. Check the socket and if it has debri in it (old butt ashes . pennies, dimes. get a new one. with the cable un pluged you can use a TEST LIGHT to check for a short Connect the light to on terminal of the cig plug of your adaptor and the other to GND if it "lights brigt" it is shorted. There are electonics in there for voltage control and reduction.

I use the Plati, and LitngBug uses both the Sport Track and Meri "C" and we find the S/T doesnt have as good a lock on sats. I do recomend the plati. The Blue Nav Software will work on all of them. But the CD can cost you about $150.00 U.S.

It can depending on if you have map orientation set to heading up/north up, or track up. On A meriplat when it's set to heading up, i turn the map turns. with no lateral movement on my part.

I feel that you should first decide which unit you like best. Then look for the post('s) for the most user liked hand held devices. Then the units with the most problems . Some mapping software looks better than others and have more or less features. Some work with some products but not others. Generally they all do the same basic thing and are a bear to lug around unless mounted to the front seat of the car/truck

Nothing to do with your problem however, I had a prob with a 2 year old TOPO CD and was sent a new one , free of charge within 72 hours. dont hate the whole company for someone answering the phone having a bad "hair~day" on the other end of the line.

I am a fan and Addict of technology and all information. The Unit I own, I selected from research. I Post not for A "FLAME" but the Answers to put the FLAME OUT! I dont think he was lost .... He proved a POINT!

I dont know where Your #'s come from. But if flooding the market with sub-standard products justifies the end? dont get me wrong Garmin Makes dadgum good Sonar, So why make something for the masses if there are so many issues? Other Companies were started and still are stedfast on navigation related items only. Mitsubishi HI. makes a great car, how ever they also made the ZERO!

I dont know, and I'm not looking for a bashing. But, Why is there so many questions and problems with Garmin Products? They do make a great Fish finder BTW!

The Compass is great (dont rely on one item for navigation) The Alt is not that great (unless you have a 3d plotter app on the PC) The thing is, with most ALT capable units that have a BARO sensor, which if left on for long times can give you reletive Baro Pressure/history/direction and a great weather forcaster.

Night time will produce the most accurate reception for a GPSR. If you placed the cache in the heat of day and then someone looks for it at night they would be on the numbers that you post only they are at the #'s at a more accurate time due to better reception/lack of atmosphiric errors

ok try thisOn you GPS goto SETUP- NEMA SET to V2.1GSA ON PC goto START-Accessories then COMMUNICATION- HYPER TERMINAL make new connection (called GPS) change nothing but the "Connect using:" And select COM 1 Set the BIT RATE TO MATCH THE GPS you should see NEMA DATA GSV,3,3,10,27,05,295,,15,-2,108,,,,,,,,,*64 $PMGNST,05.12,3,F,522,04.4,-04009,20*5B $GPGSV,3,1,10,01,71,317,,03,58,135,,16,51,025,,19,34,172,*7E $GPGSV,3,2,10,31,30,185,,13,28,321,,20,26,231,,25,22,088,*7D $GPGSV,3,3,10,27,05,295,,15,-2,108,,,,,,,,,*64 If you don't...................... well you could use a DVOM to check continuity through the wires and plug....

BINGO EMBRA. Ok, so now we know its not the GPS unit . do use any other software with your unit? easygps, MAPSEND?

From the MAGUP Application select "EXPERT" select your "UNIT" Select the COM PORT (1, or 2, 3,) Whichever was the displayed in your PC HARDWARE SETTINGS. Then select the code file or Database file lemmie know

oops, VER 5.0 is correct for your unit!!!!!!!!!!! Make sure contacts are clean? (pencile eraser)

The latest Ver is 5.12 make sure you use the SAME UPDATE TOOL THAT CAME WITH THE UPDATE CODE! Set your GPS to HIGHER BAUD Set your PC to a HIGHER BAUD 115200 8 1 none 1

Ouch!

I0I0 = off/on/off/on

Thats the right plug :-) ON GPS UNIT: 1)Go into the MENU-SETUP-Baud Rate 2)Check and set the BAUD RATE TO 115200. ON PC : START- Control Panel (click). System (double click). Pick (Hardware). Then Pick "DEVICE MANAGER". Find "PORTS (COM & LPT). Double Click it. Select "Communications Port (COM 1)"................ IF ITS INSTALLED! Select "PORT SETTINGS". Set BITS PER SEC TO THE SAME AS GPS UNIT!

What vesion of windblows are you using? 98 2000 me XP Make Sure that you have an available COM PORT find out in Control Panel-System-Hardware-Device manager- PORTS *(PORT SETTINGS) You need at least one COM PORT (If shared you need to dis-able the Progie using it or add a new PORT) Make sure the settings (Bitrate)on the PC's com port are set to the same as the GPS unit *(PORT SETTINGS) default is 9600(Bitrate) set the GPS TO MAX(115200)(Bitrate) and set the COMPORT ON THE PC TO 115200(Bitrate). if probs occure lower the bitrate to a lower #

I Picked the more expensive Meri/Plati. Magellan was a bad azz in hiz day

Do alot of research Like I did. And take note of all the opinions you get here. if price is a main concern then think about the little problems like updated map software and recievers and firmware. Some units are the same on the inside and just look nicer on the out. (depending on where the buttons are). My Magellan Units are dadgum good, dead nutz on with all. The Maping software kinda sux on the PC but is the bomb on the unit itself. Lightning fast up/downloading with MapSend SW

Nickies are to be Charged the same as Lionz only you have to be very sure that they are fully discharged (Use a bulb of the same voltage and connect over night), And (dont quote me on this) Nickies might not last as long due to the metals used and might have as much or more Merc in them as Alkies due.

It shouldnt be too expensive to replace 2 aa lionz. with care and practace they can outlast alky batts by far and save you $ in the long run. Just remember to fully discharge the batts, and allow unit to cool before recharging. lionz as well as all rechargables have a "memory" and if you fail to discharge the batts completly before recharging you will "lower" the effective reserve capacity of the lionz. I wound't wery, I would be glad!

5.12 is the latest Ver as of 05/14/04 Just as the others have esplained!! COMPASS CALIBRATION and RUN TIME are needed for the weather app to display. 5.12 is the latest Ver as of 05/14/04 Let everyone know how you made out. P.S. Dont use a "Lazy Suzan" to calibrate