yogazoo

Could it be that the 300 and 400t have seperate issues? It seems that, at least in some instances, the 400t and 300 users are experiencing different problems. It wierd how my unit exhibits such strange and prevailant battery/power issues (Colorado telling me the batts are dead but when I stick a Voltmeter on them they are fresh). I wonder if the unit firmware is different for each model. I can tell you that my 300 does not work with USB power as a GPS, only as an external disk (even on an "official" Garmin car adapter).

Not true in my case, I have an "official" garmin wall outlet USB power converter and it still doesn't work. Unless what your saying is that they completely changed the pin-out protocal for the new Colorado's. Garmin usually doesn't pull fast ones like that, they are generally good at being backwards compatible. That's why I feel its in the crappy firmware they slapped on the units to get them out the door.

Unit: Colorado 300 I have noticed that whenever external power is supplied either from a computer, wall usb outlet, or car adapter, you can't get it out of USB transfer mode, essentially rendering the unit useless as a GPS. Anyone else notice this? Sloppy firmware is all I can think of.

Confirmed again today. NIMH's that are pronounced dead by the Garmin colorado are read as completely full in my 60CSX.

I hear you 4America. I have a Colorado 300 and the more and more I use it, the more and more it reminds me of something less than a serious navigation tool. I do alot of field work, waypoint and track gathering for GIS applications, and the fact that there is no waypoint averaging?!? (come on Garmin!). Also when you go to set your datum you have to select "NONE" under datums if you want WGS84, then it says that the spheroid is WGS84?????? What? WGS 84 is a datum not a spheroid. Garmin, come on! So many little flaws makes me wonder how much thought went into this product before they released it. Talk to me a week from now, or after a few firmware updates and I'll probably either love it because they fixed the stupid snags or I'll have gotten used to it.

I ordered a Colorado 300 from www.GpsNow.com for $435.00. I had it overnighted for $16.00. It was on my doorstep the very next morning. I even called to verify my order and got a real live person who was very helpful. Good Luck!

StarBrand what GPS are you using? Magellan 315? 1hr with the backlight on is just plain rediculous.

Thanks for that info Big Rick! I knew that 1.5 hrs in the Colorado was lousy. Now the question, is it the firmware or is the Colorado backlight a power hog? Maybe someone with a little more technical expertise could measure the power draw!?! Look, I'm not looking to burn the backlight on high all the time but man, a 2 hour drive, at night shouldn't be a problem. What about night caches? How often do you go out on a night cache for less than 1.5 hours? PS: Just a note, the Battery monitor thing just seems a little unstable. One minute it shows full power, the next two bars, the next full again (with both alkaline and NIMH). Can anyone also experiencing this give me a shout?

Regardles of the time it ran, it would tell me the batteries were dead when they weren't. I have tried this test three times now with different charged 2500mah rechargable batteries. The Colorado GPS firmware version is 2.50. The point here is that the voltage detector doesn't seem to realize that it is supposed to be reading a NIMH (1.2v fresh). It reads that the volts reach 1.1v and decides the supposed 1.5 (alkaline) are dead. Suts down the backlight and a few minutes later the whole unit. I have a 60CSX that gets 4.5 hours minimum with the backlight on high (2500mah NIMH). This is reasonable. 1.5? I think is rather lacking.

Garmin Colorado - Does not!

Well, with all of the Garmin threads with multiple pages I thought I would post a new thread about this rather serious problem (For me. All I use is NIMH). I have timed my unit with the backlight on full and it only lasts about 1.5-2hrs before my unit tells me my batteries are dead! I DO HAVE THE NIMH SELECTED IN THE SETTINGS! Here's the gipper, I take the batteries that the Colorado told me where dead and place them in my 60CSX and VWALLA! FULL POWER! That tells me that the voltage detector simply doesn't change when you select different battery types OR, the new Colorado line doesn't work well with NIMH rechargeables! Could be a deal breaker. Is anyone else experiencing this potentially fatal flaw or do I have a bum unit?

Note: Any maps, City Nav 2008, costom maps, inland lakes, NP topo, that do not have DEM information in them will be overlayed onto the TOPO2008 DEM! You must have TOPO2008 AND any other map selected at the same time. When you do, the DEM is used for all other maps! SWEET! My GPS is the Colorado 300. Check out the Elk background! http://lampropeltis.googlepages.com/918.bm...-full;init:.bmp

Good News everyone! If you load BOTH TOPO2008 maps AND City Nav2008 Maps and have them both selected in the "select maps" menu, the DEM from TOPO2008 can be seen under the City Nav 2008 streets! SWEET! This means that a new City Nav with DEM information is irrelevant! So far, I'm lovin' My Garmin 300' I have added many new screen backgrounds. Check out this Elk! Slick! http://lampropeltis.googlepages.com/918.bm...-full;init:.bmp

OK, in light of this... --- ) The ability to adjust the temperature readout, like the old Magellan Platinum.

Addressing the question of whether or not the startup time is due to the maps loading. The thread states that a "loading map" dialogue is displayed during most of the startup. Therefore I believe the answer is yes unless the post is in error. Maybe someone could verify this.

Ask yourself one question. Do you really need the entire US TOPO2008 loaded on your unit? I am sure that in some cases, extreme travellers may find this handy, but come on. REALLY? Here's something to consider, the post in another thread has mentioned that it takes a 400t a good 40 seconds to start up because of loading all those maps. It would make sense then that it would start up quicker if it didn't have all the TOPO2008 maps to load every time, most of which are seldom needed anyway for normal use. It seems that you can load all of the maps of your home stomping grounds, onto the 300 (I have CN2008, TOPO2008, Inland Lks, and National Park Topo loaded for Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming = 358MB all fit on the 300 WITHOUT AN SD CARD) plus have the maps on your computer for you to look at as an aid. The convenience and overall "cool factor" of having all of the TOPO2008 maps may be worth it for some, but for me, the benefits are minimal compared to the lower price of the 300 and long term benefits to having ALL the maps. If I go on vacation to somewhere outside of my three state stomping grounds, I'll just load different maps. Also, when they come out (fingers crossed) with a DEM based Topo series based on 30m DEM, or maybe even a 1/3rd Arc Second DEM, you will then potentially have two topo sets, one your stuck with (loading every time you start up = 40 seconds) and one you use. Look, everything in the GPS world is based on what YOUR needs are. Evaluate, search yourself. The answer will be as plain as the nose on your face.

Okay, here's the deal on the Colorado 300. $439.95 + free shipping. Edited to give price. Thanks Redwoods Mtn Biker! I cancelled my Colorado 300 order wih REI (who said they ship in mid February) and ended up having one overnighted to be delivered Saturday Morning for much less than REI's total cost. I know, I know the dividend would make up for it. Thanks for the link and the info!

400t's are at the REI warehouse for immediate ship! 300's at REI will be vailable on February 9th or 10th

So is the scale of the topo maps that come loaded in the 400t 24K? If not, what is it? Barry aka Doc Geo No, sorry for any confusion. I was refering to the state of Colorado and the 24K mapset someone has made for it. The Garmin Colorado scale is the same as before, something equivelent to 100K maps (anywhere from 50ft to 100ft contours). The 24K product for the state of Colorado has been made by a seperate vendor who sells the maps (coverage of the state of Colorado, not the Gramin Colorado). Confused yet?

I just have to know... Is the Alarm Clock function and constant pressure logging (even when powered off) back from previous models (Non-X models)??????????????????? It was a great feature of the old 60C and Vista C models. I missed it and had heard rumors that these features were back! Please let us know ASAP! THANK YOU!

I just don't have the itch. Besides the excessive cost, the battery life, which has been characterised as excellent, is half that of my Venture. The only maps I care about are Above the Timber's 24K Colorado Topos and they'll only show as flat maps just like the Venture, no embedded DEMs. At $300 I'd consider upgrading for that big screen, not before. I can understand your lack of enthusiasm over the Colorado unit. However for the rest of the country (anywhere but Colorado) who doesn't have a marketed 24K scale topo set it may be a little more interesting. One thing to note is that the battery life will be about the same as the 60csx. Using a Venture, sure, battery life pales in comparison. Screen size has alot to do with power consumption. You, holding out for a big screen, will likely be dissapointed with its battery life. Its all about your needs in a GPS. I for one will appreciate the 65K colors and the larger (albiet not huge) screen. I will also appreciate the return of the Alarm Clock and constant logging (even when turned off) of barometric pressure data that was lost when the x's came out. The changes in the display of roads and features are also a plus. Paperless caching is huge to me as well. The display of DEM data is, in my humble opinion, advantageous over increased topo lines and here's why. I have dabbled in the map creation thing with CGPSmapper. Making maps with 24K iso lines (40ft intervals) is great but when you have alot of roads, trails, and other data on-screen it gets to be a bit much. Often time trails become lost in the iso-lines as well as roads (the colors of trails and iso-lines are similar). The DEM shaded format still gives you lines but, to me, its more visually pleasing than a bunch of iso-lines stacked close together. Price? I sold my Garmin 60CSX online for $350 and paid $425 for my Colorado 300. Is $75 dollars worth the upgrade? For me, YES.

I've preordered a Colorado 300 from REI. I talked to a representative from their warehouse and they confirmed that the 300 model will not arrive at their warehouse until February 9th or 10th . At that point they will recieve 200 units to satisfy the first come first serve preorders. After that who knows! I've previously heard that the first shipments should have been available this week (January 16th). If this is true and they have been delayed by almost a month it would stand to reason that the 400's, due out later, will be delayed by the same amount (March?). If anyone knows of a supplier for the 300's that has them in stock PLEASE let me know! I'll cancel my order from REI and buy from them. One could say that I'm a little OCD over these new units. Anyone else heard when and/or where the first ones available to the public will be? Anyone received theirs yet?