wazkaren

I just installed 3.0 on my 400t and checked my profiles. My map settings are working correctly. I have Topo 2008 (base map) and City Navigator installed. Greg

OK, I'm totally frustrated with Garmin support and I give up. Has anyone successfully downgraded the chipset firmware on a Colorado? I have the GPSChipsetTypeM2_RegionFile__280.rgn file and I tried using Updater.exe using the instructions on the Colorado Wiki but that fails with 'The GARMIN device is unable to program the requested memory region....' I have gotten responses from 5 different Garmin support people. The summary of the "help" they've given: 1. We don't recommend downgrading chipset firmware 2. A pointer to the unit software .exe files (the unit software which I didn't ask for) 3. A pointer to an.rgn file (on http://www.gawisp.com/perry/chipset_firmware/Type_M) with no other instructions 4. Then when I asked with to do with the .rgn file they said to click on the link and select run (huh?) Thanks, Greg

I did a hike in the same park today and my results were very good, I don't see anything that I would call a drift problem: http://picasaweb.google.com/wazkaren/Color...172551708975794 Blue track is Forerunner, Red is Colorado. The differences between this track and the previous are: 1. I downgraded the Colorado software from 2.95 to 2.8. GPS Firmware stayed the same at 2.9. 2. The speed is different: I walked the trail instead of running. 3. The path I took was slightly different from the previous day. Could it be the 2.95 software that's the issue? I'll run with 2.8 more this week and see if I have the drift issues again with the 2.8 software. Greg

I have the old software versions but they do not update the GPS firmware. I have only updated the GPS firmware through the webupdater and can't find a standalone version. I've seen them for the Vista HCX but not the Colorado. That's why I was wondering if the Vista HCX and Colorado GPS firmware was the same. Greg

I would be happy to help you out with your colorado today. The chipset is not something that we suggest backdating as it would have the opportunity to negatively effect your sat. acquisition. I would suggest at this you perform an Auto Locate to obtain new satilite information. How do I perform an Auto Locate? 1) Access the Shortcut Menu 2) Select Others 3) Select Satellites 4) Press Options (Left Soft Key) 5) Select Use With GPS Off 6) Immediately press Options (Left Soft Key) again 7) Choose Autolocate Unit 8) Set the unit outside in plain view of the sky for 20 minutes so that it can record fresh satellite data then when that didn't work: Thank you for contacting Garmin International. I am happy to further assist you with this. Since the auto-locate did not correct the issue, I suggest you master reset the unit. Please keep in mind that resetting the unit will erase all user data such as your waypoint, routes, and tracks. Please be sure to back up any information you may want to save before continuing. To master reset the Colorado: ....

Hi everybody, I thought I would jump in here with my experience with my Colorado 400t and the 2.9 GPS firmware. I've had my Colorado for well over a year and I have to say that I've never seen the bad drift problems that other have seen, or at least I've never noticed it. Last week I upgraded from 2.8 to 2.9 and now I see drift errors over 500 feet. Here is an example that compares a Forerunner 205 with the Colorado. http://picasaweb.google.com/wazkaren/Color...805270652402146 The blue is the Forerunner and the red is the Colorado. The Forerunner is right on. In the northern most part of the track I was out of the woods in an open strip of land as is clearly visible in the picture. The Colorado shows my over 500 feet south in the woods. This is with an unobstructed view of the sky. Here's another example that shows the Colorado track is a mess: http://picasaweb.google.com/wazkaren/Color...798497198786178 I've been in contact with Garmin support but so far I'm getting the usual delaying tactics (re-acquire satellites, hard reset). I've trying to get them to help me downgrade to 2.8 but so far they won't do it. I've been through the various FAQs and this forum but I have not yet been successful to downgrade the GPS firmware. I tried the updater.exe but got a error saying it was trying to write to a protected area of memory. Is the GPS firmware the same file that's used on the vista HCX? Has anyone been able to downgrade their Colorado? Thanks, Greg

Well I finally got around to trying again to get a replacement. This time I tried e-mail and within a couple of days I had a response and an RMA. Shipped my unit out last week and they received it last Friday. I hope they don't take too long to turn it around, I feel lost (both figuratively and literally ) without my Colorado. Greg

I'll add one to the list. I'd like a simple way to clear the current track log and reset the trip computer with one selection on the map page. Greg

Thanks, I feel better that it isn't just me. I'll try again. Greg

Hmmm, I must not be using the right words. I have an earlier 400t and I too have had clock issues since day one that none of the firmware releases has fixed yet. I just called Garmin support. First he told me I have corrupted Almanac data. After I convinced him that it was not the problem I was put on hold. After about 5 minutes I was told that it's a firmware problem and the engineers are working on it. I have to wait for the new firmware. And there is no estimate on when the firmware will be done. So how did everyone else get an RMA? Greg EDIT: My serial number is (18Z002108)

International post is a little more expensive. As they made the mistake, I'd have thought it good customer relations to send a reply paid envelope. No big deal - just a thought. In my case they did include a stamped envelope (although I'm not international). I had ordered an InvisibleShield for a StreetPilot c530 but they sent me one for a Rhino 530. It was an honest mistake on their part and they fixed it. They sent me a replacement that arrived in about 2 days and included the self-addressed stamped envelope to return the incorrect shield. I was very happy with the customer service. Greg

I've seen it happen when I'm panning a map. I zoom out to 50 miles. The map display changes to North Up. Then I zoom back in and the map display stays in North Up (I do this as a workaround since I prefer North Up while panning). If I press select at this point to view details on a waypoint or cache or something then the North Up gets saved as you describe. Greg Thanks. I tried this and couldn't get it to behave the way you described. However, I eventually did get it to "break" but only when I selected a geocache. Selecting waypoints and POIs seemed to work like I expected. I'll put the geocache selection issue in the Issues list. Do waypoints and POIs cause the same problem for you or is it just geocaches? GO$Rs Yup, you're right. It only happens when I select a geocache. Greg

I've seen it happen when I'm panning a map. I zoom out to 50 miles. The map display changes to North Up. Then I zoom back in and the map display stays in North Up (I do this as a workaround since I prefer North Up while panning). If I press select at this point to view details on a waypoint or cache or something then the North Up gets saved as you describe. Greg Thanks. I tried this and couldn't get it to behave the way you described. However, I eventually did get it to "break" but only when I selected a geocache. Selecting waypoints and POIs seemed to work like I expected. I'll put the geocache selection issue in the Issues list. Do waypoints and POIs cause the same problem for you or is it just geocaches? GO$Rs I'm going from memory so maybe it was just selecting caches. I'll check tonight when I get home. Greg

I've seen it happen when I'm panning a map. I zoom out to 50 miles. The map display changes to North Up. Then I zoom back in and the map display stays in North Up (I do this as a workaround since I prefer North Up while panning). If I press select at this point to view details on a waypoint or cache or something then the North Up gets saved as you describe. Greg

I was talking about #2 (I wasn't very clear). When panning around the map I want the map to be in North Up for the reason you describe. The Track Up while panning is very disorienting for me in this case. But for #1 I do like Track Up. My point was that Garmin should make Track Up or North Up while panning an option. Greg

By the way, did you notice that with 2.4 in Track up if you start panning then zoom out to 50 miles the display switches to North up. Then you can zoom back in where you were and the display is still North up. Exit panning and you go back to Track up again. I don't know if this is by design or oversight but it could be a workaround of sorts. BUT, if you select a Waypoint or Geocache while panning then the North Up gets locked. At that point you have to go back to setttings to change to Track up again. My wife and I talked North up vs Track up while caching this weekend. We came to the conclusion that some people think in absolute position (North up) while others think in terms of relative position (track up). When using track up I can get disoriented easily so I very much prefer North up when panning. So to get my bearings in 2.3 I could just pan. My wife on the other hand can lose her bearings when the map switches to North up. So if we could just get Garmin to make this a settable option then everyone would be happy. Greg

We just got back from some caching and saw the exact same thing. The compass was off (I double checked several times). We would be headed straight for the cache and it would all of a sudden switch 180 degrees. It sometimes took 30 seconds or more to correct itself and switch back to pointing the right way. And the whole time the distance was decreasing as expected. I was using track up at the time. After awhile I switched to North up and I didn't notice the problem after that. Greg

I'm a bit mystified about this issue too. I thought 2.4 solved it for me but now I'm not too sure. I set an alarm for this morning and it was exactly right, but then took awhile to get sat. lock. Yesterday morning when I checked the time in the morning it was 6 minutes late. Today after work I checked and the time was about 9 hours off (it was the time I had turned it off this morning) but I was able to get sat. lock very fast. So twice it was right, once it was close, and once it was way off. Very weird. Greg

Of course, I could be wrong... On the other hand I did drop it yesterday, that might have fixed it Seriously tho, I had also thought it must be a hardware issue. It's possible that pressure trending is still active. I know when I first got my Colorado I couldn't get pressure trending to turn on. Maybe now it won't turn off. That's why I'm still going to keep an eye on it for a few days and see what happens. When it gets dark tonight I'll watch for the tell tale light flicker that lets me know pressure trending is working. Greg

So far it looks like it fixed my clock problem. But I'm still keeping an eye on it. My previous post

With 2.3 my 400t would lose time if powered off for more then 3 hrs. But with pressure trending on it would keep time overnight. It was a good workaround for me. Yesterday I upgraded to 2.4 and turned off pressure trending and left it powered off all night. The clock was correct this morning. I'll take a look again tomorrow but at first look it seems that my clock problem is gone. Greg

This can be set with altering the zoom level for POI on the maps. Setup -> Map -> Options "Left button" -> Advanced -> Zoom Levels -> User Waypoints. I have mine at 800 meters. That's disappointing. I was hoping/assuming they would make them separate settings. I would like to see Geocaches when I'm using my Geocaching profile, and only user waypoints when not Geocaching. Oh well, maybe next update? Thanks, Greg

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I don't mean to be a complainer, but how do I now turn OFF the display of GeoCaching icons on the map. They completely overwhelm my display. The release notes make it sound like it's an option but I don't see it. Has anyone found the option? Thanks, Greg

My 400t loses time when it is powered off for more than 3 hours. When it loses time it goes back to the time when the unit was shut off minus a minute or two (as captured in the position.gpx file). I'm hoping that it is a software issue and I'm waiting for the next firmware release to see for sure. While I'm waiting I've found a workaround. If I set the "Pressure Trending" setting to "Save Always" the unit will have the correct time when turned on after more than 3 hours. I suspect that it is waking up every so often to read the barometer and that is enough to refresh the clock. I do hope this is not a hardware issue. Greg