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Slinger05

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Posts posted by Slinger05

    Garmin Oregon 600 or GPS 64s

    in GPS technology and devices

    Posted

    I've been thinking about the 650t but have read the screen freezes up. Have you experienced this at all? Nothing concerns me more than Garmin Beta devices. I almost feel like Garmin's are not worth their weight until they've been on the market for two years. (This is coming from a guy that has owned a Garmin 62st, Garmin Monterra and now a Garmin 62s.)

    Garmin Monterra Compass Mis-calibrated

    in GPS technology and devices

    Posted

    So now that the compass problem is fixed, how is the Monterra's functionality? any other bugs/crashes? how are you guys finding the battery life?

     

    i went out caching for the day with the backlight on all time but lowest possible setting and i got 4 and half hours with 16% left so i reckon five hours tops 30 caches found but always carry spare batteries would be nice to share geocaches between devices my oregon 400t plus have the geocache total of the dashboard im still getting used to it not used for auto mode im wondering if gb discover sd card map is ok for routing with it on the whole i pretty happy compass issue is ok i had no probs one issues is you cannot see on the cahche desciption the photos from geocaching dot.com cheers

     

    That's good to hear you didn't have any issues and the battery made it that long. I remember trying to hike and navigate with the Monterra when I had it. It's very big compared to the 62s. I also didn't have a d-link attached to it so it was like holding one of the original cell phones with no place to put it. Obviously too big for pockets. Have they launched any D-link attachments for the Monterra? Had anyone used any aftermarket components for such or have thoughts on how to carry this device when on a hike?

    Garmin Monterra Compass Mis-calibrated

    in GPS technology and devices

    Posted

    I've had my Monterra for about two weeks now, right after the 1.18 update came out. It has been working pretty well, especially since the compass was resolved. However, in the last two days, I can't get it to point "up" on the map when I'm navigating to a cache except when I'm driving. If I'm walking, the compass is pointed either 90 degrees left or right or even worse, today it was pointed 180 degrees so basically the map was backwards - as I'm walking towards the cache. I have the latest 1.19 update so I'm not sure what the heck is going on with this thing. I tried calibrating the compass while I was in the field but that was an effort in futility. I just calibrated it now so I'll see how it performs tomorrow...

     

    Have you tried a hard reset? If not, I would try there first, then report back.

     

    Thankfully, I didn't need to resort to that. I went caching all day yesterday and part of today. After properly calibrating the compass, it has kept me on track.

     

    Now, if I could get more than 3 hours of battery life out of it, I'd be ecstatic. I go caching every day (my streak is well over 900 days) and on weekends I typically go caching all day. My Montana would last at least 8 hours of solid caching, sometimes more, sometimes less. I'm lucky to get 3 hours out of my Monterra.

     

    That's horrible. My Garmin 60S and 60csx lasted about 6 hours which I thought was annoying, but three hours. I guess, buying a backup batter is a must. Would you ever go back to the Montana?

    Garmin Monterra Compass Mis-calibrated

    in GPS technology and devices

    Posted

    I've had my Monterra for about two weeks now, right after the 1.18 update came out. It has been working pretty well, especially since the compass was resolved. However, in the last two days, I can't get it to point "up" on the map when I'm navigating to a cache except when I'm driving. If I'm walking, the compass is pointed either 90 degrees left or right or even worse, today it was pointed 180 degrees so basically the map was backwards - as I'm walking towards the cache. I have the latest 1.19 update so I'm not sure what the heck is going on with this thing. I tried calibrating the compass while I was in the field but that was an effort in futility. I just calibrated it now so I'll see how it performs tomorrow...

     

    Have you tried a hard reset? If not, I would try there first, then report back.

    Garmin Monterra Compass Mis-calibrated

    in GPS technology and devices

    Posted

    On the compass issue if you download the Geocache app from the play store you can use the compass in that app pretty good. It is not perfect maybe 2 degrees off but usable. And if you use your phone as a hot spot you can Geocache any where you want pretty easily.

     

    That's just weird that a third party application works. Does it drift like the stock application does? Which Compass app?

    Garmin Monterra Compass Mis-calibrated

    in GPS technology and devices

    Posted

    No, I don't think that's what he was asking. I believe he wondered if the arrow on the map was misaligned in the same way that the separate compass arrow is misaligned.

     

    For sure, that is what I meant. Thank you for the clarification. My map pointer was off about 50-60 degrees West, which was interesting because the compass was misaligned 20-25 degrees East.

    Garmin Monterra Compass Mis-calibrated

    in GPS technology and devices

    Posted · Edited by Slinger05

    No go on calibration with backlight off. :( Now, I'm getting concerned because I bought this at REI and I'm getting super close to a 30 day return policy. I think I'm almost convinced it's hardware only because it drifts. If you think of it from a logical perspective, the drift is the unknown variable. They can force calibrate all they want but it drifts for a reason. They can't possibly account for a drift because it will either start out wrong then drift to correct position or start out right and drift out of calibration. I think we should take a vote on whether to return or not. I'm probably returning tonight to be honest. I don't want to be part of the hassle of waiting for Garmin to recall the item and then having to mail the brick back, only to wait to receive a new one. :(

     

    Edit.

     

    Well I couldn't stand it any longer. I strongly think it's hardware because of the drift. I returned it about 5 minutes ago. I can always buy another once they fix it but I can't depend on this device while hiking. I actually went hiking with this 3 weeks ago and at the time didn't know it was off and was so confused when I got off the trail. I kept seeing the pointer point towards a terrain feature that I knew I was pointing at. NowI uunderstand it wasn't me, it was the pointer and map being off. I'll be checking this thread quite a bit until I get solid confirmation the calibration and drift are corrected. Good luck guys.

    Garmin Monterra Compass Mis-calibrated

    in GPS technology and devices

    Posted · Edited by Slinger05

    Just a note to all of you trying to calibrate the start of the calibration is with the unit positioned like it would be on a wall and rotated clockwise approx two times then proceed. Look closely at the shadow on the bottom of the compass rotation page

     

    Hmmm. I never tried that one. I'll give it a go right now. Thanks!

     

    Ooops. Sorry for the double post.

     

    Edited

     

    Tried the update..Failed. I also tried calibrating it on the wall...failed. I'll keep trying several times before I give up on this thing. Dang 750.00 paper weight. lol.

     

    I did a Factory Reset to my Monterra which is very time consuming to recover from since everything gets scrubbed from the unit (remover your SD Card). The Compass is now passable and no appreciable drift.

     

     

    I guess I'm going to have to try this. lame... :(

     

    I know the compass is really messed up but has anyone lined their pointer up on a map? It's way off guys....still with the update...way off. TO test. Line your device up to run parallel with a known street. The device should show an obvious 60 degree off. Please confirm for those that have tried the update.

     

    Also: This is the worst calibration tutorial ever! The second you finish with one calibration, it immediately moves into calibration to another direction without giving you time to stop calibrating it the other way. :sad::grin:

     

    Update after factory reset and update:

     

    After I installed the update, I was surprised to see the compass without a calibration was much more in line with Magnetic North; however, after the calibration it was as if I never installed the update. It's as if, there's a strong piece of metal in the device causing it to pull the pointer or north to the right.(just thinking outside the box here).

     

    Try this:

     

    Just for fun, turn the screen off then turn it on keeping it steady. Notice how the pointer defaults to about the correct direction but then starts drifting 10 degrees east. Weird.

    Garmin Monterra - not so good first impressions

    in GPS technology and devices

    Posted · Edited by Slinger05

    So this is where everyone is talking about the bugs in the monterra. lol. I called Garmin in early December about so many problems with this device.

     

    1) Compass calibration-Ya, it's a software problem but no fix yet? 25 degrees off....on two devices I tried.

     

    2) Pointer is way off on the map? I'll be facing one direction and the compass is pointing 60 degrees+/- in the other direction!

     

    3) I concur with others on batter life. The GPS stays on even when the screen is off. I'm sure this is meant to do this so after turning the GPS off, it's fine and last a while but I get about four hours if the GPS is on constantly. I'll probably end up buying another spare battery so not a deal killer but fix the compass and map calibration please!

     

    4) Sight N-Go doesn't work at all.

     

    (Yes, I've calibrated several times)

     

    Those are my two biggest gripes about this device. I used to have a Garmin 60st and that was a dinosaur but accurate..lol.

     

    So my question is...

     

    Is it just my device? Any news as to when this will be fixed?

     

    Edit:

     

    I too have confirmed from Garmin the following:

     

    Thank you for contacting Garmin International. I would be happy to assist you with Sight N' Go today.

     

    I was able to recreate the issue that you described with several Monterra devices here in the office. I have created a research case for this issue so that we can find the proper solution to this problem and let you know what that is. It could take several days to get a response to this issue. I appreciate your continued patience on this issue.

     

    Please let me know if there is anything else I can assist you with today.

     

    COMPASS ISSUE:

     

    This is something that we are waiting to hear back on. There is some sort of an issue with the electronic compass in the unit. We have created a case and are researching this now.

     

    Issue? as in hardware issue? :( The just don't see how the compass can be fixed with software. It's like they put the thing in upside down. lol. If it was installed wrong, that would mean, they'd have to do a recall. They couldn't possibly differentiate between devices with messed up compasses and new models that are correctly working. Maybe I'm going too far here. Sorry.

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