rgknowlton

I have a 6-year-old Garmin GPS V. The up, right, and down buttons on the rocker, and the menu button suddenly stopped working. I disassembled it to check the button traces on the circuit board and all appears well: I'm able to activate all other buttons by "shorting" the traces for the buttons, but the buttons mentioned above still do not work after "shorting". I've reloaded old and new firmware, and I performed a master reset. No change. At $125 to have Garmin repair it, I'll either be fixing it myself or tossing it. Does anyone have a known repair solution to this problem? I can do repairs down to the integrated circuit level if necessary.

I think Oz was referencing your having the most recent version of Mapsource, not the most recent version of the Topo map data.

I love RAM products. Check out the cradles, arms, and bicycle mounts available here: www.ram-mount.com www.gpscity.com www.cyclegadget.com

Perhaps I'm just lucky. I have the RAM suction cup mount, a standard 3 inch RAM arm, and a Touratech cradle for my GPS V. I wouldn't consider anything else. No other type of portable mount allows me to adjust the position as much as the suction cup. If I don't moisten the suction cup before I stick it to a window, then yes, it will fall off after several hours. However, if I moisten the suction cup before I stick it on, it will stay on for days without ever falling off. With the RAM suction cup, the weight of the GPS V and Touratech cradle is certainly not a factor. Consider the RAM suction cup mount. It works fantastic with the GPS V.

I may be a bit late, but I, too, have experienced this problem several times on my V. It appears to be directly linked to some type of firmware glitch. Reloading the most current firmware has always solved my problem. If the most current firmware doesn't fix the problem, try going back one version and see what that does for you. I've experienced lots of problems on my V that can almost always be attributed to a glitch that worked its way into the firmware over many hours of use. Reloading the firmware usually solves my problem.

When you refer to "accuracy" are you referring to the Estimated Position Error "Location Accuracy" listed on the Satellite Location screen? Or, are you referring the the GPS's ability to keep you on track with autorouting? Are you losing reception in areas with large buildings or lots of tree cover? If your Location Accuracy is anywhere around 50 feet or less, your GPS is working fine and the problem likely lies in the software. Do you have the "auto-recalculate" option turned on? Auto-recalculate will make a new route for you if you get off course while using auto-routing. If that doesn't work, try going back one or two versions on the firmware and see if that solves your problem.

DZ, I realize that this might be a little late, since you are likely on your trip, but refer to my posts in this link to understand the limitation of the GPS V routing and how you can overcome it: http://ubbx.Groundspeak.com/6/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=5726007311&f=7116058331&m=24660106 We talked in depth about this "problem" and came up with a couple very good solutions.

After designing a route, I'll often add numerous waypoints for the area I'll be driving in. After awhile, though, the waypoint names begin to obscure the actual route. Is there a way to turn off displaying waypoints in Mapsource in order to see the maps and a route easier?

Junglehair, I hope you'll understand, though, that it's not about "copping an attitude." Writing is a poor media for expressing emotion, and I'm not sure I can express to you that I wouldn't do it just to be mean. I certainly wouldn't fly off the cuff and just delete logs willie-nillie. Only after the cacher refused to follow the guidelines of the cache would I consider that extreme option. Only unfair cachers need be worried. If you are a fair and equitable cacher, you'd have nothing to fear. It essentially comes down to this: if a cacher purposely does not follow the guidelines for a cache, I'm not sure that he/she should get credit for that cache, especially if he/she refuses to rectify the discrepancy. Additionally, if a cacher consistently and knowingly takes valuable items and leaves worthless items behind, then that is a perfect definition of stealing. I think it is important for us as human beings to discourage that in this sport. I didn't start placing my own caches just so I could give away $40 worth of goodies every six months while trying to figure out how I'm going to dispose of erasers, gum drops, worm lures, pine cones, broken pens, and miscellaneous garbage. I'm simply trying to think of the most sincere but effective way to keep that from happening. Of course, cachers who TNLN aren't the offenders. There'd be no reason to say a word to them. I see that you've found a lot of caches and placed several caches of your own. You certainly have experience with this problem yourself. What solutions have you come up with to solve it? [This message was edited by Bob K. on July 02, 2003 at 08:25 AM.]

I've had a cache out now for about 6 months and it has already filled up with relatively useless items and kids' toys. To combat the trend, this is what I am considering: I've already posted a Housekeeping Note in the description pleading with future cachers to not leave anymore toys until the current ones are exhausted, and instead to leave items that adults would like to discover as well. If the trend continues, I am considering writing to the cacher and politely asking him/her to return to the cache and place more appropriate items in the cache. If they refuse, I am considering deleting their log on the website. Caching yields a perfect example of the general moral problem we have with human beings. As many cachers approach a new find, they think, "How can I take as much as possible and leave as little as possible? How can I get ahead?" We ought to instead remind ourselves that geocaching with traditional caches is a zero sum game. Please understand that I intend all this in the most gentle way; however, it has been my experience that the majority of human beings will not "follow the rules" or "play fair" unless their are discernible consequences for the contrary. I think it is possible to carry out this plan in a polite and pleasant manner. If I don't, it'll be worthless to maintain the cache for the future. Perhaps we could all come up with some discernible consequences for those cachers who do not "play fair." Thoughts?

Hey Gimpy, Maybe you're not on their "update" mailing list. You'll get updates that way.

Todd, You have it correct. Garmin's definition of automatic and manual routes: "Automatic routes use the routing features in MapSource data and the GPS V's built-in basemap to automatically select the required turns to reach your final destination. Manual routes are created by adding each location along the route manually, beginning with your departure point." Automatic routes always use roads and traffic instructions to get you to your destination. Manual routes--traditionally--are point-to-point "as the crow flies." They don't follow roads nor include traffic instructions. Garmin, however, added the "follow roads" option for navigating manual routes in order to give the user additional flexibility. There were a lot of complaints about not being able to have unlimited "via" points in auto routes. The "follow roads" option during manual route activation helps overcome that limitation.

Olar, I'm sorry, but I haven't tried downloading routes from EasyGPS. If EasyGPS downloads routes to the GPS as a manual route (i.e. the little hiker beside the route name on the GPS route screen), then I imagine you could "follow roads" with the route just like any other manual route. If EasyGPS downloads routes to the GPS as an "auto" route (i.e. little car beside the route name), then the "follow roads" feature is not available. Check this out, though. You can actually create manual routes in Mapsource and do the same thing. Open a new Mapsource window, go to Edit/Preferences. Under "Calculation Style," choose "Direct Route." Now, when you create a route, it will be a point-to-point manual route. When you download that specific route to the GPS, it will show up on the GPS as a manual route (the little hiker icon). When you activate that route, you'll have the option to "follow roads." It's not perfect, but at least there are some ways to sort of get the GPS V to do what we want it to do.

Appletree, You are right about only needing to load detailed maps for areas that you want extra detail in...IF you are calculating the route ON the GPS. When you calculate a route ON the GPS, it will use whatever maps are available in memory, including detail maps when available. Rrostie is talking about a different issue. When you calculate a route on Mapsource, download that route to the GPS, and attempt to activate that downloaded route, you must also have present in memory all of the maps that the Mapsource-calculated route traverses. That is because a route calculated on Mapsource always uses the detail maps. If the GPS can't find the accompanying detail maps, it gives you an error. Mapsource allows you to add infinite "via" points in your route (A to B to C to D), but in order to maintain those via points when navigating with the GPS, you must have all of the detail maps that the route traverses. If you choose to recalculate when you get the error (route does not match available roads) then the GPS dumps all of your "via" points and calculates a route straight to you ending point (A to D). You won't run into this problem if you create a route using the GPS. The GPS will use the detail maps when available and will use the basemap in areas where a detail map is not available. However, you can't add infinite "via" points when calculating an auto route on the GPS like you can with a Mapsource-generated route, and that's what frustrates a lot of people. Here's the cool thing: There's another workaround. Create a manual route on the GPS. You'll be able to add as many "via" points as you want. Then, when you activate the manual route, answer "yes" when it asks if you want to "follow roads." Problem solved. You'll be navigating a manual route using roads instead of straight line navigation. It's a feature that Garmin added in the last update.

Rrostie, I know exactly the problem you are experiencing. When you create a route on Mapsource and download it to your GPSV, you must also download to the GPS all of the accompanying Mapsource maps that the route traverses. If you have even a small portion of your Mapsource generated route that does not have an accompanying Mapsource map on the GPS, you will get the error message. The error results when you activate the route on the GPS because the GPS is looking for all the necessary maps but doesn't find them. If you choose not to recalculate, the GPS will try to give you more "exact" Mapsource instructions based on the less "exact" basemap. As a result, things get all messed up. Goofy turns, numbers instead of names for turns, etc. If you choose to recalculate, the GPS will dump your Mapsource generated route and recalculate a route based on your calculation preferences (as chosen on the GPS) and based on whatever Mapsource maps (if any) you have stored in the GPS. It won't retain any "stops along the way" either. It simply calculates a route straight to your ending point. It is not a bug in the firmware, so there's no sense in going back to an earlier version. It is a drawback in the program and I have made Garmin aware of it. It is also the reason many complain about the relatively small memory of the GPSV, because there isn't enough room to download all the maps necessary to preserve a long route generated in Mapsource. If you want to drive a route exactly as you created in in Mapsource, you have to download to the GPS all of the accompanying maps. If it's an especially long route and you can't fit all the necessary maps into the GPS, you have to break the route up into smaller legs and then download the necessary maps as you use each leg. That, of course, requires having computer access on your trip. Ugh. Once you're navigating the route, it's best to turn "auto-recalculate" off (GPS option). Otherwise, the GPS will recalculate a new route and sometimes dump your Mapsource generated route when it thinks you're off course. If you prefer to leave "auto-recalculate" on but don't like it when the GPS recalculates a goofy route for you, here's what to do. Go to the Route list and reactivate your route. This is what I do and the GPS seems smart enough to get you back on the route that you downloaded from Mapsource, including all of your "stops along the way." Hope this helps. The software should be better, but at least there are some decent work-arounds.

Anyone have some tried and tested methods for removing minor scratches on the GPSV screen?

As of 3Mar03, the new GPS V beta 2.12 allows you to choose the "project waypoint" measurement units.

Check you WAAS setting. WAAS requires significantly more processor time, so I've found that all functions are slower, especially route calculation and display. Maybe that is that is the cause. Perhaps WAAS was turned off before your update, and now is turned on.

Yes, on my GPS V with City Select (or on the Mapsource program), I can see all Forest Service Roads at about the 1 mi resolution. It has given excellent accuracy throughout the USFS roads I travel in Wyoming and Colorado.

No, it is not appropriate. Children make up a lion's share of geocachers and they don't need to be corrupted any sooner than necessary. Plus, most adults will likely not appreciate the surpise either.