djsomsen

UPDATE - Shipped to Garmin: Thu Jan 4 / Received by Garmin: Mon Jan 8 / Received replacement model: Jan 15. Had to pay a little less than EUR 60 for shipping, insurance and receipt (?), but it is good to be back in touch with those satellites... Now, let's see if this unit's backlight works longer than 5 days...

I have a Magellan Meridian XL since 1996 and a Garmin GPSmap 60 CSx since Dec 2006

UPDATE: After my last post things got worse. Most of the times there was no light, and at the end only severe impact from tapping, bending and such would lit the light. Never got the RMA code after my first call with tech supp, so called again last Tuesday. Received the RMA Code, shipped it last Thursday, and am now suffering from the first GPS-less weekend.

I am still waiting for Garmin USA to give me a RMA code. I have called them last Monday and we had quite a lengthy discussion about support from the UK instead of USA (I live in The Netherlands), which would probably mean a replacement of my USA model with a European model. And since I am planning on buying the European City Navigator anyway, I think I am better off having a USA model with the USA basemap preloaded for any future visit to the USA. So, I think I have convinced Garmin USA now, that I want *them* to replace the unit and not the UK. In the mean time, My GPS has decided to surprise me all the time. I've seen the light go on, off and on again in only a couple of hours timeframe. At least I am less worried now when it's off: It will go on again. And, contrary to earlier posts, it has nothing to do with tapping, falling, bouncing or worse: Mine has a mind of its own, just like Suscrofa mentioned. Anyhow, I am no longer in doubt as to yes or no returning it. Where is that RMA code !!!???

Light back on !!?? I don't get it. During the car trip back home from this morning's hike, suddenly the light came on again, and it hasn't defected since then. At least I can use it again while awaiting Garmin's response...

Call Garmin? I did, only to find out they anticipated at least 20 minutes waiting time! I am not that patient, I guess, and it's not Toll Free outside the US... So I eMailed them, but still haven´t heard anything. I hope I end up just as enthousiastic about them as you are, but some things has to happen before we´re even close... I think I will call them next week, and hope things will work out, because without the backlight, it's pretty close to useless, I'd say. Google Earth: I had a window seat flying from Houston to Chicago, and the GPS had no problem whatsoever acquiring 5 or more satellites. The sky was clear, so I had good vision on roads, lakes and cities, and the GPS (with USA base map loaded) was telling me which ones I saw and which ones were coming. So cool! Back home, I used the Mapsource program to send the GPS track from GPS to PC, and there's a Menu item that launches Google Earth (if installed) and shows the tracks!

Well, here's number three!!! I live in The Netherlands, Europe and while on business trip in the USA last week, I bought the GPSMap 60CSx. Had five days of total fun with it, even watched a portion of my flight back on Google earth, when suddenly the light did no longer go on. I have posted a query on Garmin's support site, last Monday, but they have not come back to me at all.