Geocaching-Geckos

I just purchased the standard black case for my Colorado 300. It was much cheaper than the neopren case and provides better protection, IMHO. See the link below for an example: https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=550

I noticed the same thing! I've been a regular updater of the CN software and their "two GPSs per copy" policy for a while now and that was one of the main reasons why I purchased the software in the first place! My "original" unlock was to my GPSmap 60C and I wasn't thrilled when I learned that I would have to purchase a full version of CN 2008 if I wanted to unlock the maps for my Colorado. There is absolutely no provision for moving the license from a discontinued GPS model! I thought Microsoft was uptight with their licensing but, at least, they recognize that hardware becomes obsolete and are willing to let the user install/activate it on newer machines. So, I didn't upgrade to the latest version, instead I stuck with the version prior to 2008; the last one before Garmin implemented the one GPS-one Map policy.

You get two thumbs up and I couldn't have really worded it any better!

Sweet! I just happen to have the other two in the LE glow!

I also took your response as very condescending and wasn't impressed with it at all. I am fully aware where the watertight seals should be. I don't believe my Colorado 300 would fair any better than Didjerrydo's did, as the seals appear to defective on my unit. That said, are you suggesting that I dunk my GPS just to see if it dies like Didjerrydo's? That would be a really stupid move on my part. I think I have demostrated extreme patience and common sense in evaluating the Colorado 300, my point was that firmware isn't going to fix all the issues of poor workmanship that plaque the Colorado series.

Now that must have been an awkward moment! LOL. I imagine the customer wasn't too impressed either. But the good thing is that Garmin did agree to exchange it with you but it still doesn't cover the hassle of having to package it up, zip down to the post office, and mail it back to Garmin. My Colorado unit doesn't form a watertight seal either, there is a noticeable gap between the battery cover and unit itself. I must say that I'm starting to really regret this purchase as firmware isn't going to fix all the issues that this unit has... I purchased this one to replace my discontinued GPSmap 60C, knowing full well that it would have some quirks, but I still expected the high quality of materials used to construct this GPS to be there. The Garmin name used to mean something.

I respect every person's opinion, and it doesn't matter one iota to me whether or not they have been minted and/or distributed but I have to agree with cowcreekgeeks on all the points he made. I have served/defended my country (and your right to voice your opinions) for 19 years this month. Last year I suffered an injury that, in all likelyhood, is going to cut short my military career. Sure, I'll more than likely get 100% disability as a result but it doesn't, in any way, shape or form, truely compensate me for my loss. It will be with me forever... In my opinion, the Purple Heart is not something to be copied for a sport, not even in name, for it is an untouchable reminder of the sacrifices that fellow citizens made to defend the freedoms you currently enjoy.

For what its worth and in the garmin context, it is the unlock file, containing specific information like the GPS internal ser number, 25-digit unlcok code itself, etc.

UOTrackers - I wanted to share an event that occured to me last year that caused me not only to re-evaluate my feeling for my family but my entire life, Last May I suffered a tonic-clonic seizure at work, some literature still refers to the type of seizure I had as a "gran mal" seizure. To make a long long story short, I had a rather large tumor in my left frontal lobe and had to undergo surgery, chemo, & six-week of radiation. I'm still taking monthly chemo, as a matter of fact. The end results was that I had to relearn to speak, type, etc. again and suffered an enormous amount of amnesia. But though it all my wife and 16-year old daughter sucked it up and when one of them would crack from the pressure the other was always there to lend a kind word. I am so proud of my daughter (and my wife for that matter) to have them beside me. I've always been open and honest about my condition and I've patiently answered everyone of my daughter's questions to the best of my ability. She was a little hesitant at first to ask them directly to me because I think she didn't want to "hurt" my feelings. I still remember the very first question she asked, keep in mind that a significant portion of my left frontal lobe was removed (about 4cm x 3cm x 3cm). I could see in her eyes there was a question she was burning to ask me and it was, of all things, whether or not my head tiled to the right now that is weighed more than the left side. I could have kissed her at the moment but I didn't think she would appreciate that, she is after all 16!

My serial number is actually a little bit higher than yours: 169000573 and I experiance this problem on a regular basis. That pretty much dixes the theory that is it tied to the unit's serial number...

I'm not having any problems and I have used both methods to upload to my Garmin Colorado - the direct to unit version via the Garmin Communication Plugin, and saving them to a folder and then using Mapsource to upload them to the unit. I'm also running Windows Vista Home Premium edition as well.

I would have to agree with UncleJimbo. I have seen several cases of geocachers not reading the goal of the travel bug or geocoin. Take the coin I released in Colorado last year - it's mission was to travel from Colorado to Minnesota to another cacher. A pretty simple goal if you ask me and one that was clearly stated on the goal card attached to the geocoin and on the coin's description field. Instead, it disappeared for almost four months, then reappeared in Uruguay of all places and now it is enroute to Spain. Wow, talk about getting off the beaten track! So, with that in mind, I don't think you should place super high expectations on the travel bug completing two goals especially where you have kids involved. In all honesty I would consider it a major accomplishment if it completed the original goal. Kids tend not to understand the reality of somebody wanting their cute TB more than they do for their own private collection.

I sent you a P.M.

This is just my personal thoughts but I think you should notify Garmin Tech Support. I contacted Garmin Tech Support the other day in ref to other issues I was having with this unit and the tech support guy said this was the first time he had heard of this particular problem and he was at a loss to explain it. So, if enough folks call in I am confident that Garmin will assign a higher priority and resolved the whole issue of "time drift", whether it be a hardware or firmware fix. Not to mention if you exchange it at REI you aren't really guaranteed that it won't happen again. Hmm, I never though to look at the time as I shut the GPS off. So a more accurate desciption of the problem would be a "time freeze". I did mention to the very helpful tech support guy that I didn't notice this problem prior to updating the firmware/software inside the unit.

Athough there a certain aspects of the Colorado series that I don't really care for I am certain that the outstanding Garmin Tech Support will continue to make improvements as time goes along. This isn't a GPSMap 60C upgrade or else they would have named it "The Super Dooper GPSMap 60CUx" or something. So, and I noticed this trend across this forum, users expect it to operate in the exact same manner as their trusty old GPS and are not taking into consideration that this is a totally different model. Its kind of like trying to compare a low-end basic concept car with a top-of-the-line leather-interior-included proved-reliable car made by the same manufactor. I'm confident that, in time, this concept car will have all the issues worked out, it might take a while, and eventually go on to replace that top-of-the-line model. Just for the record, I've had my fair share of issues with my Colorado (i.e. corrupted basemap, time drift, etc.) but I have every confidence that Garmin will make it right.

169000573

While I'm not a lefty, I use my left hand to run my Colorado without any problems. The antenna is a help, IMHO. I've tried using it several time with my right hand but like other have observed, it tend to be cumbersome and jerky at times. Using it left handed allows me to maintain a consistant "angle" on a Roller wheel. One side of my thumb lightly touches the antenna while the pad of my thumb is on the wheel itself.

Oh boy, I think my Colorado is defective then. I turned my GPS on for around 60 minutes earlier today, more than enough time to download the almanac and such. Then I turned it off and back on an hour or so later. Between the time I shut it off and turned it back on the unit had lost approximately 40 minutes. Funny thing is, I never noticed this problem utill I updated to the latest firmware/software versions....

Hmm, I will have to try leave my Colorado unit on a little longer next time. I know I have made a couple of 20-30 minute trips with it last week and I'm still having an acquisition issue. I'll let it do a data "soak up" and let you know if it resolves the problem.

I recently purchased a Garmin Colorado and had the same exact problem. BTW - I also have Vista and I don't think it makes any difference. Anyway, to make a long story short I was unable to obtain an additional unlock code for my new Colorado GPS through MapSource. I ended up logging into my.garmin.com and plugging my customer number, the 8 digit number one, into a page and tada! I obtained the second unlock code. When I was attempting it via MapSource it responded with a cryptic message that said something like "No Customer Code"...

Hmm, I had that same exact thing happen to me yesterday! Twice!

Well, I'll add my $0.02 in here. Way back in antiquity, I purchased a GPSmap 60C and City Select North America v6.0. Over the years I have upgraded the software to City Navigator North America v8. This is the version I'm currently running, BTW. Just last week I purchased a Colorado 300, initially, I had difficulty sending CN maps to this new GPS and figured I was SOL and would have to purchase an additional license for it. But I figured out how to do it by going to by fiddling around in the my.garmin.com section. Eventually I discovered a link to shop.garmin.com and I clicked on "Unlock Additional GARMIN Unit" and it gave me a 25-character unlock code for the CN v8 maps for the Colorado. I don't really know how I did it, or why it worked, but it did! I initially was attempting to unlock the maps for the Colorado from within MapSource and I wasn't having any luck until I jumped onto the my.garmin.com website.

All you have to do is re-activate the coin again to correct any errors. I'm the worst at mistyping dates/locataion so I've done it numerous times!

Yeah, count me in if you want to adopt them over!

April 2000