Problem With 60csx Pointer

[+FrogmanCH]

Hi, I am new to the forum.

I am having a problem with my 60CSx. While I am out looking for a cashe the pointer seems to go every where. I can turn around and the pointer is going a different direction. The distance window works good, that is how I had to find the last couple of cashes I was looking for.

[+Cache Heads]

Have you tried calibrating your compass? The compass on the CSx needs to be calibrated pretty often and will act very erratic if it isn't.

 

From the compass page hit menu and select "calibrate compass". Do this every time you change the batteries or whenever your pointer is wacking out on you

 

EDIT: And BTW, welcome to the forums!

Edited May 2, 2006 by Cache Heads

[+jestork]

If you are standing still, the pointer will not reflect the crrect direction to the case - the GPS has no way of knowing in which direction you are facing. The pointer will reflect the correct direction once you are moving in a straight direction for enough distance so it can tell which way you are moving(looking). When you stop and stand still, it may once again lose the direction. The GPS can only tell direction by the difference between two different points. Calibrating the compass only has to do with the pointer showing which way north lies - has nothing to do woth the cache.

 

 

Hi, I am new to the forum.

I am having a problem with my 60CSx. While I am out looking for a cashe the pointer seems to go every where. I can turn around and the pointer is going a different direction. The distance window works good, that is how I had to find the last couple of cashes I was looking for.

[+birddog14]

If you are standing still, the pointer will not reflect the crrect direction to the case - the GPS has no way of knowing in which direction you are facing. The pointer will reflect the correct direction once you are moving in a straight direction for enough distance so it can tell which way you are moving(looking). When you stop and stand still, it may once again lose the direction. The GPS can only tell direction by the difference between two different points. Calibrating the compass only has to do with the pointer showing which way north lies - has nothing to do woth the cache.

 

 

Hi, I am new to the forum.

I am having a problem with my 60CSx. While I am out looking for a cashe the pointer seems to go every where. I can turn around and the pointer is going a different direction. The distance window works good, that is how I had to find the last couple of cashes I was looking for.

 

you said "the GPS has no way of knowing in which direction you are facing"

that is incorrect

the CSx has an electronic compass so it will point the correct direction to the cache or waypoint or just show you the direction you are facing on the compass page when standing still if calibrated.

 

also be sure you have it on bearing pointer and not course pointer on the compass page

Edited May 2, 2006 by birddog14

[+Cardinal Red]

Make sure the compass is actually turned on as well.

Does the calibration procedure turn it on automatically?

[+drbugs]

I very occasionally have something like this on my cx. I first noticed it with 2.62, but this weekend it happened on 2.60 (I downgraded, hoping to address this).

 

My pointer will stop turning, ie just keep pointing upwards, no matter which way I turn. poweroff/on or simply turning off/on the gps receiver (from the sat screen) will resolve this. the distance to cache field will be updated. If/when this happens again, I'll toggle to the compass view and see if that is locked up too.

 

I've notified garmin of this twice (when I was running 2.62) and once with 2.60.

 

Little inconvient, but so far it works really good overall.

[+vaetanone]

Remember, the Cx units do not have an electronic compass and you must be moving (usually at least a couple of steps) for the compass to indicate a correct direction. As soon as you stop it will freeze, or maybe move erratically due to small random velocities, but will not indicate a correct direction. Simply turning will not work, you must be moving. I have a CSx unit with the electronic compass that I find helpfull for caching but it requires more frequent calibration than the older non SIRF chip units.

[+rstickle]

Hi, I am new to the forum.

I am having a problem with my 60CSx. While I am out looking for a cashe the pointer seems to go every where. I can turn around and the pointer is going a different direction. The distance window works good, that is how I had to find the last couple of cashes I was looking for.

 

I'd suggest turning your electronic compass off if you haven't already. I had the same problem with a 60 CS, and that solved it. When I got my 60 CSx that was the first thing I did. It only takes a couple minutes to turn on and calibrate the compass if I need it.

 

Rick

[+drbugs]

Remember, the Cx units do not have an electronic compass and you must be moving (usually at least a couple of steps) for the compass to indicate a correct direction. As soon as you stop it will freeze, or maybe move erratically due to small random velocities, but will not indicate a correct direction. Simply turning will not work, you must be moving. I have a CSx unit with the electronic compass that I find helpfull for caching but it requires more frequent calibration than the older non SIRF chip units.

yup. The problem is the cursor on the map screen freezes up. If I move around, the distance indicator works fine, but the arrow will not turn. It shows best on the map screen. Usually when I move around a cache the map moves as I change my direction relative to the cache (track up). Sometimes it freezes up. When this has happend, I didn't think to check if the compass has locked up too.

 

I'm figuring it is probably a firmware bug, hopefully something garmin has figured out.

 

I'll pull this into a seperate thread, since it seems that this threads problem is probably due to the csx calibration of the magnetic compass.

Edited May 3, 2006 by drbugs

[+Night Stalker]

I something similar to this on my original 60CS. It was so bad that it would not register a change of direction for as much as 40'. It made geocaching a real nightmare. Garmin replaced the unit and I have never had the issue again.

[Grasscatcher]

I very occasionally have something like this on my cx. I first noticed it with 2.62, but this weekend it happened on 2.60 (I downgraded, hoping to address this).

 

My pointer will stop turning, ie just keep pointing upwards, no matter which way I turn. poweroff/on or simply turning off/on the gps receiver (from the sat screen) will resolve this. the distance to cache field will be updated. If/when this happens again, I'll toggle to the compass view and see if that is locked up too.

 

I've notified garmin of this twice (when I was running 2.62) and once with 2.60.

 

Little inconvient, but so far it works really good overall.

 

I notice you used the word "UPWARDS"in refering to your compass pointer.......

 

The compass must be held flat and level to function.It will not work when held vertically.

[+drbugs]

I very occasionally have something like this on my cx. I first noticed it with 2.62, but this weekend it happened on 2.60 (I downgraded, hoping to address this).

 

My pointer will stop turning, ie just keep pointing upwards, no matter which way I turn. poweroff/on or simply turning off/on the gps receiver (from the sat screen) will resolve this. the distance to cache field will be updated. If/when this happens again, I'll toggle to the compass view and see if that is locked up too.

 

I've notified garmin of this twice (when I was running 2.62) and once with 2.60.

 

Little inconvient, but so far it works really good overall.

 

I notice you used the word "UPWARDS"in refering to your compass pointer.......

 

The compass must be held flat and level to function.It will not work when held vertically.

 

I should have been clearer, I have a cx, no compass. When I first posted I wasn't paying as close attention as I should have, since my problem isn't related to the magnetic compass, which the OT seems to be. Mine is something related to updating the map page. the screen freezes, with the pointer stuck pointing to the top of the screen (track up). The distance to waypoint updates as I move, but the screen will stop turning, or zooming in.

 

my bad!

[+Spudknocker]

I was having this problem with my 60csx I called garmin support and was told to try downloading updated software. I tried this and it did help alot. There phone support was vary good, english and only about 3 minutes hold time.

 

The link is: http://www8.garmin.com/products/webupdater/howtoinstall.jsp

 

You need to install both the software and the chipset firmware.

Edited March 23, 2008 by Spudknocker

[+Jeff in Pa]

About compass calibration, Garmin just told me in reply to an e-mail I sent over my compass always needing calibrated when I turn it on:

 

Dear Jeffrey,

 

Thank you for contacting Garmin International.

 

We actually recommend that you do calibrate your compass once you power it on each time. It should not take any longer then a few seconds to perform the calibration.

 

If you should have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.

 

With Best Regards,

 

Shawn V

 

Product Support Specialist

 

2nd Shift Outdoor/Fitness Team

 

Garmin International

 

913-397-8200

 

800-800-1020

 

913-397-8282 (fax) Att: Shawn V

 

www.garmin.com

 

I always read on here that you only need to calibrate when you change batteries... NOT SO ACCORDING TO GARMIN.

Edited March 23, 2008 by Jeff in Pa