learnd knew trick for garmin

[+Arndtwe]

the other day i was reading something about mr GPSr, and came across this. (for garmin 76) if you hold down the enter button then turn on the unit, you will get a test page. here you can see the different software currently used, the frequency, and even tell the temperature (in celcius) using the built in thermometer. i thought this was awsome and just had to tell everyone. there are number of other tricks as well, and not only for the 76.

[+Vinny & Sue Team]

the other day i was reading something about mr GPSr, and came across this. (for garmin 76) if you hold down the enter button then turn on the unit, you will get a test page. here you can see the different software currently used, the frequency, and even tell the temperature (in celcius) using the built in thermometer. i thought this was awsome and just had to tell everyone. there are number of other tricks as well, and not only for the 76.

Okay.... I've gotta ask: what is this "frequency" that is shown on your Garmin screen when you do this Easter Egg-type trick?

[+Airmapper]

I think if you hold the Page key and turn it on it resets the unit.

 

I found that on my GPS 72, I wonder why I can't get the temperature readout on the unit when in normal mode?

[+Quiggle]

Bumping over to GPS forum.

[+Arndtwe]

I think if you hold the Page key and turn it on it resets the unit.

 

I found that on my GPS 72, I wonder why I can't get the temperature readout on the unit when in normal mode?

 

the reason is becuase the thermometer is for adjusting the contrast automatically.

[+res2100]

That is very neat. I never knew it did that. I just tried it and it works on my 60CS too. My wife has the 76CS and when we compared it, her temperature was 2 degrees warmer and the frequencies were a bit different (last 2 digits)...

[+Arndtwe]

the other day i was reading something about mr GPSr, and came across this. (for garmin 76) if you hold down the enter button then turn on the unit, you will get a test page. here you can see the different software currently used, the frequency, and even tell the temperature (in celcius) using the built in thermometer. i thought this was awsome and just had to tell everyone. there are number of other tricks as well, and not only for the 76.

Okay.... I've gotta ask: what is this "frequency" that is shown on your Garmin screen when you do this Easter Egg-type trick?

 

not sure what purpose it serves, but its still cool

[+Arndtwe]

oh and by the way here is where i learned this stuff http://www.gpsinformation.org/dale/secret.htm

[+Macinvilas]

the other day i was reading something about mr GPSr, and came across this. (for garmin 76) if you hold down the enter button then turn on the unit, you will get a test page. here you can see the different software currently used, the frequency, and even tell the temperature (in celcius) using the built in thermometer. i thought this was awsome and just had to tell everyone. there are number of other tricks as well, and not only for the 76.

Cool, works on my etrex legend cx too

[GermanSailor]

the reason is becuase the thermometer is for adjusting the contrast automatically.

 

Actually the thermometer is for keeping the internal time correct, since the crystals of the internal clock need to be temperature corrected to be accurate enough.

 

GermanSailor

[appletree]

That is correct. The contrast does not self correct, but will change as the screen temperature changes, darker when it is hot, lighter when it is cold. Fortunately, it is easy to adjust manually.

[+Arndtwe]

the reason is becuase the thermometer is for adjusting the contrast automatically.

 

Actually the thermometer is for keeping the internal time correct, since the crystals of the internal clock need to be temperature corrected to be accurate enough.

 

GermanSailor

 

That is correct. The contrast does not self correct, but will change as the screen temperature changes, darker when it is hot, lighter when it is cold. Fortunately, it is easy to adjust manually.

 

cool! you learn something knew everyday!

[+tangerineman]

Very neat. It works on my etrex Legend as well.

[+tangerineman]

oh and by the way here is where i learned this stuff http://www.gpsinformation.org/dale/secret.htm

 

Check this link before starting to push different buttons with powering up. Some combinations will completely reset your unit, and you'll lose any saved waypoints, routes, etc.

Edited February 4, 2007 by tangerineman

[+Sputnik 57]

All of these are pretty well documented in the "Manual, Setup and 'Secret' Codes" Section of the FAQ (including the like to Dale DePriest's site).

[+Prime Suspect]

That is correct. The contrast does not self correct, but will change as the screen temperature changes, darker when it is hot, lighter when it is cold. Fortunately, it is easy to adjust manually.

My old black & white eTrex Vista does auto-correct the contrast. Some Garmin engineer finally figured out they could put that internal temperature sensor to a second use.

[extremist]

None of this works on my 60CSx. Anyone know whether this model also has a thermometer?

 

Why isn't the thermometer accessible through the documented software? Such a feature is certainly mighty useful and could be advertised as a selling point.

[+Thomas D]

None of this works on my 60CSx. Anyone know whether this model also has a thermometer?

 

Why isn't the thermometer accessible through the documented software? Such a feature is certainly mighty useful and could be advertised as a selling point.

 

Probabally because it is of no real use to the user. It's not an accurate measure of ambient temperature.

It's the internal temperature of the components.

[+Arndtwe]

oh and by the way here is where i learned this stuff http://www.gpsinformation.org/dale/secret.htm

 

None of this works on my 60CSx. Anyone know whether this model also has a thermometer?

 

Why isn't the thermometer accessible through the documented software? Such a feature is certainly mighty useful and could be advertised as a selling point.

if you look at the website i found this stuff, you will see there are tricks for the 60 as well.

[+ProsperoDK]

---

None of this works on my 60CSx. Anyone know whether this model also has a thermometer?

It does indeed work on a 60CSx, you just have to hold the on/off button slightly longer than when you just want to power up the unit. I had to hold it for about 3 seconds.

 

This Screendump is from my 60CSx, only edited to blot out the serial number, so yes xImage does work already there.

 

 

The bottom-left part is for testing the buttons and when you press

---

you toggle through several test patterns for the screen.

 

ProsperoDK/René

[extremist]

Thanks. Indeed, it works if I hold down the On button for a few seconds.

 

The thermometer shows the exact same temperature as a de facto thermometer, though I guess that could change once the GPS unit is exposed to sunlight, body heat, wind, etc.