Garmin GPS

Mike Mason said:

Some posters here seem to 'bash' Garmin.

My recent experience is of a helpful and responsive company.

My experience with Garmin has been the same, Mike.

I didn't take the recent messages (assuming I'm thinking of the same
ones) as Garmin bashing.

The newest Garmin GPSRs with the SiRF StarIII receiver/processor does
have some issues that need dealt with .. more than with any past Garmin
model I've owned. Two notable issues are: 1) Some functional anomalies
when WAAS is enabled; and 2) Inability to operate from AA Lithium cells
when the manual recommends their use under some circumstances.

For my part, I've coped with these issues in my 60Cx by not using WAAS
(really not needed for any application I have) and using NiMH
rechargables vs. the Li cells I used in my 60C. Even with these minor
compromises, the 60Cx plusses make it far better for me than the 60C was.

Garmin's ability to deal with the two issues above is likely limited by
the source of the SiRF electronics being another company .. and the
probability that the fix(es) may require a hardware (vs.
software/firmware) change.

Eventually Garmin will get these issues resolved. In the meantime, I'm
very happy with my 60Cx; I'm getting too old to expect perfection in any
product 😉

Phil

Mike Mason wrote...

The problem is that you are talking about a bunch of guys in the service
department of Garmin Europe and NOT Garmin as a company.

My experiences calling for telephone support in the UK have been just as
good as yours but they do not tally with those of customers elsewhere in the
world. Whether or not you get good service seems to depend upon where you
are in the world and whether you are lucky enough to call someone who cares.
That is not consistent with a good corporate attitude to customer support.

When I have tried to request support via the Garmin website, every email has
been totally ignored - until last week when I at last received an email from
a guy in Garmin Europe nearly six weeks after my last request. His email,
which contained the full text of my original message, requested that I
resend my request back to him!

....and you wonder why people "bash" Garmin!

David

Quoted message said:

Some posters here seem to 'bash' Garmin.

My recent experience is of a helpful and responsive company.

I have a Vista and have had this for four years. In all that time it has
performed well and helped me over many miles of exploration in the hills
and mountains of the UK

Very recently the rubber rand started delaminating. An email to Garmin
about this was replied to the following day with instructions for its
return together with a RMA number and the comment that the repair would be
carried out at no charge to myself.

I returned the unit and in the accompanying letter mentioned that the
click stick enter function was not working first time every time.

The unit was returned seven days later (this included a weekend and a UK
bank holiday) with a new rand and a click stick working perfectly. The
return cost, the repairs etc were all covered by Garmin.

My thanks to Garmin for this excellent service and when the time comes to
change my GPS then Garmin will be the manufacturer of choice.

Mike Mason

David Lee said:

Mike Mason wrote...

The problem is that you are talking about a bunch of guys in the service
department of Garmin Europe and NOT Garmin as a company.

My experiences calling for telephone support in the UK have been just as
good as yours but they do not tally with those of customers elsewhere in the
world. Whether or not you get good service seems to depend upon where you
are in the world

(snip)

regrettably that certainly appears to be the case. here in Australia, the
Garmin range is supported (loosely speaking) by GME. As a result, the UK
experience cited by the O/P is something we can only dream about.

I have seen many cases reported in this and other groups where a long out of
warranty device has been repaired/refurbished FOC by Garmin. Not the Aussie
experience {:o(

budgie said:

regrettably that certainly appears to be the case. here in Australia, the
Garmin range is supported (loosely speaking) by GME. As a result, the UK
experience cited by the O/P is something we can only dream about.

I have seen many cases reported in this and other groups where a long out of
warranty device has been repaired/refurbished FOC by Garmin. Not the Aussie
experience {:o(

Indeed.

The Norwegian distributor bought my old/broken GPSIII+, _long_ out of
warranty, when I wanted to trade up to a 76S.

Very nice of them, and one of the reasons I've caused at least 10-15
others to buy Garmin gear during the last 5 years.

Terje
--
- <[email hidden]>
"almost all programming can be viewed as an exercise in caching"

Hi Phil,

Quoted message said:

Two notable issues are: 1) Some functional anomalies
when WAAS is enabled;

....

Quoted message said:

Garmin's ability to deal with the two issues above is likely limited by
the source of the SiRF electronics being another company

No. I own a GPSlim236 Holux mouse using the same Sirf3 chipset and
have no issue with lock after a tunnel, WAAS on or off doesn't matter.
--

Ciao,
Holger (GUS-KOTAL, GUS#1100)

90-92 Honda CB400 10 Mm | 93-95 Yamaha TDM 850 26 Mm
95-97 KTM 620 LC4 13 Mm | seit 97 BMW R1100GS 50 Mm (Die Renndrecksau!)

cu @ http://www.issle.de

Holger Issle said:

Hi Phil,

Quoted message said:

Two notable issues are: 1) Some functional anomalies
when WAAS is enabled;

...

Quoted message said:

Garmin's ability to deal with the two issues above is likely limited by
the source of the SiRF electronics being another company

No. I own a GPSlim236 Holux mouse using the same Sirf3 chipset and
have no issue with lock after a tunnel, WAAS on or off doesn't matter.

With respect, you likely have no idea what spec the Holux and Garmin
SiRF hardware were built to ..nor how similar they really are. Using
the same basic chipsets does not mean the same product.

So your "No" is a tad oversimplified.

Phil

Holger Issle said:

Hi Phil,

Quoted message said:

Two notable issues are: 1) Some functional anomalies
when WAAS is enabled;

....

Quoted message said:

Garmin's ability to deal with the two issues above is likely limited by
the source of the SiRF electronics being another company

No. I own a GPSlim236 Holux mouse using the same Sirf3 chipset and
have no issue with lock after a tunnel, WAAS on or off doesn't matter.

That is good to hear. Now at least we know that ball is in Garmin's
court as far as fixing the problems.

Jack

--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA - jackerbes at adelphia dot net
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine.com)

Phil Wheeler wrote:

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

No. I own a GPSlim236 Holux mouse using the same Sirf3 chipset and
have no issue with lock after a tunnel, WAAS on or off doesn't matter.

With respect, you likely have no idea what spec the Holux and Garmin
SiRF hardware were built to ..nor how similar they really are. Using
the same basic chipsets does not mean the same product.

So your "No" is a tad oversimplified.

Oh no! Does that mean that Garmin can blame it on someone else? And
not fix it?

Jack

--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA - jackerbes at adelphia dot net
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine.com)

Jack Erbes said:

Oh no! Does that mean that Garmin can blame it on someone else? And
not fix it?

I don't believe that Sirf is changing its chipset for Garmin,
considering how many units they produce versus Garmin will buy...
cnsidering all the embedded devices in cars and used for mouse type
receivers.
--

Ciao,
Holger (GUS-KOTAL, GUS#1100)

90-92 Honda CB400 10 Mm | 93-95 Yamaha TDM 850 26 Mm
95-97 KTM 620 LC4 13 Mm | seit 97 BMW R1100GS 50 Mm (Die Renndrecksau!)

cu @ http://www.issle.de

Jack Erbes said:

Phil Wheeler wrote:

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

No. I own a GPSlim236 Holux mouse using the same Sirf3 chipset and
have no issue with lock after a tunnel, WAAS on or off doesn't matter.

With respect, you likely have no idea what spec the Holux and Garmin
SiRF hardware were built to ..nor how similar they really are. Using
the same basic chipsets does not mean the same product.

So your "No" is a tad oversimplified.

Oh no! Does that mean that Garmin can blame it on someone else? And
not fix it?

Another misinterpretation of my words, a common trait here.

The point is, as clearly as I can state it, is that the current hardware
in all users' hands today may have issues related to the hardware
design which *may* not be repairable by a simple firmware upload.

Garmin can fix it, but if it is in the SiRF hardware procured from a
vendor, that will mean a new spec and a new procurement.

Following this line of reasoning, and assuming the best case, Garmin can
recall all the units, replace (or repair) them and send them back to us.

Oh joy! Just what I want, to send my 60Cx back and be without it for X
weeks to achieve 1) WAAS operation when driving through tunnels, and 2)
Use of Li AA cells.

Sure it's Garmin's problem. But the fix may be painful to current
owners, since not all pain is monetary.

Clear enough?

Phil

Holger Issle said:

Jack Erbes said:

Oh no! Does that mean that Garmin can blame it on someone else? And
not fix it?

I don't believe that Sirf is changing its chipset for Garmin,
considering how many units they produce versus Garmin will buy...
cnsidering all the embedded devices in cars and used for mouse type
receivers.

What you really mean is that you do not know.

But since you seem willing to speculate, why do Garmin's without SiRF
have no problems while those with SiRF do?

Holger Issle said:

Jack Erbes said:

Oh no! Does that mean that Garmin can blame it on someone else? And
not fix it?

I don't believe that Sirf is changing its chipset for Garmin,
considering how many units they produce versus Garmin will buy...
cnsidering all the embedded devices in cars and used for mouse type
receivers.

I should have put wink on that, I meant it lightly or in jest. :>😉

Or is there a problem with the early buyers being short tempered and
easily irritated too? :>😉 :>😉

But I am grateful to all you other guys that are finishing up all the
beta testing. That will make it a little more pleasant for those of us
that have not bought one yet. :>😉 :>😉 :>😉

Jack

--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA (jackerbes at adelphia dot net)
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine dot com)

Jack Erbes said:

Holger Issle said:

Jack Erbes said:

Oh no! Does that mean that Garmin can blame it on someone else? And
not fix it?

I don't believe that Sirf is changing its chipset for Garmin,
considering how many units they produce versus Garmin will buy...
cnsidering all the embedded devices in cars and used for mouse type
receivers.

I should have put wink on that, I meant it lightly or in jest. :>😉

Or is there a problem with the early buyers being short tempered and
easily irritated too? :>😉 :>😉

But I am grateful to all you other guys that are finishing up all the
beta testing. That will make it a little more pleasant for those of us
that have not bought one yet. :>😉 :>😉 :>😉

Jack, you rat! Using us as guinea pigs re the 60/76Cx series 😉

Phil

Phil Wheeler said:

Jack, you rat! Using us as guinea pigs re the 60/76Cx series 😉

Rats are smarter than guinea pigs!

Did you know that in the Andes the guinea pig is the primary meat in the
rural diet? But I've never heard of anyone eating a rat over there. :>😉

Jack

--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA - jackerbes at adelphia dot net
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine.com)

Jack Erbes said:

Phil Wheeler said:

Jack, you rat! Using us as guinea pigs re the 60/76Cx series 😉

Rats are smarter than guinea pigs!

Did you know that in the Andes the guinea pig is the primary meat in the
rural diet?

Big delicacy in Equador, served splayed: Such fun. Apparently NOT in
Chile where I have traveled.

Phil

Phil Wheeler said:

Jack Erbes said:

Phil Wheeler said:

Jack, you rat! Using us as guinea pigs re the 60/76Cx series 😉

Rats are smarter than guinea pigs!

Did you know that in the Andes the guinea pig is the primary meat in
the rural diet?

Big delicacy in Equador, served splayed: Such fun. Apparently NOT in
Chile where I have traveled.

Phil

My friend from Peru assures me it's not a staple, it's only served on
special occasions as it's a delicacy.

I think I'll pass on that, anyway 🙂

Karen

--
"I'd far rather be happy than right any day."
- Slartibartfast

Karen Gallagher said:

Phil Wheeler said:

Jack Erbes said:

Phil Wheeler wrote:

>Jack, you rat! Using us as guinea pigs re the 60/76Cx series 😉
>

Rats are smarter than guinea pigs!

Did you know that in the Andes the guinea pig is the primary meat in
the rural diet?

Big delicacy in Equador, served splayed: Such fun. Apparently NOT in
Chile where I have traveled.

Phil

My friend from Peru assures me it's not a staple, it's only served on
special occasions as it's a delicacy.

I think I'll pass on that, anyway 🙂

I saw a video show where they prepared it and ate it. Grossed out the
tourists and the locals were glad to eat more.

I would pass, too.

Phil

"Jack Erbes" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Did you know that in the Andes the guinea pig is the primary meat in the
rural diet? But I've never heard of anyone eating a rat over there. :>😉

Yes. In a cathedral in one of the big cities there is a mural of
The Last Supper, showing Jesus and the disciples tucking into
guinea pig. To their way of thinking, you couldn't possibly have
a feast without serving guinea pig.

Jack Erbes said:

Phil Wheeler said:

Jack, you rat! Using us as guinea pigs re the 60/76Cx series 😉

Rats are smarter than guinea pigs!

Did you know that in the Andes the guinea pig is the primary meat in the
rural diet? But I've never heard of anyone eating a rat over there. :>😉

Jack

Not a lot different from US restaurants serving nutria.