Is it just me or has reception been poor lately? Tried new firmware in my Merigold and switched back with no difference. Any one else noticed any difference as of late?

How recently is "lately". My GPS seemed to work fine through last weekend.

In fact I've been delighted how much quicker and more consistently my new Garmin locks onto satellites than the old one did. The only thing that doesn't work consistently is the electronic compass....

~erik~

My old GPS V, has been acquiring satellites at the same speed as always.

The only thing I have noticed is since the new WAAS satellite came on line last year that if I turn on WAAS it gets the new WAAS satellite a lot faster the old. But I normally leave it off as it slows down route re-calculations.

Since about Friday of last week. This am on the way to work I was getting 10 with lock on about 7-8 again. Only 1 WAAS getting lock, had 2 before then.

quote:

Originally posted by ~erik~:
How recently is "lately". My GPS seemed to work fine through last weekend.

In fact I've been delighted how much quicker and more consistently my new Garmin locks onto satellites than the old one did. The only thing that doesn't work consistently is the electronic compass....

~erik~

I have found that I need to recalibrate the electronic compass on my Garmin 60CSx pretty frequently, and read that this must be done each time batteries are replaced. However, I'm finding that I must recalibrate it more frequently than that in order to get the direction arrow to work right, etc. Other than that, it sure works like a champ!

gpsfun wrote:

quote:

I must recalibrate it more frequently than that in order to get the direction arrow to work right, etc. Other than that, it sure works like a champ!

Yep. It becomes pretty obvious when the directional arrow is exactly 180° off. The arrow tells you the cache is behind you, but the distance gets shorter as you apparently walk away from it. The first time I was bitten by this I probably walked back and forth four times along a trail, about 200 feet each way before I finally recalibrated the sucker.

~erik~

How do you recalibrate it? I know, go read my manual, but flatter me if the steps are super easy. I'll probably have a better shot of reading it hear than finding the manual.

I have a Garmin eTrex Legend HCx

quote:

Originally posted by akaivyleaf:
How do you recalibrate it? I know, go read my manual, but flatter me if the steps are super easy. I'll probably have a better shot of reading it hear than finding the manual.

I have a Garmin eTrex Legend HCx

The electronic compass is a function that allows some GPS units, the Garmin 60CSx amoung them, to sense the direction of the earth's magnetic field and use that information to position the compass card display to the magnetic heading of the unit as well as position the pointer to the correct bearing to the waypoint. For units without the electronic compass function, the GPS simply calculates the direction of the current track (while you are moving) and uses that infomation to position the compass display. That is why the GPS heading display is not accurate unless you are moving.

To the best of my knowledge, the eTrex Legend HCx does not have the electronic compass function so there is no requirement to calibrate it.

quote:

Originally posted by akaivyleaf:
How do you recalibrate it?

Funny you should ask, and the answer is even funnier, since I don't mind laughing at myself.

While on the compass rose screen hit "menu", and scroll down to "calibrate compass". You'll then be instructed to slowly turn clockwise for two revolutions, and the screen will tell you if it's too fast, too slow, or just right a turn.

I spun myself around the first few times to do this, 'till Trez pointed out that I didn't have to turn around while holding the GPS, I could just turn it while it's laying in the palm of my hand. Duh! Pardon me while I call the neighbors to help me change the light bulb.

~erik~

quote:

Originally posted by ~erik~:
I spun myself around the first few times to do this, 'till Trez pointed out that I didn't have to turn around while holding the GPS, I could just turn it while it's laying in the palm of my hand. Duh! Pardon me while I call the neighbors to help me change the light bulb.
~erik~

Hehe ... don't beat your self up for it ... he was told the same thing.