Garmin compass calibration

[Shael6636]

Can someone tell me if they have a problem with their Garmin constantly asking to be re-calibrated?
We are using a Darkota 20 and we are finding ourselves having to re-calibrate every 20 minutes or so if we are using compass.
It's at the point at the moment that we only use the map because the moment we bring up the compass, well...
Is this a common thing caused by power lines or some sort of external interference?

Help!

Hi Echo,

I have been using the Dakota 20 since xmas and while i occasionaly have had to recalibrate the compass certainly not that much

I can tell you that there is a firmware update for the GPS so install that and see how it goes after the update has been installed. Since ive installed the update the Dakiota 20 works lovely (it also did before)

[BaldEd]

I recently purchased a 60CSX & have not had to recalibrate it at all. Which is just as well as there are NO roundabouts where I live.

Your 60CSX will never ask you to recalibrate the compass. It will just silently point you in the wrong direction, if you don't recalibrate it after changing the batteries.

[Tuena]

Thanks for that advice - I shall recalibrate now as I have changed the batteries numerous times.

[ianc]

As a matter of interest, how accurate/precise are the electronic compasses on GPS? Are they useful for getting a decent compass bearing, or just for giving a relative direction to a waypoint when you're stationary?

[Map Monkey]

As a matter of interest, how accurate/precise are the electronic compasses on GPS? Are they useful for getting a decent compass bearing, or just for giving a relative direction to a waypoint when you're stationary?

Typical 3 axis compasses are accurate to +-2 degrees with a resolution of 1 degree. Traditional analogue compasses are usually better than +-2 degrees if that helps (assuming the user reads the numbers accurately )

More than adequate to gain a good enough bearing for most situations.

mm

[endorfun]

I have had a few models of GPS recievers since I first discovered them as a novellty back in 1990 at Sun nFun in Lake land Florida. A Megellan model that if it were here today would be trashed by an Etrex H today and having paid well of $1000 for the thing. Since then I have had at least 14 various devices and I have yet to see a GPS with a compass or altimeter that works well enough for me to leave my glycerin filled compass or my aneroid barometer/altimeter out of my pack. Yes, the GPS ones do work, and they require calibration to remain even just useful, but I find it much easier and less time consuming to be able to keep the compass on a neck strap and the aneroid in a belt clip to get them both read and in use in 10 seconds ( and if needed enter the corrections into the GPS in another 30 seconds) than the 3 or more minutes it takes to determine how much error if any and get the GPS on track. Until the compass and aneroid are completely isolated from the other devices in the GPS they are always going to be plaqued with glitches and fualts.

[Echo]

Can someone tell me if they have a problem with their Garmin constantly asking to be re-calibrated?
We are using a Darkota 20 and we are finding ourselves having to re-calibrate every 20 minutes or so if we are using compass.
It's at the point at the moment that we only use the map because the moment we bring up the compass, well...
Is this a common thing caused by power lines or some sort of external interference?

Help!

Hi Echo,

I have been using the Dakota 20 since xmas and while i occasionaly have had to recalibrate the compass certainly not that much

I can tell you that there is a firmware update for the GPS so install that and see how it goes after the update has been installed. Since ive installed the update the Dakiota 20 works lovely (it also did before)

GREAT!

Downloaded and ran the update last night and not only did it make the GPSr crash but it was also nice enough to wipe the entire internal memory so now when you turn it on all it says is "System Software Missing".

After 2 40+ minute calls to Garmin Australia they sent me a zip that is meant to fix it. Will be running that as soon as I get home with fingers crossed.

Maybe it was easier to just re calibrate everytime I walked under a tree...

[Shael6636]

Can someone tell me if they have a problem with their Garmin constantly asking to be re-calibrated?
We are using a Darkota 20 and we are finding ourselves having to re-calibrate every 20 minutes or so if we are using compass.
It's at the point at the moment that we only use the map because the moment we bring up the compass, well...
Is this a common thing caused by power lines or some sort of external interference?

Help!

Hi Echo,

I have been using the Dakota 20 since xmas and while i occasionaly have had to recalibrate the compass certainly not that much

I can tell you that there is a firmware update for the GPS so install that and see how it goes after the update has been installed. Since ive installed the update the Dakiota 20 works lovely (it also did before)

GREAT!

Downloaded and ran the update last night and not only did it make the GPSr crash but it was also nice enough to wipe the entire internal memory so now when you turn it on all it says is "System Software Missing".

After 2 40+ minute calls to Garmin Australia they sent me a zip that is meant to fix it. Will be running that as soon as I get home with fingers crossed.

Maybe it was easier to just re calibrate everytime I walked under a tree...

OMG...... I am so sorry that happened Echo
When I did my update I had no problem at all....but you probably didnt want to hear that

[ian-and-penny]

Garmin have just updated their Oregon beta version into a final.

Oregon 300/400
Oregon 550/550t

You will neede WebUpdater to update your device.

[Echo]

Hi Echo,

I have been using the Dakota 20 since xmas and while i occasionaly have had to recalibrate the compass certainly not that much

I can tell you that there is a firmware update for the GPS so install that and see how it goes after the update has been installed. Since ive installed the update the Dakiota 20 works lovely (it also did before)

GREAT!

Downloaded and ran the update last night and not only did it make the GPSr crash but it was also nice enough to wipe the entire internal memory so now when you turn it on all it says is "System Software Missing".

After 2 40+ minute calls to Garmin Australia they sent me a zip that is meant to fix it. Will be running that as soon as I get home with fingers crossed.

Maybe it was easier to just re calibrate everytime I walked under a tree...

OMG...... I am so sorry that happened Echo
When I did my update I had no problem at all....but you probably didnt want to hear that

No problem, I have been talking to Garmin and Garmin Australasia. Garmin have told me it needs to be returned and Garmin Australasia emailed me a file that found my unit, fixed the problem and updated my software to version 2.50 which from what I can see isn't available on the web updater yet! So it's all systems go (thanks Garmin Aust).

[Shael6636]

GREAT!

Downloaded and ran the update last night and not only did it make the GPSr crash but it was also nice enough to wipe the entire internal memory so now when you turn it on all it says is "System Software Missing".

After 2 40+ minute calls to Garmin Australia they sent me a zip that is meant to fix it. Will be running that as soon as I get home with fingers crossed.

Maybe it was easier to just re calibrate everytime I walked under a tree...

OMG...... I am so sorry that happened Echo
When I did my update I had no problem at all....but you probably didnt want to hear that

No problem, I have been talking to Garmin and Garmin Australasia. Garmin have told me it needs to be returned and Garmin Australasia emailed me a file that found my unit, fixed the problem and updated my software to version 2.50 which from what I can see isn't available on the web updater yet! So it's all systems go (thanks Garmin Aust).

I am glad that they were able to help you fix it without having to send the GPS of to them to fix Echo

Did they give you an eta on when the new Update is going to be released

[rbirtles]

Just before Xmas I downloaded and updated my Garmin Dakota 20 with the latest patch and this bascically killed my Dakota. Couldn't even get it past the Garmin screen when you first turn it on. Tried many things but no luck.

Garmin asked me to send it to their Service Centre and I received it 1 week later while I was up in Qld. Instead of fixing the unit they gave me a brand new Dakota 20

Apart from this hiccup I am very happy with this unit although I did have to go out and buy an Etrex in order to keep my obsession and consecutive day count ticking over. No harm in having to GPSRs

Cheers!
Rob.

[Echo]

Just before Xmas I downloaded and updated my Garmin Dakota 20 with the latest patch and this bascically killed my Dakota. Couldn't even get it past the Garmin screen when you first turn it on. Tried many things but no luck.

Garmin asked me to send it to their Service Centre and I received it 1 week later while I was up in Qld. Instead of fixing the unit they gave me a brand new Dakota 20

Apart from this hiccup I am very happy with this unit although I did have to go out and buy an Etrex in order to keep my obsession and consecutive day count ticking over. No harm in having to GPSRs

Cheers!
Rob.

That was the exact problem I had.

[Indaweeds]

Did they give you an eta on when the new Update is going to be released

2.50 for the Dakota was released yesterday (along with 3.50 for the Oregon). I updated my new Dakota to 2.50 yesterday and am really liking the new dashboard.

[rbirtles]

I am too scared to try the new update... LOL