Have you updated your Garmin lately?

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 6:35 pm

Wow, I just updated one of our two Garmins and the look is a great improvement. Previously, when searching for a cache, the Oregon, Dakota, GPSMAP62, and (probably) the Colorado would show you a list of caches and the distance to them on the search results screen. After the update, it also shows you on the same screen the size and the D/T rating. Newer units probably already had this more user-friendly view (including the Montana?), but ours had the operating software last updated about a year ago. See pictures for the difference. The first picture shows the results screen (on the GPSMAP62) with only the name, type, and distance. The updated unit (on the Dakota) now shows name, type, distance, size, and D/T. Now I have to update the other one. You use the Garmin webupdater software that came with the unit to do the update.

BEFORE

AFTER

Joined: 2009-06-05 Posts: 2150 Location: Menominee, MI

I use an older Garmin...Etrex Venture HC.

I doubt it has any recent updates.

Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:18 pm

I updated my Oregon 550 just before leaving on vacation. The additional info in the search is nice, but now when I mark a cache as found and turn off the GPS when I turn it back on the "found" caches are back in the unfound list, and I have no found caches or field notes. I just got back and noticed there's another update available - hopefully it will fix the found cache issue. It was really confusing when in an unfamiliar area and caches that I could have swore I found were back in the search list.

Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 1:41 pm

Tiem to update again, it looks like. Thanks Hack

Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 11:51 am

Use discretion with updates...I have now bricked my third Oregon by updating the software.

Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 7:47 pm

Ive bricked mine once on a beta update, but was able to hack into it and reinstall a older version, I was lucky as most were not able to hack it on that version and had to send them in.

Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 8:06 pm

I'm giving up on the Oregon series and getting a Map62sc.

Joined: 2009-06-05 Posts: 2150 Location: Menominee, MI

It's why I never do updates unless I absolutely have to.

Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 9:39 pm

Lostby7 wrote:

I'm giving up on the Oregon series and getting a Map62sc.

I have the 62ST. I think you will love it!

Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 11:29 pm

I have had an Oregon 450 for almost 2 years. Best GPS I've ever had. Spent time on phone with LEVEL 2 SOFTWARE TECHS, from Garmin & they all said beta versions, although not time tested, are still safe to run. They wouldn't put it out there if it were a landmine.

With the new computer run units, some users are pushing BASECAMP vs MAPSOURCE, but the techs I have talked to still think MAPSOURCE is the best.

In the open or on my kayak, I get a consistant 8' accuracy with an occasional 7 footer and once a 6 footer. Can't beat that with many other units. Small, rugged, accurate, reasonable battery llife all tell me this is a great unit.

FYI, I also use Zagg screen cover on my unit. Goodf stuff.

Just my $ .02 worth.

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 12:04 am

I can't seem to transfer waypoints to or from my 62st using Map Source, I have to use Base Camp, and I don't like it much, but I may still need to use it more to learn it, but I can do things faster on Map Source. I should say that I can get some, but not all, and that includes tracks. Do you have any intel you could share?

WGA Member Joined: 2009-08-17 Posts: 127

I just updated my Oregon 450 and everything looks great. I was really surprised to see how much (a lot) faster the caches loaded.

WGA Member Joined: 2003-12-21 Posts: 250

I cant load or receive from map source either on my garmin oregon 550