Garmin GPS - 76Cx Questions

Author

76Cx Questions

Cooter

2006-10-14, 12:33 pm

(1) On the download page for the GPSmap 76Cx firmware update there is also a
link for "GPS Chipset Type G Ver. 2.70 as of Jul 19, 2006". This date is the
same as that of the version 3.00 firmware. How does this (chipset) download
relate to the 76Cx, and should I download and install it? I can't find any
information on the Garmin site.

(2) Some time back there were posts concerning battery compartment size
problems. At the time I was not concerned with the Cx, so didn't keep up
with the posts, except to remember that some NiMH cells could cause damage
because of size. Is there any known problem with Energizer Alkaline cells?

Thanks for any help.

Bert Hyman

2006-10-14, 3:33 pm

In news:5F7Yg.7656$gL.7550@southeast.rr.com "Cooter" <cooter@yahoo.com>
wrote:

> (1) On the download page for the GPSmap 76Cx firmware update there is
> also a link for "GPS Chipset Type G Ver. 2.70 as of Jul 19, 2006". This
> date is the same as that of the version 3.00 firmware. How does this
> (chipset) download relate to the 76Cx, and should I download and install
> it? I can't find any information on the Garmin site.

On your receiver, go to Setup->System, press Menu, select Software
Version.

You'll see two entries: "Software Version" and "GPS SW Version".

"Software Version" corresponds to the "Unit Software" and "GPS SW Version"
corresponds to the "GPS Chipset ..." entry you see on the download page.

So, if the versions you have in your receiver are older than those on the
Garmin site, you should consider them. The "WebUpdater" is supposed to
keep track of this automatically, but some people have reported problems
where incomplete downloads left their receivers in an unuseable state.
I've used it once and didn't have a problem.

--
Bert Hyman St. Paul, MN bert@iphouse.com

Carl Heinz

2006-10-14, 3:33 pm

On Sat, 14 Oct 2006 15:48:17 GMT, "Cooter" <cooter@yahoo.com> wrote:

>(1) On the download page for the GPSmap 76Cx firmware update there is also a
>link for "GPS Chipset Type G Ver. 2.70 as of Jul 19, 2006". This date is the
>same as that of the version 3.00 firmware. How does this (chipset) download
>relate to the 76Cx, and should I download and install it? I can't find any
>information on the Garmin site.
>

The SiRF in the "x" models has a separate firmware download. It's my
understanding that the most recent couple of these have been related to WAAS.
I've loaded them, and now get very good WAAS. If you use the Garmin
Downloader, it'll show "regular" and "chipset" downloads separately.

>(2) Some time back there were posts concerning battery compartment size
>problems. At the time I was not concerned with the Cx, so didn't keep up
>with the posts, except to remember that some NiMH cells could cause damage
>because of size. Is there any known problem with Energizer Alkaline cells?
>
>Thanks for any help.
>
I use both them and Duracell alkalines with no problem so far.

Carl
--
Carl Heinz
cfheinz57@charter.net
(Remove number)

Steve Calvin

2006-10-14, 3:33 pm

Carl Heinz wrote:
> On Sat, 14 Oct 2006 15:48:17 GMT, "Cooter" <cooter@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
> The SiRF in the "x" models has a separate firmware download. It's my
> understanding that the most recent couple of these have been related to WAAS.
> I've loaded them, and now get very good WAAS. If you use the Garmin
> Downloader, it'll show "regular" and "chipset" downloads separately.
>
> I use both them and Duracell alkalines with no problem so far.
>
> Carl
I use the Energizer Lithium batteries and nothing even comes
close to how long they last. No problems of any kind.

--
Steve

Henk de Jong

2006-10-15, 3:33 pm

> The SiRF in the "x" models has a separate firmware download. It's my
> understanding that the most recent couple of these have been related
> to WAAS. I've loaded them, and now get very good WAAS.

But unfortunately the latest version of this firmware will make EGNOS
corrections in Europe impossible.

With kind regards,
Henk de Jong

--
http://www.hsdejong.nl/
Nepal and Burma (Myanmar) - Photo Galleries

Jack Erbes

2006-10-16, 10:33 am

Cooter wrote:

<snip>
> (2) Some time back there were posts concerning battery compartment size
> problems. At the time I was not concerned with the Cx, so didn't keep up
> with the posts, except to remember that some NiMH cells could cause damage
> because of size. Is there any known problem with Energizer Alkaline cells?
>

That is the battery I use all the time. In the one battery slot I make
a point to gently nudge the coiled spring contact over and keep the
battery as flat to the case as possible as I press it in. That battery
is snug but not too tight, but if you're not careful you can trap the
easily deformed spring under the battery.

The other battery (one without the coiled spring contact) also needs to
pressed down and in while level to the case. If you drop one end and
and try to push the other down, it is a tighter fit than I like and I'm
afraid it might over stress the flat spring contacts.

To remove them, I remove the cover gently slap the case into my cupped
hand so that I don't have to pry one end of the batteries up to get them
out.

What a monument to piss poor engineering that battery compartment is.
It transcends the limits of consumer loyalty...

I also occasionally have trouble getting a microSD to withdraw easily
from the socket. As should be done, I push the card in, it releases and
comes about half way out. But them sometimes does not withdraw easily,
like it is caught on something. If that happens I carefully cup my hand
over the battery compartment, push the card part way back in, and let
the eject spring pop it out. This is a little troublesome at times but
it is much better than the microSD card storage scheme on the 60 series
models.

I learned to cup my hand over the end to catch the microSD card after I
let one pop out and watched the card travel about six feet in the air,
skip off the transom rail of a boat, and settle slowly to the bottom of
the Saco River at Kennebunkport. Grrr...

I've found I can store a second microSD card under the battery cover by
laying it in one of the small recesses between the batteries. I have to
remember it's there if I open the battery compartment but there haven't
been any problems yet.

Jack

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

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