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Cellular forums Home > Archive > Garmin GPS > January 2008 > Colorado 300 came in today!
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Colorado 300 came in today!
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| Initial impressions of the Colorado 300.
Most of the comparison will be with my trusty 60CSx. The
Colorado has a very slightly larger screen, mostly in height.
Overall it is about one inch (30cm) shorter with the same width
and depth. Right off the bat I HATE the carabineer clip. My use
of the unit is either stationary in the vehicle or on my belt
until needed. The strap on the thing has it hanging several
inches below the belt line and flopping all over the place. I
had a button for the 60CSx type belt clip and am gorilla gluing
it on to the back of the case as I type this. The other
complaint about this silly clip is that it must be removed from
the case to change batteries or SD card.
The display is a higher resolution than the 60CSx and very easy
to read. I have not had a chance to get it in the car for a
drive yet and am interested to see how the backlight level is
for night driving.
I placed a blank formatted SD card in the unit and tried to do a
mapsource download to the GPSr. Unlike the 60 it tried to put
the map into the onboard memory, not the SD card. To get the
maps on the SD card I had to hit the dropdown box to find where
XP had assigned the card as an external drive. The
experimentation I have done so far with the maps has revealed a
feature that I always wanted on the 60, that is to be able to
turn on or off a full map set. It looks like I'll be able to
keep City Nav on the SD card and put the Topo segments I use
most into the local memory, turning them on and off at will. I
was able do this with the 60 but had to remember what map
segments correlated. That is a pain with a 2G card and several
hundred map names.
I'll try to follow up with some more observations after I play
with the new toy for a few days.
Well first real bug…… The unit will not use external power! When
it is plugged in to the USB cable it thinks it is passing data
to or from the computer. I'll be calling Garmin in the morning
on that little problem.
Mac
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| Ok, Called Garmin first thing this morning.
UNHAPPY CUSTOMER!
If you are planning to use this thing in the vehicle, either
plan on taking a truck load of batteries with you if you want
real time tracking (more on this later) or buy their PROPRIARARY
USB power cable. A standard USB power cable like I have been
using on my 60CSX will not work.
To do real time tracking, you will need their USB to serial
cable that does NOT power the unit. If your laptop is like mine
it does not have a serial port anymore so you will need a USB to
serial converter to their serial to usb converter!
Toss all of your accessories that you already own and plan on
spending $$$$ and still having a compromise.
Garmin (to their credit) was going to "work with me" to send me
either the power cable or the serial cable at a reduced cost but
the tech rep couldn't even get into their own web site. I can't
see that either would do me any good. I have about 5 days to
decide whether to send this thing back or keep it. I am leaning
toward putting it back in the box and shipping it back.
The Garmin Colorado 300 (and 400, is the same thing with pre-
installed maps) is NOT ready for prime time IMHO.
If all you plan to do with it is letting it flop around on the
end of a carribiner it may work for you. I would recomend buying
a 60CSx or 76CSx for less money until they get some of the
problems worked out on this thing.
grumble grumble
Mac
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| Pegleg 2008-01-23, 10:33 am |
| On Wed, 23 Jan 2008 08:53:39 -0600, mac <someone@microsoft.com> wrote:
>Ok, Called Garmin first thing this morning.
>
>UNHAPPY CUSTOMER!
>
>If you are planning to use this thing in the vehicle, either
>plan on taking a truck load of batteries with you if you want
>real time tracking (more on this later) or buy their PROPRIARARY
>USB power cable. A standard USB power cable like I have been
>using on my 60CSX will not work.
Where does the power cable plug in on the unit?
>To do real time tracking, you will need their USB to serial
>cable that does NOT power the unit. If your laptop is like mine
>it does not have a serial port anymore so you will need a USB to
>serial converter to their serial to usb converter!
So you are saying the unit cannot use a USB connection to provide real
time input to a mapping program on the laptop? What in hell were they
thinking?
>Toss all of your accessories that you already own and plan on
>spending $$$$ and still having a compromise.
>
>Garmin (to their credit) was going to "work with me"
Yea right! If what you have described is true I think it would be a no-
brainer to send the crap back! Does sound like you didn't really
research it thoroughly though.
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| On Jan 23, 9:02 am, Pegleg <Peg...@usnavyret.mil> wrote:
> Does sound like you didn't really
> research it thoroughly though.
The sort of complaints he is making seem like issues that would be
hard to discover without actually having the unit and attempting to
work with it.
When the information that Garmin put out said it could be powered
through the USB port, I would not have expected that it would require
a *special* cable to work, particularly if, as the OP stated, he had a
60CSx that worked with a standard cable.
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| On Jan 23, 7:53 am, mac <some...@microsoft.com> wrote:
> If you are planning to use this thing in the vehicle, either
> plan on taking a truck load of batteries with you if you want
> real time tracking (more on this later) or buy their PROPRIARARY
> USB power cable. A standard USB power cable like I have been
> using on my 60CSX will not work.
I expect that it won't be long before third-party suppliers offer a
cable that will work with this unit, at a substantially lower price
than Garmin's. Still, I think it is a legitimate complaint that it
won't work with a setup that worked just fine with your 60CSx. That's
useful information that a lot of people would want to know.
This is the kind of thing Garmin does that irritates their customers.
Maybe there is some technical advantage to changing the way the units
are powered. I wouldn't know. But a lot of people will assume,
rightly or wrongly, that they did this just to make more money selling
accessories. They don't handle the public relations aspects of this
kind of thing well at all.
> To do real time tracking, you will need their USB to serial
> cable that does NOT power the unit. If your laptop is like mine
> it does not have a serial port anymore so you will need a USB to
> serial converter to their serial to usb converter!
I acknowledge that I don't have a deep technical background in
computer technology, so what I'm about to say may well be wrong. It
seems to me that if the unit is putting out a signal through its USB
port that can be converted to serial and used, then it should be
possible for software with the right drivers to take the USB signal
directly and use it without going through the USB to serial and serial
to USB conversion. Of course there probably isn't any software that
has those drivers, yet; but it seems like this problem is on the
computer end, not the receiver end.
It would have been nice if the Colorado output the data in a similar
enough format to that of the older units that you could just plug it
in and have it work; but that doesn't seem to happen very often when
new hardware is introduced.
> The Garmin Colorado 300 (and 400, is the same thing with pre-
> installed maps) is NOT ready for prime time IMHO.
If I'm right in my speculation above, I don't think the complaints
you've mentioned so far rise to that level. Nothing so far would be a
deal-killer for me. Actually, those things wouldn't affect me at
all. I am grateful to you, though, for providing the information, and
hope that you will continue.
> If all you plan to do with it is letting it flop around on the
> end of a carribiner it may work for you.
I wouldn't plan to hang it from by belt using the carabiner. I've
always used a pouch when I carry a GPSr on my belt, and expect to
continue to do that. The carabiner clip could be handy for securing
the unit in other places, though.
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| Anton Betzler 2008-01-23, 3:33 pm |
| Roy <roybassist@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I think it is a legitimate complaint that it
> won't work with a setup that worked just fine with your 60CSx.
why?
they are quite different devices
the Colorado works like a Nüvi - why not?
Anton
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| On Jan 23, 11:44 am, macn...@web.de (Anton Betzler) wrote:
> Roy <roybass...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> why?
>
> they are quite different devices
They are different devices, but in many ways they are quite similar.
> the Colorado works like a N=FCvi - why not?
In terms of its intended use (rugged, outdoor, all-purpose handheld),
the Colorado is much more like a 60 series than it is like a Nuvi.
That aside, speaking from my frame of reference it would never have
occurred to me that Garmin would make that kind of change in the power
setup between various units, especially since they appear to use the
same type of USB connector. As I said in my earlier post, there may
be a good technical reason for it; but I wouldn't know.
When I said I thought it was a legitimate complaint, I didn't mean I
thought Garmin should have designed the Colorado differently; I only
meant that I thought it was reasonable to be surprised by that...because
I would have been if I hadn't read it here.
Never having wanted to own a Nuvi, I've never paid much attention to
them; certainly not enough to know the intricacies of how they were
powered. It would never have occurred to me to ask the question.
I've tried to learn as much as I could about the Colorado by reading
anything I could find, but nothing I've noticed before today would
have alerted me to this aspect of its design.
Incidentally, this isn't a problem for me, personally. I don't
currently own any devices to adapt power from a 12V power outlet to a
USB device. So if I decide to get a Colorado, I would have to buy
something new to power it, regardless of the specifics.
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| Anton Betzler 2008-01-23, 3:33 pm |
| Roy <roybassist@yahoo.com> wrote:
> In terms of its intended use (rugged, outdoor, all-purpose handheld),
> the Colorado is much more like a 60 series than it is like a Nuvi.
I agree - so there is no need to use it as GPS mouse connected to a
laptop inside a car. But people are always surprisingly creative . . .
The Colorado is really an outdoor device. You connect it with the
Computer only to transfer Maps, Geocaches, Images, Tracks, Routes and
Waypoints.
;-) Anton
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| Bill Smith 2008-01-23, 10:33 pm |
|
"mac" <someone@microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9A2DCEED84A3
Fmcmurdo1athotmaildo
t@216.196.97.142...
> Initial impressions of the Colorado 300.
> The
> experimentation I have done so far with the maps has revealed a
> feature that I always wanted on the 60, that is to be able to
> turn on or off a full map set. It looks like I'll be able to
> keep City Nav on the SD card and put the Topo segments I use
> most into the local memory, turning them on and off at will. I
> was able do this with the 60 but had to remember what map
> segments correlated. That is a pain with a 2G card and several
> hundred map names.
> Mac
On the 60CSx, you can turn off/on the mapsets without messing with the
individual sections.
With the display showing the map view:
Menu->Setup Map->Enter
Toggle the selection on top to the right until the circle with the "i" in it
is highlighted and hit Menu.
You can then either highlight "Show None", show basemap, show US topo, or
whatever mapsets you have loaded. Turn of the one(s) you don't want and turn
on the one you do want.
Hope this helps...
--
Smitty
Somerset, PA
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| macnetz@web.de (Anton Betzler) wrote in
news:1ib6top. 1so9xsm1xbwyu0N%macn
etz@web.de:
> Roy <roybassist@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
> I agree - so there is no need to use it as GPS mouse
> connected to a laptop inside a car. But people are always
> surprisingly creative . . . The Colorado is really an
> outdoor device. You connect it with the Computer only to
> transfer Maps, Geocaches, Images, Tracks, Routes and
> Waypoints.
>
> ;-) Anton
I am an amateur radio operator and use the receiver to pass data
to what we call APRS, this is a radio system that relays my
position to a web site and other places that need to see where I
am, especially during an emergency. Yes I can run multiple
receivers, one for each function.
In my other life, I respond to national incidents (Forest fires,
floods, hurricanes etc.) and carrying multiple receivers is not
practical. I may need to find where the command post is via road
in a rental car, jump out and into a helicopter to a remote
radio site, and if worst comes to worst and the helicopter can't
come back to get me, find a hiking trail that will get me back
to civilization without getting into trouble.
I really wanted an update to my 60CSx that had more bells and
whistles and the better screen.
If all you want is a NUVI that goes into your pocket, this may
be a good unit for you.
Not me.
Input/output of real-time data is a very high priority for me.
The Colorado does not supply this. It is going back. Somebody
may get a good deal on a re-furb. Hope they like it. I don't.
Mac
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| Klatch 2008-01-23, 10:33 pm |
|
"mac" <someone@microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9A2DCEED84A3
Fmcmurdo1athotmaildo
t@216.196.97.142...
> Initial impressions of the Colorado 300.
<snip>
The experimentation I have done so far with the maps has revealed a
> feature that I always wanted on the 60, that is to be able to
> turn on or off a full map set. <snip>
>
> Mac
On your 60csx map setup page - with the "i" icon highlighted - press menu
and you will be given the option to hide or show entire map sets.
| |
|
| "Klatch" <beavernevi23@yahoo.com> wrote in
news:URRlj.161065$MJ6.128518@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.ne
t:
> "mac" <someone@microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:Xns9A2DCEED84A3
Fmcmurdo1athotmaildo
t@216.196.97.142...
> <snip>
> The experimentation I have done so far with the maps has
> revealed a
> On your 60csx map setup page - with the "i" icon
> highlighted - press menu and you will be given the option
> to hide or show entire map sets.
>
>
>
It looks like you can disable individual maps but not the entire
set. I have maps from Topo and City Nav in the card almost 2Gig
worth. In order to activate or de-activate you have to kill each
section of the map IE "South Dakota city navigator, minnesota
city navigator ......
On the Colorado there is a similar box but it just says City
navigator or Topo or base map. With city nav NT it is not as big
a problem but with the old city nav it was along the lines of
murdoc county etc. a lot of maps to scroll through to get to
what you want to kill temorarily.
I think I'll still stay with the 60CSx anyhow.
Thanks for the effort though.
Mac
| |
| Alan Burnstine 2008-01-23, 10:33 pm |
| mac wrote:
> "Klatch" <beavernevi23@yahoo.com> wrote in
> news:URRlj.161065$MJ6.128518@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.ne
> t:
>
>
> It looks like you can disable individual maps but not the entire
> set. I have maps from Topo and City Nav in the card almost 2Gig
> worth. In order to activate or de-activate you have to kill each
> section of the map IE "South Dakota city navigator, minnesota
> city navigator ......
> On the Colorado there is a similar box but it just says City
> navigator or Topo or base map. With city nav NT it is not as big
> a problem but with the old city nav it was along the lines of
> murdoc county etc. a lot of maps to scroll through to get to
> what you want to kill temorarily.
> I think I'll still stay with the 60CSx anyhow.
>
> Thanks for the effort though.
>
> Mac
No, Klatch is correct, the 60CSx (and as far as I have seen, all Garmin
mapping receiver's since the III+) can disable entire map sets. You
need to hit menu a second time, when the list of maps is displayed, and
you get a new menu with options for managing the map sets.
Alan
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|
|
> No, Klatch is correct, the 60CSx (and as far as I have
> seen, all Garmin mapping receiver's since the III+) can
> disable entire map sets. You need to hit menu a second
> time, when the list of maps is displayed, and you get a new
> menu with options for managing the map sets.
>
> Alan
>
Thanks
It's a wasted day if you don't learn something.....
Mac
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| Anton Betzler 2008-01-24, 10:33 am |
| mac <someone@microsoft.com> wrote:
> Input/output of real-time data is a very high priority for me.
it seems there is a problem with the USB connector and the Colorado
firmware. Normally you can decide if you want the MassStorage mode or
the GPS mode by using the appropriate cable. Maybe it will be fixed
later.
At the moment you have to use a silly workaround: USB-Serial-Adapter to
Serial-USB-Adapter
hth
Anton
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| Jack Erbes 2008-01-24, 10:33 am |
| Anton Betzler wrote:
> Roy <roybassist@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
> I agree - so there is no need to use it as GPS mouse connected to a
> laptop inside a car. But people are always surprisingly creative . . .
> The Colorado is really an outdoor device. You connect it with the
> Computer only to transfer Maps, Geocaches, Images, Tracks, Routes and
> Waypoints.
>
On the issue of powering it from the USB port, if it does not do that
I'd consider that a serious design flaw. I power my 76Cx from available
DC outlets for long periods of time on boats and in cars. And I think
that is a pretty common way for people to use it.
Doing it that way allows me to use the screen at full brightness and
with the battery saver turned off. If I am going to use it on
batteries I usually change the brightness setting (even turn the
backlight off in daylight) and use the battery saver.
It is known that the nuvis used USB cables that have a personality. And
that the unit software reacted differently to the use of other, non-
Garmin, USB cables. As near as I can tell the personality is induced by
using a resistor in the mini-USB connector (which has five contacts
instead of the four that are in USB).
If I remember right, some nuvis could not be used to navigate when they
were connected to either USB ports (or DC-DC adapters with USB sockets)
if you used the Garmin USB to mini-USB cable that came with them. They
would go into the computer connected mode instead and the GPS would be
shut down.
But with a non-Garmin cable they powered up off of the USB power source
and navigated too. So that allowed the nuvis to be used with the
common, cheap, and ubiquitous cigarette lighter DC-DC adapters with a
USB sockets (something Garmin does not sell).
I think the nuvis were even reported to be able to charge their internal
battery and navigate at the same time when using the non-Garmin cable.
I don't see anything grossly alarming in the Colorados yet. But there
are some disquieting hints that maybe Garmin has once again developed a
new line of hardware without any apparent regard for what consumers
liked about the previous models and would like to see in the new ones
too. And they may not have even asked people what they would like to
see in the new stuff.
Jack
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| Jack Erbes 2008-01-24, 10:33 am |
| mac wrote:
>
> Thanks
> It's a wasted day if you don't learn something.....
>
Can you imagine the excitement I felt, after turning great numbers of
individual maps on and off, when I discovered the second press of the
Menu thing and the now familiar "Show and Hide" menu?
Of course the Show and Hide menu opened the door on a new realm of
undocumented features and created more new questions of its own. But
once you figured out the pecking order for the display of maps with
multiple products in the Show mode, and which things will display with
any and all maps, and some of those kinds of things it just became
another of the things that made the "x" series handhelds the world's
greatest handheld, ruggedized, waterproofed, and self contained for
power GPS receiver.
And it looks like the Colorados might not dethrone them.
Jack
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| Jerry M 2008-01-26, 3:33 pm |
| On Jan 22, 10:20 pm, mac <some...@microsoft.com> wrote:
> Initial impressions of the Colorado 300.
> Most of the comparison will be with my trusty 60CSx. The
> Colorado has a very slightly larger screen, mostly in height.
> Overall it is about one inch (30cm) shorter with the same width
> and depth. Right off the bat I HATE the carabineer clip. My use
> of the unit is either stationary in the vehicle or on my belt
> until needed. The strap on the thing has it hanging several
> inches below the belt line and flopping all over the place. I
> had a button for the 60CSx type belt clip and am gorilla gluing
> it on to the back of the case as I type this. The other
> complaint about this silly clip is that it must be removed from
> the case to change batteries or SD card.
> The display is a higher resolution than the 60CSx and very easy
> to read. I have not had a chance to get it in the car for a
> drive yet and am interested to see how the backlight level is
> for night driving.
> I placed a blank formatted SD card in the unit and tried to do a
> mapsource download to the GPSr. Unlike the 60 it tried to put
> the map into the onboard memory, not the SD card. To get the
> maps on the SD card I had to hit the dropdown box to find where
> XP had assigned the card as an external drive. The
> experimentation I have done so far with the maps has revealed a
> feature that I always wanted on the 60, that is to be able to
> turn on or off a full map set. It looks like I'll be able to
> keep City Nav on the SD card and put the Topo segments I use
> most into the local memory, turning them on and off at will. I
> was able do this with the 60 but had to remember what map
> segments correlated. That is a pain with a 2G card and several
> hundred map names.
> I'll try to follow up with some more observations after I play
> with the new toy for a few days.
> Well first real bug...... The unit will not use external power! When
> it is plugged in to the USB cable it thinks it is passing data
> to or from the computer. I'll be calling Garmin in the morning
> on that little problem.
>
> Mac
http://www8.garmin.com/support/user...ct=010-00422-00
If you download latest manual from link above for GPSMAP 60CSx you
would see on page 45 that this second menu oftion on showing maps ior
not showing maps is not hidden at all. It has that line right before
Map Setup-Marine Page-Press MENU to view options for showing maps.
Sometimes reading the manual DOES show you useful information,
Jerry
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