GPSMAP 64-series FW 3.70 update released...

[Pacific NW]

Looks like firmware update 3.70 is available for download for the GPSMAP 64 series. Apparently, 3-axis compass performance has been addressed:

 

http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=6805

 

FYI, the previous firmware update was 3.40. Not sure how they jumped from 3.40 to 3.70, but so be it!

 

Just ran the update here and will see how things go... glad to see the squeaky wheels getting the grease.

[+BikeBill]

Good to know! I wasn't expecting another update already.

 

Edit: Did the update and it was a quick one. I'll try it out soon. It seemed like when I got close to a geocache, the compass would get a little squirrely. Maybe this update will help.

Edited February 10, 2015 by BikeBill

[+BikeBill]

Went after a couple of caches today and the compass seemed more stable. It's really subjective, though, and I'd like to hear others' opinions.

Edited February 11, 2015 by BikeBill

[yogazoo]

I haven't noticed any compass issues before 3.70 so no surprise that I don't notice any change after the update.

 

I had some issues a few months ago and realized that the metal clip on my Gizzmovest interferes with the compass sensor. I have several other units with the metal clip still in place on the Gizzmovest and they seem to operate fine so it really threw me.

Edited February 11, 2015 by yogazoo

[+BikeBill]

<<I had some issues a few months ago and realized that the metal clip on my Gizzmovest interferes with the compass sensor.>>

 

Funny you should mention that. I had a smaller Swiss Army knife clipped further up on the 64s's lanyard (gotta keep a tweezers handy!) and it was whacking out the compass too. It didn't take me too long to figure that out.

[+JohnCNA]

Went after a couple of caches today and the compass seemed more stable. It's really subjective, though, and I'd like to hear others' opinions.

 

Bill, I went on a longish hike/geocache session and the compass was rock-solid. Prior to this update, I would have to recalibrate several times a day. I did not even have to recalibrate after a battery change.

[+Jbaeb]

Went after a couple of caches today and the compass seemed more stable. It's really subjective, though, and I'd like to hear others' opinions.

 

Bill, I went on a longish hike/geocache session and the compass was rock-solid. Prior to this update, I would have to recalibrate several times a day. I did not even have to recalibrate after a battery change.

 

Glad to hear that. My main complaint has been the need for frequent compass recalibration. I will need to update soon and see if it helps. *fingers crossed*

[+BikeBill]

John,

 

Thanks! Good to know!

[yogazoo]

It's weird that I've never had any major compass or calibration issues. I'm sure everyone here already knows this but one of the reasons for having to recalibrate from time to time on Garmin GPS units is due to replaceable batteries and the different magnetic fields they emanate. My wife has asked me why she doesn't have to calibrate the compass on her phone which has a non-replaceable Li-ion.

 

I've always used eneloops but curious about the brands used by those who had issues. I guess all is mute now that Garmin has apparently fixed it.

Edited February 13, 2015 by yogazoo

[+GrayHawk613]

<<I had some issues a few months ago and realized that the metal clip on my Gizzmovest interferes with the compass sensor.>>

 

Funny you should mention that. I had a smaller Swiss Army knife clipped further up on the 64s's lanyard (gotta keep a tweezers handy!) and it was whacking out the compass too. It didn't take me too long to figure that out.

Interesting.

[+GrayHawk613]

Looks like firmware update 3.70 is available for download for the GPSMAP 64 series. Apparently, 3-axis compass performance has been addressed:

 

http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=6805

 

FYI, the previous firmware update was 3.40. Not sure how they jumped from 3.40 to 3.70, but so be it!

 

Just ran the update here and will see how things go... glad to see the squeaky wheels getting the grease.

So does it work better?

[+BikeBill]

Yogazoo said: <<I'm sure everyone here already knows this but one of the reasons for having to recalibrate from time to time on Garmin GPS units is due to replaceable batteries and the different magnetic fields they emanate.>>

 

I did not know this! Makes sense, though.

[+JohnCNA]

It's weird that I've never had any major compass or calibration issues. I'm sure everyone here already knows this but one of the reasons for having to recalibrate from time to time on Garmin GPS units is due to replaceable batteries and the different magnetic fields they emanate. My wife has asked me why she doesn't have to calibrate the compass on her phone which has a non-replaceable Li-ion.

 

I've always used eneloops but curious about the brands used by those who had issues. I guess all is mute now that Garmin has apparently fixed it.

 

I'm not sure I agree with all of this, although having a device with a magnetic compass and metal batteries stored next to it sounds logical and I'm sure there's some merit in that. But I would expect the magnetic fields to be pretty consistent when you changed batteries. I suppose if you had a couple different brands of batteries, there might be a more significant difference from one to the other. I had the exact same issues (constant recalibration) with an eTrex 30 when I first bought it. It was eventually corrected via firmware update. After that I could go 4-6 months between calibrations. The behavior of the 64s has been the same. And appears to have been fixed the same way. I have swapped batteries twice since the update and the calibration has remained accurate after each change.

 

When Apple upgraded to iOS 7 on my wife's iPhone, it forced the user to calibrate the phone's compass every time a location app accessed the compass. Although Apple has dialed that back in iOS 8, every time she starts up her geocaching app on the phone, it demands a compass calibration first. The developer of the app says it is not his app doing that, but the operating system. It's not accessing the GPS that's doing that, it's when an app accesses the compass.

 

I think it depends a lot on the personal use of the device and where you go with it. I spend most of my caching time in heavy woods, off-trail. That means I rarely walk more than 25 feet before changing direction, as I encounter obstacles. And I would be walking slow enough that the compass would be used 100% of the time. This would not be the case with a more typical trail hiker, because the compass gets shut off as soon as your walking speed exceeds approximately 2.5 miles per hour. So if you're mostly walking at a moderate pace, your compass isn't being used at all and you'd never know if there was an issue with it.

[yogazoo]

Here's an FYI tidbit taken from an online Tech site:E-Compass Article

 

"Does the Type of Battery can effect my Compass accuracy?

 

That depends on the type of the battery used. For instance, some digital compasses such as RP3 and WayFinder incorporate proprietary hard and soft-iron correction algorithms which compensate for the magnetic distortion effects introduced by batteries. This is especially true when using any type of rechargeable battery, as they tend to change characteristics during discharge and after each charging cycle. As to the types of batteries, Lithium has the least magnetic signature, followed by Alkaline, with NiCad (Nickel-Cadmium) having the highest magnetic signature."

 

It seems logical to conclude that different battery types, brands, charge states, etc, can effect the compass sensor and calibration differently. It was just my theory to explain why some users experienced issues and why others didn't. Seems fixed now so break out the Ni-Cads!!

Edited February 13, 2015 by yogazoo

[+JohnCNA]

I wonder where today's NiMH batteries place in that hierarchy? Can we even buy NiCads any more? I wonder if that's part of the reason they ask us to specify the battery type in the setup menu. In addition to adjusting the battery meter to the different voltage and discharge rates of different battery types.

[yogazoo]

I wonder where today's NiMH batteries place in that hierarchy? Can we even buy NiCads any more? I wonder if that's part of the reason they ask us to specify the battery type in the setup menu. In addition to adjusting the battery meter to the different voltage and discharge rates of different battery types.

 

That's a great thought JohnCNA. It's possible that the battery setting has broader implications other than just the battery meter. My first blush is that calibration would resolve any interference from the battery but who knows there could be more to it. I purchased some NiCads for an old crank radio just last week from a brick and mortar that specializes in batteries "plus" a whole lot more. I doubt if anyone buys them for anything more than OE replacements these days.

Edited February 14, 2015 by yogazoo

[+Jbaeb]

I took my 64s out today for the first time since updating and it seems much improved. I used it 6 hours today, with all my usual gear, carrying how I normally do and didn't have to recalibrate to compass once. It just worked. Before the update I was doing it at least once an hour if not more. I'm now very happy with my 64s.