+ranumrd Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 I have just upgraded to a Garmin GPSMAP 64s, and no doubt this will be the first of a few questions. But to start with - when I am connected to the internet I cannot use my GPS to check that the geocaches have been downloaded. If I press any button, nothing happens. When I unplug, the GPS turns off and I have to restart it. This didn't happen with my 60CXs. Am I doing something wrong? Quote Link to comment
+Gitchee-Gummee Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 You GPSMAP64s is generation-ally different than your old GPSMAP60CSx. You need to "re-learn" using a newer generation GPSr. Being a true paperless unit, the geocache data storage is different than that of your older model. Rather than being stored in bulk and sortable, the data is now stored in a single folder named Garmin/GPX. You would open that Garmin/GPX folder if you really want to check and see that geocaches had been loaded. It would not be accessing the the geocaches via the GPSr. It would be checking the file/folder as a [Drive] via the computer. If you want to check using the GPSr itself, it *should* first be disconnected from the computer. Regarding it "turning off when you disconnect" -- you should've already turned the unit off. Damage could be caused by plugging it to the computer while [the unit] is turned on, turn it on AFTER it is plugged into the computer. Likewise, it should be turned off before disconnecting. While plugged into the computer, the computer is supplying power to the unit, not the batteries. Older units (most) always used batteries only for power. Also -- if you are using a PC, after loading data to the unit, you should right-click the mouse and choose "Eject" before turning the unit off and pulling the plug. Data loading is not quite as instantaneous as most people would think. Using the Eject option allows for all the data to load properly, the computer will tell you when it is "safe" to remove the device... usually it is near instantaneous, but not always. THEN turn it off and pull the plug. Quote Link to comment
+ranumrd Posted April 16, 2015 Author Share Posted April 16, 2015 Thanks for that information. I did not know about the GPX folder, learning as I go. Quote Link to comment
+ecanderson Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 Also -- if you are using a PC, after loading data to the unit, you should right-click the mouse and choose "Eject" before turning the unit off and pulling the plug. Data loading is not quite as instantaneous as most people would think. Using the Eject option allows for all the data to load properly, the computer will tell you when it is "safe" to remove the device... usually it is near instantaneous, but not always. +1 to that. "should" isn't a strong enough term for it! Like any USB mass storage device, it REALLY needs to be logically disconnected from the PC before physically disconnecting it. As a double check on your procedure, ALWAYS fire up the unit after working with it, and before you head out on a cache run, and be SURE that the caches appear on the unit! Nothing worse than getting out there and finding a 'blank' unit. Quote Link to comment
Pacific NW Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 ^^ This. ^^ Another vote for checking if the caches loaded to the unit before heading out. You'll only make that mistake once, maybe twice. Quote Link to comment
+JohnCNA Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 I had that happen every once in a while with my eTrex 30. I've had a 64s for over a year, and it's never happened once. I wonder if they finally fixed that? Quote Link to comment
+ecanderson Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 Isn't something they will have 'fixed', John. It's all to do with flushing caches (not the geocaching type!) and similar that are issues with any USB external storage device. What you fixed (like the rest of us after making this mistake even once!) is yourself. Quote Link to comment
+JohnCNA Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 Isn't something they will have 'fixed', John. It's all to do with flushing caches (not the geocaching type!) and similar that are issues with any USB external storage device. What you fixed (like the rest of us after making this mistake even once!) is yourself. Well, I was referring to a known Garmin issue that sometimes required forcing the unit to reindex the data by removing the files or SD card, booting up and powering down and replacing the files or card again. I've not had that happen in over a year with the 64s. Quote Link to comment
alandb Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 (edited) This is something Garmin can and should address in their unit software. All they need to do is add a function on the setup menu to "Reindex GPX files". If they can't fix the basic cause of the problem, they can at least make the workaround more user friendly. Users should not have to remove batteries, SD card, reboot, reinstall batteries and card, reboot. As often as this happens with multiple devices, it is gross indifference by Garmin to not address the problem. I suspect the reason Garmin doesn't put a reindex function on the menu is that it would be an admission that the problem actually exists. Edited April 26, 2015 by alandb Quote Link to comment
alandb Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 (edited) Oops... duplicate reply Edited April 26, 2015 by alandb Quote Link to comment
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