Explorist 600 Firmware Update

[+geochicken]

I recently e-mailed Magellan to ask when they planned to release a firmware update for the new Explorist. Here's their comment:

 

"Thank you for contacting Thales Navigation Customer Support.

 

The eXplorist 600 being quite a newborn unit, no firmware update is scheduled for the moment."

 

I thought I had read an earlier post that this update was coming soon. Oh well, will just have to wait.

[+D0T-C0M]

i recieved this reply from one of there tech support reps,

 

eXplorist 4, 5 & 6 firmware updates and enhancements could possibly be available towards the end of the year.

 

I am especially discouraged from this statement. Not only is the firmware only forcasted to come out at the end of the end, its only a possibility. By that time magellan's problems for this line will be well documented and their reputation will be possibly irreversable. Makes you wonder if they care at all about customer support

[robertlipe]

It needs a firmware update *because* it's a newborn unit (and clearly developed ignoring complaints of the 330/SporTrak/Meridian base)

 

Call, write, and email bug lists to them. They need to hear how happy you are.

[sdsdv10]

If you don't mind, could you please outline what problems/issues you are having that you believe a firmware update would help. That information would be very helpful to those of use looking to purchase new units.

 

Thanks,

Don

[+EScout]

Functionally, the unit works well -- good reception, nice screen

Would I would like: Geocache files bigger than 200. For regular waypoint files, I would like to see more than 200 files have descriptions. Add the project-a-waypoint feature. Add mils in addition to degrees. Add a screen-page with 6 to 8 user chooseable data items.

 

These would be a big improvement, and make me very happy.

Edited August 6, 2005 by EScout

[+D0T-C0M]

If you don't mind, could you please outline what problems/issues you are having that you believe a firmware update would help.  That information would be very helpful to those of use looking to purchase new units.

 

Thanks,

Don

These are the issues I have presently and already have emailed magellan. I cut n pasted what I sent magellan. Needless to say that I had a 90 minutes discussion with a support rep and was told that most of the items I posted were not bugs but rather "enhancements" to the product. I really don't care what they call them as long as they get addressed.

 

First three are related to the geocaching software,

 

1- When will the 200 limit on how many geocaching POIs be revised? I bought this unit with an unlimited SD card surely something can be done to increase this limit.

    If you do load more than the limit of the GPSr it uploads regardless and geochaches disappear without warning the user.

 

2- When is the firmware going to be updated so that we can enable or disable geocache text on the map screen? The map screen is utterly useless at 1.4km and 700m resolutions. refer to these photos to see for your self.

http://nb25.servebeer.com/~resist/rez_1_40km.JPG

http://nb25.servebeer.com/~resist/rez_700m.JPG

 

3. We need the option of modifying/editing geocache POIs text and the ability to change geocache icons. This is a must have option for any serious Geocacher and has been mentioned many times on the geocaching forums,

read this thread from start to back--> http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...topic=93344&hl=  (include the " = " in the address)

 

The following points are general software and/or firmware related,

 

4- why can't the electronic compass automatically turn on when the speed drops below X and use GPS tracking when the speed is above X"? In the absence of that, why can't a single key to toggle between compass and gps course be used instead of tunneling through several menus. Why can't the electronic compass fine tune it's calibration when above X speed. When I toggle the electronic compass on and off while driving in a straight line, it's always off between 10 and 20degrees regardless how many times a re-calibrate it. No metallic fields or structures nearby.

 

5- why does the temperature screen consistantly show at least 5degrees higher than ambiant. I know it reads internal temperature but the algorithm could be tweaked to show a more reliable reading.

 

6- I live in canada and have the GPSr set to display metric values. Why are we using the "bar" instead of using "kPa" like all the airports and weather stations use. Furthermore the barometric range is so big that the needle is always pinned at the 3/4 mark regardless of a high or low barometric pressure. We need less range to get the needle to move a little more.

 

7- why did we lose the very useful screens that all the older magellan products have? The six field screen is a regular of mine while hiking. And I use the four large fields screen a lot while caching. Sometimes if my compass is jumping around to much for me I'll use the four field screen instead. It is much more stable. At least with this screen if you are using heading and bearing to locate your cache you can also see your distance to the cache at the same time. And have another field to use for whatever. EPE in my case. With the Explorist you only have two fields. What good is heading and bearing without the distance. You shouldn't have to bounce between different screens to get very simple and needed info.

 

-------------------------------------------

 

Items I forwarded on a later email included the USB lockup issue where the GPS would freeze and require a hard reset or removal of the batteries to get the GPS functional again.

[+brbo]

sdsdv10,

 

Thanks for the news,,

 

PS you can add another email address to the letter about this issue where the USB locks up that needs a HARD reboot to get the GPS functional again.

 

Please keep us posted of the results

 

Cheers

Brian

[freeday]

Here is a list of things magellan should change:

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...dpost&p=1616786