Help
I have a problem that i have had for many firmware versions now with my Garmin Montana. When using the auto cradle mount with speaker if i turn the car off and don't manually turn off the Montana by selecting power off on the screen after shutting off the ignition the unit will not power back up again and will turn on but only gives a blank white screen which it won't go past. I have to then pull the battery to get it to start up. Very annoying and Garmin's dreadful customer service was no help either. If this isnt fixed soon mine is going back for a refund. Is anyone else seeing this problem?
Montana Power on problem when used with Vehicle Cradle
#2
Posted 13 December 2011 - 05:49 PM
Yes, yes, yes, this is perhaps my last BIG issue with the Montana. It never really worked consitently right in the cradle when it came to automatic power cycles. Mine also hangs up during the "Loading Photo's" prompt. I've emailed the software team many times over the past several months regarding this issue but never heard back on it specifically. The software team is usually very responsive. The email address is MontanaBeta@garmin.com.
I encourage you to report this problem. It helps to be very matter of fact and report your settings and describe in detail the circumstances when you experience the problem. I know it's frustrating but the software team is your friend, not your foe.
It's super annoying to have issues with your unit in the car while you're just trying to navigate and concentrate on driving.
I encourage you to report this problem. It helps to be very matter of fact and report your settings and describe in detail the circumstances when you experience the problem. I know it's frustrating but the software team is your friend, not your foe.
It's super annoying to have issues with your unit in the car while you're just trying to navigate and concentrate on driving.
This post has been edited by yogazoo: 13 December 2011 - 06:07 PM
#3
Posted 13 December 2011 - 08:42 PM
I've just completed a few hours of tests as I was trying to see if there was a setting that may be responsible for our issue related to the auto cradle and I think I've pinpointed the setting that causes the unresponsive units.
Alfresco and others experiencing this issue, check your Altimeter setup menu. Check to see if the pressure trending setting is set to "Save Always". If it is, change it to "Save When Power On" and see if that works an better.
Pinpointing this issue wasn't easy because apparently the "Save Always" function takes some time to initiate. So for example if you try to test this out by changing to "Save Always" and immediately do a power cycle in your cradle you will not see the freeze. You have to leave the unit on for around ten minutes and then cycle power in your car.
What is peculiar is that the "Save Always" setting can lock up your unit just the same when you unplug from the USB on your computer.
Take home message to Montana + Cradle owners: Leave your altimeter pressure trending setting on "Save When Power On" for all of your profiles and see if that works.
I have, in recent months, had a few sporadic times when my Montana's alarm DIDN'T go off and when I looked at WTF was going on (as I was running late) I saw the white screen of death. I somehow believe this is related to Save Always but cannot recreate it.
Anyone like to verify this? I'd welcome backup. I've already emailed the Gamin Beta Team enough this software version and I promised I wouldn't email them until the next version. If you've been experiencing issues related to cradle freezing and a power button that sometimes doesn't work without removing the battery, please email Garmin.
Alfresco and others experiencing this issue, check your Altimeter setup menu. Check to see if the pressure trending setting is set to "Save Always". If it is, change it to "Save When Power On" and see if that works an better.
Pinpointing this issue wasn't easy because apparently the "Save Always" function takes some time to initiate. So for example if you try to test this out by changing to "Save Always" and immediately do a power cycle in your cradle you will not see the freeze. You have to leave the unit on for around ten minutes and then cycle power in your car.
What is peculiar is that the "Save Always" setting can lock up your unit just the same when you unplug from the USB on your computer.
Take home message to Montana + Cradle owners: Leave your altimeter pressure trending setting on "Save When Power On" for all of your profiles and see if that works.
I have, in recent months, had a few sporadic times when my Montana's alarm DIDN'T go off and when I looked at WTF was going on (as I was running late) I saw the white screen of death. I somehow believe this is related to Save Always but cannot recreate it.
Anyone like to verify this? I'd welcome backup. I've already emailed the Gamin Beta Team enough this software version and I promised I wouldn't email them until the next version. If you've been experiencing issues related to cradle freezing and a power button that sometimes doesn't work without removing the battery, please email Garmin.
This post has been edited by yogazoo: 14 December 2011 - 12:27 AM
#4
Posted 13 December 2011 - 11:02 PM
My Pressure Trending is set to Save When Power On and I still have issues with the auto mount.
#5
Posted 13 December 2011 - 11:40 PM
MaliBooBoo, on 13 December 2011 - 11:02 PM, said:
My Pressure Trending is set to Save When Power On and I still have issues with the auto mount.
As do I, at times.
#6
Posted 14 December 2011 - 12:22 AM
savant9, on 13 December 2011 - 11:40 PM, said:
MaliBooBoo, on 13 December 2011 - 11:02 PM, said:
My Pressure Trending is set to Save When Power On and I still have issues with the auto mount.
As do I, at times.
DO you guys have it se to switch to a particular profile upon being in the cradle? If so, does that profile have he same "Save When Power On" setting? Also, are your issues where you sometimes get a white screen and freeze up or freeze up to the point of having to pull the battery?
I'm perplexed, in my testing it poined to the Save Always seting every time. I'm still not convinced that Save Always isn't the cuplrit in some cases including the OP's.
This post has been edited by yogazoo: 14 December 2011 - 12:30 AM
#7
Posted 14 December 2011 - 09:36 AM
My automatically switches to automotive mode when it's placed in the cradle. The pressure setting was set to Save When Power on for that profile as well.
Weird.
Weird.
#8
Posted 14 December 2011 - 01:30 PM
I have mine set to auto switch to automotive profile when in the cradle, and switch to geocaching when removed. Pressure trending set to save while on, in both profiles.
I am referring to the white(gray) screen on power up, however i do not require a battery pull when it does this, just remove from cradle and hold power button for 5 seconds and it turns off for me. Reinserting into the cradle boots normal the next time.
I am referring to the white(gray) screen on power up, however i do not require a battery pull when it does this, just remove from cradle and hold power button for 5 seconds and it turns off for me. Reinserting into the cradle boots normal the next time.
#9
Posted 14 December 2011 - 01:52 PM
In both automotive and geocacheing profiles mine was set to Save when on and I have been having the issue that it just will not boot on when the vehicle is started. Sometimes it works for three or four cycles but then it fails. If I try to start with the on and off switch it is the white screen of death!
#10
Posted 15 December 2011 - 07:14 AM
I have the same issue with two units. Hopefully Garmin will work it out for the next update.
#11
Posted 15 December 2011 - 07:37 AM
I have a question, we don't have the car mount yet, but plan on getting it. I think generally we would remove the Montana from the mount before shutting the car off, I'm generally on my way to the cache before my partner gets parked. Have problems been limited to turning the car off prior to removing the Montana? Should I spend the money right now or wait to see if Garmin gives us a fix? It seems that the car mount would be invaluable on days when we mostly cache in the car with very short hikes to caches, so I've been planning on getting the car mount right after Christmas.
#12
Posted 15 December 2011 - 07:59 AM
toil&trouble, on 15 December 2011 - 07:37 AM, said:
I have a question, we don't have the car mount yet, but plan on getting it. I think generally we would remove the Montana from the mount before shutting the car off, I'm generally on my way to the cache before my partner gets parked. Have problems been limited to turning the car off prior to removing the Montana? Should I spend the money right now or wait to see if Garmin gives us a fix? It seems that the car mount would be invaluable on days when we mostly cache in the car with very short hikes to caches, so I've been planning on getting the car mount right after Christmas.
Honestly, it's great having the mount and it works as it should while in operation. The issues with freezing only seem to occurr when your shutting down or starting up. I've also had some issues with auto start-up while snapping a unit into a powered mount as well as removing it the same way.
It's definately worth it in my opinion to purchase the mount, even with the intermittent issues we're talking about here. I'm confident that Garmin will see how many people are affected by this problem and get it fixed sooner rather than later. Go for it!
This post has been edited by yogazoo: 15 December 2011 - 08:02 AM
#14
Posted 15 December 2011 - 10:38 AM
Is there a work around process so that it doesn't do this.... Like remove it or turn it off before you turn the vehicle off... Suggestions? Got one for the family for Christmas...! Thanks!
#15
Posted 15 December 2011 - 11:41 AM
Colorado3G, on 15 December 2011 - 10:38 AM, said:
Is there a work around process so that it doesn't do this.... Like remove it or turn it off before you turn the vehicle off... Suggestions? Got one for the family for Christmas...! Thanks!
Just check these forums regularly for software update notices. There doesn't seem to be a work around but one thing I will suggest, keep the Barometer settings at "Save When Power On".
#16
Posted 15 December 2011 - 03:25 PM
What exactly is causing the freezing? Is it a power cycle on the cigarette lighter when starting and shutting off the car?
I'm trying to better understand this because I have no problems at all with my mount. My cigarette lighter doesn't lose power though when starting which may be the difference.
I'm trying to better understand this because I have no problems at all with my mount. My cigarette lighter doesn't lose power though when starting which may be the difference.
#17
Posted 15 December 2011 - 03:31 PM
Bullygoat29, on 15 December 2011 - 03:25 PM, said:
What exactly is causing the freezing? Is it a power cycle on the cigarette lighter when starting and shutting off the car?
I'm trying to better understand this because I have no problems at all with my mount. My cigarette lighter doesn't lose power though when starting which may be the difference.
I'm trying to better understand this because I have no problems at all with my mount. My cigarette lighter doesn't lose power though when starting which may be the difference.
It's in the power cycling. If your mount doesn't lose power then you're one of the lucky ones.
#18
Posted 15 December 2011 - 05:44 PM
My power socket (cigarette lighter isn't PC anymore) is also constantly powered. I hit the problem sometimes if I put the Montana in the cradle while the gps is powered off. I usually just leave mine in the cradle and leave it powered up all the time. On the rare occasion that I shut it down with the power button, while still in the powered cradle it is reluctant to start back up with the power button, sometimes requiring pulling the socket out and waiting a few seconds then plugging it back in, at which point it may boot up normally or gray screen.
#19
Posted 15 December 2011 - 05:58 PM
savant9, on 15 December 2011 - 05:44 PM, said:
My power socket (cigarette lighter isn't PC anymore) is also constantly powered. I hit the problem sometimes if I put the Montana in the cradle while the gps is powered off. I usually just leave mine in the cradle and leave it powered up all the time. On the rare occasion that I shut it down with the power button, while still in the powered cradle it is reluctant to start back up with the power button, sometimes requiring pulling the socket out and waiting a few seconds then plugging it back in, at which point it may boot up normally or gray screen.
I must really be lucky because I don't have those problems with shutting off and freezing. I always use the cradle to turn my unit on.
#20
Posted 15 December 2011 - 09:01 PM
I think the issue with the cradle is pervasive enough to confirm as an issue while at the same time being elusive enough that Garmin might have a tough time nailing it down. Some people have the issue, some don't.
I wonder sometimes if the issue isn't with the cradle, or a batch of cradles. There is, after all, a PC board inside.
My suggestion to Garmin, for now, would be to make that message that pops up when you turn off your car selectable, allowing users to disable that message and have the unit stay on by default when the power to the cradle is cut. It might just be a band-aid but at least when I forget to tap "Stay On" I wouldn't have to fiddle around removing the batteries to recycle power.
I wonder sometimes if the issue isn't with the cradle, or a batch of cradles. There is, after all, a PC board inside.
My suggestion to Garmin, for now, would be to make that message that pops up when you turn off your car selectable, allowing users to disable that message and have the unit stay on by default when the power to the cradle is cut. It might just be a band-aid but at least when I forget to tap "Stay On" I wouldn't have to fiddle around removing the batteries to recycle power.
#21
Posted 16 December 2011 - 10:56 AM
toil&trouble, on 15 December 2011 - 07:37 AM, said:
I have a question, we don't have the car mount yet, but plan on getting it. I think generally we would remove the Montana from the mount before shutting the car off, I'm generally on my way to the cache before my partner gets parked. Have problems been limited to turning the car off prior to removing the Montana? Should I spend the money right now or wait to see if Garmin gives us a fix? It seems that the car mount would be invaluable on days when we mostly cache in the car with very short hikes to caches, so I've been planning on getting the car mount right after Christmas.
The problem with mine is limited to when you shut off the vehicle and the menu comes up on the Garmin asking if you want to stay on (on Battery) or if you want to shut down the unit. If you don't select either it counts down and shuts the Montana off automatically a few seconds later. It is when you allow this automatic shutdown of the unit that I get the problems powering it back on and the white screen of death. If i pull the unit from the cradle while the vehicle is on or if i chose either the option to remain on. or shut down manually I do not have the problem.
It does seem like when allowing the unit to shut down itself that it is jammed trying to save something on the next boot up so i am going to try the suggestions mentioned above this weekend.
#22
Posted 16 December 2011 - 03:49 PM
Bullygoat29, on 15 December 2011 - 03:25 PM, said:
What exactly is causing the freezing? Is it a power cycle on the cigarette lighter when starting and shutting off the car?
I'm trying to better understand this because I have no problems at all with my mount. My cigarette lighter doesn't lose power though when starting which may be the difference.
I'm trying to better understand this because I have no problems at all with my mount. My cigarette lighter doesn't lose power though when starting which may be the difference.
If your cigarette lighter power does not shut off then you will not have this problem. The issue happens during auto shut down while in auto mount. There is no need to pull the battery. Hold in the power button for about 4 - 5 seconds, release for a second and restart GPS normally.
#23
Posted 22 December 2011 - 10:46 PM
I posted this on Advrider.com in the Montana thread but thought I'd post here since there are a a bunch of Montana user here.
I speculate that this is a hardware issue - my reasoning follows in layman's terms. In Power detection circuits there is a "sensor" that detects that the proper power level has been applied. When that case is "true" this circuit "tells" the the Power Mgmt system to apply power to the GPS system. This is not happening in your case and can cause the rest of the Power Mgmt routine like "shutdown-reset" to not work properly - which seems to be happening to your units.
I think that because the Montana Dev Team are so prolific with updates, there's an expectation that almost everything can be fixed with software - it can't. If Garmin doesn't know there are a significant number of units with bad Power Management circuitry, you will never see a fix (replacement). I would recommend being more proactive when it comes to having this fixed and call Product Support. Your choice.
Cheers,
I speculate that this is a hardware issue - my reasoning follows in layman's terms. In Power detection circuits there is a "sensor" that detects that the proper power level has been applied. When that case is "true" this circuit "tells" the the Power Mgmt system to apply power to the GPS system. This is not happening in your case and can cause the rest of the Power Mgmt routine like "shutdown-reset" to not work properly - which seems to be happening to your units.
I think that because the Montana Dev Team are so prolific with updates, there's an expectation that almost everything can be fixed with software - it can't. If Garmin doesn't know there are a significant number of units with bad Power Management circuitry, you will never see a fix (replacement). I would recommend being more proactive when it comes to having this fixed and call Product Support. Your choice.
Cheers,
#24
Posted 23 December 2011 - 12:49 AM
The hardware hypothesis is a pretty steep charge. I don't know enough about power management circuitry to have an opinion either way. What I do know is that the Montana software team seems to be very responsive to reproduceable issues. Given the sporadic nature of the symptoms and the user fixability of the issue (pull the battery and restart), I doubt that a flood of reports have been made to Garmin about it.
Anyone experiencing this problem should indeed report it to Garmin. The Montana software team has their priority list but the squeeky wheel usually gets the grease.
Call Garmin tech support or email them at montanabeta@garmin.com
If I had to simply bet on the source of the problem (software vs hardware) I'd put my money on software. I may be more hopeful than informed in that regard.
Anyone experiencing this problem should indeed report it to Garmin. The Montana software team has their priority list but the squeeky wheel usually gets the grease.
Call Garmin tech support or email them at montanabeta@garmin.com
If I had to simply bet on the source of the problem (software vs hardware) I'd put my money on software. I may be more hopeful than informed in that regard.
This post has been edited by yogazoo: 23 December 2011 - 12:55 AM
#25
Posted 23 December 2011 - 04:48 AM
FYI,
I've purchased the Star Wars Yoda voice for my Garmin Montana and it doesn't work. I've called Garmin several times about this issue and they have acknowledged that the Montana series will currently not download such voices, even though the Montana is in the list of compatible products.
Does anyone have a similar experience with these pay-to-play voices?
I've purchased the Star Wars Yoda voice for my Garmin Montana and it doesn't work. I've called Garmin several times about this issue and they have acknowledged that the Montana series will currently not download such voices, even though the Montana is in the list of compatible products.
Does anyone have a similar experience with these pay-to-play voices?
#26
Posted 23 December 2011 - 06:32 AM
yogazoo, on 23 December 2011 - 12:49 AM, said:
The hardware hypothesis is a pretty steep charge. I don't know enough about power management circuitry to have an opinion either way. What I do know is that the Montana software team seems to be very responsive to reproduceable issues. Given the sporadic nature of the symptoms and the user fixability of the issue (pull the battery and restart), I doubt that a flood of reports have been made to Garmin about it.
Anyone experiencing this problem should indeed report it to Garmin. The Montana software team has their priority list but the squeeky wheel usually gets the grease.
Call Garmin tech support or email them at montanabeta@garmin.com
If I had to simply bet on the source of the problem (software vs hardware) I'd put my money on software. I may be more hopeful than informed in that regard.
Anyone experiencing this problem should indeed report it to Garmin. The Montana software team has their priority list but the squeeky wheel usually gets the grease.
Call Garmin tech support or email them at montanabeta@garmin.com
If I had to simply bet on the source of the problem (software vs hardware) I'd put my money on software. I may be more hopeful than informed in that regard.
Please remember that the Montana dev team are not Product Support - although they have been very open to communications from customers. Given the nature of the problems describe (and not just here), as an Electrical Engineer, I put my money on a hardware issue that causes problems with the software.
Cheers,
This post has been edited by DRTBYK: 23 December 2011 - 06:34 AM
#27
Posted 23 December 2011 - 07:44 AM
Just wanted to chime in with a "me too" for this issue. It did it with my first unit and the replacement unit (bad screen calibration). Everything set to "Save when Power On".
#28
Posted 23 December 2011 - 07:48 AM
DRTBYK, on 23 December 2011 - 06:32 AM, said:
Please remember that the Montana dev team are not Product Support - although they have been very open to communications from customers. Given the nature of the problems describe (and not just here), as an Electrical Engineer, I put my money on a hardware issue that causes problems with the software.
Cheers,
Cheers,
If you want to bring a problem with the Montana to Garmin's attention I would much sooner contact (email) the software team before calling a "product support specialist". Product support is for my mom who installs the batteries incorrectly or forgets which button turns a unit on. In my experience, and it's been hit or miss, a book analogue to product support is "GPS for Dummies".
You may well be correct about the source of the OP issue but I simply hope your wrong.
I know, I know, hope in one hand and dump in another and see which one fills up first.
Happy Holidays!
#29
Posted 23 December 2011 - 10:46 AM
I agree. From experience you will get a better dialogue going with the beta support team than the generic support. They have a better chance of passing it on to the correct team if it is a hardware issue.
#30
Posted 23 December 2011 - 11:17 AM
I don't disagree with either of you when it comes to the Montana Dev Team. My interactions with them have been very productive. Which is why I don't like to overload them with something that might be (maybe should be) handled by Product Support. Even though I too have had my share of "blank stares over the phone" from them over these many years.
Anyway, Happy Holidays to you all.
Cheers,
Anyway, Happy Holidays to you all.
Cheers,
#31
Posted 28 December 2011 - 05:22 PM
Well I don't know if the wizards at Garmin have pulled one out of the hat, but both my wife and my 650 Montanas now shut down and reboot properly on power loss and the only thing different is that we're running the latest software version, 3.70 on both units. We were out for a day in the car with both units on automotive mounts on the dash, and not once did they lock up in perhaps 10 off/on cycles.
It used to be that both of ours would lock up every time if we didn't intervene and tell the unit to either stay on, or to shut down. Now they don't do that at all any more.
Anyone else notice that the latest non-beta version has cured that nasty little bug?
It used to be that both of ours would lock up every time if we didn't intervene and tell the unit to either stay on, or to shut down. Now they don't do that at all any more.
Anyone else notice that the latest non-beta version has cured that nasty little bug?
#32
Posted 28 December 2011 - 07:54 PM
Dr Jeckyl and Mr Hide, on 28 December 2011 - 05:22 PM, said:
Anyone else notice that the latest non-beta version has cured that nasty little bug?
Just had another confirmation on another forum that V3.70 cured this other person's Montana shutdown lockups!
Thanks Garmin!
#33
Posted 29 December 2011 - 05:23 AM
Not fixed for me. I’ve gotten in the habit of shutting down in the cradle during the countdown by touching the screen. After 3.70 I get the white screen every time on restart. To work around this I must remove the GPS from cradle before touching the screen. So far, this has worked well.
I don’t normally have enough time to wait and leave the GPS in the cradle for an uninterrupted shutdown so I don’t know if that is fixed.
I don’t normally have enough time to wait and leave the GPS in the cradle for an uninterrupted shutdown so I don’t know if that is fixed.
#34
Posted 29 December 2011 - 10:17 AM
Dr Jeckyl and Mr Hide, on 28 December 2011 - 07:54 PM, said:
Dr Jeckyl and Mr Hide, on 28 December 2011 - 05:22 PM, said:
Anyone else notice that the latest non-beta version has cured that nasty little bug?
Just had another confirmation on another forum that V3.70 cured this other person's Montana shutdown lockups!
Thanks Garmin!
Spoke too soon, looks like. We are out in the car again today and let the Montanas turn themselves off, went in for about an hour for lunch and when we came back out and turned on the car, which powered the Montanas, mine refused to start until I pulled the battery out...
#35
Posted 29 December 2011 - 11:09 AM
Oh my, you let a $500 GPS set on your windshield for 1 hour while eating lunch? A couple years ago I learned the hard way. I had a cheap $100 nuvi sitting on my windshield. I pulled into a hotel after work in broad daylight for 35 - 45 minutes to shower and change clothes for dinner. I came out to get in my car and the door lock was damaged, the window smashed and the nuvi gone! They did about $500 damage for a $100 nuvi. Luckily my insurance covered it all including the GPS.
#36
Posted 29 December 2011 - 01:53 PM
Cacheoholic, on 29 December 2011 - 11:09 AM, said:
Oh my, you let a $500 GPS set on your windshield for 1 hour while eating lunch? A couple years ago I learned the hard way. I had a cheap $100 nuvi sitting on my windshield. I pulled into a hotel after work in broad daylight for 35 - 45 minutes to shower and change clothes for dinner. I came out to get in my car and the door lock was damaged, the window smashed and the nuvi gone! They did about $500 damage for a $100 nuvi. Luckily my insurance covered it all including the GPS.
Me too - I lost a Tom Tom in Hawaii on Vacation....simply popped the top off my rental Jeep!
#37
Posted 29 December 2011 - 08:28 PM
Cacheoholic, on 29 December 2011 - 11:09 AM, said:
Oh my, you let a $500 GPS set on your windshield for 1 hour while eating lunch?
Sure did. Not one but two Montanas on the dash in plain sight! We do it all the time in Canada.
#38
Posted 30 December 2011 - 07:37 AM
3.7 didn't fix it for me either. Had to pull the battery at least four times while looking for four caches.
#39
Posted 30 December 2011 - 03:33 PM
Dr Jeckyl and Mr Hide, on 29 December 2011 - 08:28 PM, said:
Cacheoholic, on 29 December 2011 - 11:09 AM, said:
Oh my, you let a $500 GPS set on your windshield for 1 hour while eating lunch?
Sure did. Not one but two Montanas on the dash in plain sight! We do it all the time in Canada.
Mine sits on my dash 24/7, I even leave my keys in the ignition while at work. O-Canada!
#40
Posted 31 December 2011 - 11:13 AM
Ok, I'm not sure why this happens, but if the gps locks up on reboot while in a powered mount, if you remove it from the powered mount and hold the power button in, past the white screen phase, for about 20 seconds, the gps will turn itself off, and it seems to reboot normally from then on in the powered mount for subsequent off/on cycles.
I don't know how many times it will work normally until the failed state happens again, but this seems to be how both of our Montanas work right now. Both are rebooting normally after I went through this procedure this morning.
In other words - If you remove the battery from the gps as a way of getting out of the failed restart, it seems to continue the flawed behaviour but if you do the power button shutdown, it seems ok from then on...
But in order to do the power button shutdown, the gps needs to be off the cradle, unpowered by the mount.
I don't know how many times it will work normally until the failed state happens again, but this seems to be how both of our Montanas work right now. Both are rebooting normally after I went through this procedure this morning.
In other words - If you remove the battery from the gps as a way of getting out of the failed restart, it seems to continue the flawed behaviour but if you do the power button shutdown, it seems ok from then on...
But in order to do the power button shutdown, the gps needs to be off the cradle, unpowered by the mount.
This post has been edited by Dr Jeckyl and Mr Hide: 31 December 2011 - 02:21 PM
#41
Posted 31 December 2011 - 12:22 PM
Mine works the same except I only have to hold the power button 8 - 10 seconds.
#42
Posted 02 January 2012 - 02:31 PM
This problem just got a whole lot worse with the latest 3.70 software update. Now I get a white screen when i turn the vehicle off whether i select turn off or stay on it doesn't matter what i choose now when i come to turn the Montana back on there is the famous white screen of death and i have to take the unit out of the cradle to get it to reboot.
Come on Garmin get your Sh#t together this problem is well documented. I am assuming it is an issue with certain versions of the auto cradle with speaker as not every cradle user gets this problem. It is time for Garmin to come good on this and issue a recall on the cradle.
What have others noticed in regards to this problem and the latest software release?
Come on Garmin get your Sh#t together this problem is well documented. I am assuming it is an issue with certain versions of the auto cradle with speaker as not every cradle user gets this problem. It is time for Garmin to come good on this and issue a recall on the cradle.
What have others noticed in regards to this problem and the latest software release?
#43
Posted 02 January 2012 - 03:26 PM
Alfresco2006, on 02 January 2012 - 02:31 PM, said:
This problem just got a whole lot worse with the latest 3.70 software update. Now I get a white screen when i turn the vehicle off whether i select turn off or stay on it doesn't matter what i choose now when i come to turn the Montana back on there is the famous white screen of death and i have to take the unit out of the cradle to get it to reboot.
If you remove it from the powered mount and hold the power button in, past the white screen phase, for about 20 seconds, the gps will turn itself off, and it seems to reboot normally from then on in the powered mount for subsequent off/on cycles.
If you remove the battery from the gps as a way of getting out of the failed restart, it seems to continue the flawed behaviour but if you do the power button shutdown, it seems ok from then on...
But in order to do the power button shutdown, the gps needs to be off the cradle, unpowered by the mount.
Have you tried the instructions above? They worked for me.
#44
Posted 02 January 2012 - 05:16 PM
Hey thanks for the info. I've had this a few times. I'll try your solution. Please ignore the rudeness of some people. Lets work together for helpful ways to overcome problems.
#45
Posted 03 January 2012 - 10:44 AM
Patience is a virtue during the first year of any handheld GPS release. The kind of problems Garmin solves the best are ones that are reproduceable. If someone can run enough tests and find a situation which causes this issue to occurr every time please report it to Garmin. So far as I've seen this issue is sporadic and unpredictable.
#46
Posted 13 January 2012 - 05:30 PM
Dr Jeckyl and Mr Hide, on 02 January 2012 - 03:26 PM, said:
Alfresco2006, on 02 January 2012 - 02:31 PM, said:
This problem just got a whole lot worse with the latest 3.70 software update. Now I get a white screen when i turn the vehicle off whether i select turn off or stay on it doesn't matter what i choose now when i come to turn the Montana back on there is the famous white screen of death and i have to take the unit out of the cradle to get it to reboot.
If you remove it from the powered mount and hold the power button in, past the white screen phase, for about 20 seconds, the gps will turn itself off, and it seems to reboot normally from then on in the powered mount for subsequent off/on cycles.
If you remove the battery from the gps as a way of getting out of the failed restart, it seems to continue the flawed behaviour but if you do the power button shutdown, it seems ok from then on...
But in order to do the power button shutdown, the gps needs to be off the cradle, unpowered by the mount.
Have you tried the instructions above? They worked for me.
Sorry this does not solve the issue. I still have it. I have noticed that if you leave the GPS in the cradle it drains the battery that came with the unit. If you remove it, the battery is not drained. Wonder if there is a connection here.
#47
Posted 15 April 2012 - 04:43 PM
Hate to revive an old thread but this one is relevant to what I have discovered with my Montana 650 this past weekend on it's first real try. I am having the same power issues when used with just the regular Nuvi-style 12V-to-USB plug-in power cord in a RAM mount, not the fancy Garmin powered mount.
I have been looking for a 276 replacement for some time and I honestly thought I had found it in the Montana. If something as simple and repetitive as external power on/off cycles - and the lack of a setting to choose "Stay on/turn off when external power lost" - is missed, it really is a shame. I am happy with the rest of the features, but this part is very poor. It caused me fits while snowmobiling in some tough terrain this past weekend. I wished I had taken my old 276 instead.
I have been looking for a 276 replacement for some time and I honestly thought I had found it in the Montana. If something as simple and repetitive as external power on/off cycles - and the lack of a setting to choose "Stay on/turn off when external power lost" - is missed, it really is a shame. I am happy with the rest of the features, but this part is very poor. It caused me fits while snowmobiling in some tough terrain this past weekend. I wished I had taken my old 276 instead.
#48
Posted 15 April 2012 - 05:14 PM
JackShaft, on 15 April 2012 - 04:43 PM, said:
Hate to revive an old thread but this one is relevant to what I have discovered with my Montana 650 this past weekend on it's first real try. I am having the same power issues when used with just the regular Nuvi-style 12V-to-USB plug-in power cord in a RAM mount, not the fancy Garmin powered mount.
I have been looking for a 276 replacement for some time and I honestly thought I had found it in the Montana. If something as simple and repetitive as external power on/off cycles - and the lack of a setting to choose "Stay on/turn off when external power lost" - is missed, it really is a shame. I am happy with the rest of the features, but this part is very poor. It caused me fits while snowmobiling in some tough terrain this past weekend. I wished I had taken my old 276 instead.
I have been looking for a 276 replacement for some time and I honestly thought I had found it in the Montana. If something as simple and repetitive as external power on/off cycles - and the lack of a setting to choose "Stay on/turn off when external power lost" - is missed, it really is a shame. I am happy with the rest of the features, but this part is very poor. It caused me fits while snowmobiling in some tough terrain this past weekend. I wished I had taken my old 276 instead.
And when you called Garmin to report this "failure" did you mention to them that you were using the USB port to power the unit (a good way to void your warranty). That "fancy Garmin powered mount" was designed to provide a solid, reliable power coupling just so as to avoid issues like you are experiencing.
USB connectors were never intended to be "mobile" power connecters. Their contacts are very low force contacts and the connector body itself is designed to be sloppy when mated.
If you used the proper powered cradle, you might enjoy your expensive GPS a lot more.
Cheers,
This post has been edited by DRTBYK: 15 April 2012 - 05:15 PM
#49
Posted 15 April 2012 - 05:25 PM
DRTBYK, on 15 April 2012 - 05:14 PM, said:
JackShaft, on 15 April 2012 - 04:43 PM, said:
Hate to revive an old thread but this one is relevant to what I have discovered with my Montana 650 this past weekend on it's first real try. I am having the same power issues when used with just the regular Nuvi-style 12V-to-USB plug-in power cord in a RAM mount, not the fancy Garmin powered mount.
I have been looking for a 276 replacement for some time and I honestly thought I had found it in the Montana. If something as simple and repetitive as external power on/off cycles - and the lack of a setting to choose "Stay on/turn off when external power lost" - is missed, it really is a shame. I am happy with the rest of the features, but this part is very poor. It caused me fits while snowmobiling in some tough terrain this past weekend. I wished I had taken my old 276 instead.
I have been looking for a 276 replacement for some time and I honestly thought I had found it in the Montana. If something as simple and repetitive as external power on/off cycles - and the lack of a setting to choose "Stay on/turn off when external power lost" - is missed, it really is a shame. I am happy with the rest of the features, but this part is very poor. It caused me fits while snowmobiling in some tough terrain this past weekend. I wished I had taken my old 276 instead.
And when you called Garmin to report this "failure" did you mention to them that you were using the USB port to power the unit (a good way to void your warranty). That "fancy Garmin powered mount" was designed to provide a solid, reliable power coupling just so as to avoid issues like you are experiencing.
USB connectors were never intended to be "mobile" power connecters. Their contacts are very low force contacts and the connector body itself is designed to be sloppy when mated.
If you used the proper powered cradle, you might enjoy your expensive GPS a lot more.
Cheers,
Seeing as the problem happened today and yesterday when I was in the middle of nowhere, no I didn't call yet, but I will. I will get to the install of the proper powered cradle as I have it right here on my desk, but it seems that people are having the problem using either mount there bud, so I am reluctant to hardwire it in if I'm going to have the same issues.
Am I wrong? Have I misunderstood?
#50
Posted 15 April 2012 - 07:20 PM
What version is your firmware? I've had persistent power cycle problems with the cradle in the past (white crash screen, failure to boot up). I have used my unit in the cradle using the latest round of beta's (versions not yet released via web-updater) and operation seems pretty smooth. I forget if others having problems (and I know there are some) have seen them go away in the latest beta versions. Anyone confirm?
