Serious firmware bug in GEKO201

The firmware for the GEKO201 (and probably also for GEK101 and 301)
contains a power-up sequence that can lead to a serious problem. It is
there in all firmware revisions, 2.0,2.10 and 2.20.

BE CAREFUL IF YOU TRY THIS, IT WILL DELETE ALL YOUR PREVIOUS DATA ON THE
RECEIVER WITHOUT ANY CONFIRMATION REQUEST!!


Most Garmins have a power-on key sequence that allows to reset the unit
completely or to start a diagnostic mode.
For a power-on Reset, there is usually a confirmation request 'Do you
really want to clear all user data', that has to be confirmed with NO or
YES.
On the GEKO this key sequence is to keep OK and PAGE
pressed while hitting the ON Key (safe, you can try this).

However, the GEKO201 has another power-up reset key function, that has
NO CONFIRMATION request, it goes through pressing UP+OK+PAGE, then
hitting ON. The Garmin won't power-up that way, but if you switch it on
afterwards again the normal way, all user data is gone, all settings are
default, and the units performs a cold start/search the sky.

One might say that this key kombination is weird and this is a rare
issue. I would second that for most other Garmins with side keys.
However, the GEKOs have all keys facing up, and simply putting in into a
pocket of your Levis is enough to keep all keys pressed at once.
I had this issue two times during my recent holiday and lost all data
(which I luckily had already backed up on my Palm).
With all keys facing up, even the conventional way of confirming the
full reset could
be carried out unintentionally in a pocket, though it certainly is not
nearly as probable.

This absolutely has to be solved by Garmin as quickly as possible. One
of the GEKOs main features is it's small size, so many people will carry
it in their pockets, and a loss of all navigational user data is a real
bummer on the road.

Garmin has to get rid of this unintentionall full reset key procedure.
For now, a simple help is to add a simple piece of self-adhesive rubber,
or a small rubber washer, around the power-on key. Self-adhesive stuff
is
better than using super glue (Garmin won't like that). Some RC model
stores carry seld selfadhesive foam mats in 2mm thickness. Thick self
adhesive cardboard should also work.

My quick'n dirty version can be seen here:

http://www.gpskabel.de/ext/gekoon.jpg

Even if the unit does not get a full reset in your pocket, it can easily
be switched on unintentionally, and with 2 AAA cell capacity, it will
drain out like nothing.



- Carsten
--
Audio Visual Systems fon: +49 (0)2238 967926
Carsten Kurz fax: +49 (0)2238 967925
Fasanenweg 38a email: audiovisual@t-online.de
50259 Pulheim / Germany WGS84:N50°58'44.7" E06°47'03.5"