eTrex Vista turning itself off (Software Problem)

I have just sent the following to Garmin Technical assistance. Anyone
else noticed the same or is willing to experiment with their Vista to
see if they get the same problem?

(nb I am running version 3.20 but I have been having the same problem
since I first noticed it with 2.60 and up).


"I emailed you some weeks ago about this problem but have not yet
received a reply. In the meantime I think I have narrowed the source
of the problem down to a software bug.

Symptom: When I switch to the Navigation Screen the unit switches
itself off. I have to do a Master Reset to get the unit working
again.

Suspected cause: This happens *after* I change the bottom right
display on the Navigation Screen to show the Final Distance (from the
default Heading) then ask the unit to navigate a route.

Evidence: I have just toured Scotland for two weeks using the unit to
navigate routes with absolutely no problems. The unit was set up by
doing a Master Reset then downloading the routes and maps for my
Scotland trip. No other settings where changed (other than the Screen
Contrast). On my return, I made the one change described above and
*BINGO*.

As a workaround I can avoid making any settings changes but this is
obviously not ideal. I suspect there is also a related problem when I
change the Time to show London Time but I can live without this.

I would appreciate a prompt acknowledgement of this request for
assistance and look forward to a fix being made available in the near
future."
--
gomez
(hot not not to reply)
"The progress of the kart is more important than its direction"

I hate to ruin your day but.....

There is a manufacturing flaw in a large number of eTrex Vistas.
A defective component was installed and causes this problem.

I purchased a Vista, had the problem & sent it back to Garmin.
They were kind enbough to send me a brand new Vista... BIT
it has the same problem.... They replaced the second one
with a different model.... Works fine !

AlL I can suggest is that you call Garmin tech support, get an
RMA number & get a replacement... I am sure that they
have taken all the bad ones out of their inventory by now...

Good luck, and by the way I found Garmin Tech Support
people VERY understanding and easy to work with... No
hassles, no arguments and some very direct apologies when
they realized the extent of their Vista "problem",




"gomez" <adams_gomez@notmail.com> wrote in message
news:3f9elvoqu19p7basircocq6d7b4uq7nq67@4ax.com...
> I have just sent the following to Garmin Technical assistance. Anyone
> else noticed the same or is willing to experiment with their Vista to
> see if they get the same problem?
>
> (nb I am running version 3.20 but I have been having the same problem
> since I first noticed it with 2.60 and up).
>
>
> "I emailed you some weeks ago about this problem but have not yet
> received a reply. In the meantime I think I have narrowed the source
> of the problem down to a software bug.
>
> Symptom: When I switch to the Navigation Screen the unit switches
> itself off. I have to do a Master Reset to get the unit working
> again.
>
> Suspected cause: This happens *after* I change the bottom right
> display on the Navigation Screen to show the Final Distance (from the
> default Heading) then ask the unit to navigate a route.
>
> Evidence: I have just toured Scotland for two weeks using the unit to
> navigate routes with absolutely no problems. The unit was set up by
> doing a Master Reset then downloading the routes and maps for my
> Scotland trip. No other settings where changed (other than the Screen
> Contrast). On my return, I made the one change described above and
> *BINGO*.
>
> As a workaround I can avoid making any settings changes but this is
> obviously not ideal. I suspect there is also a related problem when I
> change the Time to show London Time but I can live without this.
>
> I would appreciate a prompt acknowledgement of this request for
> assistance and look forward to a fix being made available in the near
> future."
> --
> gomez
> (hot not not to reply)
> "The progress of the kart is more important than its direction"

in article 3f9elvoqu19p7basircocq6d7b4uq7nq67@4ax.com, gomez at
adams_gomez@notmail.com wrote on 4/9/03 12:52 pm:

> I have just sent the following to Garmin Technical assistance. Anyone
> else noticed the same or is willing to experiment with their Vista to
> see if they get the same problem?
>
> (nb I am running version 3.20 but I have been having the same problem
> since I first noticed it with 2.60 and up).
>
>
> "I emailed you some weeks ago about this problem but have not yet
> received a reply. In the meantime I think I have narrowed the source
> of the problem down to a software bug.
>
> Symptom: When I switch to the Navigation Screen the unit switches
> itself off. I have to do a Master Reset to get the unit working
> again.

hi,

I just had this very same problem and contacted garmin about it. here is
their reply, cut and pasted, which I have carried out and now my unit is
working just fine. the symptom on mine was that it would shut down when
switching to the navigation screen as yours did, *unless* I had the
navigation screen selected before it actually acquired all the satellites
and was then asked to 'find'. bizarre.

anyway, doing a hard reset as suggested by Garmin worked for me so far and
I've been using it for a couple of weeks since without any shutdowns.

here's the relevant bits. if this didn't work, they wanted me to return my
unit as other posters have suggested, but this may work for you first. heed
the warnings! incidentally, if you've upgraded to v3.2 when you do this
reset, it does of course keep you at v3.2. it also appears to keep your
mapsource map data, but deletes all preferences, waypoints, tracks etc.

worked for me, hope it helps.

JP

--
I have had no other reports from customers of this problem happening.

Please try a full reset to your unit to see if this solves it:

Please try the following reset to your unit:

Put a new set of batteries in the unit;
Press and hold the PAGE + ENTER + FIND keys;
Switch the unit ON;
Release all 4 keys;
Leave the unit to re-acquire satellite data for about 30 minutes.

This reset will delete ALL data from the unit and reset it to factory
settings.

On Fri, 05 Sep 2003 12:00:55 +0100, Jason Price
<mail@jasonprice.org.uk> dropped the following oil-slick:

>in article 3f9elvoqu19p7basircocq6d7b4uq7nq67@4ax.com, gomez at
>adams_gomez@notmail.com wrote on 4/9/03 12:52 pm:
>
>> I have just sent the following to Garmin Technical assistance. Anyone
>> else noticed the same or is willing to experiment with their Vista to
>> see if they get the same problem?
>>
>> Symptom: When I switch to the Navigation Screen the unit switches
>> itself off. I have to do a Master Reset to get the unit working
>> again.
>
>hi,
>
>I just had this very same problem and contacted garmin about it. here is
>their reply, cut and pasted, which I have carried out and now my unit is
>working just fine. the symptom on mine was that it would shut down when
>switching to the navigation screen as yours did, *unless* I had the
>navigation screen selected before it actually acquired all the satellites
>and was then asked to 'find'. bizarre.
>
>anyway, doing a hard reset as suggested by Garmin worked for me so far and
>I've been using it for a couple of weeks since without any shutdowns.
>
The hard reset Garmin describe is the same as the Master Reset I have
been using to clear the problem. I have had to do this so many times,
I can probably now do them with my eyes shut and with boxing gloves
on.

However after a hard/master rest, I can then reproduce the problem at
will by changing the Navigation Screen settings to display Final
Distance in the bottom right hand area.
--
gomez
(hot not not to reply)
"The progress of the kart is more important than its direction"