Thread: eTrex 20/30 software versions summary

3.90 maps redraws a bit faster, but less sensitive in covered locations!

eTrex 20/30 (Webupdater) software version 4.10 added

I mean when are the Garmin guys going to put out an update that actually fixes the existing long standing issues!

What is wrong?

Originally Posted by Giomen

What is wrong?

Many users of eTrex 30 have noticed some issue with built-in electronic compass. It often requires recalibration while using unit. Information about this malfunction appears in many places on the web.

For example, on my last trip (15km, 6 hours walk) i had to re-calibrate the compass twice.

One rotation for each of the three axes takes some time and is irritating - especially on high mountain slope. Why it can not be done like in smartphones (8 in air)?

I know several owners, which had to send their 30's back in for service repair from this reason. The bad news is that Garmin sends back a new unit - but with the same compass malfunction.

If it's software error - what stands in the way to fix it?

If it's hardware error - what's the point of sending back a new device with same hardware fault?

Originally Posted by Schermann

..............
If it's hardware error - what's the point of sending back a new device with same hardware fault?

Only commenting specifically on 'the point'. Garmin generally doesn't do repair of individual units on a basis of 'you send it in/we repair it/we return it', they have an exchange program and so do a lot of other manufacturers/suppliers these days. If it's under warranty you might get a brand new unit back, but probably it'll be another 'refurbished' unit which has the same generic 'fault'. It's a big organisation and i suppose they and others find that system works best even though it's hardly perfect. If they have to do that with a certain percentage of customer a few times until their warranty runs out it probably works out a lot cheaper than actually fixing the problem if it's hardware.

If it is purely software then it'll be corrected for sure, much easier to write code than exchange units.

Originally Posted by Schermann

Many users of eTrex 30 have noticed some issue with built-in electronic compass. It often requires recalibration while using unit. Information about this malfunction appears in many places on the web.

For example, on my last trip (15km, 6 hours walk) i had to re-calibrate the compass twice.

One rotation for each of the three axes takes some time and is irritating - especially on high mountain slope. Why it can not be done like in smartphones (8 in air)?

I know several owners, which had to send their 30's back in for service repair from this reason. The bad news is that Garmin sends back a new unit - but with the same compass malfunction.

If it's software error - what stands in the way to fix it?

If it's hardware error - what's the point of sending back a new device with same hardware fault?

Recalibration of built-in eletronic compass was a recurring and very annoying problem, but in my Etrex 30 has been fixed several months, do not remember exactly which version of firmware. My last trip, 115 km, 4 days, above 4000 meters, I was using embedded maps on gps 100% of the time to navigate and the orientation was ok. I did the recalibration of the compass only when I changed the batteries. Therefore, I believe that this issue has been satisfactorily resolved. It is very likely that many of those who complain about the issue did not update the firmware. The difficulty to recalibrate continues and is sometimes time consuming, a failure to be remedied. One issue not resolved is the impossibility of using kmz custom raster maps because processing is extremely slow. Raster JNX images are perfectly usable.

eTrex 20/30 (Webupdater) software version 4.30 released today