Thanks for clearing this up Hodr. I did not know anything about the antenna deal. Now I'm going to have to think this whole deal over again!!! Thanks again for teaching me something new.
PS, If I roll my quad (I have a V) the last thing I'm going to have to worry about is the GPS!!!!! LOL

 

I bought the etrex legend yesterday came w/ a topo program car and computer adapter and user video for 200. I have just played around with it in the city and stuff but it rocks

but...I was talking to a guy at work and he said he had one years ago and it no longer works. He said he called the manufacture and they said it was because about every two years they reconfig the satilites. Anybody know anything about this, will this thing not work in 2yrs or less? It didnt make sense to me because it would be possible to buy a gps right before they did this and somebody would be screwed in less than a month. He said they told him to send it in and they'll fix it for 100

 

I had a Garmin III that would not work. Went to the Garmin Web Site and downloaded the software upgrade and it then worked fine. But by then I had already upgraded to a Garmin V. I have the Garmin V mounted on the handle bar mount. Works great. Gave the Garmin III to a good friend to use.

Check the Garmin Web Site for upgrades.

 

Well I always keep up with the newest updates on my units so I have never experienced any problems, but as far as I know they have never "updated" the standard format for the satellites (which is just a very precise timecode - I.E. the only way to update it would be to somehow add precision to the measurement).

They have however added functionality with DGPS, WASS, and other additional features, but as far as I know any GPSr you ever purchased should theoretically still function in its original capacity (and most older ones should work even better since they stopped artificially degrading the timecode for civilian use sometime towards the end of the Clinton administration).

So do not worry about your unit suddenly no longer functioning because of changes made to the GPS system as a whole.

 

Thanks for all the help really. I am happy that I found the forum!!!

 

I can only speak about Garmin, as that is what I have- ALWAYS keep your OS up to date. If you use Mapsource, keep <U>it</U> up to date as well. If you go to Garmin's site, you can sign up for email when they update specific product's software/firmware. I don't recommend installing the Beta versions, though. I had some "issues" with the Beta OS on my 176C last year. My eTrex Vista is 4 years old- works better than when I first got it due to the removal of Selective Availabity (SA) by Uncle Sam.

 

Has anybody had any trouble with their gps going out while on trails? I rode for only a few minutes probably less than 1/2 an hour and it shut off, after that it kept shutting off after a few minutes, seems like it might have been from the terrain being to bumpy??? While driving home in the truck it wouldnt even let you scroll through the menu as soon as you started to it shut off again.

At first I thought probably batteries so I put new one in and it still did the same thing

 

Mine is a Magellan Explorist.
Love it.

Never had it go off on me.Hope you get yours fixed.

 

well I got a new one but I was just wondering if I take it on the trails if it will happen again

 

It's a pretty common thing, and usually easily fixed. I have heard of Garmin sending out battery covers that hold the batteries better to fix the problem, or you can take care of it yourself by bending the spring clips to hold the battery better, and also getting some sticky back foam seal like what you put around a window screen, and placing on the inside of the battery cover to hold them in place. Some rechargable batteries are actually a little smaller than others, and that can cause problems on bumpy rides.