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Monterra spinning map
Chris_Sav
129 Points
Tried out my refurbished Monterra for the first time on a long run today (190 miles on a classic motorcycle) and noted that the 'track up' display does not seem as stable as I have experienced on other models with the pointer wandering in its orientation, indeed the entire map does a complete 360 spin periodically whilst travelling along a road.
Sat still at traffic lights the map is spinning all over the place.
Anyone one else noticed similar with theirs or have any suggestions please?
Thx
Sat still at traffic lights the map is spinning all over the place.
Anyone one else noticed similar with theirs or have any suggestions please?
Thx
Comments
And a flux compass which I think the monterra must have should take care of that issue in any situation.
If the flux compass can be disabled, maybe there is your answer. Though it's still seems odd about the flipping while moving.
Playing with the Monterra and pointing due North along the long axis I note that it loses orientation if I rotate the Monterra 90 degrees via the short axis, keeping the long axis pointing North.
As in the video https://youtu.be/lz5xYLZwW0M
is that normal?
Make sure you have it updated.. do it via the wireless as that seemed to be better but if that doesn't fix it then return it because of Bearing issue.. I had the writer of this review named Dan Townsley tell me about the known issue with it.
globeriders.com/article_pages/article06_gps/article06_monterra.shtml
Have heard back from Dan Townsley who does not think the map problem is related to my comments on the compass.
I normally used TalkyToaster maps on my Montana before it was stolen and was using a different OSM map yesterday which seemed to route better. I'll install the TalkyToaster maps and see if it does it with them if the weather breaks later.
The only other thing I'd noticed is that the position seems to wander a lot when at rest. My current speed is varying between 0 and 2 mph sitting on my desk.
I'll then look at the other apps.
Ebay seller has very decently offered a refund if all else fails, but I'll try and discover the problem first.
On my devices, they do say you have to hold the device level to get an accurate reading with the compass. So that kind of nixes some of what I said previously.
My gpsMap76CSx pretty much does what your video shows. Essentially its behaving much like a compass that's not gimbaled.
After doing this, I can hold the Montana vertical and turn my body until it indicates I'm facing North. I can then raise the GPS to the vertical position (portrait mode) or flip it to landscape mode and the compass continues to indicate I am facing North. There was some small variation, but it was pretty close. I should note that I tried this same thing before calibrating the compass and there was a large variation in North depending on which way I held the device. So calibration matters.
I have always been impressed by how well the track-up mode works on my Montana. I think you also had one of the original Montana series (650?) at one time. Did you have these kinds of problems with it?
650t was brilliant until some scrote pinched it. Subsequently 276CX was useless and 680T had the USB lock-up problem, both went back.
Regarding the Monterra which I quite like the look of, I calibrated the compass in the open in all three directions and then took the video. With the compass displayed (not calibrating now) point the Monterra North along the long dimension and then keeping the 'sharp end' pointing North, slowly rotate through ninety degrees. North becomes South and South becomes North.
https://youtu.be/lz5xYLZwW0M
Hope I've explained it better.
But my point is that you had a Montana that worked correctly so if the Monterra doesn't do the same thing it should be obvious. If it were me, I would probably just get a refurb Montana 6xx since they are attractively priced. But then, if it were me, I would probably be thinking of that old saying I learned as a child, "fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." And you are now at number three and counting. ;)
Seriously though, it seems like you are going to have to accept some compromises in one area or another (battery life, screen size, user interface, compass function) if you want to stick with Garmin.
Test was done in the open as well, more easy to video indoors in the dry!
Took it a stage further and inverted the Monterra outdoors and North becomes South and vice -versa, was not expecting that after calibrating in all three axes. Could you see if your Montana compass does the same please?
Don't mind compromises, just want a Garmin GPS unit that works!
And I will be getting a 276cx this fall.. for snowmobiling... many fixes out now for it and the folks who use it off road love it.. My Montana will be for hiking only.
Boyd it was Garmin's issue.. not an android issue.. known bearings to a waypoint from a position known were off all the time no matter what was set.. by 15 deg...couldn't believe it.. but it is what it is.. my 680 has been flawless.. better still the usb issue is resolved..
Refurbed Monterra was only ever to be a cheap stop gap until the 680T got fixed or preferably the 276CX became the 276CXI
Left it sitting by the window for a couple of hours and the track did 16 miles
The compass correctly showed north when I held the device flat and when I raised it to portrait mode. When I turned it to landscape mode (with the power button facing the ground) it also showed north correctly. I then rotated it in landscape mode so that the power button was facing the sky. North was still correct.
If I rotate it in portrait mode so that the lanyard slot is facing the sky, then it does not show North correctly. But everything on the screen is upside down when you do this, so I don't know why you would care because it's clearly not intended to be used this way.
Regarding the track… again, I think testing the GPS inside your house (window or not) is meaningless. The Montana can "wander" significantly however, here is a test I did in conjunction with a review I wrote several years ago. I left the Montana sit stationary with a good sky view for 30 minutes recording one point per second and this is what I got. I don't know what this would add up to, but it's not as extreme as your example.
@truckinguy made several posts here when he got his Monterra stating he was especially impresssed with track recording and that it was much cleaner than his Montana.
I don't want to go chasing the seller unless I am absolutely certain the Monterra is defective and I am not at this stage.
I don't remember the Montana wandering when stationary anything like this, The tracking was not 100% clean but the Montana did not wander several hundred feet out of position.
Re the compass, calibrating it in all three axes I'm expecting the compass to work no matter what the orientation, certainly not a complete flip of North pointing South. Using it on a motorcycle means that it is going to get tilted.
I'm happy to try whatever tests you suggest as many on here will have far more experience of what is normal with the Monterra than me.
I've not been able to repeat the map spinning test today as it has not stopped raining and I cant risk taking the camera on the bike in the wet.
I'll repeat the tracking test in the morning outside of the house and see how much it wanders, but am very tied up from lunchtime tomorrow until Sunday evening.
Appreciate your help
Chris
The Garmin GLO (bluetooth receiver) was especially impressive however. Look how tight this pattern is, most of the points are right on top of each other. Hard to believe there are also 1800 points here.
And I agree the track will be off alot due to not having a clear sky in his case.
Whether it be the Andriod combo on the Monterra to create the off bearing of 15 deg or Garmins improper build it is not a device I would trust for navigating.. I would return it and go back to the 680 as this has proven to be a solid unit for me.. It gives the same exact info as my wifes Oregon 700 on long hikes and bearing to a known waypoint is spot on.. tested with a hand held compass and same methods as I did on the Monterra.
Weather better so went out to try and get some film of the Monterra map gyrating on the motorcycle, put the Monterra in the cradle and all was OK, started the engine an did not even have to leave the drive as you can see below.
https://youtu.be/1gSGeOSZjjg
Watch particularly at the end for a full 360 spin, it must be something suspect under vibration, did hundreds pf miles with the Montana on this and a rigid framed bike without problem!
Sorry to have led you up a garden path Boyd but I hope this shows the problem more concisely.
Chris
Shame. I don't use a smart phone so there were functions on the Monterra that would have been useful.
Take a look at
advrider.com/index.php?threads/garmin-announces-the-new-gpsmap-276cx.1178312/page-50
That shows just how useless I found the 276CX was. That BahaRider appears to be one of those who just thinks it's wonderful regardless of how the evidence stacks up against it and tries to browbeat everyone else into his opinion.
I'm waiting until there is a hardware improvement and then I'll jump at a 276CX. In the meantime the Monterra has gone back and I really appreciate the integrity of the seller as it turns out the Monterra came from a 'lost in post' sale and he was honest enough to admit it and accept a return.
Brand new 680T arrives tomorrow, just hope the thing is recognised by my P.C.!!
I guess nobody would want to use it in the city though, and anyway it only costs $800 so what do you expect? :D
Also it seems a poster this week on the 276cx thread said he has no issue riding around the cities navigating with it.. he leaves the next turn pop off set to off. So this is a fix Garmin might be able to do.
A poster there said Garmin should rid of the "fluff" .he's right..focus on navigating.. bluetooth,weather links,etc make a complex unit much more complex.. these people who what that "fluff" get what they deserve in these units.. it takes a long time to work out the bugs..
I don't think $800 is a lot of money at all for that unit.. rugged and will navigate better then any app for phones out there in the long run ... phones,tablets cost the same are flimsy and are thrown away in a year if they make it that far...the 276cx will be around for many many years after any Iphone of 2017.
It's like one of them said ..Garmin should do away with the fluff.. weather..blue tooth etc and focus on just navigating...these guys looking for all the fluff and want a complex navigating unit in a small rugged size are asking for trouble.. $800 isn't alot of money to me for actually for a unit like the 276CX.. compared to tablets phones etc which are very cheaply made and are thrown out in a year ..
But if you flag your own posts (just like you did) I'm happy to delete things when it makes sense..
Picked up an almost new condition Monterra quite cheaply that only had half a dozen small tracks from 2013 on it and ancient 2.3 software!
Updated to 4.1 and it works fine, no evidence of spinning on my push-bike or in the car. Looks like the original was definitely faulty.
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232840064136?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649