Garmin | Ask Garmin

Simplify your search at Garmin.com

Garmin — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:23:53 -0500

See that little box up there, to the right? While we've been blogging, our Web team has been making that simple little Search box even easier to use, with better results and more relevant information. Now you can quickly sift through old blog posts, seek out your favorite product features and shop for your next Garmin. Enhancements to the search process include the following:

You're searching all of Garmin.com. Instead of just checking the product pages, you will be able to find everything from blogs to Support FAQs to products to Manuals to discontinued products to flyGarmin to Garmin Connect... well, you get the idea.
We learn as we go. As the search engine gathers data and learns what most people search for, it will adjust and offer suggestions when people type in misspelled words with "Did you mean?" links.
Recommended Results. This feature appears at the top of the results page, guiding you to links that may be valuable to them based on the search term you used. In the future, the Related Products feature will show you which of our products are most relevant to your search term.
Suggestion box. We help refine your searches by offering suggestions for an alternative word or phrase for the original search term For example, if you search for “watch” you'll see: “You could also try Forerunner, FR60, Foretrex”
Going global. We started out with English and future releases will cover all language versions of Garmin.com.

So snoop around for a few seconds with our new and improved search -- you're more than welcome to spend longer than that, but it will only take a few seconds to get results -- and we think you'll like what you find.

Ask Garmin: Just how durable are Garmin's outdoor handhelds?

Garmin — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 08:00:00 -0500

In the 20 years that we've been building rugged GPS devices, they've survived explosions in Iraq, snowbanks in Michigan winters and sharp teeth in a bear's mouth. In a less extreme situation - and one that might hit closer to home - Dario Sartori sent us a testimonial earlier this month to share with anyone wondering about Garmin's legendary reputation for durability.

This past May I took part in a dualsport ride from Stoneyford, CA to Ft. Bragg, Ca. I rode with a group of friends and I had a Garmin Legend HCx on my bike. Part of the ride went through some tight singletrack. Partway in the singletrack one of my buddies who was on a KLR650 had his engine seize up on him.

About 2 miles farther on the trail I tipped over my bike and landed on a bush. I got back on however when I arrived at the end of the trail roughly 2 miles later I noticed that I had lost my GPS unit on the fall. I chose not to retrieve it as the ride had over 500 riders, a lot of whom were coming down the same trail, so to go back would be dangerous as I would be going against the flow of traffic.

Two weeks ago I convinced a friend to go back with me to where I thought the unit was. We failed to find the entrance to the singletrack. So I called the owner of the KLR as he had a Garmin nuvi 500 on that fateful day and he was able to give me the coordinates of where his bike had died. I then proceeded to input these coordinates into my new GPS, a Garmin GPSmap 60Cx. With that and mapsource I was able to figure out where I needed to go, made a waypoint in mapsource and uploaded it to my 60cx. Myself and 2 others went back today, 3 months after the loss of the GPS, and I was able to find it. Believe it or not it was there and it actually started up, not for too long as the batteries were drained, but with new batteries it works fine!!!!

Thanks, Dario, for the great letter. Anyone with great Garmin adventures to share should send us an email, and you just might see your story on the Garmin blog.

Ask Garmin: Updating your nüvi, zūmo or GPSMAP software

Garmin — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:19:59 -0500

Some customers have asked us to follow-up about last week's mandatory software update decree, and they've specifically asked if all the new software has been released. The answer is a resounding YES! We have free software updates available for the nüvi 7x5 series, nüvi 800 series, nüvi 8x5 series, zūmo 660, GPSMAP 620 and GPSMAP 640. Offering free software is something we regularly do and we've always recommend you update your GPS when new free software is available. However, last week was atypical because the software update was mandatory. If you own one of the GPS devices listed above and haven't experienced any problems acquiring a GPS signal, you still need to do the free software update. It's free and easy to do. All you need to do is visit our WebUpdater site, download the free WebUpdater application, follow the screen prompts, and it will do everything else for you.

Free, mandatory GPS software available now

Garmin — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:44:38 -0500

Today, Garmin released a free, mandatory GPS software update to correct a software issue that has been discovered to cause select GPS devices to repeatedly attempt to update GPS firmware, and then either shut down or no longer acquire GPS satellite signals. The products affected are the nüvi 7x5 series, nüvi 800 series, nüvi 8x5 series, zūmo 660, GPSMAP 620 and GPSMAP 640.

Garmin nüvi 7x5 series products that are no longer able to acquire a GPS satellite signal may download a firmware update immediately that will correct the software issue. This firmware update may be downloaded using Garmin’s WebUpdater.

Firmware updates for other affected products will be available online through Garmin’s WebUpdater in the near future. Affected customers who have registered their GPS device will be notified about these updates through email.

Garmin nüvi 7x5 customers who are no longer able to power on their GPS device will need to visit www.garmin.com/support, and select the first FAQ titled “My nüvi 755T, 765T, 775T or 785T is giving me the message ‘Updating GPS Firmware’ or will no longer power on…” Customers will then need to follow the instructions to request a return authorization so that the device may be repaired under warranty.

We know our customers rely upon their Garmin GPS device(s), especially during the summer travel season, and we regret any inconvenience this situation may have caused. We are committed to developing products that are known for their quality and reliability and will continue to work diligently to earn the trust of our customers.

Ask Garmin: Why does my nüvi 7x5 not power on?

Garmin — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:24:18 -0500

It has come to our attention that the Garmin nüvi 7x5 series has a firmware error that is causing some devices to perform an unprompted GPS software update and in some cases shut down. We are aware of this issue and we are working diligently on a solution. We know our customers rely upon their GPS devices and we apologize for any inconvenience this has caused. Developing quality products always has been and continues to be a priority at Garmin. For regular updates about this issue, please visit www.garmin.com/support.

Ask Garmin: How far, how fast, and when can I rest?

Garmin — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:28:34 -0500

One common question we get as runners and cyclists embark on new training programs is, "How do I set up intervals and workouts on my Garmin?" Fortunately for you (but maybe not for your legs), we've made the set-up for interval training and pre-programmed workouts the easiest part of your exercise. Whether you're using an Edge 705, Forerunner 310XT or Forerunner 405, you'll want to access the menu, then select training and workouts. You'll get a few options - Simple, Advanced and Interval. For Simple workouts, the Edge lets you choose two of three factors - distance, time and speed - and Forerunner sets up the workout based on either time, distance or calories. Interval training allows you to set up your workout based on distance and time, and then you determine your rest time/distance as well as the number of repetitions. You can also set up alerts (including vibrations if you're using 310XT) to help you train for time, distance, speed, heart rate, cadence and power goals. To see these and other features come to life, check out our training videos for the Forerunner 405 and Edge 705. We're in the process of shooting more product tutorials, so keep visiting our GarminBlog YouTube channel to see these tips and tricks in action.

Garmin Connect welcomes all Garmin fitness devices

Garmin — Wed, 27 May 2009 16:49:14 -0500

Great news from everyone at Garmin Connect! This week, Garmin Connect threw open its doors to all Garmin fitness devices, so you can now download activities from all of your Edge and Forerunner devices. Also, the move is on as we've started migrating everyone's activities from MotionBased over to Garmin Connect. Because there have been millions of activities shared at MotionBased and Garmin Connect, we had to start somewhere. So we focused first on the most recent activities (the most relevant in your training) and will be uploading the largest activities this summer.

Continue reading for more details about the Garmin Connect migration and other great updates to our online training community.

Some of your activities may not have migrated because they were either large files or had some data peculiarities. We will run several phases of our migration script to eventually get all of your activities from MotionBased to Garmin Connect. In some rare cases, we may not be able to migrate your activity to Garmin Connect.

MotionBased will no longer accept uploads from Garmin fitness devices on June 30, 2009. At that time, we will migrate any remaining activities from MotionBased to Garmin Connect up until June 30, 2009.

Garmin Connect is using a different methodology to smooth elevation gain/loss compared to MotionBased. As a result, especially for Forerunner devices, the elevation gain/loss numbers will be inflated. We are still working on our smoothing algorithm and intend to run this across all activities at Garmin Connect in the future to more accurately reflect the actual gain/loss.

Garmin Connect does not support weather at this time. We plan on introducing this feature at Garmin Connect. When we do, it will run against all past, present, and future activities at Garmin Connect.

Garmin Connect does not offer the Analyzer, Saved Reports, Dot Racing, or Viewports features as you know them at MotionBased. We plan on offer these features at Garmin Connect in the future. When we do, they will be much more robust and customizable where applicable.

Garmin Connect will support the Garmin outdoor and automotive/motorcycle product lines in the summer of 2009. In the meantime, we recommend that you continue uploading activities from these devices to MotionBased.

At this time, Garmin Connect does not have a premium service. All of the features at Garmin Connect are free. We plan to introduce a premium service in the future. MotionBased customers with a premium account will be grandfathered into the Garmin Connect premium service for a period of time at no cost.

Ask Garmin: Comparison shopping made easy

Garmin — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:45:11 -0500

Two similar questions landed in our inbox this weekend. Looking for an entry-level Garmin for geocaching, Helene is trying to decide between the GPSMap 60Cx and an eTrex Legend HCx. "The display screen seems bigger and clearer," Helene notes with the 60Cx, "and it seems easier to geocache with." Meanwhile, Tony wrote in looking for a suitable replacement for his nüvi 650. This is where our Web team's work pays off through our online sort filters.

First, let's look at Helene's question. By going to the "On the Trail" section of Garmin.com, we can click on "Mapping Handhelds" and see the various models. By clicking the squares next to GPSMap 60Cx and eTrex Legend HCx, we can compare these units head-to-head. This side-by-side comparison shows that Helene is right about the 60Cx screen being larger, as that category is highlighted to show the difference. Other differences include weight, battery life, tide tables and the inclusion of a microSD card. These details should help Helene shop and get started on her way to finding a cache.

Tony's search for the perfect nüvi will be simplified by the questions we ask on the automotive product page. He can search by price, by nüvi series, by features or how he plans to use his nüvi. Under user type, you can choose everyday driver, road warrior, gadget guru, connectivity king, driver/hiker/biker/boater, globe trotter, truck driver or focus on realtor/service calls. Simply by choosing the description that best suits him - as well as key features and his ideal price range - Tony can be on the road in no time.

And it's not just outdoor and automotive shoppers who benefit from our sort filters. Take some time to browse through the fitness products, aviation options and marine devices to discover how there's a Garmin for your specific activities - and your budget.

Ask Garmin: Any freebies at Sea Otter?

Garmin — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:37:55 -0500

It's another big week in Garmin's fitness world. Team Garmin just got done fighting through tough conditions at Paris-Roubaix and now travel to the Netherlands for Sunday's Amstel Gold Race. Meanwhile, Forerunners everywhere are fully charged for the Boston Marathon next Monday, where Garmin will be on hand for the North American unveiling of the Forerunner 405CX with heart rate-based calorie computation. But first, across the U.S., cycling pros and enthusiasts will gather this week in California for Sea Otter Classic, which we described last year as a rock concert, state fair and bike race rolled into one. And what would a state fair be without some free prizes? This year, we're partnering with fellow Team Garmin sponsors CamelBak and Clif Bar to spice up Sea Otter.

To participate, just pick up the punch card from any one of our booths. At each of the participating sponsors' booths, you'll receive a signature. Once you've visited all of the booths, just head back over to the CamelBak booth and turn in the card. The first 50 people each day will receive a free Team Podium bottle (pictured above). The team bottle will also have a sticker on it with a discount code for the Argyle shop on the team’s site. If you're not in the first 50, you'll still be entered to win daily prizes. The prizes include CamelBak hydration backs and bottles, Clif Bar products, Garmin gear and an Edge 705 cycling computer.

Daily prize drawings will be at the Garmin booth at 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and the grand prize drawing will be at Clif Bar Happy Hour at 4pm Saturday.

Ask Garmin: Beyond the headlines of new Forerunners

Garmin — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 23:11:36 -0500

With the exciting news of the two newest Forerunners - the multisport 310XT and wicked-smart 405CX - the focus has been on the heart-rate based calorie computation in the 405CX and the 310XT's extended battery life (up to 20 hours) and that it's waterproof up to 50 meters. And rightly so. Those features have topped the wish lists of loyal Garmin fans who were thrilled by the news. But did you know that, just like the Edge 705, the Forerunner 310XT works with any ANT+ compatible power meter? Cycling and triathlete blogs have latched on to this and are raving about this wrist-mounted (and affordable) option for displaying power data. And speaking of wrists, people of varied sizes appreciate the 310XT's comfortable wristband and the 405CX being packaged with interchangeable cloth wristbands that will fit wrists big and small. But did you know that those form-fitting wristbands will also work with the original green or black Forerunner 405 that rocked the running world? Yep, look for this adjustable band as a standalone accessory this summer.

When we talk about accessories, we really need to mention the new ultra-sleek foot pod and waterproof heart rate monitor. The foot pod tracks speed and distance indoors, whether its clipped onto your shoelaces or tucked into the insole of certain shoes, and the soft-strap heart rate monitor will monitor your efforts, even if you hardly know it's there. One more feature that has the fitness world buzzing is the addition of vibration alerts to complement the audible signals on the Forerunner 310XT, so that you won't miss your milestones even in the loudest gym or largest crowd. And last but certainly not least, did you know that the Forerunner 405CX is currently shipping to retailers? So now that you have the latest information, you're ready to run with it.