Garmin Montana Collected Wisdom and FAQs

[Emmbeedee]

MAKING GARMIN BASECAMP INTO A PORTABLE APPLICATION:

Technically, this is not a "Montana" issue, but since BaseCamp (BC) is the program of choice when creating routes and tracks to be used on the Montana, people are relying on BC so it only makes sense to make BC "portable". This way if you're traveling without a Laptop or Netbook and need to create routes or tracks, all you need to do is find a computer, plug your USB or SD card into the computer and run BaseCamp from the storage device.

There's no need to install BaseCamp on the computer, something which many computers in public places will not allow anyway.

The following was written by dvwalker, and posted to the New Garmin Montana thread. This applies to the Windows version of BaseCamp.

It works!!!

This saves a step of having to install BC onto a host computer for emergency track repair while out in the field. I simply copied the BC app files from my PC into a folder on the SD card. I had to include GlobalMaps (\Basecamp\Maps folder) since BC requires at least one map during initial load. After initial load then BC will recognize the other BC enabled map files (img files) from the Montana. Very cool...

1. In windows 7, BC is installed in the C:\Program Files (x86)\Garmin\BaseCamp directory
2. copy all files (*.dll, *.exe, etc) and \Maps folders to directory on your SD card. I created folder [SD]:\Tools\basecamp. I skipped copying the help file folders (\en).
3. plug Montana into any Windows XP/7 PC and run BaseCamp.exe



notes:

• \Database folder is a copy of My Collection (Alldata.gdb) database in case I ever need to do an emergency import.
• \Setup folder is a copy of the BC installer file, just in case I need to install onto host computer...

[Emmbeedee]

THE PHANTOM SELECTOR, or, the Ghost in the Machine:

It has come to my attention over the last month that some Montanas are self-selecting menu items and going into Map Scroll mode on their own without any user input. A friend's 650 has an extreme case where it just keeps making menu selections until it reaches a screen where it can't go any further, then won't let him make menu selections back to the map or anywhere else he might want to go.

These videos show the problem.

http://youtu.be/mLA5DftXlrQ

http://youtu.be/CrAZFm25iSI


The issue as I see it is heat related, and seems to happen mostly when stopped in full sun. I think the screen protectors which come with the Garmin Rugged Mount get hot, then exert pressure on the touch screen, causing strange behaviour. If you happen to be on the map screen, it'll likely go into Map Scroll mode. If this happens while you're travelling, it will look like your screen is not updating itself. To check if this is the case, look for an arrow at the bottom left of the screen. If you see one, you're in scroll mode. The normal map screen has an X in the lower left, not an arrow, as seen below.



This is not a fatal error, and in my case, once I start moving the problem goes away but my buddy said his was doing it at 130kph.

It may be worth trying the unit without a screen protector to see if the problem persists.

[Emmbeedee]

The Phantom Selector Part II (For the record)

Garmin asked me to run some tests, to try out my theory about removing the screen protector to see if that stops the problem. Finally had time, and hot weather today, so I ran a test.

I left my Montana out in the sun for 1/2 an hour and it started making its own selections.

Temperature went to about 31C while I was filming. (31 degrees Celsius = 87.8 degrees Fahrenheit)

This is the setup I used:



After about 1/2 an hour the screen started doing this kind of thing:

http://youtu.be/IJG31TgU4YA

I then took the Montana screen protector off and put it back out in the sun which was even hotter, by this point. By the way, a credit card had been suggested by Garmin as the way to get the screen protector off. The credit card did not help in getting the protector off, even though I cut a flat edge to try, when the rounded edge didn't work.

A fingernail, however, worked perfectly. It was just what I needed to hook under and get the initial start I needed. The protector was not the least bit difficult to take off. It was more like a magnetic attraction than an adhesive which kept it on the screen. (For those of you who're scared to take their screen protector off, having read about the guy who cracked his touch screen while taking off a ZAGG protector)

This shows how easy it is to take the screen protector off if you use a fingernail to pull it up.

http://youtu.be/B16DVD8oSYg

I have not seen one phantom selection on the screen in the 1 hour I left it out in the sun without the screen protector.

[Emmbeedee]

The TORX Security Screw, and What You Can Do About It:

The Montana's Rugged Mount includes a TORX Security Screw which some people love, and others hate. Personally I don't mind it, and when I'm leaving the bike for a few minutes, like going into a gas station to pay, it provides a measure of security that the gps will still be there when I get back out.

But some people would prefer to have a locking mechanism which could be enabled and disabled without needing to use the fiddly little Torx tool Garmin provides for this purpose.

The following was written by Bli55 in a post to the New Garmin Montana thread. It describes how to get into the Rugged Mount to get that security screw out, and a low-tech method to make up a substitute which you can use your fingers to turn.

Start off by unscrewing 6 tiny screw and taking off the back panel.

Then take out the button sliding part (hold the tiny spring!!!) and the top (hold the tiny spring!!!):







Now with access to the inside, we see the culprit. Pry it (the circlip) off.



Luckily, Garmin uses a standard pitch M3 thread. So to a bolt shop I go.

The standard screw has threads only at the very end and the thinner stalk moves freely in the hole in the top plastic part. I needed to duplicate that, except that I chose to leave a few more threads at the end.

And if you don't have a lathe (use a drill chuck instead):







The standard bolt stops not when the threads go all the way into the well, but when the bolthead touches against the plastic - so it's ok the leave more thread at the end as long as there's something on our new bolt to push against the plastic top part (to mimic the standard bolthead).

In my case, a long "handle":



Put the new bolt in, remembering the cone shaped spring, then slip on the retaining clip from the inside (you can leave it out if you think there will be a need to remove the lock screw without taking the mount apart again).

Then put the 2 plastic parts together. Do I need to mention the tiny springs?





They fly far once being bounced off your head and can only be found by lucky chance inside some camera cases.
And don't think breaking a lighter will save you!



Result:



Thanks Bli55 for giving permission to use this here!