Thanks, I'll have to look into them they are def. something that could come in handy!!

What's the exact models you've had?

It's very difficult for GPSes to operate under heavy cover.

That said, the newer SiRF based units are MUCH better than the previous versions. My eTrex Vista is an old model, and my 60CSx is a new SiRF based model. The 60CSx is so much better it isn't even funny.

On the older units, typically you can find a hole in the canopy (watch the sat locater display) and stand still for a long time and you should be able to get a lock. The old units pretty much won't lock while on the move. Sometimes once you get a lock it will keep it while you move, but probably not, esp, on a quad.

-john

I have found new lithium AAs won't work in my GPSMap 60Cx. The same batteries would work in the older 60. The problem is that the voltage is too high; the unit seems to detect this during its power-up self test and switch itself off. Discharging the batteries through a resistor for a while made them usable.

What version firmware does your unit have?

Thanks,

-john

There is a $50 rebate available on Garmin 60 Series units from now till the end of the year.

http://tinyurl.com/34wmmj

Ah, I think I found the discrepancy. It has a menu option for lithium-ion, not lithium (primary). The lithium-ion is a rechargeable battery, where lithium primary is a one use battery like alkaline batteries.

I just checked the flash on my 60CSx. It was 3.10. I ran the update and am now current with 3.30. No lithium primary option after the update.

-john

[Edit: I've sent a query to Garmin to clarify their position on lithium battery support for the 60CSx. Will post the results.

Note, the more people who write Garmin, the more likely they will add the support.]

Whoohoo! I'll have to check to see if this will apply to EBay stores instead of just retailers....

Any money back is a good thing.

I think they will have to make a hardware change to properly support lithium primary cells. It is easy to make a firmware fix to accomodate batteries with a lower (than nominal) voltage; the problem, as I see it, is they didn't allow for the nominal voltage of the regulator/circuitry to be higher. If it was just firmware they could have done it ages ago. Gotta wonder why they didn't change the hardware when they went to the "x" series even.

Garmin's "solution" (on their site) to lithium batteries is to discharge them a bit first. Yup, that's why we pay the big extra $$ for them...doing better sitting on the shelf is nice, but we kinda rate a lot of things by how they do when we're using them. Modern quality alkalines have a very long shelf life already.

The weird thing is most of their older models supported lithium batteries. I wonder if it was a business decision, or if they outsourced some subcomponent.

-john