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Thread: Garmin GPS Off

  1. #1
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    Garmin GPS Off

    Is there a way to recalibrate my Garmin 76 handheld. I have compared it to three vehicles and my Livorsi and it seems to be off. Can GPS even be "wrong" ??
    1972 16 OB - C16B-63 - "Surface Tension" Resto Project
    1974 16 OB - DMR16106017-B - "The Mule"

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    Time got off on mine and would not accuire. That would cause an error.
    I don't remember how I reset it
    riggerb@aol.com
    1995 22 Classic

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    look on your signal screen and see how many sat's it's locked-on to.. I think mine has a *possibility* of six, but needs at least 4 to correlate any accuracy..
    Charter Member - WAFNC, SBBR, KWOSG
    1955 Perfect Mate
    1986 Hornet III, 502-415 TRS

    www.donzi.org


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    Off?

    Odds are that all three vehicles are actually off and the Garmin isn't. Most car speedo's are about 3-5 mph slower at 60 than than the speedo shows. In fact this is legislated on European cars.
    Oledawg
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    I have the 76CSx model if that changes anything. My Livorsi also had a 2mph higher reading?
    1972 16 OB - C16B-63 - "Surface Tension" Resto Project
    1974 16 OB - DMR16106017-B - "The Mule"

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    Buiz, I have 10 sats in total on the bottom of the screen and it looks like 6 are active.
    1972 16 OB - C16B-63 - "Surface Tension" Resto Project
    1974 16 OB - DMR16106017-B - "The Mule"

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    stupid question, but is the Garmin set to Nautical Miles per hour? that would make it seem nuts Vs. all the other speeds.

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    Nope - regular ol MPH.......just seems odd that the Livorsi GPS would be +2mph
    1972 16 OB - C16B-63 - "Surface Tension" Resto Project
    1974 16 OB - DMR16106017-B - "The Mule"

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    The guys are 100% right about vehicles being over optimistic on the stock speedos. I've never seen a car, bike, or boat that was dead-nuts accurate.

    As for the Livorsi GPS speedo being 2 mph off, I wonder if that isn't a simple error in the digital to analog conversion. Could be as simple as the needle being slightly off on it's drive spindle.

    The old Garmin you have is one of their best units. It's highly regarded among hikers and other users to the point that people pitched their newer Garmins (like the Oregon and Colorado) and went back to the old 76 even though it didn't have as many bells and whistles. And yes, Garmin knows this and is working on a replacement for their current hand-helds.

    The best test would be to compare it with another GPS. If you've got a buddy with a hand held, take them both for a spin and see what they say.
    Don
    '01 22 Classic, 502/B1
    And a bunch of other stuff

    "If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough" - Mario Andretti

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    Good feedback Zelatore. Until I can figure it out I just use the lesser GPS speed as the "top" speed.
    1972 16 OB - C16B-63 - "Surface Tension" Resto Project
    1974 16 OB - DMR16106017-B - "The Mule"

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    I will add that the whole concept of an analog GPS speedo is pretty retarded. Also, I while back I had tracked down the supplier of the GPS units and they are to be quite blunt, cheap.

    Mine hasn't worked all season. I still have to pry the puck off the dash and replace it, or just hook the gauge up to my Northstar.

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    We have several hand helds and there might be a little difference between them at times, not at others.
    My Expedition w/new tires will register high speeds on the speedo. At 40 MPH, it's neutral, at 60 it's going 62, and at 75 it's going about 80.
    When the tires are on the wear indicators, it's dead on.
    Of course w/the new tires, the truck's trip computer is off.
    George Carter
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    I called up Garmin and was told that it is perfectly normal to have a GPS speedo that off by 2-3MPH +/-. We can send people into orbit, trade trillions of funds around the world, but can't make a GPS that reads spot on. Oh well ..........
    1972 16 OB - C16B-63 - "Surface Tension" Resto Project
    1974 16 OB - DMR16106017-B - "The Mule"

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    Quote Originally Posted by Greg Guimond View Post
    I called up Garmin and was told that it is perfectly normal to have a GPS speedo that off by 2-3MPH +/-. We can send people into orbit, trade trillions of funds around the world, but can't make a GPS that reads spot on. Oh well ..........
    Greg, with this in mind, a good liquid filled Bourdon tube type speedo is just as accurate.
    Sometimes you're better off just going simple.

    OTOH, maybe all these wonderful, high, best effort speeds are all off and the boat's owners would have been better off spending their $500.00 elsewhere.
    But I don't think my opinion will change anyone's minds.
    George Carter
    Central Florida
    gcarter763@aol.com
    http://kineticocentralfl.com/


    “If you have to argue your science by using fraud, your science is not valid"
    Professor Ian Plimer, Adilaide and Melbourne Universities

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    Good point George. My suspicion is that none of the GPS vendor's actually build the senders. That might explain why they are all off. After all, what can you expect for $237 for the Garmin 76C. I went through the factory re-set routine, and will see today if the Garmin lines up identically with the Livorsi unit. This might be the last good weekend for boating up this way before I have to turn to the parka for my testing LOL
    1972 16 OB - C16B-63 - "Surface Tension" Resto Project
    1974 16 OB - DMR16106017-B - "The Mule"

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