Re: Magellan Explorist 400-600 Low Temperature Operation


"Matt" <themattfella@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:i4Zyf.3944$OU3.1568@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Pieter Litchfield wrote:
>> "Matt" <themattfella@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>> news:RpQyf.3875$OU3.1317@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>
>>>Mike Schnierle wrote:
>>>
>>>>I note that Magellan gives the operating low temperature of the
>>>>Explorist
>>>>400-600 as 14 degrees F. However, these models use an Li-Ion battery.
<SNIP>

>>>I just bought a 400, and I find that the system hangs at freezing temps
>>>unless I keep it in a warm pocket. Then I have to do the approximate
>>>equivalent of a ctrl-alt-del (nav-menu-power) or remove the battery to
>>>shut it down it. It does not seem to be a battery problem.
>>>
>>
>> I just performed an experiment with an Explorer 600 on behalf of someone
>> with the same condition you described. His happened overnight in a car
>> just above freezing.
>> I put an Ex600 in the freezer (about 4 degrees F) and them started it uo
>> every two hours to simulate leaving one overnight in a car. The fully
>> charged Li-Ion battery was down to about 1/4 charge after being in the
>> freezer for 4 hours with the unit off (according to the approximate
>> charge bar graph). It did not decline more after that. After 8 hours, I
>> started up the GPS while it was still in the freezer. I was surprised
>> that the LCD display seemed to be more responsive to changing screens
>> with the NAv button than others I use - Magellan SporTrak Pro, Meridian
>> Color, and Garmin 12xl. In addition, when the battery warmed up to room
>> temp again, the charge meter showed a full charge.
>> Here in upstate NY I like to map hiking trails, and there is no better
>> time than during the winter when much of the tree canopy (and black
>> flies) is gone. However, the sluggish performance of GPSs in cold
>> weather has been a common problem. I have not used the Ex600 for trail
>> mapping in cold weather, but I think I will, and will report back if I
>> have any similar problems.
>> Hope this is helpful.
>
> In a way it is helpful, but it doesn't seem to be the same condition.
>
> Mine just locks up---doesn't respond to keypresses except the
> nav-menu-power shutdown combination---when it gets cold. And if I cool
> the unit but not the battery and then insert the battery, the unit still
> hangs. OTOH, if I cool the battery but not the unit, it works okay. The
> charge level indicator shows adequate charge throughout. Note also that
> the problem occurs even at moderately cold temperatures well above the 14
> def F spec.

Matt: Perhaps I didn't make it clear: I performed the experiment to see if
I could generate a "boot failure" because a news group participant described
his unit as doing exactly what yours is doing in terms of locking up. My
finding was that in the case of my Ex600, it didn't happen for whatever
reason and the unit performed fine at cold temps. In addition, I mentioned
that his unit's failure happened when the unit was left overnight in a cold
car (but above freezing). Sounds a lot like your problem. I have seen one
other post that suggested that it might be a problem with the add-on SD
card. I used a SanDisk 256 mb when I performed the test. You might try
putting yours in the freezer for a while without a memory card just to see
what will happen.


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