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Re: My 3 year old Garmin Etrex Vista just started...
Try updating the unit's software via the Garmin.com website. This may fix it as there was a satellite launched which was causing problems with some Garmin units.
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Try updating your unit's internal software via the Garmin.com website. There was a new satellite launched which has caused problems such as this, and the update fixes it.
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Call Garmin customer service, they are wonderful. My rubber thing around the outside became loose,and they sent me a new unit, even though it was almost 2 years old.
The unit needs to have the screen facing up. The unit will not read if it is vertical. Garmin cust serv finally helped me with that one. Once you turn on the unit, it could take up to 20 minutes (usually about 3) to grab satelites.
Sounds like the screen is shot and theres nothing really you can do to fix it, sorry :(
You can send it to Garmin for the flat rate repair fee of $79 dollars. I would recommend getting the new eTrex Legend H with the high sensitivity receiver if you want a similar model. It's sat reception will blow the prior version out of the water and has 24mb of memory rather than the 8mb it used to have.
Due to a new satellite launched this year, the WAAS is affected.
Disable the WAAS, go to Garmin and download the latest software version
FOR THIS UNIT. Install, enable WAAS and you should be good to go. Let us know if this solved your problem. Thanks.
I had the same problem with the eTrex Legend (monochrome) and tried the solution of taking it apart, cleaning the connections and putting it back together. This did not work for me. I then updated the firmware to version 3.9 and that solved the vertical line problem, at least for the time being.
People! The problem is that your software version needs updating. A recently added satellite creates a glitch in the older software. Go to the Garmin website, load WebUpdater if you haven't already done so, and the updated version (3.8) will automatically install to your Garmin unit. I had the same symptoms, they have now disappeared and my Etrex Vista is back to normal.
see discussion at http://californication.mtbguru.com/2005/11/20/deconstructing-the-garmin-etrex-vista/
Its possible that there's a bad connection at the ribbon cable, but most likely its a bad connection at the edge of the LCD glass panel. I've had two eTrex fail because of this problem.
Don't pay the riduculous price Garmin asks for repair - just buy a new Magellan unit. If you must get a Garmin, go with the high-sensitivity receiver.
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