GPS Chipset v2.90 Type M & M2 (MTK GPS Chipset) released

Took the Type M and Type M Hotfix data updates.

It'll be the ones affected by the recent bricking situation:

2x5, 7x5, 8x5 and Zumo 660 if memory serves.

The M chipset was also used in the 7x0 series part way through their production run when they switched from the Sirf chipset starting in mid summer 2008.

My old 760 had the "S" chipset and my son's 760 has the "M" chipset.

Yes, my 750 has the SiRF chipset while my later 760 has the MTK chipset.

It appears after updating the signal bar is showing one less bar than before. Sitting in the same spot I always do I always had full bars, now one less.

Going down my driveway, where four bars showed, now three. Anyone else notice any difference? (No change I can see to acquisition time or actual use of the GPS) And this is one time, not tried over several days yet.....

The eTrex Legend HCx also uses the M2 update. I wonder just what a "Region Update" is since the web site and WebUpdater fail to explain.

Without a changelog, I'm reluctant to fix what isn't broken...

But what exactly does it fix?

Don't believe this applies to the 2x5.Ran webupdater and no new update for it.

I just got off the phone with Garmin software support. I was told that the update of the M chipset was strictly for improving satellite acquisition and nothing more and this is why there was no change log.

I updated my 885T to 2.90 and have been all over town today with it and have had zero problems.

Ah, but the appropriate question would be to ask whether you had trouble YESTERDAY, before you downloaded the update.

Thanks for the info.

No I didn't have a problem yesterday but I install any updates as they come out so that could be why I have had virtually no problems with any of the Garmin units that I have owned. I'm not the fearful type that will sit back and wait for everyone else to try it out first.

No Guts, No Glory!

I would have to believe there was a good reason they released this firmware update and that Garmin didn't put this out just because they were bored and looking for something to do.

I agree 100%

Point well taken.

gerrydrake says that the update is to improve sat acquisition.

So... rjrsw, is there any improvement or any noticeable difference before and after the update?

Garmin has been known to screw up in the past and there is a school of thought that says that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

I had the same situation when I first updated. But it resolved itself after a couple of on-off's. Now I'm getting five bars where I used to get five, four where I used to get four, etc.

Yesterday I went to my garmin. I have never used the Dashboard and it said I had firmware updates needed.

I always do the main update but never the others.

It updated several items, going to 100% then starting over agin. Would it have updated the chipset if needed?

I disconected then let it fire up as stated and then rebooted it again for the updates to take place and it would not acquire satellite. """FEAR""", going on a trip soon and need it.

After reading every post about this problem on this site I pushed the off button to the left for 10 seconds and then it booted up and acquired setillite just fine, what a relief.

Do you think because I do not up date everything, (I don't use the traffic or the blootooth) there was so much for it to handle that it would not acquire?

Yes it would, and you can check it with Tools, Settings, System, About and check GPS SW Version. If you have the M chipset, it will say 2.90m (previous was 2.80m).

More likely your nuvi was performing a defrag cycle after the updates and taking longer than usual.

I too have the SiRF chipset in my 760 and mine is not impacted. My 760 was purchased in June/2008.

runs like a champ - very satisfied after the 4.8 FW update.

Hi all,

I had downloaded the update Thursday night and used the GPS in Manhattan all day Friday. Went as far as Connecticut last night and had no problems. Cant tell if anything changed visually.

Thanks,

Mine has GPS SW Version 3.00s
What is that?

My 750 shows the same version. I believe that means we have the SIRF chipset and are not affected by this update.

Yes chewbacca there really is a big improvement on my 885T.

The biggest difference I have found, and it is rather substantial, is the location accuracy now has improved by about 50% since the update. When I went into the satellite information screen before the update it would show an accuracy reading normally ranging in the 18'-21' range. When I checked it after the update it is now ranging in the 10'-12' range. I even had a reading indoors on battery power last night of 11’ that in the past was at best 25'.

The following link is a screenshot of the satellite info screen I took in the car sitting in my driveway. I blurred part of the location information for obvious reasons.

http://home.comcast.net/~rjrsw2005/pwpimages/screenshot%2088...

Last night my 765T received two software upgrades. I puchased my unit July 20, after Sam's got their units back from Garmin (they were pulled from the shelf and sent to Garmin in early July).

I now have version 2.9, does anyone know why it took two downloads/reboots to do the upgrade? At the time it seemed two separate firmware installations.

Anyone else had to go through two downloads?

Don't use MyDashboard to do your updates. Use WebUpdater directly. MyDashboard has quirks that can cause problems with your unit because it adds hidden software - or so it has been reported in other threads on this site.

Are you saying that you have firmware version 2.9? I have a 765T and I'm runnig FW ver 3.60. That is the most current version of the Garmin firmware for the series we have, and was released to correct the bricking problem experienced in late June. Run WebUpdater to see if there are any other firmware and map updates (NT2010.20)for your unit.

How can I check to see if it put hidden software on my 750?

My 765T updates were done with WebUpdater.

Here are my current versions after last night update:

Software Version 3.6
GPS 2.9 (mine does not say M)
DSP 2.4
Text 3.6 (American English)
Voice 1.8 American English-Jack)

My Dashboard doesn't install hidden software. What people have referred to is that is doesn't list what software it is updating like it does when you use WebUpdater. Most people like to have the option to decide what they want to be installed.

Thanks, worried about that.

I guess that's why I got so many updates because I never update anything but the firmware and the voice.

That's about right. I have one additional component - GTM: 5.50.

Does Garmin keep a changes log file anywhere. I try to find one and had no luck?

The links that I provided in the original post is where the changelog would be. However, I don't think Garmin has ever provided one for the GPS Chipset.

I just installed the upgrade. I went from 2.70m to 2.90m. I don't see any difference in boot time or accuracy. The only thing that changes is in the System - About. It now shows 2.90m

I also updated my 765 without any issues. But I don't know about any improvements yet. It may perform better in downtown Toronto?

Yup, updated mine yesterday.

I am reading some people reporting their version after the upgrade as 2.9m. Mine only shows 2.9, what is the difference?

Yours doesn't have the 'm'.

But I thought you'd have figured that out for yourself.

I've never seen 10'. I generally get 35' Once on the roof of where I work I got 11'. Very little ground clutter up there.

I always wondered why my Mio ( I guess that's a pun) always could do 2 meter resolution rather quickly. My 265wt always took longer to lock up and had 3 to 4x the ambiguity of position. Despite four years of improvement in receivers.

Very interested in checking this out, thanks for the post.

the firmware revisions with resolution? The firmware updated from version 2.7m to version 2.9m.

I would never have known to update this except for this site.

that this thread is almost a year old ... you need to check in a little more often bsp131 . Lots of valuable information can be found here.