Is there a way for me to get the first satellite acquisition date?

 

I have a unit that was never registered. Is there a way for me pull the first acquistion date from the unit?

Might need to call Garmin

I believe the only way is to call up Garmin and give them your Unit's Serial number

IFIX

1- Attach the unit to your computer.
2- Open your Garmin folder.
3- Open GarminDevice.xml with Notepad.
4- Look for "ifix" that contains 9 numbers on the last line. These numbers are the seconds that have elapsed since January 1st 1990.
5- Use the following link http://www.epochconverter.com/
to do the conversion but remember that since epoch is in seconds since January 1st 1970 take into account that 1989 is actually 2009.

Example : Ifix # 602117815 using the converter is January 29th 1989 17:56:55 but is actually January 29th 2009 17:56:55

You now have the time your unit aquired it's first satellite reception.

--
Nüvi 255WT with nüMaps Lifetime North America born on 602117815 / Nüvi 3597LMTHD born on 805972514 / I love Friday’s except when I’m on holidays ~ canuk

Thanks!

I will try that!

WOW -CANUK

canuk wrote:

1- Attach the unit to your computer.
2- Open your Garmin folder.
3- Open GarminDevice.xml with Notepad.
4- Look for "ifix" that contains 9 numbers on the last line. These numbers are the seconds that have elapsed since January 1st 1990.
5- Use the following link http://www.epochconverter.com/
to do the conversion but remember that since epoch is in seconds since January 1st 1970 take into account that 1989 is actually 2009.

Example : Ifix # 602117815 using the converter is January 29th 1989 17:56:55 but is actually January 29th 2009 17:56:55

You now have the time your unit aquired it's first satellite reception.

I never cease to be amazed at the wealth of info on this site.....

-jgracey

--
I have seen the future and it is now!

Somebody will always have

Somebody will always have the right answer.

--
Charlie. Nuvi 265 WT and Nuvi 2597 LMT. MapFactor Navigator - Offline Maps & GPS.

iFix

canuk wrote:

Example : Ifix # 602117815 using the converter is January 29th 1989 17:56:55 but is actually January 29th 2009 17:56:55

Or better yet, add 631152000 to your iFix value before presenting it to the EpochConverter, and you'll get your actual acquisition date. It is much easier doing maths on numbers than on Julian dates...

I always wondered, what would happen if one lowers the iFix value to someting below 'current date - 60 days' before registration, and re-saves GarminDevice.xml on the device. Would one get then a onetime free map update? wink

Wow...

canuk wrote:

1- Attach the unit to your computer.
2- Open your Garmin folder.
3- Open GarminDevice.xml with Notepad.
4- Look for "ifix" that contains 9 numbers on the last line. These numbers are the seconds that have elapsed since January 1st 1990.
5- Use the following link http://www.epochconverter.com/
to do the conversion but remember that since epoch is in seconds since January 1st 1970 take into account that 1989 is actually 2009.

Example : Ifix # 602117815 using the converter is January 29th 1989 17:56:55 but is actually January 29th 2009 17:56:55

You now have the time your unit aquired it's first satellite reception.

Just wow!!!

Bought a 2558 refurb...

GMT: Sat, 04 Nov 1995 15:37:42 GMT
Your time zone: ‎11‎/‎4‎/‎1995‎ ‎7‎:‎37‎:‎42‎ ‎AM GMT-8:00

So first acquisition was 11/4/2015. 2 days after I bought it.
So 1st acquisition was erased or unit was new I guess.

Thank You

Very interesting. I didn't know I had had mine that long.

DriveLuxe 51 file name

I just acquired a DriveLuxe 51 In the GarminDevice.xml there isn't an ifix #. Does anyone know if the syntax has changed for newer devices?

--
DriveLuxe 51, 2017 VW Arteon w MIB3, nüvi 3597LTMHD x 2, 1450 died, 205w retired, iQue first and possibly the best

Can't say for really “new”

but my (2) 265's and a nuvi 2689 all have an ifix entry that translates to about the time of purchase.

One thing about Notepad and examining the file GarminDevice.xml which has quite a bit of text. Use the "Find" feature built into Notepad by going to Edit, then Find, then input "iFix".

--
John from PA

Using Notepad

I opened the GarminDevice.xml with notepad and used the find (F3) function and ifix isn't found, switched to a couple other txt editors just to be sure but ifix isn't there.

--
DriveLuxe 51, 2017 VW Arteon w MIB3, nüvi 3597LTMHD x 2, 1450 died, 205w retired, iQue first and possibly the best

Replacement 51

I received a different 51 and it has a ifix in the GarminDevice.xml file. April 2019 first fix and it won't update maps.

--
DriveLuxe 51, 2017 VW Arteon w MIB3, nüvi 3597LTMHD x 2, 1450 died, 205w retired, iQue first and possibly the best