Chip Set Type G

I ran web updater for my NUVI 680 and saw it too. I checked Garmin's support page and don't see any reference to what it is and if I need it. I am going to hold off on downloading until I learn more.

It's 006B047800.BIN - V3.00 GPS Firmware (as opposed to V2.90 that you're probably running at the moment).

(See Spanner/Wrench | System | About )

Just loaded it to my StreetPilot C510 and Nüvi 310. The Nüvi took a couple of reset/reboots for the version number to change.

Is this possibly referring to the units that have Garmins own chipset rather than the sirf3? I read somewhere here that they were putting out units with both.

Or was that only on the 750's?

The download says:
Changes made from version 2.80 to 2.90:

Improved ephemeris collection under dynamics.
Additional maintenance improvements.

Incremental ephemeris collection allowing quicker time-to-first-fix (TTFF). On the web, it references this for the SiRF III GPS module.
No clue on the maintenance improvements.

I installed it. Easy install. Everything seems to work fine. FYI, I turned off the password feature first. Just fyi, my 680 captured 5 bars signal strength in 2 seconds after boot. Did it 3 times tonight. Must be luck. More testing tomorrow.

Chip set type G updated my Nüvi 660 GPS software to v3.00 .

My nüvi 760 already had GPS software v3.00s and WebUpdater did not indicate a need for any updates.

Bill

I just finished some Christmas shopping. A 12 mile trip around town. I did five cold start tests to see if the update had any effect. YES it DID!

All 5 tests had cold start times of under 15 seconds. That's from being snapped in the docking station to 5 bars signal strength and ready to go. My Nuvi has never worked this well.

Each test was done in a different location, facing a different direction, and initially powered off at a different location to confuse it. The GPSR could not know where it was or the direction it was headed when powered on.

I recommend this update.

I have a Nuvi 670 and just ran the updater after reading about this. It updated the GPS SW from 2.90 to 3.00. It didn't take very long and when I turned on the Nuvi it did an "Updating Software" and started normaly. I had turned it off at my work last and it showed that location, I opened the antenna and it started aquiring satellites and after a few minutes it showed my current position which is my home. The amazing thing is that I am sitting in the basement of my home and it has never been able to find the satellites from there before.
Just to check it further I gave it an address to go to and it did in a matter of seconds. Also it's giving me a 6 meter accuracy when I press the satellite bars.
Doug

Just ran webupdater on my streetpilot c530 and it also update to the new firmware...

When I mentioned last night that it took only 15 seconds to load the sats and show all 5 bars signal strength, I left out the fact I was in my house for the first set of tests. I did not think anyone would believe that it happened indoors. I was shocked when I saw it.

Today though, it did take a little longer to get 5 bars, but it is still a big improvement. I was able to get 9 feet accuracy too.

I continue to recommend this update.

it will only update units that have the old firmware. I just bought a nuvi 350 than came w/ v5.00 fw and the chipset 3.00 firmware.

I did the update on Friday. The Nuvi 350 still takes 1-2 minutes to acquire its location after being shut down overnight.

It seems Garmin calls all the SiRFstarIII based units as "Type G", for some reason...

Are you sure that's the SiRFstarIII? I believe the type G is Garmin's own chipset. I read in another thread here that Garmin produces some units with the SiRFstarIII and some with their own high sensitivity chipset. Mine has the SiRFstarIII and shows the chipset fimware as 3.00S

I saw this statement a week ago in another, more geeky forum... several people were in agreement about, so I bought it; they were also mentioning that some weird suffixes for the firmware do exist out there, but the general consensus was 3.00 is the last one.

Mine already came with v3.00. At times, I don't find that it finds the sattelite signals quickly and as accurate as some said especially during the evening and where I'm leaving from work versus when I'm starting off from home in the morning. It might be that because there are a lot of tall buildings around.

But with the SiRFIII chipset, I haven't had any problems yet.

More info on Type G their internal name for the SiRFstarIII chipset?

http://www.gpspassion.com/fr/news.asp?ID=655

I ran the Web Updater over the weekend and got the new upgrade for my Nuvi 660 AND an update for the traffic receiver.

The traffic receiver update has been great! Before my reception was marginal along my route to work (as indicated by the amber LED on the plug). Now I am indicating solid reception all the way in.

Now all we need is more data (and more timely information) to make the traffic capability a REAL benefit.

Joe

but it makes no appreciable difference in my C530 either...

Regards, Ted

I noticed if I had turned on my GPS while indoor or underground without being able to get the sattelite signal and then heads outside, the system would take a very long time to pick up the signals, sometimes it just keeps on searching. I learned if I switch to the sattelite view, it will pick up the signals from the sattelite quickly. Anyone else notice the same thing or had tried this?

I tried exactly this after switching locations. Flew down to CA for a few days, tried getting a fix indoors next to a window and switched to the satellite screen and still received the message "are you indoors" ... I eventually got a fix, but it was not faster..

Yes, you are right. If you turn it off where there is no signal, it can take awhile for it to find the sats. But I never noticed any difference if I was in satellite view. A view wouldn't make any difference that I can think of.

Worked like a charm for me. I don't use the alert tones, so temporarily losing them isn't an issue. After updating to 5.10 it then offered the G chip set update. It's nothing short of astounding! Before in the room I'm in the GPS would actually time out trying to lock on a satellite, but now it's locked as soon as I turn the unit on. I don't have to enter the PIN anymore when I'm in my home location.

That isn't a feature!!!!! That sounds like a bug. You are suppoose to have to enter the PIN if you have the Garmin Lock thingy engaged.

No, he's right. It's a feature of Garmin Lock on the Nuvi 350. If you have set your security location for Garmin Lock and you power it up at that location, it will not prompt you for the PIN. It's pretty accurate, too. My security location is my kitchen table. I set it up when I first got the 350 and was learning it and playing with the settings and downloading POIs and things from my laptop while at the table. There isn't an option to show it or navigate to it. So I never bothered to change it. It can be different from your home location. I will get prompted for the PIN if I power it up in the car in the driveway, but not if I'm sitting in my kitchen.

Ah ok, thanks for teaching me something new.

Dang, this is the first time in my life that I am wrong...lol.

With as many posts as you have made...better to not give out ammo for folks to play with.

One thing that I learned yesterday was that the gpsr do not account for snow in expected arrival time. Had a normal 2.5 hr trip home start with an ETA of 6:15 pm and ended up adjusting to 7:45 pm.

dk

Maybe the MSN would have adjusted? I have the FM, it has no weather.

I just updated mine from 2.90 to the 3.0 and hadnt noticed a big diff. but did it in the house, hadnt tried it out side yet.

As for the snow, I just pretend it's not there