Garmin GPS device not recognized

SoNic 1 month ago

I have three Garmin GPS devices and three different USB mini cables.

I cannot see ONE of the devices on either my PC or my laptop, with none of those cables. This is happening for a while already.

The device is not visible neither as drives or under Garmin Express. I didn't use any hubs, directly in the PC. However, the device powers on, in the Garmin software, charging with those cables.

The devices that are recognized are: nuvi 1390 and nuvi 1490.

The device that is NOT recognized is RV 780. Luckily it still can update itself over Wi-Fi, but it's annoying that I cannot use it with my PC for planning travels.

Anyone has the same issue? Is something that I can do?

Top Replies

JohnfromPA 1 month ago +1

From the content at 780 map and software updates it appears as though the RV 780, which I'm not familiar with, can be updated using a Wi‑Fi^® network. Could the device possibly be set to use that method…
SoNic 1 month ago +1 verified

I used a VERY old Canon camera mini USB cable, cable that has a ferrite thing mounted on it, from factory.

Well... it worked to transfer data on the RV780!!!

I am not sure why the other devices work with…

All Replies

0 JohnfromPA 1 month ago

From the content at 780 map and software updates it appears as though the RV 780, which I'm not familiar with, can be updated using a Wi‑Fi^® network. Could the device possibly be set to use that method as opposed to a cable connection?

0 SoNic 1 month ago in reply to JohnfromPA

I edited the first post. Yes, it is possible, I am updating it right now over Wi-Fi.

But it is annoying that I cannot see it at all in my computers.

0 JohnfromPA 1 month ago in reply to SoNic

You perhaps missed my point. By having the RV780 set to update by Wi-Fi, does that prevent the update via cable.

0 SoNic 1 month ago in reply to JohnfromPA

I turned off Wi-Fi and there is no change.

+1 SoNic 1 month ago

I used a VERY old Canon camera mini USB cable, cable that has a ferrite thing mounted on it, from factory.

Well... it worked to transfer data on the RV780!!!

I am not sure why the other devices work with normal cables, and this doesn't, but that's what actually happens!

LE: I had one of those ferrite chokes that opens in two halves laying around and I put it around one of the newer USB cables. I had to do THREE loops of that cable inside the choke, but it eventually started to work too with the RV780.

0 JohnfromPA 1 month ago in reply to SoNic

Those are called ferrite beads and they are used to reduce “noise” from the cabling. Well shielded cables generally won’t have them. The bead won’t do any harm on the devices that worked well without so might consider making the protected cable your go to cable for all devices. If you need to get a new cable I highly recommend the Amazon Basic cables that have the gold plated connectors.

0 SoNic 1 month ago in reply to JohnfromPA

I have those good cables. The issue is that the older devices work fine with them but the RV780 doesn't.

It's not actually a ferrite bead, it is a choke, a cylindrical part. Looks like this one:

0 JohnfromPA 1 month ago in reply to SoNic

Perhaps I studied electrical engineering too many years ago. The definition from Wiki says “

ferrite bead – also called a ferrite block, ferrite core, ferrite ring, EMI filter, or ferrite choke– is a type of choke that suppresses high-frequency electronic noise in electronic circuits.”

0 alaskasail 29 days ago

I'm having the same issue with all Garmin devices (inReach, nuvi1490 and 500. Zumo 590) These are not recognised on ANY computer with cables that have been working. All other USB devices are recognized on Windows 11 which has the latest updates. Device manager shows drivers arwe current and working.

What next?