Compass Freeze Montana 700

Recently I bought a Montana 700 but the compass freezes as soon as i start moving (walk, bike, car). As long as I stand still the compass works correct.

Looks like the compass doesn't swicht from magnetic compass to gps compass when moving beyond a few km/h.

Anyone else who has this problem?

Top Replies

Garmin-Andrew over 4 years ago +1 verified

Is your "Auto" setting under Heading settings on or off? (Main Menu > Setup > Heading > Auto)

I tested by standing still with Auto ON and the compass displays correctly using the 3-axis…

All Replies

0 W7GES over 4 years ago in reply to atlas_cached

I tried this out a few minutes ago.

While outside walking in a straight line rotating the unit horizontally 360 I did have the compass freeze up a couple of times.

If I continued walking it would "catch up" and then behave normally.

I calibrated my compass and tried again with the same results.

My Software version 5.30

0 7738648 over 4 years ago in reply to W7GES

Sounds like the same thing as what I'm experiencing, except that mine doesn't catch up when I continue walking.

I actually have to stop walking in order to get the compass back...

+1 Garmin-Andrew over 4 years ago

Is your "Auto" setting under Heading settings on or off? (Main Menu > Setup > Heading > Auto)

I tested by standing still with Auto ON and the compass displays correctly using the 3-axis compass.

With Auto OFF (which disables the 3-axis compass, reverting to GPS-based compass), the compass appears frozen until satellite is acquired and I start walking, then it displayed correctly. Keep in mind the GPS-based compass may not adjust quite as quickly as the 3-axis compass when rotated as it requires forward movement.

If it seems to not be working correctly, please send me a PM so I can get some additional info from you to investigate.

0 7738648 over 4 years ago in reply to Garmin-Andrew

Auto is on. So gps should change from magnetic to gps compass.

If I switch Auto off the compass doesn't work when standing still. Didn't check it when walking as I assumed off is compass set to magnetic.

0 W7GES over 4 years ago in reply to Garmin-Andrew

My “Auto” setting is ON also. I only walked 35 yards north and 35 yards back south (it was 105F here today). When the compass froze up it was 5 or 10 seconds. My unit is a 700i. Not sure if you wanted more than one person to PM you or just 7738648...

0 Rain_King over 4 years ago

I haven’t been able to replicate this issue on my 750i. With auto set to both on & off the compass works as expected.

0 7738648 over 4 years ago in reply to Rain_King

Strange. I just tried again with Auto set to Off and went for a walk...no compass...

0 Garmin-Andrew over 4 years ago in reply to W7GES

We are investigating reports of potential compass issues. I sent you a PM to confirm some details.

0 Exurban over 4 years ago in reply to Garmin-Andrew

I got my 700i about a month ago, firmware updated to 5.30. Compass on auto. Yes, I spun around, it worked, walked a short distance and it froze. Stood still then eventually unfroze and worked. Walked and froze.

Then, in the car, at 60 mph or so, it seemed to work ok on a twisty road. Driving with one hand holding the GPS so couldn’t pay extremely close attention to it. Does it switch to GPS from compass at higher speed? Does it matter if held vertical vs horizontal?

0 7738648 over 4 years ago in reply to Exurban

since the magnetic compass is turned off at 2 or 3 mph, the gps compass should then be turned on, but this apparently doesn't work with several devices.

What you describe is the same as what I experience only mine won't even unfreeze when driving 60 mph.