This is a hardware limitation. Garmin is still collecting feedback on the subject. However, it would apparently take a hardware revision to increase the brightness.
i have montana 700i in AMP cradle with constant 12 volt power on motorcycle and screen is not bright enough to see well unless sun shines directly on unit - is there a fix???
It is what it is. Supposedly the hardware can't go any brighter. Lots of people complain. Nothing is going to happen unless there is a subsequent release of a "second generation" 7x0i (I would guess).
This is my biggest disappointment with this unit. I "upgraded" from an old Delorme inReach SE (that served me well for 10+ years before it died). I bought the Montana for in--vehicle use and for that purpose it is TERRIBLE. I wish I'd just bought an inReach mini and used it with an iPad. Much better solution, much more usable, and also more responsive. From what I understand the screen on the Montana 700 was designed to be used outdoors in a hand-held manner so that the transreflective screen could be taken advantage of (and I will admit that when used in hiking scenarios it works brilliantly). But let's face it - this brick is not something people are likely to use for hiking scenarios! POOR DESIGN DECISION BY GARMIN!
Even outdoors, there are issue. The people who ride trails with it report that (a) they can't see it and (b) they can't interact with it.
I am not sure that the Mini/ipad solution is much better. The Mini (both generations) is notorious for slow acquisition and losing a fix. The iPad is not exactly a rugged component.
