Montana 700i downgraded to 10.50 and impossible to re upgrade to 13.20

I have received my (2nd) replacement Montana 700i. This time, the replacement was brand new with software 13.20.

However, after unsuccessful attempts to use the device with Garmin Basecamp (which only saw the device as a drive, ie not able to use the maps, Birdseye, transfer stuff etc) I followed Garmin Basecamp notification to upgrade the device with Web Updater. This resulted in a downgrade to software 10.50 (I didn't really pay attention then!).

Now, the device is stuck at 10.50 and Basecamp doesn't see it anymore, my MacBook Pro doesn't even see the device as a drive anymore. Garmin Express sees the device I think and is happy to say it's up to date with software 10.50, whilst before it was showing 13.20.

I'm confused. Nothing seems to work to re-update the device to 13.20.

Can anyone help?

Top Replies

atlas_cached over 2 years ago in reply to 8838190 +1

You can replace it twenty more times and viting will change.

The very definition of insanity, doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results each time.

The hardware is great.

The…

All Replies

0 atlas_cached over 2 years ago

Garmin Express is the correct software to update this device. BaseCamp doesn't know what a Montana 7x0 is. WebUpdater may have done more damage than good. You may have to do a manual update if Express is not successful, or you can connect the Montana 7x0 to Wi-Fi and let it load the update in the background.

0 8838190 over 2 years ago in reply to atlas_cached

Thanks. How do I recover from that? I mean my MacBook doesn't see the Montana as a drive, Garmin Basecamp doesn't see it anymore (not even as a drive) and Express is happy with software 10.50. It looks like my device is condemned to remain on 10.50 forever.

I'm frustrated that Garmin pushes customers in different directions.

0 atlas_cached over 2 years ago in reply to 8838190

Google 'GPSrChive' and you will find instructions for manually getting your Montana back to current firmware version.

0 Sushi over 2 years ago

Hi, I recently went through your experience and had to get a replacement device. The basecamp updater did something to my original device, which was borderline useless.

0 8838190 over 2 years ago in reply to Sushi

Eventually my device re-updated to 13.20 over wifi. updater is crap!
However, I had my device replaced… I now have my 4th device… and still having issues! I’m either very unlucky or the device design is fundamentally flawed

0 atlas_cached over 2 years ago in reply to 8838190

You can replace it twenty more times and viting will change.

The very definition of insanity, doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results each time.

The hardware is great.

The software needs more work still.

0 8838190 over 2 years ago in reply to atlas_cached

I became insane indeed, because of the device!

are you saying that we should just get along with the issues? I wouldn’t mind if it was only affecting the device but unfortunately I can’t use it with BaseCamp as it doesn’t allow it to see it as a navigation device, only as a storage device

0 atlas_cached over 2 years ago in reply to 8838190

You will have to work with what you have until the next firmware release. There is nothing else you or Garmin can do in the interim.

0 Sushi over 2 years ago in reply to 8838190

Eventually, the device itself started acting up. It got to the point where I would only see block grids on my map view.