GPS Fix

After Garmin’s announcement of the palm-sized touchscreen Dakota GPS earlier this week the images below have appeared on the FCC web page, presumably for the approval of the wireless interface on the Dakota 20.   The images show the back cover of the Dakota 20 removed exposing the battery compartment, the other is a close up of the inside of the battery compartment (which for FCC purposes shows the label and location).  The images confirm a few things about the Dakota:

• The location of the the microSD card is under the two AA batteries and the entire design of the battery compartment and rear cover is similar to the latch-over design of the Oregon (versus the Colorado’s slide-on cover)
• The Dakota clearly has a lanyard attachment slot at the bottom of the unit
• Although it isn’t 100% clear in the photos it looks like the USB port is below the gray material above the battery compartment (at least I’m pretty sure that is a USB symbol I can see imprinted there)
• The battery cover latch looks like it is on the top of the cover which makes me think that the cover hooks on from the bottom and latches on the top which would be the opposite of the Oregon
• Garmin’s FCC submission was on 6/16 and these files were made available on the FCC web site on 6/30.  The good stuff like user manual and photos will not be public until 8/30.  That still supports a release date of mid to late July I’m guessing.

I’m working on the Dakota wiki and hope to have the site up this weekend or early next week (especially given the rainy outlook here!)

Thanks to Rich at GPSTrackLog for the scoop.

Not much to write about here, but Garmin has just posted a 3.01 Oregon beta with a fix for the shutdown failures introduced in 2.99.  The problems were severe enough in 2.99 that we recommended Oregon users avoid this beta release until the issue was resolved.   Garmin’s release note for 3.01 is simply:

• Fixed improper shutdown.

I’ve upgraded my Oregon 400t to the new release from 2.99 and after shutting down a half dozen times I haven’t experienced any problems.  The issues I saw with configuration settings not being saved have also been addressed.  Two other areas which were problems in 2.99, Spanner mode and the alarm clock shutoff, also seem to work again.  Stay tuned for more testing

Thanks for the heads up on 3.01 Kris!

Update:  This beta seems to fix the crash on startup after powering down with an active autoroute.

It looks like beta 2.92 was not just a one-off – Garmin is continuing to migrate select features to the 18-month old Colorado.    The 2.94 Colorado beta picks up the oft requested waypoint averaging tool available on the Oregon, “any-name” map (.img) file support and the ability to select individual points from a cluster of points on the map page.

Garmin’s release notes for the 2.94 beta:

• Added Waypoint Averaging application.
• Added ability to load maps from any img file in the Garmin directory
• Added ability to see a list of points from the map when several points are at the same location
• Fixed hunting waypoint symbols not transferring properly

For more information on the waypoint averaging feature visit Garmin’s Trail Tech site.  The Waypoint Averaging tool can be found under the Others menu.

To use the map point selector move the cursor to a location on the map page and press enter.  Navigate to Options>View More Points to select from a list of points at that location on the map.

“Any-name” map file support removes the limitation around having to name map files (.img files) with predetermined names like “gmapsupp.img”.  With this update any map file, as long as it has a .img suffix, will work on the Colorado.

I’ve installed the new release and quickly verified that it doesn’t have the same shutdown issues as the Oregon 2.99 beta software.  Join the discussion over at the Colorado wiki or follow our Twitter account for more updates, and, as always, let us know how this update is working on your Colorado!

• Twin City GeoCaching Podcast 52 @sir_zman includes interview with @JakesJournal on Garmin Oregon 550. Mentions HotFix http://www.tcgcpc.com/ #
• Garmin Oregon Beta 2.99 available. Adds support for many .img files, fixes 3 bugs. http://tinyurl.com/ll5l5h #
• Liking the Garmin Oregon "multi-map" feature in 2.99. Add segments you need in new files, no need to rebuild. Wonder if there are limits? #
• RT @northernpenguin Ontario Trails Project v0.64. New data source (MNR), Google Earth KML, Magellan Support – http://tinyurl.com/onttrails #
• Automate geotagging of photos on your camera using your Garmin Oregon and free GeoHarvest software http://tiny.cc/z6D5x #
• UK and Irish residents win Canada trip and Garmin Oregon 550t by sharing your best #geocaching photos. http://www.geocaching.com/garminphoto #
• Garmin announces Dakota 10 http://tinyurl.com/kq5t3j and Dakota 20 http://tinyurl.com/kra8qb .Compared http://tinyurl.com/nw3vtg #
• RT @gpstracklog Compare the Dakota series to the Oregon… http://bit.ly/aXmX4 #
• Garmin Dakota 20 vs Oregon 300: Smaller, 2.6" screen, 1.3oz lighter, +4hrs battery life, – NMEA, – Wherigo, – photo viewer, + 3 axis compass #
• Garmin Dakota press release http://tinyurl.com/mmzjlw #

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As I was poking around the Garmin site this morning looking for details on the new Dakota I noticed that Garmin has added a $12.99 slip case for the Oregon. The case is designed to remain on the unit while the GPS is in use. I can’t tell from the pictures if there is any type of cover over the touchscreen or not. A few online retailers seem to be advertising it but Garmin is listing as available in the next week or two.


Another Oregon accessory caught my eye as well. I’m not sure if this is new but Garmin lists a $24.99 retractable lanyard for the Oregon. This should work with any device that has a lanyard attachment. The accessory looks like a beefy recoil that clips to a “D-ring” on your pack. You can then attach your GPS to the recoil using one of the two lanyard attachments which are provided.

You can find other Oregon and Colorado accessories like these at the GPSFix store.

After all of the recent rumors about the Dakota there isn’t much to report about here, but it is official now.   Today Garmin announced that the $299 Dakota 10 and $349 Dakota 20 will be available in the 3rd quarter of this year.  From what I’ve seen these units appear to be a smaller version of the Oregon with a few differences, but let’s start with the common features of the Dakota 10 and 20:

• Size: 2.2″ x 3.9″ x 1.3″
• Weight: 6.75 oz w/batteries (I’ve also seen this listed at 5.5 oz)
• 160 x 240 pixel transflective color TFT 2.6″ touchscreen
• High sensitivity GPS receiver with HotFix
• 20 hour battery life
• Paperless geocaching with support for 2000 geocaches
• 1000 waypoint / 50 route / 200 track capacity
• 850MB internal memory for additional maps
• Worldwide basemap
• USB port for computer transfer and power
• Waterproof to IPX7 standards

This makes the Dakota slightly shorter and thicker than the eTrex HCx, but with 40% greater screen real estate.  The screen specifications are very similar, at least in size and resolution, to that of the Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx.  Hopefully this implies the Dakota will be a little more readable in sunlight than the higher resolution Oregon and Colorado screens.

The Dakota 20 adds the following features over the Dakota 10:

• Micro SD-card slot
• 3-axis tilt compensated compass
• Wireless transfer of tracks, waypoints, routes and geocaches between other Garmin GPS’s
• Barometric altimeter

Garmin’s cramped product line makes it hard to place the new Dakotas, but the Dakota 10 seems to fit in between the eTrex Legend HCx ($249) and the Oregon 200 ($369) whereas the Dakota 20 fits in between the eTrex Vista HCx ($299) and Oregon 300 ($399).   Comparing the Dakota 20 to the eTrex Vista HCx, the extra $50 for the Dakota buys you a 1/2″ longer and 1/4″ wider touchscreen, 850MB of built-in memory, a 3-axis compass, and wireless transfer.   The larger screen has some disadvantages: the Dakota 20 is almost an ounce and a half heavier and has about 20% less battery life, but as mentioned above Garmin was able to keep the size similar to the eTrex (Garmin’s comparison page).

Comparing the Dakota 20 to the Oregon 300, the Oregon adds Wherigo support, a photo viewer, NMEA/Spanner support (which allows you use the GPS as a tracking device connected to a laptop), and a larger 3″ 240×400 resolution screen.   The Oregon weighs about the same but is over a half inch longer and burns through batteries about 25% faster than the Dakota.   You actually lose the 3-axis tilt compensated compass and track capacity drops from 200 down to 20 going to the Oregon 300 as well — why does Garmin have to make product selection so difficult!

I’m also happy to see that Garmin is keeping the same rail mount as the current Oregon and Colorado.  At least based on Garmin’s website the Dakota seems to be compatible with all the same auto, bike and marine mounting accessories, although there is a carabiner clip, slip case and form fitting case which look new for the Dakota.

The Dakota 10 “Bike and hike” bundle ($370)  is also worth mentioning.  The bundle includes a bike mount for the Dakota and City Navigator maps for an additional $70.

Based on the screen shots Garmin has provided, the user interface looks almost identical to the Oregon’s and I’m not expecting too many surprises in that area, but the question around the GPS chipset and antenna design still remains.  While Garmin never publishes this information I’m really hoping to see the MediaTek MT3329 show up in these new units.  Hopefully when these devices are released in the 3rd quarter we can figure that out.

Watch here on GPSFix for more Dakota information as it becomes available.   We’ll be getting our hands on one as soon as we can, and we plan to support a wiki for Dakota owners.

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Garmin Oregon 200 Handheld / Trail GPS High Sensitivity GPS Receiver – Color Display – MicroSD Card Slot – Built-in Worldwide Basemap – Touchscreen
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Canadian outdoor retailer Le Baron has posted an online flyer (pdf) which includes the “Dakota Series”.   The ad sheds a little more light on the upcoming Garmin Dakota which seems to have advanced past the “just a rumor” stage.   Combined with recent sightings at GPS City, REI and Bass Pro Shops, this all but confirms the new outdoor handheld.

The ad claims both the Dakota 10 and 20 will support these features:

• Built-in basemap
• 850MB of internal memory
• 160×240 pixel, 2.6″ touchscreen (same size and resolution as GPSMAP 60CSx screen)
• High sensitivity GPS receiver
• 5.5 oz with batteries (1.3 oz less than the current Oregon)

The Dakota 20 will add the following:

• 3-axis compass
• Wireless transfer
• Micro SD card slot
• Beeper
• Altimeter

The Dakota 10 is listed for $340 (CAD) and the Dakota 20 $400 (CAD).   Note prices are in Canadian dollars.

These specs make the unit sound more and more like an outdoor unit which will fit in below the Oregon 200 (Dakota 10) and the Oregon 400t/550t (Dakota 20) minus the built in maps and in a smaller form factor with the smaller lower resolution screen.