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How waterproof is the A10?
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PloddinPedro
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Joined: Mar 25, 2007
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 10:04 am    Post subject: How waterproof is the A10? Reply with quote

I used my A10 on a long distance cycle event last week. After several hours in the rain, with the unit mounted on my handlebars, damp got under the main inner screen and the A10 shut down and could not be revived. At the end of the ride, I noticed another rider also using a Satmap and enquired how he'd got on with it - his unit also suffered water ingress although it didn't actually fail completely as mine did. Has anyone else had similar experiences?
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JimmyTheHand
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 11:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

There have been several threads on this issue as people have found it's not in the same league as some garmin units

if you search this forum for Water, you will find most of the discussions
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Bosun
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Location: Wakefield,West Riding of Yorkshire

PostPosted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 3:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes there have been several reports of the Active 10 not being quite as waterproof as Satmap would have us believe.

I pinched the idea of another poster ( thanks to whoever it was ) and that was to buy an Ortlieb A6 Document Case ( about £8 or so ) and cut a small slit in the back to take the bike mount protuberance on the back of the A10.

Insert the Active10 into the case with the protuberance through the slit,attach to bike mount and the unit is waterproof,no further problems.

( When cutting the slit make sure that the word "Ortlieb" is facing the ground so the black flap is covering the Velcro helping to stop water getting in via the Velcro ).

It helps with visibility if you remove the outer screen.I use the same sort of arrangement ( without the slit obviously ) for walking using an Ortlieb PDA case ( the one with the black back ) and dispense with the outer screen.

Works fine and is totally waterproof.

Ian

Ian
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cwmboy
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 9:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes, I had a similar experience a year ago whilst walking in the driving rain along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. Placing the unit in the airing cupboard covered in uncooked rice drew the water out eventually.
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terry8
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 10:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I Have just returned from a six day walk along the Dales Way. Unit worked fine for five days through some pretty inclement weather, but when trying to boot up unit for last day after charging it up it went completely dead, so reading above comments was of great interest. Fortunately had my old reliable Garmin to complete the walk. Will be contacting Satmap tomorrow I would have hoped that a £300 outdoor piece of equipment would have been at least waterproof! First serious use of the equipment and it has let me down badly. This along with a custom 1:25 map of walk that unit could not read.
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johno99
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 8:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

HI

Please let us know how you get on because I am considering attaching mine to the console of my boat, at the moment I keep it in a compartment and pull it out now and then for a look. Not a lot of good if it gets sea water in it is it!

John
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philpugh
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Joined: Dec 28, 2005
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Location: Antrobus, Cheshire

PostPosted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 9:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

johno99 wrote:
HI

Please let us know how you get on because I am considering attaching mine to the console of my boat, at the moment I keep it in a compartment and pull it out now and then for a look. Not a lot of good if it gets sea water in it is it!

John


Whole different ball game here! Sea water is many times worse than rain water. Even if the water doesn't get in it will probably mark the outside of the unit. If it gets under the screen it may well damage the devices screen as well as the replaceable top screen. I would consider mounting it within a fully watertight unit - like an Otter Box or similar. I have a Peli 1020 case that I used for my PDA. The Active 10 will fit within this and I would probably use this if I took it to sea. The Peli case is not really designed for this sort of use as it has a small opaque label on it - they are meant to be used as a storage device. Also you can't operate the unit when it is enclosed - it's a fully rigid protective case - but they are cheaper than an Otter. However I use my Garmin Colorado for this sort of activity. Much more rugged than the Active 10.
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BigPerk
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 10:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

But I remember earlier posts praising the A10 for its performance in day-long terrential downpours. Is there a possibility that the seals in these particular units are faulty, or that they haven't been reseated properly after use?
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cwmboy
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 4:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

BigPerk wrote:
or that they haven't been reseated properly after use?


Not sure what you mean by this as you don't actually remove the screen from the unit in use or for any other reason. Agreed the outer protective screen is removable and replaceable, but my water ingress, well more water vapour actually, was beneath the screen that sits behind the proective screen and you wouldn't remove that for any reason I can think of.

You could be right about a faulty batch however, as you have pointed out there are as many people praising tha A10 in wet conditions as there are having problems. I have used mine since many times in the rain and the problem hasn't recurred so I am wondering if it was a combination of getting wet and the changes in temperature from holding the unit in a warm hand v cold ambient temperature? I am thinking about sending the unit back for a service soon, not that there is anything wrong with it apart from a couple of marks on the main screen, but just to get the seals replaced in case there is a recurrence of a misting screen.
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BigPerk
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 4:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I was actually thinking more about the rubber covers, (eg) the USB connector. If they werent seated properly, water could get into the Active10 that way.
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cwmboy
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 5:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks BigPerk,
I see what you mean now. Yes, a good point. I wonder how efficient the rubber covers to the USB port and the map card slot actually are in keeping out water? They seem to be fairly effective but as you say if your not 100% careful and double check they may not seal properly.
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stephenmorphey
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 4:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ya i had a similar experience. Last spring i was mountain biking. And had my A10 mounted on the handle bar. After a couple of hours in heavy rain, mu A10 wont work at all. It brings us to conclude that the A10 is not as much water proof as SATMAP claims it to be!
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stephenmorphey
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 5:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ya i had a similar experience. Last spring i was mountain biking. And had my A10 mounted on the handle bar. After a couple of hours in heavy rain, mu A10 wont work at all. It brings us to conclude that the A10 is not as much water proof as SATMAP claims it to be!
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PloddinPedro
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 6:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

To update my original post ................

Returned my A10 to Satmap and received it back after an overhaul, with a handwritten note saying that, after testing, they were of the opinion that water had entered via the USB port.

A difficult one this I feel, since the USB cover is used frequently, for battery recharging, and the rubber hinges gradually adopt a "set" position, half open, and it becomes difficult to keep it closed.
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johno99
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 9:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi

Can you please get back to Satmap and tell them your concerns about the watertighness of the unit. I have had a few emails back and forth with them over another matter which I will post seperatly where they have stated that unless they get direct comments or complaints to them then they will not log it and deal with it. If you have a complaint, by all means inform the forum but also let them know.
John
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