Nuvi 7XX with non Sirf chip and Poorer Screen

BAVC10 · Lifetime Member Joined: Dec 20, 2005 Posts: 750

I purchased an additional Nuvi 7XX series today.

When I got home and booted it up there was no Sirf logo, no Sirf comments on the settings screen and the GPS firmware was 2.60m. The GPS firmware on my old Nuvi is 3.00s. The model with 2.60m shipped with firmware 2.70. TTFF was quicker on the non Sirf model but accuracy was worse. Does the 'm' suffix mean a non sirf GPs chipset?

The screen on the newer model was significantly poorer. Even a 100% brightness it was only equal to 50% on my older version, with the two sat side-by-side. the difference was worse than the 3XX series to thr 7XX. The viewing angle was also significantly worse - so much so that I took the newer model back and asked for a replacement - this one too also had a poor / dull screen. Has anyone else recently purchased a 7XX and compared with an older 7XX model or know why or even if, Garmin have change chip and or screen manufacturer??

gatorguy6996 · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 1:32 am Post subject:

Saw your same post at another forum. When you say 2.6 are you referring to firmware?
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crazyfingers · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 1:47 am Post subject:

It actually sounds like you may have purchased a counterfeit product.

If I were you I'd email Garmin and ask them about it.
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crazyfingers · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 1:56 am Post subject:

Strange I just went on the Garmin site and did a search on "SiRF Nuvi" and got:

gatorguy6996 · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 11:39 am Post subject:

BAVC10, before everyone gets too concerned, can you confirm that you have the MTK chip rather than sirf? If you're not sure how to check, you need to use Service Mode. Activate it by pressing the battery icon about 8-10 seconds. that should bring up the SW page. Press "Next" then on the next page press "Start Test", wait a few seconds, then press more. Scroll to the very end and the entry will state either Sirf or whatever chip is in your device.
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Garmin 1695 / 255 / 760 w/MSN - Droid w/Google nav + Navigon - Navigon 8100T - Dakota10 - GPSMap76C - GeoMate Jr.

MaFt · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 1:01 pm Post subject:

i was going to suggest that the 'm' stood for MTK but i was beaten to it...!

MaFt

BAVC10 · Lifetime Member Joined: Dec 20, 2005 Posts: 750

2.60m is the GPS SW Version, 2.70 is the Firmware or OS version. My other Nuvi displays 3.00s as the GPS SW version. This Nuvi also shows SiRF 2008 on booting up screen and SiRF in the Settings, system, About screen which the newer Nuvi doesn't.[/img]

BAVC10 · Lifetime Member Joined: Dec 20, 2005 Posts: 750

Any views as to which is the better chip - I know the original 7xx series suffered until sirfinstantfixII was deployed with firmware 2.60.

Is the MTK chip - if this is what I have, any better or worse than SiRFstarIII and is it cheaper or is it quicker in acquisition that has made Garmin change supplier?

gatorguy6996 · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 2:39 pm Post subject:

Could you send us a screenshot of the SW test page display showing the MTK chip?
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Garmin 1695 / 255 / 760 w/MSN - Droid w/Google nav + Navigon - Navigon 8100T - Dakota10 - GPSMap76C - GeoMate Jr.

philpugh · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 3:00 pm Post subject:

MTK is at least as good as SiRF III in my opinion. I have two data loggers one each SiRF III / MTK. They are both accurate - both track logs, when overlayed on Memory Map 1:25k, are on the road. I would guess that I usually get 5-10 mtrs accuracy with them. Very fast TTF. In the context of a nav unit, where the software locks your position to the displayed road, then any slight positional error it is of very little consequence. They reckon the MTK uses less power (ie extended battery life). I can't check this as the units I own have different operating environments.

As for the screen brightness - perhaps GARMIN use lower backlight setting on the 7xx? I have a 660 - which I guess has a 'poor' screen compared with the newer units. In the car I run mine at 10% backlight as I don't want it too obvious when I am driving. It is mounted below windscreen height and I don't have a problem with lack of brightness.
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Phil

BAVC10 · Lifetime Member Joined: Dec 20, 2005 Posts: 750

Screenshot as requested

PaulB2005 · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 3:36 pm Post subject:

Apparently only the early production units got SiRf chipsets. Later ones got Garmins own make chipsets.

My screenshot from the 760 i bought in Feb 2008

More info taken from here

gatorguy6996 · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 5:18 pm Post subject:

Paul, the response you got in November of last year is obviously incorrect. Tho they may not have guaranteed to alsays use a sirf chipset, it's been confirmed with numerous devices purchased/manufactured as late as April of this year that everyone of them had a sirf chip.
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Garmin 1695 / 255 / 760 w/MSN - Droid w/Google nav + Navigon - Navigon 8100T - Dakota10 - GPSMap76C - GeoMate Jr.

PaulB2005 · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 5:34 pm Post subject:

gatorguy6996 · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 5:44 pm Post subject:

Yes there is, but I'll have to refresh my memory on where. Just to remove all doubt, I'd still like to see the info displayed from the SW diagnostics test page.
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Garmin 1695 / 255 / 760 w/MSN - Droid w/Google nav + Navigon - Navigon 8100T - Dakota10 - GPSMap76C - GeoMate Jr.

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