Posted by saddlebag on November 2, 2010, 5:50 pm
> <snip>
> > I have a Zumo 500 for a few years now. It does the job, but I'm not
> > sure it has the latest user interface. I mostly listen for directions
> > or read the text telling me about the turns anyway so fancy graphics
> > are kind of wasted on me. I bought it because I could hookup an XM
> > radio into it and have the benefit of both devices. Setup works real
> > well. It also holds a flash card that can store a bazillion songs so
> > it functions as an Ipod/audio book player too.
> XM and MP3 player would be nice, in case my Inno poops out. XM radios
> aren't the most reliable things.
> Unfortunately, the Zumo 500 is going for around $600 with shipping. I'm far
> too cheap for that. I'm still pissed at myself for paying $300 for my Emap
> in 1999, brand new. My wife found it on Ebay for $100 a couple days later.
> Great!
> I'm also a little paranoid about getting a lemon. Every now and then Garmin
> comes out with a turd. I like something that's already got the bugs worked
> out.
> > My only issue so far has been the cradle. Originally, I thought the
> > GPS was going bananas, but it turned out that the pins in the cradle
> > must have gotten corroded or succumbed to vibration. I really
> > couldn't tell because the area where the pins connect to the USB
> > connector et al is sealed off in its case and can't be accessed with
> > anything short of a hammer strike as far as I can tell.
> > Anyway, I just sprung for a new cradle last week and it works like new
> > again.
> You might want to try some electronic contact cleaner, if you can get the
> little plastic hose in there. If it works, you'll have a spare.
Okay, so to follow up. I had tried the Radio Shack contact cleaner
and didn't have much luck so my workmate buddy ( a crack EE and Ham
radio junkie ) put some Dexoit contactor cleaner on the GPS carrier
pins and voila...she works like a charm now. The Dexoit is the big
thing with all the Hammers to bring back tube sockets, pots and the
like. The active ingredient is apparently pretty mild and doesn't
attack the lubrication of the moving parts. Anyway, now I got a
backup.
Posted by CS on November 2, 2010, 9:33 pm
<snip>
> Okay, so to follow up. I had tried the Radio Shack contact cleaner
> and didn't have much luck so my workmate buddy ( a crack EE and Ham
> radio junkie ) put some Dexoit contactor cleaner on the GPS carrier
> pins and voila...she works like a charm now. The Dexoit is the big
> thing with all the Hammers to bring back tube sockets, pots and the
> like. The active ingredient is apparently pretty mild and doesn't
> attack the lubrication of the moving parts. Anyway, now I got a
> backup.
Are you sure it wasn't DeOxit?
(Amazon.com product link shortened)
I was using some crap-ass electrical cleaner, which sometimes worked,
sometimes didn't do squat.
Always handy to have a spare.
CS
Posted by saddlebag on November 2, 2010, 9:51 pm
Yes, DeOxit or Dexoit for the groups dyslexic members.
Posted by CS on November 2, 2010, 11:01 pm
Who came up with "dyslexic" to describe the condition that makes it
difficult to see letters?
Thanks for the tip. I'll ask Santa for a few cans.
CS
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> > I have a Zumo 500 for a few years now. It does the job, but I'm not
> > sure it has the latest user interface. I mostly listen for directions
> > or read the text telling me about the turns anyway so fancy graphics
> > are kind of wasted on me. I bought it because I could hookup an XM
> > radio into it and have the benefit of both devices. Setup works real
> > well. It also holds a flash card that can store a bazillion songs so
> > it functions as an Ipod/audio book player too.
> XM and MP3 player would be nice, in case my Inno poops out. XM radios
> aren't the most reliable things.
> Unfortunately, the Zumo 500 is going for around $600 with shipping. I'm far
> too cheap for that. I'm still pissed at myself for paying $300 for my Emap
> in 1999, brand new. My wife found it on Ebay for $100 a couple days later.
> Great!
> I'm also a little paranoid about getting a lemon. Every now and then Garmin
> comes out with a turd. I like something that's already got the bugs worked
> out.
> > My only issue so far has been the cradle. Originally, I thought the
> > GPS was going bananas, but it turned out that the pins in the cradle
> > must have gotten corroded or succumbed to vibration. I really
> > couldn't tell because the area where the pins connect to the USB
> > connector et al is sealed off in its case and can't be accessed with
> > anything short of a hammer strike as far as I can tell.
> > Anyway, I just sprung for a new cradle last week and it works like new
> > again.
> You might want to try some electronic contact cleaner, if you can get the
> little plastic hose in there. If it works, you'll have a spare.