New Garmin Montana

[samueleuk]

Originally Posted by Rocky TFS

Definitely, the rugged mount with Ram ball, AMPs plate and medium arm:

http://www.gpscity.com/ram-mount-gar...unt-steel.html

You may change your mind on powering the Montana after discovering how fast the batts go down with full backlight on all the time. I'll bet there's very few here who haven't hooked up the power.

Thanks a lot. This is very useful. Why the medium arm? do you have experience with that? I thought I could use the short arm and the Montana would sit just above the cockpit without sticking out too much
Sam

[Emmbeedee]

Originally Posted by samueleuk

Thanks a lot. This is very useful. Why the medium arm? do you have experience with that? I thought I could use the short arm and the Montana would sit just above the cockpit without sticking out too much
Sam

The shorter, the better, in my experience. Longer ones tend to vibrate more.

[BergDonk]

Originally Posted by Emmbeedee

The shorter, the better, in my experience. Longer ones tend to vibrate more.

I found with mine that a longer one, 100mm? works better because I can rotate the u bolt clamp on the handlebar away and until the arm sits on the clamp at the right angle. Then it doesn't move down any more because it can't. With the shorter arm that I also have, it can move around on the move and I'm often tightening the clamp through the day. This was with the 60CSX and seems to be the same with the Montana. The end position of the GPS is the same, but the way I did makes it more stable with the longer arm. Suppose you want a picture now?

[Emmbeedee]

Originally Posted by BergDonk

I found with mine that a longer one, 100mm? works better because I can rotate the u bolt clamp on the handlebar away and until the arm sits on the clamp at the right angle. Then it doesn't move down any more because it can't. With the shorter arm that I also have, it can move around on the move and I'm often tightening the clamp through the day. This was with the 60CSX and seems to be the same with the Montana. The end position of the GPS is the same, but the way I did makes it more stable with the longer arm. Suppose you want a picture now?

That's with your DR, right?

I did end up with a 4" arm on my DR but my GS has the short one as seen here.



This length is stable - and still allows me to rotate the gps from Landscape to Portrait mode, depending on if I'm traveling North/South or East/West.

Actually, pictures never lie. I use the short arm on my DR as well.

[bighopper]

Just got my CNNA 2013.30 installed via DVD & Garmin site for latest map. Then activated my Lifetime Map Update card, but for some reason I am unable to Activate it to the Montana. After selecting 'Add Device' button on MyGarmin then selecting the Montana, the next screen Just says I have the latest Maps & to Download 'Garmin Express' which I did & installed. I also D/L Garmin Lifetime Updater which says that it doesn't have Lifetime Updates linked to it!.

Another interesting thing I noticed is that in the Products Registration it shows the Montana with software 3.90, but on the Montana 'About' shows 4.60

I am at a loss, anyone have ideas how to fix/? or I have to call Garmin tomorrow.

Thanks

[BergDonk]

Originally Posted by BergDonk

I found with mine that a longer one, 100mm? works better because I can rotate the u bolt clamp on the handlebar away and until the arm sits on the clamp at the right angle. Then it doesn't move down any more because it can't. With the shorter arm that I also have, it can move around on the move and I'm often tightening the clamp through the day. This was with the 60CSX and seems to be the same with the Montana. The end position of the GPS is the same, but the way I did makes it more stable with the longer arm. Suppose you want a picture now?

Originally Posted by Emmbeedee

That's with your DR, right?

Yep

A pic:


I haven't ridden with the Montana yet, only got the mount sorted yesterday, but using the Magellan Explorist XL which is bigger and heavier I found this setup to be more stable, but of course YMMV.

The arm can't drop because its sitting on the clamp, only the rugged mount can, but it just seems to work better like this for me.

[Emmbeedee]

Originally Posted by bighopper

I am at a loss, anyone have ideas how to fix/? or I have to call Garmin tomorrow.

Phoning Garmin is what I'd do. It really doesn't take long to get through and they have always been very pleasant and helpful when I called.

[Emmbeedee]

Originally Posted by BergDonk

The arm can't drop because its sitting on the clamp, only the rugged mount can, but it just seems to work better like this for me.

I've never had the arm move on my bikes. Maybe it's a temperature thing? When it gets really hot, the RAM balls tend to soften, but when it gets that hot around here, we usually stay home if we can.

[Emmbeedee]

Anyone tried out Garmin Express yet?

http://software.garmin.com/en-US/express.html

[Red Barron]

Originally Posted by Emmbeedee

Anyone tried out Garmin Express yet?

http://software.garmin.com/en-US/express.html

The program worked completely with my Nuvi but crashed when trying to backup the Montana.

[Emmbeedee]

Originally Posted by Red Barron

The program worked completely with my Nuvi but crashed when trying to backup the Montana.

It backed up my Montana but is stalled at "Downloading file 38 of 215" in the Map Update. Been sitting at that all day. I restarted a couple of times but that made no difference. Looks like it has potential but it would be better if it either said it does not support models other than the Nuvi, Zumo and Dezl, or supported other models properly. It's probably a little early to pronounce judgment since it's very new. Might even be a Beta, for all I know.

[bighopper]

Originally Posted by Emmbeedee

It backed up my Montana but is stalled at "Downloading file 38 of 215" in the Map Update. Been sitting at that all day. I restarted a couple of times but that made no difference. Looks like it has potential but it would be better if it either said it does not support models other than the Nuvi, Zumo and Dezl, or supported other models properly. It's probably a little early to pronounce judgment since it's very new. Might even be a Beta, for all I know.

Just got off the phone with Garmin, I asked about Express & use with the Montana. He said that he hadn't tested it with the Montana & that it was put out for the Nuvi & suggested I stick with LifeTime Map Updater.

On another note on my issue (#6620) with the 'Lifetime Map Update' not activating, that is because when I installed CNNA 2013.30 from the Garmin site I already have the latest map. So I have to wait till the next map update before I'll be able to activate it to the Montana.

[Emmbeedee]

Originally Posted by bighopper

Just got off the phone with Garmin, I asked about Express & use with the Montana. He said that he hadn't tested it with the Montana & that it was put out for the Nuvi & suggested I stick with LifeTime Map Updater.

My Montana never did complete the map update so I plugged my Nuvi 780 in and Express saw it, but could not see the Garmin site so it didn't do anything to the 780 though there was a software update. I ran WebUpdater on the 780 and it updated it very quickly.

Maybe the servers at Garmin aren't ready for Express?

[shu]

Originally Posted by BergDonk

Sorry if this has already been mentioned, but where are you putting the Tempes when riding? Jacket pocket, on the bike somewhere?

With this recent discussion, I've just ordered one to play with with my new Montana, which still isn't sorted. Supposedly a new LiIon battery enroute.

I've got mine clipped to my GPS tether, which is attached to my handlebar. It seems to work fine there (temps are similar/equal to various temperature signs outside banks etc. around town.) I tried carrying it in a jacket pocket and found body heat affected the readings about 5* F on cold days.

............shu

[ChadHahn]

One of the things I don't like about my Montana is the lack of Bluetooth. I have found a solution. It's called the GoGroove BlueSense TRM Bluetooth Transmitter. It plugs into the audio input jack on the Ram mount wiring and syncs up with no problem to my Bluetooth equipped helmet. Now I can hear the alerts from the GPS in my helmet.

The only problem is charging. Until I install a USB charging port on my bike, I have to remember to unplug the transmitter and bring it inside to charge.

It would have been better if the Montana came with Bluetooth but this is a good fairly cheap (less than $30) work around.

Chad