alpha lockup question

[Bellmorekennels]

Okay guys, I know there a whole thread on this.
But wanted to clarify something
I interested in the garmin alpha, are the guys having lockup problems using the birds eye view??
As that is something I love on the 320 I have now.
How long do these lockups take to unfreeze?

Thanks for help guys.

Anthony

[Crow]

Yes I am using birdeye but it also happens when I remove the micro sd card and use topo only. Garmin classifies this problem as a "freeze and crash" issue. Basically what mine and some others I know are doing is your system will be functioning normally. When an icon is selected on the touch screen nothing will happen, then the screen starts to slowly fade out and become pixelated. If you continue to wait it will eventually fade completely out and the screen looks the same as it does when you turn the unit off because that is what happens. You can immediately turn the unit back on and after the "reboot" procedure happens the unit functions normally. This entire process generally takes about 2 minutes. You can greatly reduce the time if when you select an icon and you see the unit has frozen if you press the power button. That immediately turns the unit off then immediately turn the unit back on. Again the "reboot" procedure has to take place but I'd say in that scenario you are back in business in 1 minute or a little less. This only seems to happen when you try to select an icon. It doesn't seem to have a pattern as far as doing the same action causes it as it has happened with multiple different sequences of actions. What I'm saying is there's not 1 particular thing that causes the issue. I have not heard of a case where a unit has been frozen when someone attempts to view the track screen. It's always been caused by selecting an icon. I've not heard of anyone just pulling the handheld out to see where the dogs are and finding their unit has been frozen and no current track location of their dog. It is more of an annoyance than anything as when it does happen it may be 5 minutes or 5 hours until it happens again. But for the price of these systems it should not be occurring at all. Frequency of use (as in how often you look at the location or select an icon) doesn't seem to have a bearing on it either. The bottom line for me is yes I'm very aggravated that this issue is present but at the same time I've said several times before. If they called me tomorrow and said this issue will never be fixed and offer me a full refund and a new Trashbreaker to replace it I'd decline and keep the Alpha. Super nice system but this bug really needs fixed.

[BCBeagles]

Up and running again in 45 seconds like Crow said, inconvienent, but still a super system!!!

[Bellmorekennels]

Ok guys.
Thank you so much!!
BC do you have birds eye too?
Wonder if any difference or even possible to get birds eye preloaded ??

Anthony

[BCBeagles]

No I don't Anthony, and I did not use the longer antenna when in Maine, MISTAKE, it makes a difference, but the dense cover of the pine and cedar thicket will still cause lost signal.

Still a very, very good investment. I honestly don't know how I functioned without it...LOL.

[cut2dchase]

Also you will lose dog information (distance traveled,average speed)
when you restart,but dog tracks will still be there. Mine is out of
warranty and has latest updates (3.10). I connected to computer and
deleted some uniportant files (grand canyon map,pictures of Garmin
headquarters). Also delete all tracks in tracks manager,before each hunt.
Since I did these steps ,unit has only locked up 1 time ,in last 5 hunts.
Still not the complete answer but it sure helped.

[BCBeagles]

Cut2,

How do you delete all that useless info??

[Crow]

BC, plug your handheld in to your computer, go to "start" button then select "my computer". You should see your alpha in that menu, double click it and it will show a list of files on your alpha. You can delete some things including your "GSX" file but each time you turn your system on a new "GSX" file will be started then subsequent hunts will be placed in the new file. Just make sure you DO NOT DELETE the "PROFILES" folder, Garmin told me there were "critical programming" included in that file and the system will not work without it. They talked me through deleting mine trying to fix the bug and emailed me a "sterile" profiles folder to reinstall on mine. If something happens and yours does get deleted let me know. I saved the "sterile" file on my PC so I can email it to you. All of that did not affect my problems so I don't expect you'll have any different results but may be worth a shot. My advice is if you're gonna try that is to call Garmin, their tech will talk you through it since yours is still in warranty. Also did you ever check your "zoom options"? They should all be set to "auto" mine were set to $$U" and one was set to Everest whatever all that means. The delete and reinstall did correct the "zoom options" but did little to correct the problem. To check turn on the handheld, select menu then map then advanced options (last on list) then zoom options (last one again) if all don't say "auto" then a "hard reset" may be needed. If you get to that point let me know & I'll talk you through that as well. Really not as complicated as it sounds

[BCBeagles]

They are on Auto,

I have to send mine back again after a trip in the next few weeks so I will just wait.

Sorry to cause a threadjacking..LOL.

Alpha is still a great system!!

[Bellmorekennels]

BC .
No worry on thread. I appreciate any and all info!!
Does long ant come with it??

You going Maine again??

[Crow]

Extended range antenna does come with the handheld. There are several aftermarket long range antenna for both the handheld and the collars to. The handheld models are extendable as needed and some actually fold down which would be nice. The ones for the collars are 24" and I think the factory ones are 18". Either way, I've not had a reason to look for more range yet.

I'll leave Maine to BC

[BCBeagles]

Not until next fall, but thinking of it regularly!!!!!!

Long antenna does come with it. I should have used it in Maine.

[Bellmorekennels]

Thanks alot guys, do you find that it takes a long time for the handheld to pickup the collar signal when it turns back on??
Or is it pretty quick.?
Is battery life ok on the handheld??
Sometimes i change batteries on my 320 and it picks up colllars in few seconds

thanks , anthony

[BCBeagles]

Mine picks them back up right away, literally no time lapse.

My handheld wore down the most in Maine Anthony, I think cold and obviously using it to see the lines the Hare were running was a factor in that.

After about 6-7 hours of use I see about 40-60 percent battery left. More here as I don't use it as much to watch the dogs.

It comes with a truck charge as well so if you needed you could charge it while you took a lunch break if need be.