A couple of times after a session recently I havn't been able to turn my GT 31 off, as in no response from either button.
The only way I have been able to get it going again is to take the card out and then I loose the tracks.
Has anyone else had this problem and is there a way to fix it? Or do I just need to update to the new model.
Cheers!

Check that the GPS is running the latest firmware - GT31_FW_V1.4B0803T. Apparently the older firmware caused a lot of lockups. The upgrade process is pretty straightforward - ask your teams GPS guru if you need help with it.

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bigbear said..
A couple of times after a session recently I havn't been able to turn my GT 31 off, as in no response from either button.
The only way I have been able to get it going again is to take the card out and then I loose the tracks.
Has anyone else had this problem and is there a way to fix it? Or do I just need to update to the new model.
Cheers!

Happened to me many times.

Sometimes it locks itself, so hold the toggle switch down and if its "locked" eventually an "unlocked" sign will appear, and then you can turn it off.

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bigbear said..
A couple of times after a session recently I havn't been able to turn my GT 31 off, as in no response from either button.
The only way I have been able to get it going again is to take the card out and then I loose the tracks.
Has anyone else had this problem and is there a way to fix it? Or do I just need to update to the new model.
Cheers!

You should not lose tracks if it won't turn off. If you have an SD card in it it will continue to make data until to goes flat. If you have a min speed set the internal memory will not overwrite if the GPS is stationary. Just leave it to go flat if all else fails. It may speed it up of you can turn the backlight on I guess but it could take a couple of days. When it turns off, 'save to card' and your session should be there.

But check what Hardie said first. That caught me out a few times. And when it recovers, update to the latest firmware ASAP. The problem virtually disappeared after the updates.

Andrew, if you remove the card while it's still being written to, there's a good chance the whole card will be corrupted, and all data on it lost.
If you have the lock/waypoint option set to lock, then as Hardie says press the toggle down for over 5seconds, and it will unlock.
If that doesn't work, you can either let the battery run flat, or open the back up and disconnect the battery.
Then take the card out, that way you'll retain your data.

It's the robots telling you to sail more.

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sailquik said..

bigbear said..
A couple of times after a session recently I havn't been able to turn my GT 31 off, as in no response from either button.
The only way I have been able to get it going again is to take the card out and then I loose the tracks.
Has anyone else had this problem and is there a way to fix it? Or do I just need to update to the new model.
Cheers!

You should not lose tracks if it won't turn off. If you have an SD card in it it will continue to make data until to goes flat. If you have a min speed set the internal memory will not overwrite if the GPS is stationary. Just leave it to go flat if all else fails. It may speed it up of you can turn the backlight on I guess but it could take a couple of days. When it turns off, 'save to card' and your session should be there.

But check what Hardie said first. That caught me out a few times. And when it recovers, update to the latest firmware ASAP. The problem virtually disappeared after the updates.

Does that mean I have to stay at the beach till the battery goes flat? I should easily be able to crack 40 knots on the way home in the car.

Real speed, gpsarpro and gpsresults can all eliminate the ride home, if you haven't got one of them just post the file to somebody who has.

The first question is, are you just locking the device accidentally.

Switch on the GPS and leave it for a bit to find its fix and get working, then hold down the big button until you see something appear on the screen. What does it say?

On a similar note I lock the GPS using the big button and it can be a pain in the bum to try and unlock! My newer GPs doesn't have the problem..I think they both have the same firmware...? I'm not going to lock it anymore .

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sboardcrazy said..
On a similar note I lock the GPS using the big button and it can be a pain in the bum to try and unlock! My newer GPs doesn't have the problem..I think they both have the same firmware...? I'm not going to lock it anymore .

Ahhhhhhhh but if the pouch presses on the button it may lock itself! If you really don't want the lock function change the settings to waypoint instead, then put an "O" ring around the toggle to stop accidental activation. Then if you hit a rock in the water, by pressing the button you create a waypoint, so you can go straight back to it with a marker.

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bigbear said..

sailquik said..

bigbear said..
A couple of times after a session recently I havn't been able to turn my GT 31 off, as in no response from either button.
The only way I have been able to get it going again is to take the card out and then I loose the tracks.
Has anyone else had this problem and is there a way to fix it? Or do I just need to update to the new model.
Cheers!

You should not lose tracks if it won't turn off. If you have an SD card in it it will continue to make data until to goes flat. If you have a min speed set the internal memory will not overwrite if the GPS is stationary. Just leave it to go flat if all else fails. It may speed it up of you can turn the backlight on I guess but it could take a couple of days. When it turns off, 'save to card' and your session should be there.

But check what Hardie said first. That caught me out a few times. And when it recovers, update to the latest firmware ASAP. The problem virtually disappeared after the updates.

Does that mean I have to stay at the beach till the battery goes flat? I should easily be able to crack 40 knots on the way home in the car.

You wouldn't be the first

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decrepit said..
Andrew, if you remove the card while it's still being written to, there's a good chance the whole card will be corrupted, and all data on it lost.
If you have the lock/waypoint option set to lock, then as Hardie says press the toggle down for over 5seconds, and it will unlock.
If that doesn't work, you can either let the battery run flat, or open the back up and disconnect the battery.
Then take the card out, that way you'll retain your data.

OK. I had never done that. But the buffer memory will still be there. 'Save to card' should work.

Hi Bigbear
i often have this problem with my bgt31. I have found over time that it won't turn off if any of the numbers are moving on the screen. I usually let it sit in one place while I de rig. It then unlocks and turns off ok

OK thanks guys, I now know how to lock and unlock it, something I have never intentionally done before and maybe that is what happened while sailing but I am sure I tried every combination of button pushing last time it happened. I will also download the latest firmware and see how that goes.
Thanks again Cheers!