lots of electronic goods ship with cheap parts, like cheap switches. it's disappointing. most people probably wind up tossing out electronics that are in decent condition, except for simple problem like a faulty power switch. and on my trip to prague, my gps switch started to give out. was dead by the time i got home.
i like my etrex legend - despite it's problems: the antenna is not very good. it *is* smaller than most GPS units out there, but there's still quite a bit of air in that thing - it could be smaller. oh, it doesn't have bluetooth, that'd be nice. in fact, garmin isn't making ~any~ bluetooth models. (seems they are focused on the fish finder models!) plus, the joystick can easily misfire (getting knocked around) in your pocket. *but* it does have a screen, and can display simple maps, just fine for my needs. you can make custom maps for the display too, since folks have reverse engineered the data/interface format (get with the program garmin!). you can find some third party plug-in with limited support for mapping software (download tracks/routes/waypoints). and despite it's being larger than i would prefer, it's still one of the best units you can get to tote around at burningman. well, reception in the flat desert isn't a problem. with the long battery life (battery saver mode), it makes an excellent GPS for the playa. running at $150, it was worth trying to save.
instructions on how to take apart : once you remove the rubber outer ring (held in place by double sided sticky tape), you need to press on the unit to release plastic locking clamps that actually hold the unit together. there are no screws keeping the two halves of the unit together. watch out for the power lines that connect the two halves (from the battery leads to the main board). but, that's easily removed (there's small pin socket that it connects to on the main board). oh, i managed to tear the shielding around the processor looking for a better solder point. ~ that was a mistake, but oh well.
anyway, after taking the unit apart, i found contact points on the board, and was able to confirm the unit was fine, just the power switch was bad. so now i just needed to rewire the switch. i *had* planned on using two points on the board underneath the switch, but one of the points on the switch was easier to get to, so i used that.
so... i took a switch handy from of another device. drilled a hole. clamped the switch in place. soldered wires to the board. finally, glued the switch in pace using gorilla glue. that stuff is amazing. put the whole thing back together -- putting the rubber casing back in place. the sticky tape didn't make it. it's a little loose. used some super glue there, it's not a snug fit, but it'll do. i'm sure it's not water proof anymore, but that won't be a problem for me. then, i cut a small hole in the rubber casing around the new power switch. voila, good as new. well, pretty much anyway.
seems to work at the same level it did before, so no real reason to go back and replace the torn RF shielding. it's mostly in tact anyway, and would function fine left the way it is ~ so i'll leave it be.
there you go...<rant> wish the GPS manufacturers would stop focusing on 'fish finder' models. why can't they make a truly slim GPS, with mapping display and great reception?? throw in bluetooth for connectivity ~ of course. call me crazy. oh, yeah ~ and better switches to! ;) </rant> what's amazing is these things are actually pretty handy in everyday life, not just on the road or camping in the wilderness. but it'll be a while till people catch on.
