I always check W0RPK's GPS page for info: http://showcase.netins.net/web/wallio/GPSrcvrsvs60kft.htm
Copied from the page: On 23Aug08 a new *GPS18xLVC* froze altitude at 60kft. Garmin development staff found the software problem which is fixed in software V2.80 KØBR reports a successful flight using a Garmin GPS-18X V3.0 to 87lft on 04Apr09. Following information from W0JRT: There seems to be a lot of confusion about this. Hopefully this message will clear things up. The link that was posted (http://showcase.netins.net/web/wallio/GPSrcvrsvs60kft.htm) does not make it entirely clear as it mixes up the "GPS 18-LVC" and "GPS 18x-LVC", or at least lumps them together. Although they look similar physically they are two completely different models with completely different part numbers running completely different software (although most likely with a lot of shared source.) The GPS 18-LVC with the 5 meter cable is/was produced under two different part numbers: 010-00321-06 (non-RoHS) and 010-00321-56 (RoHS). They are functionally identical and run the same software. The only difference is that one was built with RoHS-compliant parts and RoHS-compliant processes. The GPS 18x-LVC with the 5 meter cable has the part number 010-00321-36. The latest software (006-B0273-00) for the GPS 18-LVC is v3.20 released in October of 2007. The latest software (006-B0796-00) for the GPS 18-LVC is v2.70 August of 2008. If you have a GPS 18-LVC there is no problem flying it on a balloon. If you have a GPS 18x-LVC it currently has a limit near 60k feet. Garmin says this was an oversight and they are working to fix this since it should meet the same limits at the GPS 18-LVC. -Jerome Garrett Sloan VE6RKY --- In [email protected], Jason KG4WSV <kg4...@...> wrote: > > At argentdata.com, Scott says: > > "Before using the GPS 18x at high altitudes (over 60,000') be sure to > check that it has the latest firmware installed. Early firmware > versions did not function properly at high altitudes." > > does anyone have any details on this problem? I'm about to put some > new ones in the air. > > -Jason > kg4wsv >
