Garmin GPS 12CX handheld GPS navigator (1999)

[@cleading9967]

I purchased the 12CX brand new from Garmin in 1999 and enjoyed many days in the field with it. I loved it, and it took me to places I would never have ventured otherwise even as a lover of the great outdoors. I stumbled upon your video, found, & unwrapped my 12CX which I hadn’t used in 8 years! It is still in pristine condition, because I was almost anal in handling it whether on foot or mounted to my 4 wheeler. I Turned it on and as anticipated received the “memory battery low” message “all waypoints deleted”. I replaced old batteries(still in unit!) with a fresh set, and set the unit aside for 24 hours. I avidly watched your video on how to replace the memory battery, anticipating I would have to do this. Next day I turned on the unit, and miraculously it is working flawlessly, no messages, and is storing waypoints. Boy, memories of hunting, fishing, and hiking trips from years ago flooded my mind as I hold this little but powerful unit in my hand once again! I am taking it back into the field today just to dust off some memories and mark some new ones. Should I have a need to replace the memory battery in the future, I am well prepared on how to do it. Thank you for your videos on this remarkable and now rare GPS by Garmin.

[@themaritimegirl]

You're welcome, and thank YOU for sharing your excellent memories of this GPS!

[@Jano1998]

I got myself a GPS 12 the normal one and it looks completely new. I am so happy.

[@TheMajorN]

Dude thank you xD. I found one of these in my laundry room and it's been in there for years and I had no idea how to replace the batteries

[@CottonBoxer]

rofl, i just turned the ring thinking the batteries must be there. i guess ur a slow poke lol. gazing at too man y stars i guess.

[@TheMajorN]

Ya'know, I had no idea for 7 months that my phone somehow autocorrected "laundry" to "stargaze." Thank you for reviving this lost moment in history so I can correct my mistake.

[@kayalscientist2202]

Contacte me

[@Sertao2013]

keeping battery in it doesn't help to keep memory battery charged . The memory battery only charges when the unit is on . Just being plugged in or having battery's in doesn't do anything . I took my gps 12 apart and put the tester to it . If you plug in the unit and don't turn it on ,connect the tester to the memory battery . You will see that the battery will show its voltage . When you turn the unit on you will see the battery is getting 3.01 or 3.03 volts and is now charging the battery . Its the same with just battery's in it . So this shows that the only way to keep the memory battery charged is to turn it on and leave it on every now and then for at least a few hours a month . My memory was to low to keep memory so I took it apart to see what the battery voltage was it was 2.60 I plugged it in and keep it on so it would start charging . I keep testing the charge and adding a waypoint and disconnect the power to see if the waypoint was saved . It didn't save the the waypoint until the battery got up to 2.80 . I keep the unit on full time for 3 weeks before the battery got back up to 3 volts . So if your memory has stopped working don't take it apart just plug it in and turn it on and leave it on for at least 3 weeks to get the battery back up to 3 volts . Its a really slow charge so it may take longer to get the battery back to 3 volts . The man over board is a great" Where is my car parked". I find I use it to find my car more than a man over board .

[@muzza566]

Funny I just found you on KZbin but I’m laughing because I’ve got the very model it turns on great no memory battery alarm, I also just brought a Garmin 66i ,$ 729 Australian

[@tonypino2858]

Deze GPS heb ik nog gehad voor de BOOT

[@RussHeim]

Can you make a video for the Garmin GPS 38? Would love to learn how to work it... :)

[@FrackFreeNL]

I have a Garmin GPS 12 and it has worked great for years backpacking in the NL outback. However, recently the compass bearing given on the GOTO is off by 30 degrees. A 45 deg. bearing that is given on the GOTO function is actually a grid bearing of 15 deg, on my Ranger compass (declination is adjusted on my Ranger compass). That said, the distance to the waypoint is accurate. Any ideas why the bearing is off??

[@MrBakkify]

i have a garmin 38 which is older yet i remember using it in 1998 i bought it at walmart i believe in 1997 on sale for 50.00

[@W4EMB]

Watt Junction is North of your house about 22 to 23 km away. Just South of Lawrence Station, on rte 127. (you mentioned it around 35:20 or so.

[@Survivalowy]

Thank you, very good video, I'm watching to the end. Now I'm waiting for the same model :) Regards

[@brucelonsdale8422]

I have an old GPS 12, internal battery was flat dealer told me its stuffed, so I bought a new unit, 20 years later saw KZbin movie on replacing internal battery, too easy now its working again.

[@sdavis4357]

I have a GPS12XL inherited from my father-in-law. While he ad a VHS user manual, alas, who has a VHS player these days. Your 12CX video feature review was helpful in shortening my understanding of my 12XL's features (as they are quite similar. While my back-up battery is currently working, I suspect it too will evetually go DOA. Did you ever replace the back-up battery in your 12CX? If so, do you have a video of that process or have any words of wisdom about the process?

[@themaritimegirl]

Thanks for your comment! Since this video the GPS has pretty much sat dormant. The backup battery deteriorated so much that the GPS actually no longer works correctly - it always thinks that the main batteries are dead, and when you plug it into a 12V power source, the diagnostic display reads the source as being only 6V or so. I have bought a new backup battery for it. I bought the wrong type, but I should be able to rig it to the old battery's contacts just fine. Once I buy a suitable silicone sealant to re-seal the case of the GPS, and once I have the time, I will replace the battery and make a video doing so.

[@denelson83]

It is actually not possible to get a 3D fix on a GPS receiver. If you have locked onto three satellites, it gives you a 2D fix, but if you lock onto four or more satellites, your fix is actually _4D,_ because you are getting the precise _time of day_ as well as your latitude, longitude and elevation.

[@RogerSayers]

I just got the GPS 38 model and since I'm new to this it's driving me just a bit crazy... I can't figure out how to set the time. Can anyone tell me how that is done?

[@SynMonger]

You're not kidding about the CX being rare. Any reason the GPS 12 series in general is still so high? I recently scored a Magellan gps 4000 for $5 and it's functionally almost identical to a GPS 12.

[@themaritimegirl]

I really have no clue. My best guess is because you can't really buy a true basic GPS navigator anymore - one without internet connectivity and multimedia capability and such. These old GPS navigators fill that void, and Garmin is arguably the best of the bunch.

[@mntrken2001ify]

@3:15 I called that one the lemon trex, it was not very good for geocaching... The 12 is superior.

[@foxman362]

you can probably solder a battery connector inside in memory bank.

[@burntoutelectronics]

I have both the CX and the XL in my collection

[@richardrothman4417]

To complete the whole collection, why don't you buy my 12? used only 1 or 2 times. In original box with manual and video. Rich 631-804-6278

[@burntoutelectronics]

Richard Rothman for how much? Mind you I’m also in Australia

[@richardrothman4417]

@@burntoutelectronics Make me an offer I can't refuse. It's in brand new cond.,no scratches or signs of wear. It comes with a case, manual and instructional video in the original box. If we make a deal, I'll go to the Post Office and find out what the shipping cost will be. Thanx

[@paullovell5789]

My 12 won't turn on anymore. ...I have new bats. Anyone have any ideas. ???

[@ThePennyPickerJerichoJoe]

Do you know where I can get a cable for a GPS 12?

[@themaritimegirl]

+Joe Cross They're on eBay, Amazon, and other random online retailers I found through Google.

[@nathan8578]

How much do they go for now in price?

[@themaritimegirl]

nathan thomson Recent ones on eBay have sold for $20 in non-working condition and $45 in rough, but working condition. Good condition working ones have sold for as little as $55 and as much as $130. Ironically, the $55 one was in the box, never used, and the $130 one had only the case. It seems to be quite easy to find a good unit for a reasonable price, right now.

[@jackriley7967]

How do you change the date on this unit. It still shows 1996.

[@themaritimegirl]

Take it outside and let it get a position fix. It gets the date and time from the GPS satellites.

[@jackriley7967]

+themaritimeman I did that ran down a set of batteries doing that I thought I wasn't doing something wrong . Thanks for your help

[@austinstar1100]

Your definitely a cheapo if 67.00 is the most you have ever spent on yourself lol

[@themaritimegirl]

I did not say that it was. But go on.

[@cintiasouza8254]

@@themaritimegirl você tem esse GPS pra vender ?