Can the magnet be removed from the Garmin GPS 10?

paladaxar · 03-01-06, 10:02 AM

I have the Garmin GPS 10D (bluetooth) and I am planning on using it to do some geocaching. While I'm not using it, I want to keep the GPS device in a back pack along with my PDA. My fear, though, is that the magnet inside the GPS unit (that is normally used to keep the unit stuck to the top of a car) will mess up my PDA.

I dont want to have to try to keep these two components away from eachother, so I was wondering if it is possible to remove the magnet. I dont see any screws on the device and I dont want to go prying the thing open if I'm going to ruin it.

Has anyone every tried this?

Any input would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
~Josh

Terryvi · 03-01-06, 10:50 AM

I'm pretty sure this is not something to worry about. The memory in your PDA is flash not magnetic media such as a floppy. The screen is LCD, not affected by magnetism like a CRT. There was another thread on the board where this was discussed, I think it had to do with a magnetic closure on a PDA case and the consensus was don't worry about it.

jimbo32 · 03-01-06, 11:06 AM

I don't think you can remove the magnet without some serious damage to your GPS receiver, but the good news is, like Terryvi said, the magnet is unlikely to affect anything near it, other than maybe a magnetic compass. So if you use a magnetic compass to find your way around when the trees block the GPS signal, make sure you keep your GPS10 far away, or you may really get lost.

jehowe · 03-01-06, 01:12 PM

just don't pack it next to your wallet unless you want to custom magnetize your ATM & CC's.

03-01-06, 04:39 PM

I have the 50v and GPS 10 I have plaed the GPS unit on op of the Axim, which is in a Sena case, and haven't had any probelms.

kryten007 · 03-01-06, 04:54 PM

Well, a magnet could damage it. A good rule of thumb on this is to look to see if the magnet in question is in any way connected to a nuclear reactor. If not, you'll most likely be ok. If so, the iron's probably been pulled out of your blood and your fillings are rocketing through the air--so a busted PDA probably isn't top of your "concerns" list.

Seriously though, the only cause for concern would be if you have a MicroDrive installed. Even then, you'd probably be OK.

Runes911 · 03-02-06, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by jehowe

just don't pack it next to your wallet unless you want to custom magnetize your ATM & CC's.

Watch mythbusters lately? The type of magnet needed to erase a CC is not easily found "in the wild."

kryten007 · 03-02-06, 12:52 PM

Here here, Runes! I thought the same thing, but forgot to mention it...