A nice feature that appeared in one of the software upgrades for the 176 is the ability to assign one of 16 different line styles to each of the 15 tracks saved. Makes viewing of tracks on screen much easier by distiguishing saved tracks from the active track...also you can toggle any or all saved tracks off so they don't appear on screen.

GPS screen capture of 2 of the 16 available
http://polar.polarcomm.com/~rspoonla/sled/track.jpg

Was this the November update?

Originally posted by JIM FRITCH@Jan 27 2004, 09:45 PM
Was this the November update?
Not sure what date the update was but the feature was added in version 3.10
Current version for the 176 is 3.80 and 3.70 for the 176c.
If you have installed the latest update (November 25) you have it as I believe the updates are cumulative.

For the 176c you can change to 1 of 16 different colors instead of line styles.

I just mounted my 176C to my sled and plan to use it for the first time (on the sled) in the UP this weekend. I upgraded to the latest code level, too. Where are the options for changing line colors? I mainly use the GPS for boating (route features), but I've never used the track feature. I need to learn that, as well.

Thanks for the update Ross. I wish I'd run into you on the trail, and you could teach me more about my 176C. You really got your stuff together, thanks for sharing with us!!

Kraemerf, do you have pics of your installation? I think you'll be quite happy with the 176C. Good luck

WoodyCam, no picts of the install yet. Just finished it the other night. I have the marine mount, so I drilled 3 holes on the dash of my Firecat and used an aluminum backing plate (on the underside of the dash) to support it. I mounted a small 12V battery to run the unit. I used a sealed 12V battery (electric trailer brake battery) and case and mounted it on the sled. If it all holds together this weekend, I'll take some picts. In the future, I hope to charge the battery via the sled, so I think I'll need to buy a rectifier. Not sure which one yet.

You are right, I am very happy with the 176C. I've had it for over 2 years on my boat and in the car. It's going to be pretty cold this weekend, so I wonder how it will react in the cold. I'm thinking of wiring up a grip warmer to it. I'll know more when I ride tomorrow.

Originally posted by kraemerf@Jan 28 2004, 09:27 AM
I just mounted my 176C to my sled and plan to use it for the first time (on the sled) in the UP this weekend. I upgraded to the latest code level, too. Where are the options for changing line colors? I mainly use the GPS for boating (route features), but I've never used the track feature. I need to learn that, as well.
go to your saved tracks
highlight a track
click Enter
edit the track style
also notice you can toggle if you want the track to show

Originally posted by kraemerf@Jan 28 2004, 12:17 PM
WoodyCam, no picts of the install yet. Just finished it the other night. I have the marine mount, so I drilled 3 holes on the dash of my Firecat and used an aluminum backing plate (on the underside of the dash) to support it. I mounted a small 12V battery to run the unit. I used a sealed 12V battery (electric trailer brake battery) and case and mounted it on the sled. If it all holds together this weekend, I'll take some picts. In the future, I hope to charge the battery via the sled, so I think I'll need to buy a rectifier. Not sure which one yet.

You are right, I am very happy with the 176C. I've had it for over 2 years on my boat and in the car. It's going to be pretty cold this weekend, so I wonder how it will react in the cold. I'm thinking of wiring up a grip warmer to it. I'll know more when I ride tomorrow.
Here's how I have my 176 mounted and heated...I have electric start so I run the gps off the sleds battery and run the grip heater off the sleds 12v ac accessory plug with a high/low/off switch. With the heater on the ac circuit I don't have to worry about turning the heater on and off.

176 mounted on Sabercat
http://polar.polarcomm.com/~rspoonla/sled/gps176.jpg

Heater epoxied to mount
http://polar.polarcomm.com/~rspoonla/sled/gpsheaterpanel.jpg

Originally posted by kraemerf@Jan 28 2004, 12:17 PM
WoodyCam, no picts of the install yet. Just finished it the other night. I have the marine mount, so I drilled 3 holes on the dash of my Firecat and used an aluminum backing plate (on the underside of the dash) to support it. I mounted a small 12V battery to run the unit. I used a sealed 12V battery (electric trailer brake battery) and case and mounted it on the sled. If it all holds together this weekend, I'll take some picts. In the future, I hope to charge the battery via the sled, so I think I'll need to buy a rectifier. Not sure which one yet.

You are right, I am very happy with the 176C. I've had it for over 2 years on my boat and in the car. It's going to be pretty cold this weekend, so I wonder how it will react in the cold. I'm thinking of wiring up a grip warmer to it. I'll know more when I ride tomorrow.
Ready made rectifier/voltage regulator (http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/elpages/voltregpwrsup.php)

Build your own rectifier/voltage regulator (http://www.numbskull.com/snowmo/gps/schematic.asp)

Thanks for the info and the picts, rws. How did you attach the grip heater to the marine mount (glue, epoxy)? Which accessory plug did you use? The one down by the servo motor? I have reverse, so my reverse speaker is hooked to that....but I don't really need it. Can I buy the rectifier Cat uses to charge your battey? I'm just not sure where I'm gonna hook up both the rectifier and the grip warmer with only one accessory plug. Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions.

Originally posted by kraemerf@Jan 28 2004, 01:50 PM
Thanks for the info and the picts, rws. How did you attach the grip heater to the marine mount (glue, epoxy)? Which accessory plug did you use? The one down by the servo motor? I have reverse, so my reverse speaker is hooked to that....but I don't really need it. Can I buy the rectifier Cat uses to charge your battey? I'm just not sure where I'm gonna hook up both the rectifier and the grip warmer with only one accessory plug. Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions.
I used J&B Weld epoxy.

I used the plug under the headlight for the gps heater and CHT gauge lights and used the plug by the servo to power a LED to light up my gas gauge and power my electric faceshield.

You could use any rectifier/regulator that is designed to convert ac voltage from the lighting coil to regulated 12v dc.

Get a 2 or 3 outlet adapter from Arctic Cat for multiple accessories. Plugs right into the 2 pole yellow/brown connector and splits it.
2 outlet part #1639-623
3 outlet part #1639-624

Originally posted by kraemerf@Jan 28 2004, 12:17 PM
I hope to charge the battery via the sled, so I think I'll need to buy a rectifier. Not sure which one yet.


You do not need to go through the hassle of charging the battery with your sled. Simply buy a $10-15.00 charger that you can plug into the wall of your cabin, room, etc, assuming you will be able to remove the battery from the sled easily. Was in the UP two weeks ago, and the sealed battery I use on my sled was good for at least 3 days of riding. Temps were around 0, and our days were about 13 hours long. My .02.

Jim

Jim, my sealed battery only lasted me 2 days. It is a few years old though, and not easily removable. At home or my cabin, I can use an external charger, but I go on 4 or 5 days saddle-bag trips, too, so I will need to charge it from the sled.

rws, thanks for the part numbers for the splitters. Gonna call my dealer right now. I did not know there was an outlet behind the speedo. Thanks.

I am very happy with the way the 176C worked out on the trail. We did some off-trail (non-groomed riding) that was quite bumpy. The unit held up very well.

I did some searching and am a little confused by what I found. I was hoping to buy a rectifier that I could plug into a cat accessory plug to charge the battery, but I could not find one. Any suggestions? I saw references to a Polaris rectifier, but there were 2 listed and I'm not sure which one to buy. No pictures either.