Garmin...great customer service!

stevej37 · 08-10-2022, 07:53 AM

I've had my Garmin Varia Radar for a year and a half now. When I bought it, I never registered it online.
Saturday, I went to unplug it from the wall charger for a ride and the mini-usb connection wouldn't release?? I had to use a pliers to hold the wire and it took almost all my strength to break the connection. Looking at the port...I could see melted plastic around it and it had welded the plug in place. The unit still worked...but I would not be able to charge it again.

Called Garmin, lady says pack it up, ups it to us and send an email with the tracking number. I did that and within a couple hours I received a tracking number for a brand new unit.
It arrived today....I think it was excellent service, esp seeing I hadn't registered it.

I rode two days without it....I really feel more comfortable with it.

stevej37 · 08-10-2022, 10:52 AM

I wonder how many other companies would mail out a $250 replacement before receiving the broken unit?
Most places don't care if it takes a week or more.

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

Yea, they are a good company. We have a subscription from them for our Cessna 182T. We have the G-1000 glass panel instruments. It has all the sectionals and will even display color radar from a XM subscription.

stevej37 · 11:01 AM

^^^ I'm sure I could add a zero or two to the cost of mine to equal those!

But...will they tell you if another plane is ready to nail you from the rear??

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevej37

^^^ I'm sure I could add a zero or two to the cost of mine to equal those!

But...will they tell you if another plane is ready to nail you from the rear??

We do have full ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) and that shows us every airplane in the sky and how far away they are. We can ignore the commercial aircraft at 30,000 feet. It is real nice to know who and what is in our area, and how close they are.

So, yea, it would let us know if an airplane or any aircraft is behind us.

That is all assuming the other aircraft has ADS-B. It is 100% legal for a private aircraft to take off and go fly and never turn the radio on. They do have to stay out of class B airspace, or they are supposed to. Some aircraft have the receivers, but don't transmit their location.

stevej37 · 08-10-2022, 11:46 AM

I figured there was something like that...has to be.

The only thing the bike Varia does is watch and alert of any cars from the rear. It will track distance and speed of up to three cars at a time. If there are more...they show up when the lead car passes.

The handlebar unit displays all the info.

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

Yea, there will never be something coming down from above or up from below for you. It also is the full sectional information, always updated. We take on a bit more fuel at fuel stops as well.

stevej37 · 08-10-2022, 12:33 PM

Just spent an hour trying to pair the new Garmin radar tail light with the handlebar unit.
It didn't want to recognize it...had to call in. Seems once it's paired with the old one, there are a couple more steps to take to unpair and then the rest was easy. It's done and works fine.