GPS Anit-Glare Coating

[Mike G.]

Does anyone have any ideas as to how to restore the anti-glare coating on my Garmin 182 GPS Screen?

I woke up one morning to a dew covered screen and gently wiped it off with a towel. As gentle as I was, it took off some of the coating and left a sploctchy screen.

I have contacted Garmin. They want my first born to restore it.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[Maine Sail]

Send

Send it in to Garmin for a new screen.. Unfortunately these anti-glare coatings are very sensitive and should not be cleaned with general purpose cleaners and salt spray should not be allowed to sit on them. They should also never be touched with your fingers because they likely have grease or other contaminates that can ruin the coating. Sunblock really does a number on them.

The only other option is to remove it entirely and deal with the glare. The newer units use a different & much more resilient method of anti-glare but the older ones have it as a coating on the screen..

Avoid use the use of cotton or paper towels to wipe these screens and insted use a lens cleaner cloth suitable for a camera or eye glasses or a clean microfiber rag. Microfibers pick up anything they come into contact with so the one for the screen should be stored in a clean ziplock bag so it can't become contaminated.

 

[Tim R.]

I second Maine Sail. Send it in. Their service has always been outstanding for me and many times have gotten free repairs/licenses out of warranty. Worst case is that they send you a refurbished unit and transfer your license. Although they have always preserved my waypoints and routes, you should back them up first.

 

[caguy]

They have an anti glare coating? You could have fooled me. I have the 188 and when it was rigidly mounted in the cockpit I couldn't see it in the sunlight. I remounted it just inside the companionway and now that I can ajust the angle it is easily readable.
I wonder if you could buy a sheet of antiglare plastic for it. I think 3M makes it for computer monitors.

 

[Mike G.]

Thanks for the advice

I think that I will first try a plastic overlay. It is still legible - just a bit difficult at certain sun angles. I don't remember exactly how much Garmin was going to charge, but seem to recall that it was about $200-300.

Eventually, I will replace it and put the current one in the nav station.

Mike

 

[sailingdog]

The other thing that you can do is put a hood over the screen. Get some thin black plastic and fold it into a glare hood, much like you'd find for a laptop LCD panel or digital camera LCD display. A piece 18" x 6" would probably do it quite nicely, and block most of the glare from the chartplotter screen. Have it cover the sides and top, like this:

source: www.apertureprofessional.com

 

[Dan]

I agree it is a bit pricey, but they're probably going to replace the screen or swap the unit out. I'm pretty sure they can't simply recoat the existing screen.

I must say, though, their customer service is quite good. My 3010c would develop a splotch of moisture in the center when it was particularly humid out. Garmin easily replaced it, with apologies and prompt service.