If you want to charge using a regular USB cable on some of the Roadmate series you can disable USB detection using a hidden menu.

Go to Menu>Settings>System  at the top is a bar that says 'System Settings' click on the top left twice, top right twice, top left once, top right once to get into the hidden menu.

There are a few options like resetting the GPS for first use, bur for charging from computer or a standard USB charger, choose next and disable USB Detection.  Have Fun

I have been wondering why no other charger works with a Magellan Maestro 3250 and other models.  If you are not using the 'Magellan' charger, it shows that it's connected to the computer with a message: USB Connected - The USB has been connected to the unit. Please follow instructions from PC application for updating maps or software. This is great when actually connected to a computer as it allows you to get rid of the junk navigation software that the unit came with. But when you are trying to USE the unit for navigation this screen blocks the navigation.  As an added hassle, the unit reboots as soon as it is disconnected from USB mode.  The method that they use to determine if a charger or a standard USB mini-B cable is used all resides in the miniUSB connector.  The difference is in the type of miniUSB connector, specifically pin 4, type A=connected to ground, type B=not connected to ground.

• Connect to computer = Standard mini-B connector


• Charge = Next to impossible to find mini-A connector

* NOTE: If you get the USB Connected message while using a Magellan charger, the connector/cable is dirty, warn, or broken.

Repair and Workaround Options:

1. Use a Magellan charger(clean the contacts or replace connector if necessary).


2. Open the unit and solder USB pins 4 and 5 together or even better, add a switch.


3. Modify a mini-B connector by soldering pins 4 and 5 together.

I have already had some people question me as to what I wanted for my birthday.  Well here it is, I want you to donate to Nothing But Nets.  And to make this extra special for my b-day month, I will be matching all donations this month up to my goal.

I will keep this list of the Leapfrog Tag books that William already has up to date, no really, I will.

1. 20541 The Cat in the Hat


2. 30675 Tractor Tipping


3. 39025 Pirates: The Treasure of Turtle Island


4. 21170 Madagascar Escape 2 Africa: Air Penguin


5. 20193 Handy Manny's Motorcycle Adventure


6. 21178 Kai-lan's Super Sleepover


7. 30674 Spongebob Squarepants The Tour de Bikini Bottom


8. 21123 Toy Story 3 Together Again


9. 20192 Bakugan Finding Drago

You get 2GB free to start out on Dropbox which lets you sync, share, backup your files online.  If you use this link, you and I get an extra 250MB of free storage at Dropbox.com

This has always been my advice, wait for an Android based phone, there are a ton out there already.  This advice now comes even from Steve Jobs himself which makes me laugh. http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/04/steve-jobs-porn

So I guess android really does do everything, including porn, YAY.

I though that it was awesome, I just hope that Andy happened to be there in Charlotte watching.   Anyway, there is this guy on youtube named Merton that does piano improv on Chatroulette.  Well Ben Folds did the same thing during a live show and it is posted on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgTKY0rbemQ  and part 2 at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzakCwZUYHg  You have to watch it, well worth it and is a good laugh, also give Chatroulette a try while you are at it.

Ben Folds always reminds me of the person who got me listening to Ben Folds Five back in the day when I was young and dumb, and did some stupid shit that I regret and could have ended badly, eh whatever I hope all is well Andy and Julia!

I am a very proud dad every day, but even more so now that my son passed the swimming test yesterday.  So now he can swim by himself, and go in the deep end of the pool.  This makes him very happy as well, but he still can't go on the big water slide they have because of an age restriction, but he has the swimming part down pat.  Next goal is to get rid of the training wheels on his bike, well I'm going to wait a little while for that, maybe in a few months :)

Hope you had a good time, we enjoyed having you here!  Sorry about, well you know.  Have a safe trip back to Detroit.  I will never forget your 'parting gift' :)

I think it has been long enough after William's b-day to do a happy birthday post and show the gifts that everyone got William.  Though the last time when I posted what Meshelle got William for xmas she felt compelled to comment about about it.  So if I put a blank picture here to show what she got him for his b-day would she be just as pissed?  I don't know, maybe I should wait another month or so, what does everyone think?

I have received my household goods(HHG) that my wife Meshelle sent.  The funny thing is that it is almost exactly a year from when we left Germany.  The last time we moved I believe we had about 10 crates and still had to make a few trips with my truck to get everything moved.  It is like a box of chocolates when your ex gets to choose what to send to you(my son and I), you never know what you are going to get.  In this case I got barely over 2 crates.

Though I have a feeling that her new boyfriend (W is it?) is enjoying my king sized bed that didn't make it, and my other stuff as well.  Ok, might not enjoy what happens or doesn't happen in it, but at least it's a comfortable bed.  I mean it would have been nice to at least send William's stuff.  Oh well, it's a new beginning, and that is a good thing and we have everything that we need.

Edit: There is a lot of stuff missing, but hey, maybe one day I will do a photo comparison :)

I just wanted to say thank you to my neighbor for storing our(my son and I) 2.3 crates of HHGs shipped from Germany.  Just proves that there are some great people out there willing to help you out.

Thanks man, I sure do appreciate the kindness that some people would only expect from family.

A while back a close relative of mine wrecked their vehicle.  As a member of AAA, they called AAA to get the car towed home.  The tow truck from Weavers Auto Body shop in Reading, PA arrived on the scene.  First they asked if the car was insured, of course the reply was 'yes', then the tow truck driver stated that the towing fee would have to be paid up front by them and then reimbursed from the insurance company.  The owner replied correctly that AAA was the one that contacted them, and that AAA is responsible for paying towing costs, not the owner of the vehicle.  So the driver states that the owner has to pay $50 for refusing the tow, he even gets on the radio to one of the shop owners and confirms what the driver has said.  I can only assume that they get reimbursed more money from the insurance company than from AAA, so they were trying to make more money then the AAA allowance, which I believe to be fraud(maybe there is a better word).  Either that or they were trying to get reimbursed from the insurance company and from AAA at the same time, double dipping the system, again looks like fraud to me.

What I believe to be fraud attempted by Weavers Auto Body of Reading, PA really pisses me off as a lot of people would have taken their word for it, paid up front, and then proceed to get reimbursed from the insurance company without even thinking twice about it.  If this happens to you, please call AAA and your insurance fraud line to let them know what happened.  Hopefully any fraudulent and or abusive companies can be cut from the AAA referral program and perhaps even have fraud charges pressed.  When you call AAA to get your vehicle towed, AAA pays them directly, do NOT pay out of your pocket.

How bad can it be for a country to ask it's citizens to STOP USING INTERNET EXPLORER?  How about when multiple countries do so?  Must be pretty freaking bad, but those in the know have known this for a long time now.  I always use Firefox with the adblock and noscript extensions, here are links to Firefox Web Browser and Google Chrome Web Browser.