Basecamp - getting started. Help required

[paul08]

Hi all. Having just bought a new LC with BMW nav IV, I have spent an evening registering, downloading updates etc etc. Anyway, I downloaded a DC labelled "City Navigator Europe NT" to my Apple Mac and it downloaded Basecamp to my computer. All well so far.

However, when I open Basecamp on my computer, I get a message that the City Navigaor Europe NT 2012.1 maps are locked and need to be unlocked.

The screen says that for Zumo owners (and my first big assumption is that this also applies to my BMW Nav IV) the maps are already unlocked and that before I begin using Basecamp I should connect the device, enter the device serial number and click 'retrieve Unlocks'
- So I do as it tells me

I choose my device (the Nav IV, not the SD card I have in it, which also shows as an option); I enter my Device Serial Number; but leave the window for "Product Key/Coupon Code" blank, if only because I can fine nothing in the box that remotely fits this description!

I then press "Retrieve Unlocks" and it is here that it all falls apart!! I just get an error message stating "Invalid combination of Unit ID and Serial No". BTW, the Unit ID came up automatically when I selected my device. I did not enter this number myself.

So my plea: what have I done wrong? Can anyone help me through the awful user interface/experience that Garmin inflict on us?

I must say that garmin really should look closely at what they push out to customers. As a first timer/numpty, what I am looking for is step by step instructions on what to do as soon as I open the box. What I get is a Manual that assumes everything is up and running; and nuerous assorted pices of paper (some of which you risk chucking out with the packaging) and various requests to register your product, download updates and nuerous seemingly unrelated pieces of garmin software: garmin Express, Garmin Lifetime Map Updater; and Garmin My destock. It has done my head in!!!!

 

[Bumpkin]

Assuming that you have set-up a myGarmin account check the details that you are using tally with what's recorded there.

 

[John Armstrong]

I suggest that you register here:

https://forums.garmin.com/forum.php

Personally I'd never buy a re-badged proprietary unit that then some third part messes about with, requires its own software, that may, or may not be shareable with the unmolested unit, but your money your choice.

 

[paul08]

I suggest that you register here:

https://forums.garmin.com/forum.php

Personally I'd never buy a re-badged proprietary unit that then some third part messes about with, requires its own software, that may, or may not be shareable with the unmolested unit, but your money your choice.

Thanks. really helpful. But then this is a site for tossers, so I should not have been surprised.

Re that last point though, I thought that the Navigator IV was manufactured by Garmin for BMW. Certainly there is as much if not more Garmin branding in the User Manual. Now who is responsible for the slight differences in integration to the bike, I am not sure. But, to my knowledge, the user interface is exactly the same and the software etc etc is exactly the same. i.e Garmin Express, Garmin Lifetime Map Updater, garmin My Dashboard, mygarmin account, City Navigator, Basecamp are all the same with no differences. But you may like to put me right on that too.

My problems lie, not with BMW, but with the Garmin side of the equation. Their user experience and ability to work 'out of the box', is appalling. I have never seen so many pieces of paper with seemingly unrelated instructions as to what to do.

 

[paul08]

Assuming that you have set-up a myGarmin account check the details that you are using tally with what's recorded there.

Well, that is one mystery solved!

The Garmin instructions (well actually, a scrappy piece of paper that is seemingly thrown into the box!) tell you to make a note of the device's seriall number which is under the battery, and to use that to carry out the map activation process in Base Camp. WRONG!

i noticed that, even though I had already registed my Nav IV and had an email to confirm it from Garmin, that the Nav IV was not showing up in Garmin Express. So I re-registered it. In doing so, I noticed that when I had the Nav IV connected to my computer to do this, that the serial number showing on the screen was differnt to the serial number under the battery!! So I used the one that Garmin express gave to validate the maps in BaseCamp and it worked immediately.

I have to say that I really do find Garmin's total lack of user-friendliness mystifying. It is clearly obvious to the guys at garmin who designed and wrote everything, but if you are not that computer literate and new(ish) to things Garmin, then the user interface side of things is complete and utter garbish! You take the thing out of the box and you want clear instructions, step by step, about what you should do to register, get updates etc etc. And instructions that acknowledge that some may or may not already have a Garmin Account

But what you actually get is a few random sheets of paper, instructions that do not make a great deal of sense; three seemingly unrelated pieces of software (Garmin Lifetime Map Updater, Garmin Express, BaseCamp) and a MyGarmin internet account. Indeed, the CD with the BaseCamp software on does even tell you that that is what is on it. It hides behind the City Navigator name!!!

I am not a complete numpty, but I still do not understand when I should use Garmin Express, when I should use the Lifetime Map Updater , and when I should use the MyGarmin Account/Dashboard thingy.

And then their Users Manual..... don't get me started on that. Crap! And BaseCamp, which does not seemingly have any useful instructions or tutorials!!!!!!

 

[Bumpkin]

I do sympathise with your Paul. As a long time Garmin user myself I've sort of developed an understanding of how it works though it does still defy logic at times.

Some proper step-by-step, for the layman, instructions in the box, or at the very least on the Garmin website would go a long way to making the Garmin experience a more palatable/less frustrating experience for new users.

Despite that, should you feel able to continue, the rewards of grasping an understanding will reap benefits in the long run. Fundamentally a good system but let down by either not doing any real world user acceptance testing or just plain ignoring any feedback from the same.

 

[paul08]

I do sympathise with your Paul. As a long time Garmin user myself I've sort of developed an understanding of how it works though it does still defy logic at times.

Some proper step-by-step, for the layman, instructions in the box, or at the very least on the Garmin website would go a long way to making the Garmin experience a more palatable/less frustrating experience for new users.

Despite that, should you feel able to continue, the rewards of grasping an understanding will reap benefits in the long run. Fundamentally a good system but let down by either not doing any real world user acceptance testing or just plain ignoring any feedback from the same.

Just done my first route, although I will admit it was all a bit hit and miss. But I got there in the end.

However, when I transferred my nice shiny new route from BaseCamp to my Nav IV it said something about having been creted on different maps and did I want the Nav IV to recalculate the route. What is all that about!!!!!! Should I have selected different maps in BaseCamp (rather than the City Navigator 2013 ones) when I created the route?

 

[Bumpkin]

However, when I transferred my nice shiny new route from BaseCamp to my Nav IV it said something about having been creted on different maps and did I want the Nav IV to recalculate the route. What is all that about!!!!!! Should I have selected different maps in BaseCamp (rather than the City Navigator 2013 ones) when I created the route?

If there's a mismatch between the mapping version on your GPS and that in Basecamp then yes, you will need to recalculate.

The mapping version in Basecamp can be seen in the drop down menu at the top of the screen.

Now on your GPS go to Tools > Settings > Map > Map Info

You should see something looking like the screen grab below:

You may have other items in there such as 3D data but CN Europe NT is what you're looking for. The version should match the version you're using in Basecamp.

You may need to update the mapping on either your PC or GPS.

 

[paul08]

Yes, I have 2013.41 on the Nav IV and it is only showing 2013.1 on Basecamp.

So the next stupid question is (and I am sure you saw this coming!): how do you update the maps in BaseCamp? The "Software Update" says that I am up to date, but I assume that refers to the actual BaseCamp software and not the maps.

Thanks for the advice so far though

 

[walrus]

When you update the map on your device you have to tick the option to update the computer as well as I recall. Otherwise it doesn't happen. Typical Garmin.

 

[paul08]

When you update the map on your device you have to tick the option to update the computer as well as I recall. Otherwise it doesn't happen. Typical Garmin.

Yes, I just checked. I only have the option of CN 2013.4 in Basecamp if I have my Nav IV connected. With it disconnected, the best I am offered in Basecamp is 2013.1.

So I clearly did not put a tick in the right box when updating my Nav IV. Can this be rectified easily or is it just easier if I always plug my Nav IV in when I am using BC (although that does seem like admitting defeat!)?

 

[Tim Cullis]

I'm really enjoying the thread so far. Paul seems to have the measure of Garmin, a company I once admired.

I can't wait until Paul tries to use Basecamp for serious tracklog storage and route planning.

I've tried many times (without success) to like Basecamp but until Garmin gets around to putting in support for UK postcodes I'm not going to bother again. In the meantime I use Mapsource on the Mac—running under Windows XP Pro in a Parallels Desktop virtual machine.

Garmin's lack of investment in software makes the company extremely vulnerable to competitors like TomTom or even new kids on the block like iPhone apps such as MotionX-GPS, TopoProfiler, etc.

 

[Bumpkin]

I'm not quite sure how map updating works for the BMW units. However, as your GPS is up to date I suggest that you do as us regular Zumo owners do and run MapUpdater. Once you've gone though the validation process with your GPS plugged in you'll come to a screen with a install options button at bottom left. You need to click this and select PC only before proceeding. In fact, given that your NavIV hasn't got the internal space for all of Europe you'll probably get this screen automatically.

What you don't want to do is run though the Map Update process just clicking OK to every screen in succession. Doing this will just replace the mapping on you GPS and will ignore the install to your PC entirely.

This is what Garmin Express tends to do. Some people report that an 'install to alternate location' menu is available, others say they never saw it...

You can do route planing in Basecamp using the mapping on your GPS, it has to be plugged in and you need to wait for Basecamp to recognise the mapping. Some users report that this doesn't work when they've installed the mapping onto an SD card (to get all of Europe), works for me... Not ideal but it does work.

 

[Bumpkin]

I've tried many times (without success) to like Basecamp but until Garmin gets around to putting in support for UK postcodes I'm not going to bother again. In the meantime I use Mapsource on the Mac—running under Windows XP Pro in a Parallels Desktop virtual machine.

Invest some time getting to grips with Basecamp rather than being a Luddite Yes, it's an enforced change... I resisted for the first year having tried one of the first versions available for PC and scurried back to Mapsource. Yes, UK postcode searching isn't included yet (v. 4.2 apparently) and the search function isn't great. It's not much cop, with the exception of UK postcode search, in Mapsource either.

I revisited Basecamp at a later date and spent a couple of hours working with it. I prefer it to Mapsource now, still have the latter installed but can't recall the last time I used it.

Garmin's lack of investment in software makes the company extremely vulnerable to competitors like TomTom or even new kids on the block like iPhone apps such as MotionX-GPS, TopoProfiler, etc.

TomTom have invested nothing in software development... nothing of any use anyway. TTHome was a passing effort/waste of time. They had to rely on the likes of TYRE and ITN Converter, developed by independent enthusiasts. These don't use the TomTom mapping data instead relying on Google Maps API to function and calculate routes using an entirely different routing algorithm. Added to which you need a decent data connection to use them, not much use in a camp-site in the back of beyond.

Sure, you can use an iPhone with a sat nav app, then you have to mount it, make sure it's waterproof and powered. What happens when you get a call approaching a complex and unfamiliar junction... Does it do full on routing and have the capability to plot the route on your computer using the same mapping data... I don't think so... that's unless you use the Garmin app All a bit too much of a compromise for me.

 

[paul08]

I'm not quite sure how map updating works for the BMW units. However, as your GPS is up to date I suggest that you do as us regular Zumo owners do and run MapUpdater. Once you've gone though the validation process with your GPS plugged in you'll come to a screen with a install options button at bottom left. You need to click this and select PC only before proceeding. In fact, given that your NavIV hasn't got the internal space for all of Europe you'll probably get this screen automatically.

What you don't want to do is run though the Map Update process just clicking OK to every screen in succession. Doing this will just replace the mapping on you GPS and will ignore the install to your PC entirely.

This is what Garmin Express tends to do. Some people report that an 'install to alternate location' menu is available, others say they never saw it...

You can do route planing in Basecamp using the mapping on your GPS, it has to be plugged in and you need to wait for Basecamp to recognise the mapping. Some users report that this doesn't work when they've installed the mapping onto an SD card (to get all of Europe), works for me... Not ideal but it does work.

Bumpkin, your "Mapupdater" link was an 'exe' file for a PC, and I am on an Apple Mac. Anyway, I assumed that I should run Garmin Lifetime Map Updater (which is on my computer, along with Garmin Express).
First off, even though my nav IV has definately got CN 2013-41 on it (loaded via Garmin Express some time ago), Map Updater was stating that I only had a later version on and that I should update.

Anyway, as you recommended (and because 2013.41 was already on my Nav IV) I went into Preferences and clicked the option to only download to my Mac. Went through the whole rigmorole and the net result is that I still do not have 2013.41 on my computer for Basecamp!!!

Do Garmin's various bits of software (Garmin Express and Garmin Lifetime Map Updater) not talk to one another? And, why does Map Updater seem to think that I have an older version of the maps on the Nav IV than it does, even though the Nav IV is connected to the computer and to the Map Updater software (I presume).

Garmin are really beginning to bug me!!!

 

[paul08]

Next chapter of my saga!!!!!!!

I have a Nuvi 3490 for the car, also with CN 2013.41 maps installed, although (again) Map Updater was telling me that I only had 2013.40 installed!!!! Anyway, I repeated the above, again ticking the box to only download to my computer. 15 minutes later, the download has finished. I fire up Basecamp and low and behold Europe NT 2013.4 maos are there. I assume that that is now compatible with the 2013.41 maps on my Nav IV?

BTW, in the drop down box in BaseCamp it lists two versions of the 2013.4 mapping:
CN Europe NT 2013.4
and
CN Europe NTU 2013.4

What is the difference? And am I correct in assuming that I should select the CN Europe NT 2013.4 option?

 

[Bumpkin]

BMW Nav IV and a Mac... you really starting to drift away from my comfort zone here

There have been plenty of issues reported with Garmin Express, and Lifetime Updater before it, though having steered clear of both myself I have no direct experience.

City Nav 2013.41 is as current as you can get as you know so I don't know why it's reporting that you need to update the GPS.

Have you tried running Garmin Express again? Not sure from what you've said if you've just run Lifetime Updater or GE. Some have reported an option within GE to install to your computer, install to GPS only is always the default. Scrutinise each option screen as you step though the process.

Sorry I can't be more help. Have you tried Zumo Forums? If all else fails I suggest that you call Garmin support.

 

[Bumpkin]

Next chapter of my saga!!!!!!!

I have a Nuvi 3490 for the car, also with CN 2013.41 maps installed, although (again) Map Updater was telling me that I only had 2013.40 installed!!!! Anyway, I repeated the above, again ticking the box to only download to my computer. 15 minutes later, the download has finished. I fire up Basecamp and low and behold Europe NT 2013.4 maos are there. I assume that that is now compatible with the 2013.41 maps on my Nav IV?

BTW, in the drop down box in BaseCamp it lists two versions of the 2013.4 mapping:
CN Europe NT 2013.4
and
CN Europe NTU 2013.4

What is the difference? And am I correct in assuming that I should select the CN Europe NT 2013.4 option?

OK, that's something of a result

Odd that Basecamp is reporting 2013.4 not 2013.41. Not sure what the PC version of Basecamp does in this respect as I have updated mine from 2013.40 to 2013.41 yet.

Try creating a route and sending it across to the GPS and see if you get the different mapping versions message again. I find that the Zumo will usually recalculate my routes anyway but I think that's down to me saving them as GPX files on the internal memory and then importing them. I don't get the mapping version mismatch message though.

Reporting two listings of the same version might be down to having one of the GPS units plugged in, if that's the case unplug it and see what happens. I get this in Basecamp for PC with my Zumo or Nuvi plugged in.

 

[Bumpkin]

A day or two to late but one of the guys on Zumo Forums just posted a link to a video he created that might be of some guidance.

 

[paul08]

A day or two to late but one of the guys on Zumo Forums just posted a link to a video he created that might be of some guidance.

Many thanks.