Buying a US base map 2610

[mrTickle]

I'm about to buy a new 2610 Streetpilot and about 90% decided on getting the U.S basemap version. I'm planning to get a U.S 2610 Streetpilot, a European City Navigator CD and 2 x 1Gb Compact Flash cards. I can get all of the above for more or less the same price as a standard 2610 in rip-off Britain.

The only downside to me getting the US unit, is that the auto-routing function won't work unless European City Navigator has been pre-loaded into the GPS's memory. I already have the Worldmap CD, so this should give me basic non routable maps. If I load the European City Navigator, I should in theory be able to use the 2610's auto-route function anywhere in Europe.

My query is, because the 2610 is limited to 1200 map sets, will I be OK to use it in Europe without it becoming a PIA? I know that the world map is 1846 maps, France has 425 map sets, but don't know how many map sets other European countries have. My theory is to try and put half of Europe on 1 card and the rest of it on the other. Most of my riding is going to be done in the UK anyway, so as long as the UK has less than 1200 map sets, I should be OK.

Is my thinking correct, or should I get the Atlantic 2610?

 

[MikeO]

Mr Tickle,

Just checked on my V5.0 - there are a total of 649 (9801.1Mb) maps in the European City Navigator Version 5. Out of interest, there are 534 maps in North American City Navigator V4.01 (1389.2Mb).

HTH

Mike

 

[judge]

You've tried one of these out then in the flesh?

I'd be quite concerned about Greg's observations, and the seemingly awkward need to rely on the remote or touch screen for the main functionality.



Also are you calculating in import duty on a £1K purchase or do you have a contact?

 

[MiGSel]

You should be alright as long as you stay on the European maps that CityNavigator has.

But they do not cover all of Europe, mind you! I've been in Norway in June, and Norway is not covered. I used my basemap there (SPIII), and it was quite usable. Not with great detail of course, and sometimes I appeared to be riding IN a fjord, but all in all it was acceptable.

With that limitation, I suppose a US version is OK. Whether the 2610 is suitable for bike use, I don't know. Never seen one up close.

Keep us posted!

 

[mrTickle]

MikeO:- is that over 9Gb of European maps? I think I'd better get a 2Gb Flash card! I thought there'd be far more than 649 maps for Europe, so thanks for that info. I've just seen a 4Gb Flash card - for $ 1 500.00! ( although I don't think Garmin have certified 4 Gb cards yet ).

judge:- I have a contact in the U.S and a Forum member who can pick it up for me. It is a gift to me and thus VAT & Tax free... . I plan to velcro a pointer to the side of it.

MiGsel:- I understand that the Worldmap CD is the exact basemap that the Streetpilot uses. If I download the Europe, Africa & Asia maps into it, I should end up with the same basemap as the Atlantic unit. I'm not too worried about the auto-routing feature in Norway, as there are so few roads there. I'm off to the Nordkap in June 04.