Calling computer experts & boffins

[Bert]

Problem - g armin's proprietary chips (512MB) cost £143 each
whereas a 2GB SanDisk micro SD card costs around £20

Please see below pictures
One is the inside of the garmin chip
SAMSUNG 643 K9F4G08U0A PCB0
U6Il23PX

the other picture is the inside of a 60CSX which takes the micro SD card

Does anyone know of the existence (or could make !) an adapter just like the one inside the 60CSX but one which would fit inside the garmin shell and take a Micro SD card?

I can't say I'm very happy at the massive price difference -
To put Europe V9 mapping would take up to 3GB or in Micro SD card terms less than £40
But in g armin's bespoke cards , you'd need 5 of them at....£715...
so I am curious to see if this can be done.
Any ideas anyone?

 

[Bert]

hellooooo

bump -e ty - bump no one? no soldering wizards on here?

 

[SilverFish]

In theory, all you'd have to do is match up the external connectors on the LH edge of the Garmin assembly so that they match the ones on the SD card.

Its waaay beyond my soldering skills - Id think you'll need someone who is used to working with digital microelectronics at the component level, and has the hands of a neuro surgeon!

If you do manage to get it all married up, the next problem I can think of is that the two memory IC's may well be incompatible in terms of performance and timing.

It might be a good starting point to get hold of a multi format card reader and pulling it apart to see if it can give you a few pointers...

Good luck and have fun!

Mike

 

[judge]

As something of a professional computer person I offer the following expert advice...














Sounds to me like you bought the wrong GPS Bert

 

[Bert]

wrong gps?

oh noooooooooo sireee
the 276 C is excellent and, IMHO, the best. The only downside is the need for bespoke garmin memory cards (well, a plastic box containing a samsung chip...) which I think are ridiculously expensive when compared to micro SD's and the like - but hey ho - can't have it all!
It was just an idea but one I think I'll shelve!

 

[EPP]

Never give up

Great idea

Which I thought was worth of a bit of research, not wanting to re invent the wheel as it were.

Seems like this guy is already working on this and getting results with smartmedia cards and his future plans are to get a micro xd card working in the garmin case, so It might be worth keeping an eye out to see if he achives any results worthy of publishing.

check this out.

http://www.lbodnar.dsl.pipex.com/garmin-datacard-DIY.html

 

[Bert]

mmm

email sent

 

[Greg Masters]

The 276 C is excellent and, IMHO, the best. The only downside is ....

.... a big one!

Buy a StreetPilot 2xxx (and not one that uses a microdrive either!)

Greg

 

[Bert]

.... a big one!

Buy a StreetPilot 2xxx (and not one that uses a microdrive either!)

Greg

Too late to change Greg! but I have found the 512MB cartridges at £72 on web- still silly money but a step in the right direction