Euro Nav2 (2610) in USA

[andysdad]

Please can anyone advise me on how to load USA on a UK Nav2 (2610)?

I am travelling to the US in a group of 4 - one of whom has the above.

He says (to me, who knows nothing of Garmin because I'm a TomTom man):-

"am still not convinced that my BMW Navigator 2 european base map model will support the mapsource city navigator northen america software.There is a base map in my gps of the USA but it appears not to have any roads just cites marked as a dot unlike the european base map which does allowing basic navigation if the over lay mapsource street level is not downloaded. I have e-mailed Garmin as they do state the base maps in the BMW navigator version of the garmin 2610 model are not removable. I don't want to spend a fortune on the american mapsource street level software if it will not overlay onto my gps"

Does this makes sense (e.g. "can't change base maps") and can someone offer a solution?

Many thanks in advance

A

 

[John Armstrong]

I've done it the opposite way. US 2610, loaded CN EU and World Map with no problems.

I've also loaded a Nav2 with US Metroguide via img2gps and this gives full on gps autorouting. Loading the Metroguide via mapsource only allows autorouting on the PC and not the GPS IYSWIM.

Neither operation compromised the base map. World Map gives a similar view to the base map. The base map AFAIK cannot be removed by "normal" to you / me means, though someone somewhere will have.

 

[ampthill]

"am still not convinced that my BMW Navigator 2 european base map model will support the mapsource city navigator northen america software.There is a base map in my gps of the USA but it appears not to have any roads just cites marked as a dot unlike the european base map which does allowing basic navigation if the over lay mapsource street level is not downloaded.

Does this makes sense (e.g. "can't change base maps") and can someone offer a solution?

Many thanks in advance

A

Well I can answer half your question so suppose that must be a start. The fact that the base map is European is of absolutley no consequence. The base map is only used where you do not have any additional mapping - such as City Navigator. So if you were to install the North Am map set from CN then this what is used for all routing etc. - not the base map.

However this may all be rather academic as how you can get hold of the CN American map set at a reasonable cost is another issue which I'm not so sure is easily resolved. My understanding is that to buy the America mapset as a standalone product is probably not much different than buying a new unit in America itself with it already installed. I'm sure someone will be along to offer helpful suggestions....

Peter

 

[Howard Millichap]

Please can anyone advise me on how to load USA on a UK Nav2 (2610)?A

As far as I'm aware (if it's the same system as my SP3) you can just load up one of your CF cards with the USA mapping. BUT you'll have to get an unlock code from Garmin if it's "City Nav" or "City Select" mapping. If it's just "Roads & Rec" mapping it'll go straight in but, of course, won't autoroute.

 

[Greg Masters]

Yes, as Howard said.

Get an unlock code for US CN and load it WITH the same geographical area of WorldMap and your have a fully functioning GPS that looks and performs as it would in Europe.

Greg

 

[PanEuropean]

Greg's answer above is "sort of" correct.

The problem that arises when you use detail maps from one region (e.g. North America) with a GPSR that has a basemap from another region (e.g. Europe) is this: The GPSR uses the built-in basemap to draw the picture on the screen once you zoom out past a certain point. This switchover takes place at about the 5 mile zoom scale, assuming you have the map detail display level set to 'normal'. This does not affect navigation or route calculation, it's strictly a screen display issue.

The result of this is that once you zoom out past that level, you get very little information displayed on the screen - only what little information is included on the built-in basemap of your GPSR.

You can do what Greg has suggested - load WorldMap - but this solution is not as good as it used to be 5 or 7 years ago, because WorldMap has not been updated since the old King died. As a result, when you zoom out and cross the threshold between display of the (up to date) detail maps over to the display of the (very old) WorldMap, sometimes roads disappear.

I often find myself stuck with a GPSR that has a basemap from one region (e.g. Europe) in my suitcase when I am travelling in another region (e.g. North America). Whenever this happens, I just limit myself to not zooming out further than 5 mile scale - or, I increase the display detail of the loaded maps a bit, then I can zoom out to perhaps 8 mile scale and still see the detail maps.

Michael

 

[Greg Masters]

Welcome back, Michael.

You must tell us of your travels!

Greg

 

[John Armstrong]

Welcome back, Michael.

You must tell us of your travels!

Greg

Yipee, we can stop blundering about trying to explain the finer points of Garmin GPSR's. Somebody who does know what they're talking about.