Flash Card goes ***s up

[grasshopper]

Leaving for my hols to UK on Thurs. and just spent a tidy sum on City Select Europe for the 2610. Only had the original Sandisk 128meg card in the GPSR but was enough for all the maps I would need on this trip.

Got it loaded up OK then last night was making an adjustment to the map set and when I tried to send to the GPSR I now get an error message on the computer saying that an error was generated by the Gps device when sending data packets, blah, blah, blah....

Eek. Managed to find and old flash card from a camera still lying around, a Lexmark 16meg so put it in the GPSR and works just fine except obviously can't get enough UK maps in on it for my trip. So off to the shops tomorrow for a new Lexmark 512meg.

Both the GPs and the Sandisk card are less than a year old and so just because Garmin fit them as standard doesn't mean they are the only ones. I bet I haven't changed (loaded) mapsets to it 5 times and then this. I reckon its like when manufactures fit tires, my first 1150 came on Tourances and my second was on Trail Wings. I mentioned it to the sales guy and his explaination was that it all depends on who gives BM the best deal on tires at that particular time. They are not fitting one instead of the other because it is necessarily better.

 

[Schtum]

And to cap it all, I think you'll find that City Select won't autoroute on the 2610. You'd need City Navigator to do that.

 

[grasshopper]

Have't had time to try auto routing yet because of the card but according to Garmin's own info it will on the 2610 only not quite as intelligently as City Navigator. For the difference in price between the two I can buy a lot of petrol for the bike even at today's prices.

 

[PanEuropean]

Grasshopper:

I can think of two ways to fix your problem, neither involve purchasing a new CF card:

1) Go to a computer store (Future Shop or similar) and purchase a PCMCIA adapter that takes a CF card. This costs about $15. Put the CF card into that device, then format it with your computer, same as you would format any other media (floppy, hard drive, etc.). This suggestion presumes you have a laptop with a PCMCIA slot. The $15 will be well spent, because it will allow you to load mapsets onto the card much, much faster in the future, compared to loading mapsets via the USB cable.

2) If that doesn't work - I will be arriving in Calgary on Wednesday night this week, I have a couple of spare 128 meg cards and would be happy to give you one. If you need a 512 meg CF card, I can loan you one of those, though I will need the 512 meg card back sometime in the future. In fact, I can loan you the PCMCIA loader as well, if you want it. Do you live in the Calgary region? I will be staying at the Sheraton Cavalier, should get there by about 8:00 on Wednesday night. Let me know.

Michael

PS: For motorcycle and car purposes, CitySelect will do exactly the same job that CityNavigator will. You might see less precision in the description of the overhead signs on roadways, that's about all. In other words, CS might say 'take exit 12 in 500 meters', and CN might say 'Take exit 12 - Barlow Trail West - in 500 meters'. The routes generated, as well as what you see on the map screens, will be identical in every respect.

 

[markie_wales]

Grasshopper:

PS: For motorcycle and car purposes, CitySelect will do exactly the same job that CityNavigator will. <snip> The routes generated, as well as what you see on the map screens, will be identical in every respect.

(God, I'm going to question one of Pan's answers.... I must me mad....)

I thought CS didn't have time restrictions in the mapping, where CN did. Therefore CS will always avoid roads with time restrictions, where as CN will use them if appropriate. Can't rememeber where I was lead to believe this little nugget, and let's be hoinest it's not goign to make that much difference.

Mark

 

[PanEuropean]

No, it's not actually like that, although I can understand why you may have heard something along those lines. I can't really give you all the details, because of my NDA (non-disclosure agreement) with Garmin, but suffice to say that for moto and automobile use, what we will see on the screen (the map picture) will be identical - 100% identical - between CN and CS of the same version. The only difference we will notice is that sometimes the written directions from CS will not exactly match what is posted on the overhead signs on motorways. CN is remarkably good at reproducing the exact text of overhead signs, word for word, in the same order. CS doesn't always do that.

If you are operating a specialty vehicle, such as a delivery truck, a bus, or something like that, then CN has more significant advantages for routing purposes over CS.

Michael

 

[grasshopper]

Michael,

Sorry that I missed your posts until late tonight Tues. Your advice and generousity is first class but I went and picked up a new 512 meg card today and all is well. I had to get everything up and ready because I fly out to Manchester on Thurs. night from Calgary otherwise would of loved to say Hi to you in person at the Sheraton but I'll be busy packing on Weds night. I'll be at the airport Thurs. night from 2000 if you're there then give me a shout on (403) 605-4141 and I'll buy you a coffee.
Would make it a beer but you would probably be just going on duty. Maybe talk to you Thursday.

Ross

 

[PanEuropean]

Hi Ross:

I'll phone you when I get to Calgary tonight, perhaps we can meet up at the airport on Thursday night when you arrive to catch your flight. My hotel is only a short distance from the airport, and the airport is where I am doing my work.

Michael