Garmin Quest Updates - straight from V6 to V8 now

[riverking]

Just come off the phone to GPSWarehouse. I bought a Quest off them last month but it came shipped with V6 NOT V7. Told that I would recieve update CD for V7. Called Garmin twice (19 minutes on hold!) - not yet recieved Cds, told this morning that they have no V7's in stock becuase they have moved production onto V8, told me I will just have to be patient! I will apparantly end up with V8 so I should be pleased, I don't know if I am or not!

 

[judge]

I'm surprised there are still stocks of pre-installed Quests with v6 on them. For some while now (more than a few months) those I have helped acquire new units have had them with v7 pre-installed.

You might be pleased to have v8 coming your way but one of the USP's of the quest is they come pre-installed and ready out of the box, if you are faced with an update so soon after purchase it doesn't seem a win to me.

 

[ianf]

I just got a new Quest last week and the shipped software was V6. The unit has a higher serial no. than the one it replaced. - I'd previously had a v6-v7 upgrade for the old unit. So I had to go online and do the key swap.

If you try and register you'll get a popup offering you an upgrade to a new key and the option to request CD's.

Wait until v8 is available, try and register it, it'll perhaps offer v8 and the keys.

 

[riverking]

I agree with both of you, GPSW does not mention any of this when taking the money, when questioned they say 'it's Garmins problem' (wrong!).

I found out the 'one free upgrade' thingy only after I had registered, no mention by GPSW, no mention by Garmin during the registration process, I found out about it here!

In one sentence from GPSW this morning I was told that "V6 is current, upgrade to V7 is a free extra" and "V7 production has been stopped to make way for V8". How can V6 be 'CURRENT' after V7 production has stopped????

Anybody got a roll out time for V8? Not sure if I can be bothered to wait.

 

[MrIFan]

Have seen early 2006 mentioned as release date for V8 but the way things are going I would think it will be avaliable in the next couple of months?
Pan European or Ram Man are probably the ones to ask.

 

[PanEuropean]

Gee - don't ask me, I don't find out about map updates until I read about it on the Garmin public website (or, sometimes, here). I test the hardware and the software that runs the GPSRs, not the maps.

I wouldn't worry TOO much about missing out on the latest map version, though. A few years ago, when new map versions only came out once every 18 months, it made sense to try and buy at the beginning of a map cycle. In the last few years, the revision cycle has shortened up - if another revision comes out before Christmas, that will be the second revision this year. How much could have changed in the last year, honestly? A few roundabouts, perhaps?

Back when the version numbers were 2, 3, and 4, the cartography was incomplete, and everyone eagerly awaited a new version to see what had been added - often, to see if their own neighborhood had been added. Now, the street level detail coverage is 100% in many countries, and the only holes that remain to be filled are either countries with 'exceptional circumstances' (Ireland), or really remote places that no-one is likely to ever make it to (Northern Norway). The faster the map revision cycle becomes, the less important the revisions will become.

Think of it the way you would think of a paper map. A paper map is generally considered up to date for about 3 years after date of publication. Once it gets past 3 years of age, enough things have probably changed to make it worthwhile to buy a newer, more up to date paper map. Electronic maps are no different. If the current release - what is shipping today - is (for example) one year old, then it has another two years useful life in it. If you think you will keep that same GPSR for longer than two years - then you might want to pay attention to the revision cycle. Even then, though, it could be argued that there's not much point in getting stressed - if you buy today, and a new revision comes out tomorrow (and you can't upgrade free), big deal. Buy an upgrade in 2 years, and you then get 5 years useful life out of the GPSR (the original maps for 2 years, and the upgrade for another three) for the price of one map upgrade. In 5 years, the GPSR - meaning, the hardware - will be close to being an antique anyway.

On the other hand, if you think it is probable that you might get rid of the GPSR before the maps are 3 years old (trade it in, sell it to someone, whatever) - they why worry? You will have fresh (less than 3 years old) maps no matter whether you have the current issue or next spring's issue.

Much ado about nothing, I think, now that the revisions are coming faster and faster. For what it's worth, aviation maps (the paper ones used for visual navigation, not the instrument charts) are updated on average once every seven years. When was the last time you looked up and saw a lost airplane flying around in circles, trying to read the name of the town off the top of the water tower?

Michael

 

[tonym]

UK Topo's every year Pan

Jepp's too regularly for my liking!

 

[Mouse]

Wow, how often does the topography of the UK change?

Must be global warming.

 

[Deleted account 220427002]

I wouldn't worry TOO much about missing out on the latest map version, though. A few years ago, when new map versions only came out once every 18 months, it made sense to try and buy at the beginning of a map cycle. In the last few years, the revision cycle has shortened up - if another revision comes out before Christmas, that will be the second revision this year. How much could have changed in the last year, honestly? A few roundabouts, perhaps?

Back when the version numbers were 2, 3, and 4, the cartography was incomplete, and everyone eagerly awaited a new version to see what had been added - often, to see if their own neighborhood had been added. Now, the street level detail coverage is 100% in many countries, and the only holes that remain to be filled are either countries with 'exceptional circumstances' (Ireland), or really remote places that no-one is likely to ever make it to (Northern Norway). The faster the map revision cycle becomes, the less important the revisions will become.



Michael

easy to say when you don't live in Northern Ireland

 

[HMR]

Back when the version numbers were 2, 3, and 4, the cartography was incomplete, and everyone eagerly awaited a new version to see what had been added - often, to see if their own neighborhood had been added. Now, the street level detail coverage is 100% in many countries, and the only holes that remain to be filled are either countries with 'exceptional circumstances' (Ireland), or really remote places that no-one is likely to ever make it to (Northern Norway). The faster the map revision cycle becomes, the less important the revisions will become.
Michael

I don't agree Michael.

The current Navteq maps (v7) are VERY poor in Italy, Spain and East Europe for example. Many of us are with greatest interest waiting for v8 and hoping for improvements. To me Italy and the Alps are not really "remote places that no-one is likely to ever make it to".

 

[PanEuropean]

The current Navteq maps (v7) are VERY poor in Italy, Spain and East Europe for example.

Ah - fair point. But, I don't think that is likely to change very much in the near future - at least not for Spain and Italy - because the governments of these countries don't provide cartography in vector format to the marketplace. So, it's a bit of a standoff - the mapping companies will take the initiative to map the big cities (Madrid, Rome, etc.), but they're not going to go out to the rural areas and map these parts of the country. But, having said that, I rode through Spain and Portugal this spring (April 2005) and was quite pleasantly surprised with the increase in secondary road coverage between V7 and V5 (what I used when I was there last, in 2002). I have no experience with Italy, ever.

I can't begin to guess what will happen with Eastern Europe. Although those countries have a much greater motivation than most to get a good GIS (geographical information system) going, and get their countries mapped, I'm not sure if they all have the cash to get it done. I suspect that the EC will support creation of vector maps for the new EC candidate states, but it remains to be seen how fast that will happen.

Michael

 

[HMR]

Ah - fair point. But, I don't think that is likely to change very much in the near future - at least not for Spain and Italy - because the governments of these countries don't provide cartography in vector format to the marketplace.

I already quesed that something like this was the problem. Long ago I noticed that routes in Italy consumed 4-5 times more memory than routes in Sweden. I also noticed that V6 contained roads in Italy that disappeared 20 years ago.

My conclusion was that the always inefficient government in Italy was 20-30 years behind other parts of Europe when it came to vectorized maps.

I will be surpriced if I see substantial improvements of the Italian countryside maps in my lifetime.

Let's hope that both Spain and the East Europe countries will do better.

 

[ampthill]

Now that Garmin has shifted all those Quests from Dixons/PC World what has been peoples experience in getting an update from Garmin to V6 of the mapsource data already preloaded on these machines?

I note Riverking seems to be in the queue for V8, but is this the experience of everyone who has managed to wait long enough on the Garmin telephone line? I gave up after half hour but some of you may be more tenacious

Note that it also says somewhere in the Garmin FAQ's that free updates are only available to the next version of the product and ends when that version is superceeded. ie. 6 to 7 OK as long as 7 is current; 6 to 8 not OK and you will also not be eligible for 7

Peter

 

[Dick Dastardly]

Now that Garmin has shifted all those Quests from Dixons/PC World what has been peoples experience in getting an update from Garmin to V6 of the mapsource data already preloaded on these machines?

I note Riverking seems to be in the queue for V8, but is this the experience of everyone who has managed to wait long enough on the Garmin telephone line? I gave up after half hour but some of you may be more tenacious

Note that it also says somewhere in the Garmin FAQ's that free updates are only available to the next version of the product and ends when that version is superceeded. ie. 6 to 7 OK as long as 7 is current; 6 to 8 not OK and you will also not be eligible for 7

Peter

Does that mean that any recently bought quests with v6, cannot get v8, even tho' v7 has 'ceased production' ??

 

[ampthill]

An update...

Rang Garmin again this am and eventually got through. They are going to send me the V7 update which I am informed will arrive in the post tomorrow - production must have been resumed

Did ask if I could wait for update to V8 instead. Said I could but that this may result in a charge. I presume this becomes apparent at the time of install.

So think I'll hold back on the install of V6 and update to V7 until after the introduction of V8 comes out and then try and update with a V8 update disc first. If this wants a charge I can then always install V7 instead. By the way was told V8 should be out mid-November.

Peter

 

[cookie]

possession of the v7 discs will not guarantee that it will work with your gps without a new code if what has been said before is true.

Note that it also says somewhere in the Garmin FAQ's that free updates are only available to the next version of the product and ends when that version is superceeded. ie. 6 to 7 OK as long as 7 is current; 6 to 8 not OK and you will also not be eligible for 7

you can always install the new versions on the pc, but you need the unlock code to be valid to make it talk to the gps unit.

 

[adamski49]

possession of the v7 discs will not guarantee that it will work with your gps without a new code if what has been said before is true.

Note that it also says somewhere in the Garmin FAQ's that free updates are only available to the next version of the product and ends when that version is superceeded. ie. 6 to 7 OK as long as 7 is current; 6 to 8 not OK and you will also not be eligible for 7

you can always install the new versions on the pc, but you need the unlock code to be valid to make it talk to the gps unit.

This is just Garmin trying to stop people waiting a year before they register and get the free update. They probably don't know which version of City Select you have as you register the unit not the software.

Also, the different versions of City Select will work independantly of each other within Mapsource providing you have the relevant unlock codes. From my previous experience I have gone from v4 to v5 and v4 to v6 (without v5 installed) both without issue.

So long as the free upgrade releases the unlock code on their website there shouldn't be a problem. I'll let you know in January if jumping from v6 to v8 works.

Adam

 

[riverking]

A few updates since I started this thread chaps;

I spoke firstly to GPSW yesterday to get them to confirm in writing what I had been told verbally (see opening post).

"Ah, we had better call Garmin. We have had it confirmed by the top man but we will double check"

To both GPSW and Garmins' credit I was called back within 10 minutes by Garmins man in the know.
This is Garmins policy, it differs slightly but importantly from what GPSW and several people here have heard, but it is from the top guy and he has given me names to refer back to.

1) Garmin have "a warehouse full of V7 updates and it is simple to run off more".

2) Garmin are not looking to stich anybody up and will not INTENTIONALLY leave anybody stuck for upgrade simply because of registering early or stock problems - if you find yourself in this position they WILL sort it out.

3) Their position is simple, you are entitled to the upgrade to take you to the "applicable version at your time of purchase".

4) So in my case from v6 supplied to v7 applicable at my time of purchase, BUT, had for instance GPSW supplied me with V5 ON THE DATE THAT V7 WAS CURRENT, I would have been bumped from 5 to 7.

5) Registering is not the key issue, but it is the only date that Garmin can 'see', they cannot know what date GPSW (or whoever) sold you the unit unless you tell them.

6) I recieved my V7 CD's and unlock codes in this mornings' post less than 24 hours after the call, they are in front of me now, so they ARE available despite the rumours.

GPSW did slightly misunderstand the Garmin position, but all credit to them for sorting it out in the end.