Garmin software for Ireland Help needed.

[AndyT]

I am selling my StreetPilot colorMap to a list member as I've upgraded to an SP3. I have just downloaded the Ver 4 European MetroGuide Maps covering all of Ireland & Scotland onto a 64Meg card for him and packed it up ready for posting. Curiosity then led me to looking on the software just where he lived and it seems that there is very little detail outside of the big cities that is down to street level meaning it is virtually useless for him.

I then looked at the Ver 5.0 European Navigator software that came with my new SP3 and it has a little more detail but not much and nothing at all where he lives in Donegal. Londonderry is down to street level but nothing to the North West of Londonderry is programmed.

Can anyone (especially you guys in Ireland) advise me on :

a- Am I missing something.
b- Is Ireland covered by other software.

Any help appreciated as I don't want to sell it to him if its no use.

regards

AndyT

 

[Kenny Rodkiss]

I had the same problem earlier this year when I was in Eire, it seems that very little of the country is covered.
Dublin ok but the rest is only main road stuff.
A bit like Andorra only wetter........

 

[adamski49]

Andy

I think v6.00 has a bit more detail for Ireland (N & S). I skimmed over the details but vaguely recall Norway added; detail added to Ireland, Spain and Portugal; various updates to some French towns. Found it on Garmin's website somewhere (possibly when I was getting my unlock code?).

If I find it I'll post a link.

HTH

Adam

 

[boxer]

If you go to Garmin and select a map product from the map viewer [top right corner], you can see the level of detail available for the whole range of Garmin map products.

Russ.

 

[PanEuropean]

Andy:

I'm not by any means an expert on the older Garmin GPS units, having only used their aviation units and the SP III and SP 2650.

But, I think that the newest cartography products - CityNavigator and CitySelect - require unlock codes that are generated by using a Garmin supplied number (8 digit) and the serial number of the GPSR itself.

You might want to check with Garmin and see if the StreetPilot ColourMap supports use of the cartographic products that require serial number unlocks. Serial number unlocks did not exist at the time the ColourMap was in production, so it is possible the firmware in the unit might not support use of them. If the ColourMap won't support SN unlocks, then your prospective purchaser will be limited to using cartography that does not require a SN unlock, such as MetroGuide Europe version 6.

Also, I think the older model Garmin Automotive GPSR's have a rather low limit on the number of map segments that can be loaded onto a data chip. Again, I don't know the exact number for the StreetPilot ColourMap - you could probably find that information in the appendix of the user manual - but if you have filled up a 64mb chip, make sure you have not exceeded the limit of map segments that the StreetPilot ColourMap can address. This probably won't be a problem in Ireland, but it could be a problem in more densely populated areas, which have more segments per square mile.

PanEuropean

 

[AndyT]

StreetPilot ColourMap

The StreetPilot colourMap does not need unlock codes as it is not autorouting. To enable autorouting I had to do that on my PC and just download the route(s).

I have been through the UK and Europe to the Dolomites with no problems what so ever it just seems that there is very little of Ireland outside the big cities programmed onto the software. The 64Meg card still has 14 Meg of space for his own routes and way points. I' have looked at the Ver 5 that came with my new SP3 and this is still severly lacking in detail to the point I don't think it's worth him having which is a great shame.

Thanks for the feedback anyway.

regards

AndyT

 

[AndyT]

Andy:

....
You might want to check with Garmin and see if the StreetPilot ColourMap supports use of the cartographic products that require serial number unlocks. Serial number unlocks did not exist at the time the ColourMap was in production, so it is possible the firmware in the unit might not support use of them. If the ColourMap won't support SN unlocks, then your prospective purchaser will be limited to using cartography that does not require a SN unlock, such as MetroGuide Europe version 6.

.....
PanEuropean

Bye the way....I am confident it will work with a new Mapsource product but that will mean the chap having to buy new software with it which I believe is not cheap....

Thanks for the help anyway

AndyT

 

[BurnieM]

The unlock code does not just effect auto-routing.
A product with an unlock code (City Navigator/City Select/Bluecharts/Metroguide Australia) will not display on a product that it not unlocked for.

The early Streetpilots do not have any internal ID code so, regardless, you cannot generate an unlock code for the above products to work on an early Streetpilot.

 

[PanEuropean]

Hi Again Andy:

Burnie is correct, if you don't have an unlock code (and a GPSR that supports use of one), you can't even display the maps on the GPSR. The chip simply will not load its contents to the GPSR.

FYI, routes and waypoints are stored in the memory of the GPSR itself, not in the chip. None of the Garmin GPSR's have the ability to "write to the chip", they can only read from the chip. This means chips only store map segments that are written on them by your PC, they cannot store routes, tracks, or waypoints - anything that is generated or could be generated by the GPSR itself.

I'm pretty sure that your prospective purchaser will need to get a new Europe MetroGuide CD (version 6) if they want more detail of Ireland. Even with the newest CD, the detail for the Republic of Ireland is a bit spotty. As Boxer suggested a few posts further up, it would be best to go to the Garmin map preview page at the Garmin website and do 'due diligence' on the MetroGuide Europe version 6 before buying it.

Garmin's product nomenclature can sometimes be confusing. "MapSource" is the name of a computer program (mapsource.exe) that is used to view the maps on your PC and download map segments to a data chip. You can also create and manage waypoints and routes with this program, and download them to your PC as well.

"MetroGuide" is the name of a Garmin cartographic product (set of maps). MetroGuide cartographic products (generally) do not need unlock codes. CityNavigator and CitySelect cartographic products do need unlock codes. All cartographic products are viewed on the PC using MapSource, the program.

PanEuropean

 

[BurnieM]

Each unit has a segment number limit as well.

A SPIII or GPSmap 176 or GPS V has a 525 segment limit.

I believe the earlier Streetpilots had only a 50 segment limit.

The SP2610 has something huge (5000?)

 

[Baldilox]

v6

Features of MapSource European City Navigator v6 include:

*Updated map details for many areas in Western Europe
*100% detailed coverage of Norway
*Addition of the Isle of Man for the UK and addition of intertown road network in Northern Ireland.
*In the Republic of Ireland, added residential coverage for Waterford

upgrade from earlier versions 150 dollars

 

[AndyT]

Such a shame

Thanks for all the help guys. I think from what I've seen that my old Streetpilot ColourMAp with V4 Europe Metro map will not be of any use to the perspective buyer in Ireland which is a shame because It has done me extremely well. I think what I'll do is send ihim a copy of the metroguide and he will be able to see for himself how little it covers and allow him to think over if it will be worth his while. I personally don't think it is but I'll leave it to him.

Phil,
I'll send you a PM.

regards

AndyT