Garmin Suck!

[alan29]

You can drag a route around in Mapsource easily...

No disrespect here, but you really need to learn how to use Mapsource before slagging it off.

I've used it for years, and think it's a very good mapping program....

+1. Its my go-to program.

 

[Bumpkin]

You can drag a route around in Mapsource easily...

No disrespect here, but you really need to learn how to use Mapsource before slagging it off.

I've used it for years, and think it's a very good mapping program....

Yes, good at what it does, have used it for years. Dare I say that, IMHO, Basecamp is now better than Mapsource aside from postcode search which, quite frankly, I rarely use... but that's just me.

Whilst updating the mapping is a little challenging from time to time I've never had a problem with that either.

Have been using Garmin for some time; StreetPilot, Quest, StreetPilot 2720. Nuvi 765 and now a Zumo 660. Never seen any benefit in switching my allegiance to TomTom or another brand... maybe that makes me a Garmin fan-boy

 

[araspitfire]

I'm a long time user of Mapsource who has upgraded GPS and become a convert to BaseCamp.

It's got some handy things that Mapsource doesn't... I can build routes in it quickly enough.

It imports stuff from Google Maps easily, and lets be honest.. most route building starts in Google Maps for most people...

Al...

 

[cookie]

i have no issue with mapsource or base camp (bar search), but every time, EVERYSINGLEFUCKINGTIME i've used the lifetime update on my 660 it's gone spectacularly wrong, shredded my temper, and wasted hours of my life

i don't consider myself an IT numpty either

 

[Rasher]

I can get a weird line to appear that is not on my route when trying to alter them, but that is not drag and drop.

In Google Maps (and tyre) if I have a route from A to B and want to move off the direct route to take in a backroad or two I can just grab the line and move it, a new point appears and Voila - never been able to get Mapsource to do this.

I can also have a start point, click somewhere and add as a waypoint, and then another, and then another, this allows me to build a route in minutes, I often plan a little rideout like this by choosing way off the beaten track roads, again I cannot do this in mapsource.

And then Mapsource has a habit of making a motorway look like a minor road, and some single track lanes look like Motorways, I often have to double-check with Tyre or Google just to see what "type" of roads Mapsource is sending me down.

Maybe with years of practice I could master Mapsource, but when Googlemaps and Tyre can be mastered within seconds, are extremely intuitive and the graphics so clear why would I bother?

Tyre also seems to get an update on an almost daily basis, user feedback from one day becomes a new feature or function the next.

I will keep my Tyre Pro licence (although the Free version beats the shit out of Mapsource for day to day route planning)

I am not slagging off Mapsource because I don't understand it, but because it is just so bloody difficult to understand, and others have proven an application to plan a route does not need a 500 page manual or three week training course to use.

 

[Bumpkin]

Rasher, have a look here, hopefully that will be of some help.

 

[LPB]

Well, after struggling with the space problem on my 660, and after buying a 16gb card which doesnt seem to work, I think I have a partial answer to this problem.

Firstly, after plugging in the USB cable, copy the data on the Zumo as a precaution, and delete the GMAPPROM.IMG and GMAPSUPP.IMG (if you have one).

Check the available space on the Zumo and then open Mapsource, select the maps making sure you dont exceed the space available on the Zumo ( I would suggest you leave some space if you can as the Zumo might need it to work), and then send the maps to the Zumo.

You wont get them all on but you will get more than if you just use Mapupdater (which didnt work at all for me) or Garmin Express.

My next thing to try is to copy to the SD card and see if that works but cant do that until later.

Lloyd.

 

[The Grey One]

Rasher, have a look here, hopefully that will be of some help.

Very useful, I have copied the link for our guests. It's a strange thing to me how people can spend a lot of money on a bike specific Garmin or Tomtom and then not bother to find out how to use it.

We have a group here now who despite my telling them not to use the post code to find us (and getting a reminder by Email) still did so. It just meant that they had 30 mins of frustration at the end of a long days ride and got their welcome beers 30 mins later than they could have.

John

 

[Bumpkin]

Well, after struggling with the space problem on my 660, and after buying a 16gb card which doesnt seem to work, I think I have a partial answer to this problem.

Firstly, after plugging in the USB cable, copy the data on the Zumo as a precaution, and delete the GMAPPROM.IMG and GMAPSUPP.IMG (if you have one).

Check the available space on the Zumo and then open Mapsource, select the maps making sure you dont exceed the space available on the Zumo ( I would suggest you leave some space if you can as the Zumo might need it to work), and then send the maps to the Zumo.

You wont get them all on but you will get more than if you just use Mapupdater (which didnt work at all for me) or Garmin Express.

My next thing to try is to copy to the SD card and see if that works but cant do that until later.

Using the mapping saved to your PC to load mapping, as you describe, is a way of doing it. You can use MapInstall to do this as well if you're running Basecamp as the latter doesn't do the 'send mapping to unit thing' that Mapsource does.

On the 660, updating this way, you will loose Junction View (the photo-realistic full screen view of upcoming junctions on motorways etc.) and 3D Buildings but these are no great loss TBH. You can free up the significant space they occupy by deleting the following sizeable files to fit even more mapping on.

\Garmin\JCV\xxxxxx.JCV (the xxxx will be some random alpha numeric value)
\Garmin\GMAP3D.IMG

On the 550 these files aren't used (and, I assume, not installed) so updating from your PC rather than from garmin.com will make no difference on that model.

Those that remember the Quest and earlier StreetPilot models will be used to doing it this way.

 

[Budweiser]

Rasher, have a look here, hopefully that will be of some help.

Thanks Bumpkin, very useful

 

[Rasher]

Rasher, have a look here, hopefully that will be of some help.

Thanks

I spent ages trying to drag / drop with the route tool, assuming it would be what you use for routing, obviously the selection tool is used for changing your route Why did I think it was for selecting shit

This minute video shows how easy it can be, if only Garmin would produce proper instructions that shows you how to use the product rather than the crap "Help File" that it supplies.

Browsed through again and can find no topic on how to drag a route.

Probably still prefer Tyre for simplicity and better looking maps as I still struggle to distinguish minor from major roads with the Mapsource graphics, but at least I can now make small changes to maps I open in Mapsource.


I did also get another E-Mail from Garmin support telling me I would not be able to put all of the Maps on a card and would have to put the UK on the Garmin and Europe on the card - so I have now had to tell them how to install a 3GB map onto an 8GB card as neither thir software, instructions or staff seem to know how to do this!

 

[The Grey One]

Tyre too!

Happens with Tyre too- a couple of weeks ago I downloaded an updated version of Tyre. Since then I have not been able to make a new route, I get error messages and then in crashes. It screwed all my existing routes, coming up with nonsense and if I try to correct it I get error messages and it crashes. If I import a Garmin route it will work correctly once but if I save it and then try to use it again its back to the error-crash situation. I have twice removed Tyre and downloaded again just in case that would help-no change

I have sent 2 Emails to the contact given on the Tyre website and as yet not had a reply.


John

 

[Bumpkin]

An alternative to TYRE is ITN Converter. Personally I prefer it (less cluttered and does everything I need, outside of Basecamp that is...) though admittedly I haven't looked at TYRE for about 6 months.

 

[Pablo1]

RASHER HAVE A LOOK AT THIS

Just found this solution to updating the maps on mapsource, HTH

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3468517#post3468517

 

[The Grey One]

An alternative to TYRE is ITN Converter. Personally I prefer it (less cluttered and does everything I need, outside of Basecamp that is...) though admittedly I haven't looked at TYRE for about 6 months.

Just downloaded it, will report back later, have to deal with a house full of thirsty bikers now!

John

 

[BigAl&Andri]

Garmin Sucks +1

Whilst Schtum's reply may seem uncharitable I can't help but agree.

Admittedly getting to grips with the way that Garmin provide mapping updates isn't plain sailing which isn't helped by their instance on changing the way you're supposed to do it at least once a year. However, there is a wealth of knowledge on this site that should get you sorted. You need to approach the task in a calm and rational way. Your opening post is something of a rant and as such likely to dissuade some from offering to help you out.

The best approach would be to use the older map updater rather than the rather fickle new kid on the block, AKA Garmin Express. The link is to the PC version.

Slowly go though the initial screens of the install, about the forth one in there will a an 'install options' button at bottom left. Clicking that will provide the choice of updating just the GPS, the GPS and PC or just the PC. It should recognise the fact that you have an SD card in your GPS and offer to install mapping there.

If all else fails just install to your PC and then use MapInstall to put mapping onto your SD card, or the selected tiles that you need onto the Zumo's internal memory.

Water under the bridge but might help others reading this thread; Did you buy a lifetime update or just a one off? The lifetime update can be had from Handtec for £50 which is what you pay Garmin directly for the one off update.

Wish I'd read this thread before purchasing Europe Lifetime download update for £74.99 only to find Garmin Express won't work on my iMac OS so I can't download it anyway. Pity they don't mention this until the sale is completed - b******s! I've e-mailed Garmin support and will be calling them first thing tomorrow - I'm not at all happy!

Al

 

[cookie]

garmin express does run on OS-X.


it's doesn't work though IME

 

[Bumpkin]

Wish I'd read this thread before purchasing Europe Lifetime download update for £74.99 only to find Garmin Express won't work on my iMac OS so I can't download it anyway. Pity they don't mention this until the sale is completed - b******s!

Hi Al, try the instructions re. installing to a Mac in this post. It's a little way down past the PC method.

 

[BigAl&Andri]

Hi Al, try the instructions re. installing to a Mac in this post. It's a little way down past the PC method.

Thanks for this Bumpkin - haven't tried it yet but it looks promising. I'll let you know how it goes.
BTW didn't call Garmin today - too busy out riding my bike!

Al

 

[BigAl&Andri]

Thanks to Bumpkin

Thanks for posting that link to enable my map download on iMac - it worked a treat.

Al