Navigator II loaded maps help !

[GraemeMcl]

I have recently got the BMW Navigator II with the 2GB card and supposed pre installed mapping.
Small flyer in box (and certain posts on this site) instruct not to send maps from Garmin MapSource as this will wipe clean CF card data completely before
replacing with what sending.
I Have become a bit paranoid about even connecting the USB for first time as want to be sure will not to do a big reload job somewhere down the line.
Can anyone oblige re the following queries.

1. When the card is removed from the GPS (unconected to PC) the unit still
functions with some mappping ?? What is the memory in the unit apart from the card? what is stored on the unit and what on the card when it comes out of the box?

2. Could I generate a "route" in MapSource as opposed to a "map" and send that without the dreaded erasing of installed data?
Do maps sit somewhere and a database of Waypoints,Markers POI's sit elsewhere?

3. What are "Base maps" as opposed to "city navigator"??

3. Is there any better instruction available than what comes with kit which doesn't seam that good if you are a first time Garmin/GPS user.


I know I am asking more questions than a bratty five year old, but I really could do with some assistance, or a copy of "GPS for Dummies"

thanks

 

[ianm00]

I have recently got the BMW Navigator II with the 2GB card and supposed pre installed mapping.
Small flyer in box (and certain posts on this site) instruct not to send maps from Garmin MapSource as this will wipe clean CF card data completely before
replacing with what sending.
I Have become a bit paranoid about even connecting the USB for first time as want to be sure will not to do a big reload job somewhere down the line.
Can anyone oblige re the following queries

.

I dont have BMW Navigator II I have the 2610.

1. When the card is removed from the GPS (unconected to PC) the unit still
functions with some mappping ?? What is the memory in the unit apart from the card? what is stored on the unit and what on the card when it comes out of the box?

The unit comes supplied with a base map which is stored on the unit. I dont think this memory can be accessed.

2. Could I generate a "route" in MapSource as opposed to a "map" and send that without the dreaded erasing of installed data?
Do maps sit somewhere and a database of Waypoints,Markers POI's sit elsewhere?

Yes on the 2610 when using mapsource you choose which data gets transferred to the navigator. Options are map data, routes, waypoints.

3. What are "Base maps" as opposed to "city navigator"??

Base maps stored on the garmin unit. This is a course scale map. City navigator maps are loaded onto the car and superimposed onto the bas map to provide street level detail. ie zoom out to see the whole of the UK will be looking at the base map, but when you zoom into a street you will be looking at the city navigator maps.

3. Is there any better instruction available than what comes with kit which doesn't seam that good if you are a first time Garmin/GPS user.

Try www.garmin.co.uk and download the manual for 2610.

I hope this helps but Im sure other experts will correct any errors I have made.

Ian

I know I am asking more questions than a bratty five year old, but I really could do with some assistance, or a copy of "GPS for Dummies"

thanks

 

[gfspencer]

I think there are three things to consider here. (1) You have MapSource which is a computer program. (2) You have a mapping program such as City Navigator or City Select which operates in MapSource and in your GPS and (3) You have software (or an operating system) in your GPS. (version 4.3 in my Navigator II Plus.)

I believe you are not supposed to get “upgrades” for the Navigator II operating system from the Garmin site because the upgrades might not be compatible with the extra BMW Navigator keypad. (Get upgrades from the BMW site instead.) But you can use MapSource (the program on your computer) to set up routes, waypoints, etc. and then transfer them to your GPS.

I use MapSource (on my computer) to set up routes and waypoints and then I transfer them to the Navigator. I’ve never had a problem. I don’t think you are actually transferring the “maps” back and forth, just the routing/waypoint information. (There are several people on this site who know much more about that than I do. I’m sure they can help us with that.)

 

[PanEuropean]

Graeme:

Ian did a great job of answering all the questions. It does take a bit of time to get comfortable with the concepts behind all the different bits of software within the GPSR, and also what is on your computer. Don't feel bad, we have all gone through that. Here's a quick primer for you:

1) Basemap: Like Ian said, it is a coarse map, it's burned into the EPROM memory of the GPSR (nothing to do with the memory chip), and you can't screw it up. It will give you a rough picture of where you are if you don't have the memory card loaded. Try turning your GPSR on with the memory card removed - this will show you what the basemap is. The basemap is also used to draw the picture on the screen at really wide zoom levels (greater than about 5 miles) because it can be accessed faster than the detailed data on the memory chip.

2) Maps on the chip: This is the stuff you download from your computer. Your computer got it from the CD that came with your GPSR. So, don't worry too much about that either, if you screw up what is on the memory chip, you can always reload the chip from your computer. And, if you screw up the computer, you can always reinstall everything from the original CD. These maps are called 'detail maps' and contain all the intricate street level detail, house numbers, points of interest, stuff like that.

Just don't load your chip the night before a big tour until you are quite at ease with the process. Load it a few days before, make sure everything you hoped to transfer actually made it, then don't fool with it.

3) Software for the GPSR itself: This is the program embedded in the GPSR that makes it work. Garmin periodically updates this software to either fix problems or to provide new features. These updates are free, forever. You can download them from the Garmin website. I have always updated my SP 2610 and my Nav II (I have both) with the same thing, which is the 2610 software, however, perhaps there is a reason (that I am not aware of) why users should get the software from the BMW site. In any case, don't worry much about this, the 2610 and Nav II are mature products and you will probably only see one or two updates a year for them from now on.

4) Updating Maps: This means buying a new CD about once every 18 months to get fresh maps with the latest roads, etc. This ain't free, it's expensive. When you buy a new map CD, you install it on your computer the same way you installed the original map CD. Just be sure to select the new maps for future use - as your computer will retain the old maps on file, and many people have bought new maps, paid big money, felt ripped off because they did not notice any changes, only to have discovered a year later that they did not select the new maps when they next started their computer, so they were using the old maps all along.... You choose which maps to use with a drop-down menu in the upper left corner of the MapSource program. The computer remembers your choice from day to day, so if you select the correct map set once, you will always be presented with it in the future.

5) Updating MapSource: MapSource is a little computer program that does the job of transferring maps, waypoints, tracks, and routes between your computer and your GPSR. It also lets you work with the maps on your computer. MapSource itself does not contain any maps. This program gets updated from time to time by Garmin, updates are free forever. But, you really don't need to worry much about updating it. Usually, the updates come along to support new features in a different GPSR that has just been released to market. In principle, while you are new to the whole process, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. When you buy a new set of maps (item 4 above), the latest version of MapSource comes on the new map CD, and is automatically installed for you when you install the new maps. That's good enough for 99% of recreational users.

Hope that sheds some light on it.

Michael

 

[GraemeMcl]

A great thanks to all you guys out their who took the time to help me out.

Armed with my new found confidence I have started playing around with the unit, routes & POI overlays ... things appear to be familiarising nicely.

Started off sending stuff from not to the GPS unit, unfortunatly my wife Lesley thinks the "tracks" are realy interesting especially the "how fast" bits.

once again thanks for taking the time to help

Graeme.

 

[GraemeMcl]

My spelling and punctuation is not very good is it!!!