Taff said:
Thanks Pan, but does this automatically update the
Drivers as well, or is that a separate job ?
I've noticed the "Update Drivers" section on the Garmin site previously, but I don't think I've ever used it, since I bought the SPIII just over a year ago. The brutal truth is that I don't know what they do, and wouldn't recognise a "Driver" if it hit me.
Just to avoid total confusion on this thread, I think we need to consider what you mean by 'Drivers'. So, please bear with me for a moment while I try to explain this.
Any Garmin GPSR uses numerous different software components to function. For example, we need to have electronic maps to load into the GPSR. Maps are generally referred to as
cartography and are distributed on CDs. Map updates are not free, and never will be.
The GPSRs also have their own little operating system inside them, this is what makes them show the maps, calculate the routes, and do all the other trick we are used to, such as avoiding toll roads and so forth. The service we are talking about here updates this
operating system within the GPSR. These updates are free, and always will be. In the past, users had to locate the appropriate update on the Garmin website, download it, hook up their GPSR to their computer, then run the update as an executable. Not difficult if you are familiar with computers (and GPSRs), but not exactly intuitive either. The benefit of staying up to date with the newest operating software for your GPSR is that you benefit from additional features that Garmin builds into the GPSRs (free) after they have been released, and you also benefit by getting more reliable, faster operating software for the life of your GPSR.
If we want to be able to suck information out of the GPSR (for example, track logs) or send information to the GPSR from our computer (for example, a route that we have created on our computer), we need a program for our computer (not the GPSR) called
MapSource. This program enables you to transfer cartography to your GPSR, and transfer routes, waypoints, and track logs back and forth between your GPSR and the computer. This program is free, and updates are also free. It is automatically installed (and also automatically updated) whenever you load map CD's into your computer - either when you first get the GPSR, or when you buy a map update. You can download incremental updates to MapSource from the Garmin website, but to tell you the truth, you really don't need to bother keeping up with the latest version unless you are doing something very exotic and cutting-edge.
Lastly, in order for your personal computer to be able to communicate with the GPSR over the USB cable, you need to install a
driver in your computer (not the GPSR) that enables the computer to recognize the GPSR for what it is, and communicate with it. Normally these drivers have been installed automatically when people first purchase their GPSR and load the maps and MapSource program onto their computer, or load the 'Trip and Waypoint Manager' program onto their computer in the case of GPSRs that are already preloaded with maps.
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OK: Having said all that, my
guess is that this new updating service will probably notify you if the USB drivers that you are using need to be updated. But, the USB drivers are the simplest and least complicated of all the components described above. I think Garmin has only updated the drivers twice since USB came into use for connecting the GPSR to the computer, and in each case, the update was required because of changes to the Windows software that Microsoft puts out.
Hope that answers the question.
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Lastly: If you have NEVER connected your GPSR to your computer, using the USB cable, you won't be able to use this new automatic update service until you download and install the USB drivers. You can find the USB drivers at this link:
Garmin USB Driver Download.
DO NOT have the GPSR connected to the computer when you download and install the USB drivers!
On the other hand, if you have connected your GPSR to your computer successfully at any time in the past - even if it was only once - to load maps, or upload waypoints, or even just to update the software in your GPSR - then you already have the USB drivers present on your computer, which means you don't have to worry about them. They either work or they don't, there is no such thing as 'newer or better'. If you can plug your GPSR into your computer - and the computer recognizes the GPSR, by making the little 'bing-bong' sound, and not throwing up a whole bunch of error messages - then the drivers are installed OK.
Michael
