novice 660 user

[Elle]

I've purchased a second hand 660LM from eBay, delivered yesterday. The seller included a yellow paper with the unlock key but I have yet to register it because Garmin says I need to download Express which needs 13GB of space! Just to register? That's crazy I use my Mac for video editing & want to keep as much disk space free as possible.

Is Express just something you only use to keep maps up to date? Could I install it on an external drive then forget about it?

I'm going to NZ & will use the free open source maps. Last time, I took a (car) Garmin & put them on an SD card in addition to the pre-installed EU maps. Never had any disk space issues but now I keep reading about 660's running out of memory.
Is it possible to 'un-install' maps? And could I then re-install the EU maps on my return to Blighty? It's the LM version.

Any other software I'd find useful on my Mac? or any to avoid?
thank you

PS I did search the forum but became only more confused...

 

[iand46]

Download Garmin Express from the App Store on your Mac. It's only about 19 mb.

Garmin BaseCamp is also in the App Store for route planning.

Open source maps can still go on your microSD card as before.

 

[leedude03]

garmin express is 34Mb the other Gb's of space are required for extra maps you may or may not download.

 

[Bumpkin]

As you have an LM model you get, assuming it's European in origin, free mapping updates. Although I though LM was lifetime of unit and not transferable to a 2nd owner. Though Garmin may nave changed their 'tack' on that.

You will need Garmin Express to update your mapping (on both GPS and computer) and Basecamp for planning your routes. As said above the extra space quoted is for mapping data, Europe takes up less than 4GB on my PC. If you get your NZ mapping form OpenStreetMap then you also get a install file to put it on your PC as well as your GPS, this makes route plotting easier. You can either put this mapping on your internal memory or on an SD card depending on where you have space. It will co-exist alongside the properly installed European mapping without issue.

The 660 is now incapable of holding full European mapping so I suggest that you buy a couple of micro SD cards, 8GB would do but 16GB would provide room for tunes and/or extra mapping. I have two (2nd is a copy of the 1st) as I have heard of two incidents of an SD card going bad on tour. Or you can have once continent on one card and another on the other.

 

[iand46]

Download Garmin Express from the App Store on your Mac. It's only about 19 mb.

Garmin BaseCamp is also in the App Store for route planning.

Open source maps can still go on your microSD card as before.

EDIT. Garmin express has been removed from the app Store... http://software.garmin.com/en-GB/express.html

Lifetime maps are transferable to the new registered owner, see Garmin email



Garmin responce email.

From: <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Life Time Maps <Q#:1000051> << Reference ID: 2022296 >>
Date: 6 March 2014 13:52:07 GMT
Reply-To: <[email protected]>


Dear Andrew ,
Thank you for contacting Garmin Europe.
The Lifetime mapping will go with the device and will be available for the new owner to use. Once he has received the device from yourself, he/she is welcome to contact us for any help with installing the required software.
If there is anything else I can help you with then please let me know. Alternatively you can search for a solution here:http://www.garmin.co.uk/support
Kind regards,
Daniel
Garmin Europe
Please help us improve the service we offer you by taking our Customer Support survey. Please click the following link -http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GarminCustomerSurvey
______________________________________________________________
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AOL users: Please select all text in previous emails before replying to this one



>> Original Message ...
>> To: [email protected]
>> Subject: Life Time Maps
>> Sent: 06/03/2014 8:29 AM
>>
>>

Escalation from KANA On Demand Self Service


Subject: Life Time Maps

>> Message: At the end of last year I bought Lifetime Maps to update my Zumo 660. I have subsequently purchsed a new Sat Nav with Lifetime Maps. I am going to sell the Zumo 660. When I have done this and unregistered the device so the new owner can register it in his name will the Lifetime Maps subscription go with the device so it is available to the new owner to do updates as and when? Many thanks

 

[Bumpkin]

Good to know that LM mapping is transferable. The older mapping updates, in the small print anyway, weren't.

 

[Elle]

Thanks folks.

I downloaded the Garmin Express & it alerted a new map update was available, so I proceeded with that. After a while, it said my device didn't have enough room so I thought this was a good opportunity to select UK & Ireland. At the same time, I picked the option to install the files on my Mac as well as the device.
Once complete, I ejected it from the Mac ok but the Garmin was frozen. Had to remove the battery to make it come back to life. Normal?

I then checked what maps were installed and now it lists the full EU 3D maps and the new UK/Ireland maps! Not what I expected at all.
Plus I have no idea where the maps downloaded to my computer went - do I need Basecamp to find them?

btw - Garmin have recognised the unit is now registered to me, yet I didn't need to use the unlock Key supplied

 

[iand46]

Thanks folks.

I downloaded the Garmin Express & it alerted a new map update was available, so I proceeded with that. After a while, it said my device didn't have enough room so I thought this was a good opportunity to select UK & Ireland. At the same time, I picked the option to install the files on my Mac as well as the device.
Once complete, I ejected it from the Mac ok but the Garmin was frozen. Had to remove the battery to make it come back to life. Normal?

I then checked what maps were installed and now it lists the full EU 3D maps and the new UK/Ireland maps! Not what I expected at all.
Plus I have no idea where the maps downloaded to my computer went - do I need Basecamp to find them?

btw - Garmin have recognised the unit is now registered to me, yet I didn't need to use the unlock Key supplied

Removing the battery has that effect but doing a master reset (pressing power button & bottom right of screen together (after saving any favourites & routes to BaseCamp first) will have the same effect.

It won't have installed any EU maps, just the ability to view them in 3D obviously just Uk/Ireland only at the moment.

You will need to install BaseCamp to view your maps & create routes. If you install it from the app store your Mac will inform you of any updates that become available.

If you purchase a micro SD card you will be able to put all EU on the device. Garmin state 8GB but some bods on here use larger cards

Garmin Express sees the serial no of the device & recognises it as a LM model, didn't get an unlock key with mine.

 

[Roger Chatterton]

Hi Elle,
as a Mac user of many years, I share your frustrations with Garmin. They are past masters at making a simple job both difficult and frustrating.
I think you have to have your Garmin connected to your Mac when using Base Camp. otherwise it won't show /use the maps off your Garmin. I always used to download the Map Upgrades to both my Garmin and my Mac, but it seems now that that doesn't happen, so Base Camp needs to "see" the maps off of your Garmin.

Garmin drives me crazy with its downloads and software- they need to spend time with Apple to learn how easy software should be! As a longtime Audio Editor/recorder/sound engineer, I am used to negotiating software and Macs, but I despair of Garmin!!! And trying to follow their file structures is just pathetic- the only way I can find the "Maps" file is to look for the largest file on the Garmin ( or Mac) - around 4 Gig for N Europe maps I think.

One thing though - may I suggest that for if/when things go pear-shaped, that you always make a full back-up of your Garmin before updating anything on it .......just connect Mac and Garmin together, and then drag the contents of the Garmin and the SD card to your hard drive- an external drive is fine. I feel more secure and relaxed doing that each time.

Good luck Elle, !!!!!