OK so I've finally given in and bought one.....

[Stonker]

Now the learning curve begins...

First question, do I need a memory card? (no intention at the moment to play mp3s)

 

[Deleted account 250319001]

Now the learning curve begins...

First question, do I need a memory card? (no intention at the moment to play mp3s)

No.
Unless...
You want to add extra maps or play Mp3's

 

[Stonker]

When you say extra maps, if it comes with the latest European maps, what extra maps would you mean? Are you talking about other areas or things like all the audi dealers or something?

 

[Bumpkin]

When you say extra maps, if it comes with the latest European maps, what extra maps would you mean? Are you talking about other areas or things like all the audi dealers or something?

The 660, being a product designed a few years ago now doesn't have sufficient internal memory for the mapping data for all of Europe (City Navigator Europe). This has been expanded with extra coverage into hitherto un-charted, by Garmin, areas as well as greater detail (missing streets) and additional embedded points of interest (POI). Additionally new features such as Junction View (pictures of up-coming junctions on motorways) and 3D buildings have also significantly added to the space required.

The mapping update process now offers to install a region of Europe from a pre-defined selection onto your GPS. The full mapping data can still be installed onto your PC and you can then create an additional map-set to cover the remainder of Europe should you so desire. This will need to be loaded onto an SD card.

Custom POIs, such as Audi dealers, don't really take up very much room. The Western Europe region for the current and all other files loaded that are required for your sat nav to operate will leave a few hundred megabytes of space left. Plenty of room for loads of custom POIs and routes.

As an example my custom POIs, that include 30,000 or so campsites in Europe, Honda dealers across Europe, speed cameras across the UK plus many others only takes up about 7 megabytes.

If you don't need MP3s and you're not likely to ride outside Western Europe then you don't require an SD card.

Garmin defines Western Europe as comprising the following countries (this was from a list that I obtained from them early last year):

• Andorra
• Azores
• Belgium
• Canary Islands
• France
• French Guiana
• Guadeloupe
• Ireland
• Luxemburg
• Madeira
• Martinique
• Monaco
• Netherlands
• Portugal
• Reunion
• Saint Barthelemy
• Spain
• UK
• Switzerland
• Italy
• Austria
• Germany
• Liechtenstein
• Greece
• Denmark
• Norway
• Sweden
• Finland

 

[Stonker]

Sounds as though I should get a memory card then? Which one? I think they only support 8Gb cards don't they? What class do I need?

 

[Bumpkin]

Re-read my post above as I added to it after your reply. For Western Europe and as many POIs and routes as you like in practical terms you won't need an SD card. Only if you want all of Europe and/or MP3 files will you need one. However, they're 'cheap as chips these' days...

Sounds as though I should get a memory card then? Which one? I think they only support 8Gb cards don't they? What class do I need?

I think with the later firmware they now support 16GB though for most that would be excessive.

I ordered one of these, it was £3.99 last week inc. P&P. Looks like it's gone up a little. I've used their own brand SD memory for camera and video for a while now, no problems to report.

Speed of memory cards is related to their write speed so not really that relevant in this case as the GPS will be reading from the card, not writing to it as a camera does.

 

[GSTourer]

Bumpkin,

As you are clearly an expert on these things, why can't I get the latest western europe update on my Zumo550?

When I loaded the last update before this latest one I was unable to get all of Europe on it then so chose western europe only which went on OK............now I can't even get that on, it says insufficient space available. I have deleted unnecessary voice files ages ago so not really sure what else I can do.

Someone on here suggested I delete ALL the mapping I have on it and download the latest from afresh again but I am a bit reluctant to do that as I am a bit of a computer numpty and don't want it all to go horribly wrong.

Any ideas?

(sorry to hijack the thread but it was just to good a chance to miss )

 

[Stonker]

OK thanks. I'm planning a trip to Greece this year and returning via Bulgaria, Romania etc, co maybe I should get a card.

Does it come with speed camera maps etc or do you get them separately?

 

[Bumpkin]

OK thanks. I'm planning a trip to Greece this year and returning via Bulgaria, Romania etc, co maybe I should get a card.

Yes, then an SD card would be useful for the regions outside of Western Europe. However, all countries, not included in Western Europe, between (and excluding) Poland plus the Ukraine and the Adriatic only make up 175MB which would fit onto remaining internal memory.

The primary mapping (which is installed as part of an update) and any mapping you install from your PC are in separate files on your GPS. The former in GMAPPROM.IMG and the latter GMAPSUPP.IMG. The files are interchangeable just by changing their file names. However, any further writing of mapping data to the GPS from your computer will overwrite the GMAPSUPP.IMG with a new file loosing what you have created previously. The Primary mapping file (your official update, probably Western Europe) is protected during this process.

Does it come with speed camera maps etc or do you get them separately?

Appears to come with Garmin's own camera locations but I will be replacing these with data from Pocket GPS World. However, as the law has changed in France I will be hanging onto their data for there as they have made changes to make it compliant with the new laws (effective Jan 2012) whereas PGPSW have yet to do so.

 

[Bumpkin]

why can't I get the latest western europe update on my Zumo550?

From what I've heard, no direct experience yet myself (though this will change in the next few days once I have the time), Western Europe is now over 2GB in size which is too large to fit on a Zumo 550. Your best option, IMHO, is to download to your PC or Mac and compile your own map-set using MapInstall. As the 550 doesn't use 3D mapping (eye-candy) or Junction View (mildly useful) you won't really be any worse off.

You will need to remove you GMAPPROM.IMG file for this to work. It's located in the Garmin folder in the internal memory. Copy to your computer for safe keeping and delete from the GPS. If you're using a Mac you'll need to empty your trash as well. Once you've done that using MapInstall you can write your mapping to the GPS which creates a GMAPSUPP.IMG file. To protect this you can rename it to GMAPPROM.IMG if you wish though this isn't really necessary. This process will need to be carried out at every future update.

As with other Garmins you can split mapping across internal memory and an SD card to get full Europe, you'll just have more on the SD card than Zumo 660 users.

 

[GSTourer]

Bumpkin,

I THINK I understand what you are saying..........thanks very much for taking the time to explain it.

I MIGHT work up the nerve to give it a go this week.

Thanks again.

 

[Bumpkin]

I MIGHT work up the nerve to give it a go this week.

If you have an SD card write the mapping to this first. This way you can leave the old GMAPPROM.IMG file intact until you're sure. Best to transfer the GMAPSUPP.IMG file to internal memory once you are but plenty of people don't bother. Your call.

You will need to check/select the mapping in the tools, settings, map, map info menu (think that's what it is on the 550), and un-select the old mapping, to make 2013.10 active.

 

[GSTourer]

If you have an SD card write the mapping to this first. This way you can leave the old GMAPPROM.IMG file intact until you're sure. Best to transfer the GMAPSUPP.IMG file to internal memory once you are but plenty of people don't bother. Your call.

You will need to check/select the mapping in the tools, settings, map, map info menu (think that's what it is on the 550), and un-select the old mapping, to make 2013.10 active.

Thanks again.

 

[araspitfire]

Just a FYI... though my GPS is a 2820, not a 660, but they work the same I think..

I backed up then deleted my GMAPPROM.IMG file and used Mapsource to select, then download my preferred mapset to the gps.. it's working fine. with no GMAPPROM.IMG and just the GMAPSUPP.IMG file on board.

Mapsource will also write to SD card.

So if you are already good at Mapsource, no need to learn MapInstall.

The map data has a lot more granularity than what the map installer gives you choice for.. this allows you to get a lot of what you want onto the 2Gb, but be advised that many towns have a tiny map associated with them, it's easy to miss selecting this tiny area when creating the map set.

Al...

 

[Bumpkin]

Just a FYI... though my GPS is a 2820, not a 660, but they work the same I think..

I backed up then deleted my GMAPPROM.IMG file and used Mapsource to select, then download my preferred mapset to the gps.. it's working fine. with no GMAPPROM.IMG and just the GMAPSUPP.IMG file on board.

Mapsource will also write to SD card.

So if you are already good at Mapsource, no need to learn MapInstall.

The map data has a lot more granularity than what the map installer gives you choice for.. this allows you to get a lot of what you want onto the 2Gb, but be advised that many towns have a tiny map associated with them, it's easy to miss selecting this tiny area when creating the map set.

Pretty well what I was recommending. Just for the sake of clarity I was referring to MapInstall (the program) rather than the on-line mapinstaller. MapInstall is available for both Mac and PC. It's correct that Mapsource can also write the GMAPSUPP.IMG file but is only available for PC.

MapInstall is pretty simple and far easier to get to grips with that Mapsource if you haven't encountered either. MapInstall will write to both GPS and SD card as required.

Good point about the small map tiles for major cities, zoom in when selecting map tiles to ensure that you've selected all that you need.

 

[Stonker]

It's arrived now....and in a Garmin box. Now my chance to prove what a Garmin numptey I am

 

[Bumpkin]

It's arrived now....and in a Garmin box.

Yep, it's still a Garmin box. When I said 'white-box' I meant not full retail packaging. These are put together by Garmin using either refurbished returned units or commonly ones that have destined for one market but have been un-packed and re-programmed for, in our case, Europe before being re-packed and sold.

I'm pretty sure mine is a refurb though as it's showing in my myGarmin account as having been first registered on 7th March last year. It also has two mapping versions; the first is City Nav Europe 2011.10 with the 2nd being 2012.10 registered on 6th March 2012... Might explain why I'm not getting a nuMaps Guarantee showing as available... Garmin have yet to respond on that one, will ring them tomorrow and see what's going on.

Out of interest, what mapping version did you get on yours

 

[Stonker]

Don't know, I haven't taken it out of the box yet. How do I know, will it tell me when it boots up?

Sorry for being a numpty, this is my first Garmin

 

[Wapping]

OK thanks. I'm planning a trip to Greece this year and returning via Bulgaria, Romania etc, co maybe I should get a card.

Does it come with speed camera maps etc or do you get them separately?

Your off the shelf newly purchased Garmin will be hunky-dory as is. Just avoid doing a map update, and you'll be fine. If you really can't resist updating the finer map detail for downtown Donegal or Lisbon, then don't load the Nordic maps or Spain. You can chose not to..... Unless you intend to get VERY lost this summer.

Speed camera files..... Delete or turn off. Delete, preferably, along with all the foreign voices, bizarre help files and any of the other old tat Garmin load it up with.

 

[Stonker]

That's an interesting take Wapping, I've not heard anybody say don't update it before?