Pass word to start Garmin

[shedracer]

With us all running these expensive GPS units, on our bikes or cars, wouldn`t it be a marvellous idea if Garmin were to protect their devices with a security pass word on startup?

What I mean by this is, when you switch the GPS on, you would be asked to enter a pass word or number (a default pass word/number would be provided and you could customise it). Although it would not stop it getting nicked, it would atleast be of now use without the pass word/number.

Question is will Garmin provide this at some stage as an software upgrade? If not should they not consider it?

I do remove my Nav11 when I park the bike up, but surely this would be a deterrant if it was known that the unit would only work with the correct pass word/number!!!

What do you guys think?

 

[gazza]

One for Pan Euro I think, good idea though, not sure if there isnt some sort of security with the unlock process, but then that wouldn't render the unit unusable.

 

[PanEuropean]

It has been discussed many times in the past. The new GPSMAP 296 gives the user the ability to customize the start-up screen so that the GPSR displays a splash message with the owner's name, phone number, email, etc. Not sure if this is also available on the 276C, which is a similar unit. I think this is sort of a small scale test to see what owners think of the idea, and to find out if anyone uses the feature.

The only shortcoming of passwords, etc. is that they don't help prevent the unit from being stolen, they only make it difficult for the thief to use the unit after it has been stolen. There has been a lot of research done about the efficacy of passwords for theft control on PDA's, cell phones, car radios, etc. and it all seems to indicate that it really makes no difference.

Garmin does maintain a list of devices that have been stolen, this is helped a lot by the data that the user submits when they unlock maps and/or register the data. The user doesn't even need to know their serial number, assuming they have registered the unit. If someone ever attempts to purchase additional map unlocks for a GPSR after it has been reported stolen, or if the unit is sent in for service after it has been stolen, Garmin passes all the information - IP address, the works - on to the appropriate police force.

I always put my name, phone number, and email address on the back of the GPSR, using label tape from a P-Touch labeller. I personally think I have a greater risk of losing or misplacing the GPSR (e.g. forgetting it somewhere) than I do of having it stolen.

Historically, the most common way of finding the owners of lost GPSR's has been by looking up the location of the waypoint named "HOME" on the GPSR. Most police forces (lost and found departments, stolen property units, the officers that oversee pawnshops, etc.) are well aware of that now.

PanEuropean

 

[Howard Millichap]

gives the user the ability to customize the start-up screen so that the GPSR displays a splash message with the owner's name, phone number, email, etc.

My E-trex vista has this feature.

I think, though, that Garmin need to make their cradles more theft resistant. We shouldn't need to buy a Touratech lockable mount or similar. We all know that in the UK, UNFORTUNATELY, if it's not bolted down some scum tealeaf will 'alfinch it!

 

[BurnieM]

I use a PIN on my phone but then I am not so much worrried about theft as somebody making calls that I will be billed for.

Personally, a PIN on my GPS would just be a pain in the arse.
If I do not set it then some 'mate' comes along and sets it for me I am stuffed.

The HOME waypoint is good for tracking lost GPSRs handed in to the Police.
We tell our customers to put their phone number (and name if room) in the comments field.

 

[PanEuropean]

Howard:

Garmin has released two new cradles in the past year that are specifically made for motorcycles. Both use a special tool (type of screwdriver) to lock the GPSR in the cradle. This helps quite a bit - it keeps honest people honest, if you know what I mean - but I still wouldn't leave the GPSR in the cradle overnight if I parked the moto in a bad part of town (or a bad part of the world, for that matter). I have, however, been leaving my 2650 mounted on the bike, in the SP 26xx motorcycle cradle, all this year whenever I park it anywhere in Switzerland, and I still have the GPSR, no-one has attempted to steal it.

Various vendors have come up with more "heavy duty" cradles for theft protection. I think everyone is familiar with Touratech's designs. The most remarkable one I have ever seen is pictured below, it holds a SP III. I don't know who the manufacturer is.

Regardless of the level of security offered by the bracket, the structure that the bracket uses to attach to the moto is usually the weakest point.

PanEuropean

 

[PanEuropean]

Back Side of above pictured bracket

 

[PanEuropean]

Same bracket, shown with optional Italian touring accessory kit:

 

[shedracer]

Hi chaps, interesting comments. One thing in the UK, you have a very good chance of having kit like this going walkies. So anything that may deter the light fingered people, is good for me. It would be great if this option was available, it would then be down to the individual,whether or not they used it.

Let the customer choose. I do hope that Garmin will re-think the password/number option one day, as I certainly would use it. If my Nav 11 went walkies, aleast the light fingered B*****d wouldn`t be able to use or sell it.



Keep those comments coming.

 

[PanEuropean]

Shedracer:

Doesn't your Nav II bracket (the BMW specific one) come with some form of light duty security device built-in? Obviously, I'm not asking you to post details about it here (maybe the thieves browse the forums), but just a clarification, yes or no. I always thought the BMW Nav II bracket did have a 'casual theft' prevention device.

PanEuropean

 

[MikeO]

Shedracer:

Doesn't your Nav II bracket (the BMW specific one) come with some form of light duty security device built-in? Obviously, I'm not asking you to post details about it here (maybe the thieves browse the forums), but just a clarification, yes or no. I always thought the BMW Nav II bracket did have a 'casual theft' prevention device.

PanEuropean

Pan,

it's more of a device to stop the mounting button coming undone - it would present no difficulty to a thief. I leave the cradle permanently attached to the bike & take the unit with me - unless I'm just having lunch or something, where I can park near where I'm eating. I tend to switch it off so it's not quite so obvious.

I was thinking about putting a label on the cradle saying words to the effect of 'Useless without unlock code' or something like that - (I believe each BMW Nav II cradle is keyed to each Nav II GPSR - or is that an old wives' tale??). Overall, though, I think that leaving it as it is is probably the least obtrusive route.

Mike

 

[PanEuropean]

Hi Mike:

OK, thanks for the clarification. I was part of the team that tested the prototype mounting brackets, so I think I know now what you are talking about. Sad comment about the difference in crime levels worldwide - I think that's pretty much the same kind of thing I have on my Garmin SP 26xx bracket, and I never bother to remove the GPSR from the bracket when I park it here in CH.

The Nav II's are not keyed (electronically) to the BMW mounting brackets, but the Nav II's do have a fractionally different permanant software load in them (kind of like the basemap is a permanant software load) that enables them to recognize and take advantage of the buttons on the BMW cradle, and to display the additional page and features (the page with the compass and RMI pointer) that the Nav II's have.

If you put a normal SP 26xx in the Nav II cradle, it won't recognize or react to the buttons on the cradle, though I do believe all the power and sound wire connections are the same, so it will probably turn on and talk to you, same as the Nav II.

I'm curious - what does the documentation that comes with the Nav II say about updating the system software? Does it tell you to just use the standard SP 26xx software from the Garmin website? Or does it refer you to BMW to buy software updates at $100 each (plus labour for the BMW technician to install them)?

PanEuropean

 

[shedracer]

Hi Pan, as Mike says it does but not realy much of a security device. As for the upgrades, not sure so will have to check up on that.

Paul

 

[mitch]

Nav ll updates

You can get Nav ll updates on BMW Web page MapSource update version 6.10 and Basic software Navigator 11 / update version 3.50 and how to do it. Garmi say DONT use there updates it worked ok on Nav 1 but Nav 11 has tne extra buttons.

Mitch

 

[PanEuropean]

Hi Mitch:

Thanks a lot for that info. If you could post the URL of the BMW website where the updates are, I would appreciate it.

PanEuropean

 

[mitch]

Nav 11 update Web page

BMW Nav 11 [or 1] update Wep page

http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/...stems/bikenavigator2/bikenavigator2_main.html

Click on Navigator downloads [lower inch square box]
Then software [left side below routes]

Click on a update for info.
Mitch