SPIII GPS for £150 !!

walti said:
I'm being a numpty!

I've got the SP111 I've got the Software installed, and updated, and unlocked, I can download maps to the memory card, but don't seem to be able to download waypoints and routes....

I can't see anything obvious that I'm doing wrong, any ideas?
Maps you download to the memory card in the USB-programmer.

Waypoints, routes and tracks you dowload to the SP3 over the serial cable.
 
HMR said:
Maps you download to the memory card in the USB-programmer.

Waypoints, routes and tracks you dowload to the SP3 over the serial cable.

D'Oh!

Thanks!

I'd tried both and failed, but not seperated the file types!
 
Just used it in anger for the first time today!

Superb bit of kit I'm well pleased!

Had a bit of a problem with the power supply though as I wired into the BMW accessory socket connector, with a temporary wiring connection, which worked loose after a while.

Did anyone find a source for the mating halves of this plug?
 
walti said:
Just used it in anger for the first time today!
Superb bit of kit I'm well pleased!
Had a bit of a problem with the power supply though as I wired into the BMW accessory socket connector, with a temporary wiring connection, which worked loose after a while.
Did anyone find a source for the mating halves of this plug?

Walti,

Not, sure I understand. There were two cable options, BEC01 is bare wire end with inline fuse and CLC01B has the BMW fused power plug with red outer cover. The latter should mate with the socket under seat (LHS) ?. Otherwise pls tell more ?.

RAM-man
 
walti said:
Arrived today. Have to say I'm a little disapointed with the RAM mount! :eek: With the big disk thing screwed to the back of the mounting cradle, you then can't use the standard Garmin mount, as the RAM bit fouls the tilt mechanism... :eek: still nothing that can't be fixed with a hacksaw and a file! :eek:

Walti,

The mounting is governed by the Garmin cradle, so if using their SPIII, 2610/2720/2820 or even a Quest, then they adopt a four hole fix pattern (AMPS), so a round base is used with Garmin mounts. It has always been that the cradle (as many realise) is taken from the beanbag kit and attached using the screw/collar nut pouch included.

RAM-man
 
HI, I jsut ditched the swively bit at the bottom and mounted the cradle directlly onto the ram mount disk as Paneuro suggestedd, makes for a nice neat and easily removable mounting. :eek:
 
Thought I'd better post another update once I'd calmed down.

Yes, I did say I was p!ssed off at the time and the tone of my post reflected that. The problems were NOT just due to my own PC. There were problems with the software which GPSW admitted they were aware of.

The unit supplied to me was faulty but I was unaware of that so it seemed reasonable to contact Garmin for guidance. Being put on hold for an hour is totally unacceptable customer support in my opinion as they had no way of knowing what my query was about. I've had good and bad experience of Garmin customer support in the past. At one show, the support staff were helpful and answered all questions whereas at another show the very overweight chap in charge was extremely rude to potential customers (I believe he no longer works for Garmin).

GPSW were very helpful when I got through to them and finally sorted me out.

Garmin literature states to contact them with technical queries. If they have nobody available to answer their phones then perhaps they should change the recorded message to state somelike like "we're busy, phone back another time" rather than the irritating "Your call is important to us and will be answered shortly" and then keep you on hold for an hour.

I fully know that the GPS III is out of date and made the decision to purchase knowing exactly what I should get for £150 compared to all other systems available on the market. I don't need all the latest gadgets and blue tooth etc so it seems to be what I wanted for the right price.
 
Well, I finally got mine going at around midnight on sat after downloading the updates from the garmin website. I must say I'm well pleased with it.
I dont think that its Garmin's software thats the problem cos that works fine.
Its just the windows environment...to be quite honest I'm not a big fan of it, I think its shit. My next computer could well be an applemac... will garmin software work on these?
 
3 phone calls and 2 broken promises - and I've still no mount!

If you're still waiting on yours, better nip their tits a bit harder - promised now for tomorrow by 1pm, we'll see.
 
evenflow said:
I dont think that its Garmin's software thats the problem cos that works fine.
Its just the windows environment...to be quite honest I'm not a big fan of it, I think its shit. My next computer could well be an applemac... will garmin software work on these?

According to THIS press release, mapsource should be available for Mac OS X the end of 2006.

Or,

An alternative from Apple for the latest Intel Macs is BOOT CAMP, which will allow you to dual boot Mac OS X, and for when you *really* have to, Windows XP.

Mapsource = The only reason there's a computer running Windows in my house :)

-Rob
 
Had the unit for a few days now, and used in anger for the first time yesterday. Would like to say thanks to many of the posters on this thread who in answering others questions also answered mine. Everything has worked satisfactorily, and I'm very pleased.

Only issue was I found the in-car lead wasn't powering the unit. Tested it further today and found there was nothing wrong with the lead, but the base of the lighter socket was dirty, and once cleaned it works fine.

cheers,
Alan
 
Scottch said:
3 phone calls and 2 broken promises - and I've still no mount! . If you're still waiting on yours, better nip their tits a bit harder - promised now for tomorrow by 1pm, we'll see.

Scottch, there's noone 'ere.
I went and checked for you .. I am told they all SPIII mounts have gone and no orders are outstanding. Hope it helps, a little.

RAM-man
 
I may be a bit of a GPS numpty here but can anybody tell me if it is vital that the aerial on the SPIII be in the vertical position for the unit to work correctly - or does it not matter?

Thanks,

Andy
 
RAM-man said:
Scottch, there's noone 'ere.
I went and checked for you .. I am told they all SPIII mounts have gone and no orders are outstanding. Hope it helps, a little.

RAM-man

Thanks Steve - spoke to a girl at GPSW this morning.

Turns out no-one posted mine yet, but she guaranteed I'd have it by 1pm tomorrow.

I'll have my can of whoop ass ready for 1:05pm ;)
 
RAM-man said:
Walti,

The mounting is governed by the Garmin cradle, so if using their SPIII, 2610/2720/2820 or even a Quest, then they adopt a four hole fix pattern (AMPS), so a round base is used with Garmin mounts. It has always been that the cradle (as many realise) is taken from the beanbag kit and attached using the screw/collar nut pouch included.

RAM-man

It's exactly what I did, then when I wanted to use it in the car, I needed to remove the RAM bit and refit the swivelly bit.

Now I have the best of both worlds as the swivelly bit works with the RAM mounted and I'm a happy bunny! (see the post with the photo of the masacred RAM mount)

Not having a go, the mount is obviously for more than one device so it's like everything in life, a compromise - my compromise was to attak it with a chainsaw! (well a hacksaw! ;) )

I'll buy you a :beer: should we ever meet, as I'm well pleased with the whole kit, GPS, software AND mount!
 
RAM-man said:
Walti,

Not, sure I understand. There were two cable options, BEC01 is bare wire end with inline fuse and CLC01B has the BMW fused power plug with red outer cover. The latter should mate with the socket under seat (LHS) ?. Otherwise pls tell more ?.

RAM-man

In that case I bought the wrong cable! D'Oh! i had intended to connect it to the BMW socket under the dash - the one that's there to connect the cockpit accessory socket to if you go for it

Thanks for all the help! :bow

Paul
 
Speggo said:
Has anyone established if these units are entitled to a CN v8 upgrade free of charge?

Mute point as they are out of stock, something it took lots of phone calls to establish!!
 
Speggo said:
Has anyone established if these units are entitled to a CN v8 upgrade free of charge?


I telephoned Garmin and they told me it was, but I don't know the finer points on how to obtain it. Is it not a download from the website?

Marky
 
I phoned Garmin and they said I was entitled to the free upgrade to CN 8. They are sending me the DVD and apparently when I am prmpted for the unlock code it will check what version I am currently on and when it was unlocked/registered - this should determine that CN 8 can be unlocked free of charge.
 


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