street pilot 2610 Query

[George crozer]

I'm about to buy a 2610 as a cheaper alternative to a new GPS.
Could you confirm that i will be able to:-

1. Obviously do the simple A to B route in fastest, shortest or avoiding crap
2. Plan a route with several waypoints say back roads village to village across a county.
3. Plan a route on a Mac (at least with Boot camp) then up load to SD card via a reader.
4. Track a route taken and down load to a computer.
5. Perhaps Geo tag photos.
6. Hear voice commands through starcom 1 Advanced.
7. Get additional maps as required.

George

 

[chasr]

3. Can't remember. Think it's a CF card. Normally load a route via USB.
5. Doubt it; ask Ebbo.
7. Uses non-NT maps. Have heard that this year's the last year for update.

Yes to the rest, assuming you're getting all of the discs & codes.

The 2610 is the best GPS ever made for general use on bikes. And, if it was still fully supported by Garmin, there's nothing more flexible. However, for not much more, there are better units available. Nuvi 550 for one (mine was less than £225 without mounts). Second-hand Zumos next. Zumo 660 next.

 

[MiGSel]

1. Obviously do the simple A to B route in fastest, shortest or avoiding crap
Yes

2. Plan a route with several waypoints say back roads village to village across a county.
Yes

3. Plan a route on a Mac (at least with Boot camp) then up load to SD card via a reader.
Yes

4. Track a route taken and down load to a computer.
Yes

5. Perhaps Geo tag photos.
Not with the unit but the track log contains location & time info

6. Hear voice commands through starcom 1 Advanced.
Yes

7. Get additional maps as required.
Yes, additional maps can be installed.
City Navigator update 2009 is the last one for non-NT maps as on the 2610, as stated above.

2610 is a fine unit, not the latest bling but just as capable as a Zümo.

Cheers,
Michel

 

[shaagar]

George,

Just make sure the garmin it is the SD version and NOT the microdrive, as i have found out to my expense

Steve

 

[Dave Ett]

The 2610 is SD card only only, the 2620 went to microdrive.

 

[George crozer]

does the nuvi 550 have the ability to heard through ear piece ?

 

[George crozer]

I can buy the 2610 with Garmin Mapsource City Navigator Europe V7.0
how do i get version 8 there doesn't seem to be any on ebay am I missing something here?

 

[Dave Ett]

The latest version is version 9, so I suggest you go straight to that one, or download something like smelly bikers world map - half the price!

 

[Deleted account 220427002]

The 2610 is SD card only only, the 2620 went to microdrive.

i think you'll find it's CF not SD


it is not worth buying an old unit if you're going to then upgrade maps at around£70.... makes more sense to buy a newer second hand Zumo or the like... I've heard you can upgrade the mapping on them for free ( but it's illegal i might add)

the Zumo is also battery powered so you can work on the unit off the bike... you can't do that with the 2610

 

[Steve]

i think you'll find it's CF not SD

Correct.

Also, the routes, waypoints etc on the 2610 are stored on the unit, not the card, so you won't be able to upload them via a card reader.

 

[Blackal]

Some things to consider when buying a 2610:

The track storage is very small, compared to the Zumo (a day approx - compared to the Zumo, which is in excess of a week )

The map display moves less smoothly than the Zumo

It hasn't got an internal battery, like the Zumo has.

It is not as easy to find say - Petrol stations "on the hoof" - in that it takes more prodding with your gloved finger on the 2610 - than on the Zumo.

By the time you buy all the bracketry and map updates - you are getting very close to the cost of a S/H Zumo 400/450.

The Zumo will still be fixable by Garmin, if it breaks down.

Al

 

[Dave Ett]

i think you'll find it's CF not SD

Doh! So it is.

 

[chasr]

does the nuvi 550 have the ability to heard through ear piece ?

No.
And the rest of my post earlier is spot on.

 

[Bumpkin]

If you're on a tight budget and want decent on bike core GPS functionality without the bells and whistles of the latest units (i.e. no MP3, Bluetooth etc.) then a StreetPilot 2720 could be an option. It's the successor to the 2610. These run NT mapping so the mapping will still be upgradable and have quite a few advantages over the 2610 such as proximity alerts, practically limitless POI capacity, NT mapping, pseudo 3D display option. They can be had from eBay for a little over £100, or less if you're lucky.

You need to factor in the cost of a mapping update and mounting hardware which can add quite a bit and you need to know the Garmin pitfalls when buying from eBay, or similar. The key is the mapping data unlock code and the willingness of the seller to confirm the sale to Garmin to allow transfer of registration to you. Without these you won't be able to update the mapping.