PanEuropean
Registered user
Garmin has released new software for the SP 26xx series (2610, 2620, 2650, and 2660).
This is a maintenance release, meaning no new features are provided, this update only fixes a few very minor and very rare errors. There is no great urgency to get the software updated, but it is good practice to run the most recent software release.
HOWEVER... The software packages are different for each of the above-mentioned 4 models of GPSR. I recall we were discussing this topic here a few weeks ago, and I mentioned that up to version 3.70, the software package was the same for all 4 GPSRs. Not any more. So, please make sure you download the correct package for the model of GPSR you own - 2510, 2620, 2650, or 2660, as the case may be.
The updated software is available here. If you have a BMW Navigator II, the updated software will eventually be available here (follow the directions in the lower left of the screen that lead you to 'Navigation Systems').
Additional Helpful Information for New Users
The updating process is quite simple. Download the appropriate package from Garmin. It is a zipped (compressed) file, so once you have downloaded it, double-click on it to extract the contents. Take note of where your computer proposes to extract the files to, so you can find them 15 seconds later. There are three files in the package, a .rgn file, an updater program, and a read me file. The .rgn file actually contains the software. The updater file is just a program to move the new software to the GPSR - it does not change from version to version. Connect your GPSR to your computer with the USB cable, then turn the GPSR on. Select the "use indoors" mode so the GPSR won't annoy you with messages about not being able to find the satellites. Then drag the .rgn file on top of the updater application with your mouse, and let go of it. The GPSR will update automatically.
There is another way of doing the software update, if you wish - it is more complicated than what I just explained, but can be helpful if you are away from home and don't have the USB cable, but you do have a CF card reader in your computer. Take the CF card out of the GPSR and put it in the computer. There will be a folder called "Garmin" on the card, and inside this folder will be one monster-size file containing your maps. This file ends with the extension ".rgn". Just remove that file (the map file) from the Garmin folder, then put the .rgn file from the update package in the Garmin folder, put the CF card back in the GPSR, and turn the GPSR on. It will boot up and update automatically. After the update is done (GPSR will restart again), turn the GPSR off, take the CF card out and put it back in your computer, discard the update .rgn file, and put the monster-size .rgn file that contains your map segments back into the Garmin folder of the CF card. Then put the CF card back in your GPSR and use as normal.
Note that it is always good practice to backup your routes, waypoints, and tracks to your computer, using the MapSource program, before updating the GPSR software. 99% of the time, software updates will not affect routes, waypoints and tracks stored in the non-volatile memory of the GPSR, but 1% of the time (usually when a user is jumping 4 upgrade releases ahead at one time) the non-vol gets wiped.
I noticed, when updating a friend's 2620 today, that the update did not affect his non-vol, but the GPSR thought it was back in Kansas when it was turned on after the update. Because it will only show user waypoints within 200 miles of where it thinks it is, and my friend had no waypoints within 200 miles of Kansas, we both thought the update had blown out the non-vol. That wasn't the case, but it did have us worried for a moment. So, upload your non-vol to your computer and save it using MapSource first, then do the software update second.
PanEuropean
This is a maintenance release, meaning no new features are provided, this update only fixes a few very minor and very rare errors. There is no great urgency to get the software updated, but it is good practice to run the most recent software release.
HOWEVER... The software packages are different for each of the above-mentioned 4 models of GPSR. I recall we were discussing this topic here a few weeks ago, and I mentioned that up to version 3.70, the software package was the same for all 4 GPSRs. Not any more. So, please make sure you download the correct package for the model of GPSR you own - 2510, 2620, 2650, or 2660, as the case may be.
The updated software is available here. If you have a BMW Navigator II, the updated software will eventually be available here (follow the directions in the lower left of the screen that lead you to 'Navigation Systems').
Additional Helpful Information for New Users
The updating process is quite simple. Download the appropriate package from Garmin. It is a zipped (compressed) file, so once you have downloaded it, double-click on it to extract the contents. Take note of where your computer proposes to extract the files to, so you can find them 15 seconds later. There are three files in the package, a .rgn file, an updater program, and a read me file. The .rgn file actually contains the software. The updater file is just a program to move the new software to the GPSR - it does not change from version to version. Connect your GPSR to your computer with the USB cable, then turn the GPSR on. Select the "use indoors" mode so the GPSR won't annoy you with messages about not being able to find the satellites. Then drag the .rgn file on top of the updater application with your mouse, and let go of it. The GPSR will update automatically.
There is another way of doing the software update, if you wish - it is more complicated than what I just explained, but can be helpful if you are away from home and don't have the USB cable, but you do have a CF card reader in your computer. Take the CF card out of the GPSR and put it in the computer. There will be a folder called "Garmin" on the card, and inside this folder will be one monster-size file containing your maps. This file ends with the extension ".rgn". Just remove that file (the map file) from the Garmin folder, then put the .rgn file from the update package in the Garmin folder, put the CF card back in the GPSR, and turn the GPSR on. It will boot up and update automatically. After the update is done (GPSR will restart again), turn the GPSR off, take the CF card out and put it back in your computer, discard the update .rgn file, and put the monster-size .rgn file that contains your map segments back into the Garmin folder of the CF card. Then put the CF card back in your GPSR and use as normal.
Note that it is always good practice to backup your routes, waypoints, and tracks to your computer, using the MapSource program, before updating the GPSR software. 99% of the time, software updates will not affect routes, waypoints and tracks stored in the non-volatile memory of the GPSR, but 1% of the time (usually when a user is jumping 4 upgrade releases ahead at one time) the non-vol gets wiped.
I noticed, when updating a friend's 2620 today, that the update did not affect his non-vol, but the GPSR thought it was back in Kansas when it was turned on after the update. Because it will only show user waypoints within 200 miles of where it thinks it is, and my friend had no waypoints within 200 miles of Kansas, we both thought the update had blown out the non-vol. That wasn't the case, but it did have us worried for a moment. So, upload your non-vol to your computer and save it using MapSource first, then do the software update second.
PanEuropean
