Zumo Mapping Update (2013.10) - The Rest of Europe

[Bumpkin]

Any Zumo 660 users that have updated to City Navigator Europe 2013.10 will know that all of the European mapping no longer fits onto their internal memory. Instead you're offered a list of regions to choose from, Western Europe being the obvious choice. Well, for those of us that live in the UK at least.

Should we need to go further afield, or just want to have everything on your Zumo because that's how it should be, then you have to build an additional map-set and write this to a microSD card.

I've just done just this and thought I'd share a GDB file that selects the correct map tiles for you. Far easier than choosing them one by one. Please note that you have to have City Navigator Europe 2013.10 installed on your PC, the GDB file only contains the references to the relevant map tiles, not the mapping data itself. You will need to use Mapsource to open and use this, MapInstall or Basecamp won't do I'm afraid, sorry Mac users... (chorttle )

Download the GDB file

Here's what you should see in Mapsource

Once open and Zumo plugged in, or you can write the file to an SD card in a reader if you prefer (slightly quicker), use the 'send to device' button in the menu and proceed from there. It should take 10-20 minutes depending on the speed of your PC. The file is about 600MB in size and will be accompanied by a small .GMA file which is your unlock. N.B. Your mapping needs to be fully unlocked on your PC for this to work properly, otherwise you'll get an error about locked mapping when you boot the GPS.

 

[Grey Beard]

Hello Bumpkin

I have just been trying this and having some problems (surprise, surprise).

Zumo 660 is fully up to date with software and I am trying to load the updated maps. Last night loaded the latest version of Western Europe to the Zumo, but did not include the PC as I wanted to load the whole of Europe to the PC and then load the non Western Europe stuff to the Zumo SD Card from the PC.

Then the problems started. My ISP decided to take the Internet off line for some reason (service/maintenance I guess last night) so I restarted today.

Unfortunately the Web Updater wouldn't let me upgrade the maps on the PC, because it saw that the Zumo was already up to date. Any idea what Zumo file(s) to delete to allow me to update the PC files? I did try Lifetime Updater to transfer the files to the PC but that doesn't seem to have updated properly.

I just tried manually selecting the Eastern Europe type files in Mapsource and sending them to the Zumo. As these had not been updated, they fit on the Zumo. I did save the Mapsource Eastern Europe files as a .GDB file and that is only 7kb or so. How are the map files transferred to the SD Card after you copy the .gdb file to the SD card?

Any advice, ideas, etc?

Thanks

Grey Beard

 

[John Armstrong]

Go to your mygarmin account and start the download again. My internet went down and I easily loaded the maps onto the 660. You just need to make sure you give it the answers to the questions that give you the results you want, IYSWIM.

 

[Bumpkin]

Web Updater wouldn't let me upgrade the maps on the PC, because it saw that the Zumo was already up to date. Any idea what Zumo file(s) to delete to allow me to update the PC files? I did try Lifetime Updater to transfer the files to the PC but that doesn't seem to have updated properly.

Be brave and proceed as if you're going to reinstall the mapping onto the Zumo, the options screen that follows will give you the choice of sending mapping to just the Zumo, the Zumo and PC or just the PC. It's obviously the last one that you need.

I just tried manually selecting the Eastern Europe type files in Mapsource and sending them to the Zumo. As these had not been updated, they fit on the Zumo. I did save the Mapsource Eastern Europe files as a .GDB file and that is only 7kb or so. How are the map files transferred to the SD Card after you copy the .gdb file to the SD card?

You don't copy the GDB file to the Zumo or SD card. That file is, in effect a template, that will define what map tiles from CN Europe 2013.10 should be transferred to the GPS. Once you've opened the downloaded GDB file in Mapsource you're getting pink marked tiles as shown in the image above, correct? Once you have this you need to click the 'send to device' icon in the tool bar.

This will open a dialogue that will show some check-boxes, Maps should be pre-selected and the only one checked. Below that there is a drop down menu showing the devices that you can send the mapping to. If you have the Zumo plugged in it will show, if this has and SD card in it this will also be in this drop down as just a drive letter. If you're writing to the SD card but in a card reader this will be shown on it's own. If you have other USB drives or memory sticks attached then these might appear as well. You obviously want to write the mapping to your SD card.

Then Mapsource will take a while to index and build the mapping into the appropriate file and send it to your card, this will take some time, mainly depending on the speed of your PC.

 

[Grey Beard]

I am using Web Updater to update the maps. When I try to reupdate, it asks if I want to reinstall the same version or look for other updates (which are the foreign voices only). I don't think it is going to give me a choice of regions or locations, but will give it a go.

The Internet went down on me last night after I had successfully updated the maps on the Zumo. I didn't get a chance to try loading the new maps to the PC until today. I think if I selected Western Europe for the Zumo, it would only let me download Western Europe to the PC at that time. Is Web Updater the best one to use? I understand from Garmin that the Lifetime Updater software is flaky.

EDIT 1
In My Dashboard/My Garmin, it just says the Map Software is already up to date so does not give me the option of reinstalling. I did a Hardware Reset. The Web Updater allows me to update the Garmin Software (as does the Dashboard) but it is already up to date. Something strange.

EDIT 2
Lifetime Updater
Using this I can select location but even with update PC only, which has plenty of space, it seems to be updating only Western Europe and not the whole of Europe! Trying this to see if it will help but this is doing my head in now!

Grey Beard

 

[Grey Beard]

You don't copy the GDB file to the Zumo or SD card. That file is, in effect a template, that will define what map tiles from CN Europe 2013.10 should be transferred to the GPS. Once you've opened the downloaded GDB file in Mapsource you're getting pink marked tiles as shown in the image above, correct? Once you have this you need to click the 'send to device' icon in the tool bar.

This will open a dialogue that will show some check-boxes, Maps should be pre-selected and the only one checked. Below that there is a drop down menu showing the devices that you can send the mapping to. If you have the Zumo plugged in it will show, if this has and SD card in it this will also be in this drop down as just a drive letter. If you're writing to the SD card but in a card reader this will be shown on it's own. If you have other USB drives or memory sticks attached then these might appear as well. You obviously want to write the mapping to your SD card.

Then Mapsource will take a while to index and build the mapping into the appropriate file and send it to your card, this will take some time, mainly depending on the speed of your PC.

Your GDB file is the latest version of the map software, which I am still trying to install on my PC! I made my own version of the GDB file and when I click on that it highlights the Eastern European files in Mapsource. Now I see where the SD Card option is - hidden below the Zumo 660 Device choice in the menu. Thanks!!

OK,so I still need to see if I can update the PC with the full version of Europe, or at least the latest version of the Eastern European files to allow me to update the Zumo. I don't know if there is something corrupted in the Lifetime Updater or it is just plain buggy that it will not allow me to send the whole of Europe Map to the PC is one shot.

Grey Beard

 

[trebor]

Following Bumpkin's lead I've created similar files for the 550. As Western Europe will no longer fit on the 550 I've created one file that will select the maps for Western Europe but without Norway, Finland & Greece, this creates a map file that is about 1.77 Gb which should fit on the Zumo. The other file will select the maps for Eastern Europe with Norway, Finland & Greece (file size approx. 747.3 Mb) for downloading to the SD card.

It is relatively easy to amend these files if you are not happy with their location (Zumo or SD card), or to move more maps to the SD card should the maps grow even further in future releases.

Bob

p.s. you will need to delete GMAPPROM.IMG on the Zumo before you can install the maps to the Zumo's memory, so don't forget to back it up first!

 

[Bumpkin]

I've created similar files for the 550

good man, thanks for sharing

What happens if I want to go to French Guiana or Reunion Only joking

 

[John Armstrong]

What happens if I want to go to or Reunion

I've been there, very strange flying hours and hours south and still in Europe, monetary wise anyway.

 

[Grey Beard]

Your GDB file is the latest version of the map software, which I am still trying to install on my PC! I made my own version of the GDB file and when I click on that it highlights the Eastern European files in Mapsource. Now I see where the SD Card option is - hidden below the Zumo 660 Device choice in the menu. Thanks!!

OK,so I still need to see if I can update the PC with the full version of Europe, or at least the latest version of the Eastern European files to allow me to update the Zumo. I don't know if there is something corrupted in the Lifetime Updater or it is just plain buggy that it will not allow me to send the whole of Europe Map to the PC is one shot.

Grey Beard

Update
Loaded the updated Europe files to my PC. Lifetime Updater said it was only updating the PC with Western Europe files, but in fact that seems to, by default, load the entire Europe files to the PC. That was an unnecessary confusion.

After that, it was simple enough to load the Eastern Europe files, not accommodated in the Zumo 660 internal memory, to the SD Card following Bumkin's advice.

Since I originally bought a Garmin III Plus GPS with only 1.44MB memory (many, many years ago), I have been careful to ensure that future GPS devices have an SD Slot to allow for increased mapping file sizes.

Grey Beard

 

[Bumpkin]

Glad you got there GB

Since I originally bought a Garmin III Plus GPS with only 1.44MB memory (many, many years ago), I have been careful to ensure that future GPS devices have an SD Slot to allow for increased mapping file sizes.

Having followed a little later with Quest (243MB) and then an SP2720 (2GB) I can sympathise with that point of view. 1.44MB what could you fit onto that, a trip to your local Tescos with current City Nav would require considerably more than that I accept that the mapping data was considerably 'thinner' in those days.

 

[Grey Beard]

Having followed a little later with Quest (243MB) and then an SP2720 (2GB) I can sympathise with that point of view. 1.44MB what could you fit onto that, a trip to your local Tescos with current City Nav would require considerably more than that I accept that the mapping data was considerably 'thinner' in those days.

It was OK in it's day and I used it mainly for hill walking, but also when I came to Germany, used it to navigate with car in Hamburg. Plotted route in Mapsource and uploaded to Garmin. Found myself going round in circles, until I realised the maximum number of way points allowed was only about 20 or so . No warning from Mapsource of course!!

How things have changed.

Grey Beard

 

[Grey Beard]

I haven't tried this but I suspect that Garmin Basecamp will work for loading the Eastern European type files to the SD Card.

On the left hand panel of Basecamp, 'All Data' and then Utilities/Install Map on Garmin Zumo ...

or Basecamp, 'Garmin' and then Utilities/Install Maps on Garmin (G), which is the SD Card.

Trying to get used to Basecamp and I am getting to like it for Walking type maps.

Grey Beard

 

[Bumpkin]

I haven't tried this but I suspect that Garmin Basecamp will work for loading the Eastern European type files to the SD Card.

This just fires up MapInstall, I don't thing Basecamp is capable of loading or showing the tiles from the GDB file for non the Western European countries. In fact the new version 4 MapInstall seems to be a retrograde step with fewer options than the previous version.

 

[Grey Beard]

This just fires up MapInstall, I don't thing Basecamp is capable of loading or showing the tiles from the GDB file for non the Western European countries. In fact the new version 4 MapInstall seems to be a retrograde step with fewer options than the previous version.

Have just tried this, but as you say, BaseCamp doesn't seem to show individual map tiles, just a blue line around the perimeter of the maps included in the set. Seems strange that BaseCamp can't do this if Garmin are trying, as rumoured, to phase out MapSource.

I will just have to find the manual on-line and have a read through it!

Grey Beard

 

[Bumpkin]

if Garmin are trying, as rumoured, to phase out MapSource.

Trying? It is officially phased out. There will be no further development. 6.16.3 is the end of the road, this was apparently least updated towards the end of 2010.

 

[GSTourer]

Why I wonder can"t we just choose individual countries (from a list maybe) that we would like on the units and then download just them?

 

[cookie]

Why I wonder can"t garmin make their gps units with enough memory to hold their own mapping?


memory's cheap, and their units are expensive. what's the problem?

 

[GSTourer]

Why I wonder can"t garmin make their gps units with enough memory to hold their own mapping?


memory's cheap, and their units are expensive. what's the problem?

Yep........my main gripe too, you wouldn't think it was difficult to imagine that mapping would only get bigger and Garmin would have planned accordingly.

 

[Bumpkin]

Why I wonder can"t we just choose individual countries (from a list maybe) that we would like on the units and then download just them?

I agree, a set of check-boxes would be far more useful, especially for 550 users who can't now get a sensible regional option that's on the list to fit. Maybe some suggested regions that pre-populate the check-boxes as well. From the interface point of view this isn't hard. However, I can see an issue from a server load perspective as these mapping sets would need to be compiled on the fly as there would be a large number of permutations. Currently they, most likely, have the offered regions pre-compiled and ready to go. Just generate and add the appropriate GMA unlock file then download to your unit.

Think how long it takes for Mapsource or MapInstall to prepare mapping before it starts to write it to your GPS. When new mapping is released and everyone with Lifetime subs is getting updates from the Garmin servers it would, in very short order, bring them to their knees I would imagine.

Yep........my main gripe too, you wouldn't think it was difficult to imagine that mapping would only get bigger and Garmin would have planned accordingly.

When the 550 came out all of Europe would fit on comfortably, same with the 660 (with even more spare room). Yes, maybe with a bit more forethought they could have allowed more free space. However, having an SD card is a real bonus and a means to fitting, in practical terms, as much mapping as you need. Didn't have that with my SP2720.

New Zumo 300 series models are in the pipeline. Though they appear, and as their model number indicates, to be mid range rather than a replacement for the 660.