Zumo Mapping Update (2013.10) - The Rest of Europe

[GSTourer]

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.



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.

As a matter of interest.......how is it they get the latest mapping on a new 550,but there is insufficient room on my 'old' one?

Do the latest have larger drives?

Thanks.

 

[Bumpkin]

As a matter of interest.......how is it they get the latest mapping on a new 550,but there is insufficient room on my 'old' one?

Do the latest have larger drives?

Good question which I'm afraid I don't have the answer. Need someone who's recently bought one to plug it in a report.

They do produce versions with different capacities anyway. ISTR that the European 550 has 2GB (other markets may vary) but there was the 500 and 450 versions as well. I think that the latter had less memory. I can't see a reason why they can't produce them with more than 2GB. You'd have thought, if this were the case, that they would mention this on the product pages of their website though.

 

[buncobooth]

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.

If I write this directly onto my Micro SD do I need to then just have that in the device for this to work ? Does it matter if I am planning a route and some of the maps are in the Zumo and some on the SD ? There seems to be a map not selected North of Poland - where is that (I don't have a clue !!)

Ian

 

[Bumpkin]

If I write this directly onto my Micro SD do I need to then just have that in the device for this to work ?

You have to use the GDB file in Mapsource, this selects the correct tiles (only in the current 2013.10 mapping) for you to then write this as a map-set to your SD card using the send to device command.

The GDB file defines all the European mapping, from this version, that is not included in the Western Europe option offered by Garmin as part of the on-line update process.

The mapping can be written to the SD card located in your GPS or in a card reader.

Once the writing process is complete your GPS will recognise the mapping. There is no further need for the GDB file, once you have closed Mapsource it may now be deleted.

Please note the following: You have to have the mapping (City Nav Europe 2013.10) installed and fully unlocked on your PC. The file I have provided contains no actual mapping data, it just tells Mapsource which tiles to select from the mapping you have installed saving you the bother of having to select each and every individual tile.

Does it matter if I am planning a route and some of the maps are in the Zumo and some on the SD ?

The transition between mapping on the internal memory of your GPS and on the SD card will be seamless, routes will work as if it was one mapping set.

There seems to be a map not selected North of Poland - where is that (I don't have a clue !!)

That's Kaliningrad Oblast, formally part of East Prussia but annexed by the Russians after the WWII, they aren't in a hurry to hand it back to anyone especially as Prussia no longer exists. So, seeing as it's part of the Russian Federation and not part of Europe it's not included in City Nav Europe. HTH

If you want detailed mapping of Kaliningrad Oblast for your Garmin then try OpenStreetMap, it's peer reviewed open-source mapping.

 

[buncobooth]

Thanks for the Info I assumed that much, presumably next map update your GDB won't work as it is tied to the current update right ? Bloody hell why can't they work out some way to compress the maps or something

Thanks for the history lesson btw

I did ask Garmin if you can remove the 3d information I expect that this is part of the space problem, they said you can remove it after loading but the next time you try to load it just gets loaded back in again. So the map loader will not let you load the coverages minus the 3d (why not this seems logical).

 

[Bumpkin]

Thanks for the Info I assumed that much, presumably next map update your GDB won't work as it is tied to the current update right ? Bloody hell why can't they work out some way to compress the maps or something

There were noises of a revised on-line updater that would offer to split the entire map-set across your GPS and installed SD card. When I spoke to Garmin about this a few months ago (twix 2012.40 and 2013.10) the guy I spoke to said that it wouldn't be for all devices so not sure if it's been rolled out and doesn't do the Zumo or is still in the pipe-line

If not available for 2013.20 then I'll produce another GDB file.

I did ask Garmin if you can remove the 3d information I expect that this is part of the space problem, they said you can remove it after loading but the next time you try to load it just gets loaded back in again. So the map loader will not let you load the coverages minus the 3d (why not this seems logical).

Yes, the only way you'll get around that is to not update the GPS on-line but do it all from your PC. If you miss out the 3D mapping and the Junction View file then you'll save about 1GB between the two. Seeing as the balance of Europe is only 0.6GB if you sacrifice these files, and their associated eye-candy, then you could still get all of Europe onto a 660.

In fact, if you move the GMAP3D.IMG file and any associated files to the SD card (/Garmin/ folder) there's plenty of room to move the balance of Europe to the internal memory. This still leaves ample room for swinging of cats etc.

BTW, just noticed that you live only a metaphorical stone's throw away, I'm near Ledbury.

 

[buncobooth]

Yes I live in Leigh Sinton actually, that does not usually feature in drop down list of places as it doesn't even qualify as a village

 

[buncobooth]

Sorted Thanks for your help with this, shame Garmin are not so bloody helpful

 

[buncobooth]

In fact, if you move the GMAP3D.IMG file and any associated files to the SD card (/Garmin/ folder) there's plenty of room to move the balance of Europe to the internal memory. This still leaves ample room for swinging of cats etc.

BTW, just noticed that you live only a metaphorical stone's throw away, I'm near Ledbury.

Do you think this will work ? I have noticed that with maps on the SD card searching for places is so slow, could I either move the 3D file to the SD card (or even remove it altogether as I don't see the point) and move the maps from the SD card to the device instead ?

 

[Bumpkin]

Do you think this will work ? I have noticed that with maps on the SD card searching for places is so slow, could I either move the 3D file to the SD card (or even remove it altogether as I don't see the point) and move the maps from the SD card to the device instead ?

Have done this with my 660, GMAP3D.IMG is on SD card (in Garmin folder) and GMAPSUPP.IMG is on device memory (again in Garmin folder). Any associated files such as the unlock .GMA file for the rest of Europe got moved to the same locations as their associated main files.

Seems to work OK. Just 'teleported' to Belgrade and simulated a route from the town centre to to a hotel, from the built in POIs, some 3.5 miles away. Apart from the comical pronunciation of the street names (not that I'm fluent in Serbian) 'Doris' performed as usual. Even got a few speed camera alerts from Pocket GPS World data.

 

[andyclift]

Will the 2013 Update fit on a 660?

Just updated to the 2013 maps and it is possible to fit it all on a 660.

The map updater and map install does not seem to do a very good job of calculating the space available on the 660 for the maps and does not seem to allow for the fact that the new maps will overwrite the old so can use the same space.

I work as follows:

Use the Updater program to install the maps ONLY on the computer.

Delete the old maps from the 660 and empty the trash.

Use Mapinstall to copy the new maps to the 660.

I had the same problem on the 2012 maps and used the above solution. A trip to Eastern Europe confirmed everything was installed as expected.

(I use an iMac but I guess the problem and solution is the same on a PC)

Can't pick map tiles in Basecamp.

That's because Garmin expect you to use Mapinstall.

 

[Grey Beard]

I am surprised you can get the 2013.10 Full European Maps installed on the Zumo 660 internal memory. I just put the Western Europe into Internal Memory and the rest onto the SD Card in the Garmin Folder.

I had already moved the JPEG, most Voice and Text files not needed, to the SD Card also, to free up space. But I do have a SCDB installed in internal memory, though I don't think this is very big.

There was no problem getting the latest 2012 Garmin European Map installed in internal memory, but the 2013.10 maps are significantly bigger. I think it is probably better to leave some space in internal memory to improve Garmin map loading performance, so utilise the SD card space. Maybe you are fortunate to have a Zumo with more internal storage space.

Grey Beard

 

[GADGET]

I just updated my 660 and it appeared to have swallowed the whole lot, though I don't have any music etc stored on mine.

 

[ghiribizzo]

Garmin have step-by-step PDFs for Mac and Windows users, showing how to put the additional tiles onto the SD card.
If anyone wants one sent over, pm me. Not at home just now.

 

[andyclift]

Grey Beard,

I used to have the same problem as you, just putting West Europe on the Garmin and the rest on an SD card. Every update took forever. When I was speaking to Garmin about another issue I mentioned the fact that the updates no longer fitted on the Garmin and after checking with someone else the person I was speaking to assured me that the 660 had more than enough memory to fit everything on and assumed I must have filled the 660 with a lot of personal files - which I hadn't. Then I realised that once I finished the installation my computer reported that the free space on my Garmin was larger than the size of the Rest of Europe file on the SD card.

I tried installing again but before doing so deleted all IMG files from the Garmin and emptied the Trash (iMac term) to ensure that the Garmin memory was truly cleared. Suddenly MapInstall showed a lot more available space.

When I tried to install again all of Europe fitted on the Garmin and still left some room for maintenance, etc. I have worked this way for the last five or so upgrades and my Garmin has taken all my routes across Europe and worked perfectly. All I have on the SD now is music.

Note that I have removed all the non-English files from the Garmin but in total they don't amount to much.

 

[Bumpkin]

This method will not include 3D buildings and Junction View files saving you about 1GB or so for all of Europe. Navigation will still work OK, you'll just loose the eye candy.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Grey Beard]

Grey Beard,

I used to have the same problem as you, just putting West Europe on the Garmin and the rest on an SD card. Every update took forever. When I was speaking to Garmin about another issue I mentioned the fact that the updates no longer fitted on the Garmin and after checking with someone else the person I was speaking to assured me that the 660 had more than enough memory to fit everything on and assumed I must have filled the 660 with a lot of personal files - which I hadn't. Then I realised that once I finished the installation my computer reported that the free space on my Garmin was larger than the size of the Rest of Europe file on the SD card.

I tried installing again but before doing so deleted all IMG files from the Garmin and emptied the Trash (iMac term) to ensure that the Garmin memory was truly cleared. Suddenly MapInstall showed a lot more available space.

When I tried to install again all of Europe fitted on the Garmin and still left some room for maintenance, etc. I have worked this way for the last five or so upgrades and my Garmin has taken all my routes across Europe and worked perfectly. All I have on the SD now is music.

Note that I have removed all the non-English files from the Garmin but in total they don't amount to much.

I had some of these issues in the latest 2012 map version (now on 2013.10) and deleted the two big IMG files, but the Garmin software just wouldn't let me even try to download the whole of Europe to the Garmin. Using a PC, not MAC.

Anyway, I guess the map files are only going to get larger with each update, so just as well to learn how to manually transfer the 'other European files' to the SD Card (unless Garmin simplify their software to allow file locations to be specified more easily).

Grey Beard

 

[Gizmo]

Delete the old maps from the 660 and empty the trash.

.

How do you do this to free up space? I'm using a PC not a mac.

A dummys guide explanation would be welcome, garmin and its software are a bit of white mans magic to me!!

 

[Bumpkin]

You will not be able to download all of Europe to your 660 from Garmin. The on-line updater doesn't give you the choice to exclude the Junction View and 3D Building data. These take a considerable amount of room. Without these additional files there is room for the mapping data. The only way to exclude them is to download to your PC or Mac first and then write your mapping to the GPS using MapInstall or Mapsource (the latter PC only).

Installing Western Europe only on your PC, via the on-line updater, will still leave some room on the internal memory into which will fit the rest of Europe without the two above mentioned files. This means you'll lack the eye-candy of Junction View and 3D buildings outside of Western Europe (no great loss TBH). To do this I would advise moving the existing GMAP3D.IMG file (this will be for Western Europe only) to your SD card otherwise you might still have a space problem.

 

[E. Buygum]

Bumpkin, thanks for this post...all sorted...I think you saved me a good bit of time. Can I ask a stupid question? When I stray out of Western Europe (installed on unit's main memory), will the 660 automatically find the "extra" maps on the SD card.