Axl

Is there a tutorial available on doing this?

I have the CN NA NT 2008 update installed on my c530, and also have the NA TOPO 2008 DVD installed on my desktop. Installation had an option to install the map to my GPS but I didn't want to screw the unit up. I want to install TOPO and other maps, (recreational lakes etc.) to SD cards.

Of course, the Garmin website is no help at all. Can anyone provide a link, or other info on doing this. Perhaps a sticky would be nice.

Andy

During the install when it asked to also install them on the GPS, it would have replaced the basemap in the unit.

When you load map data from inside Mapsource, by selecting regions of the map and using the "send to device" button, this copies map data onto the SD card. Leaving the basemap.

Max

So in theory, if I plugin an SD card to my device - and select to download to my device - it is really going to put it on the SD?


Axl - did you get the 2gb card?

Andy

That's the why everyone I've tried has worked. Even if the device doesn't have a memory card like a 76S, it always leaves the basemap, adding whatever map you add. I haven't tried loading any maps on the Nuvi though.

TOphotog

You can also put the SD card in a card reader attached to your computer, and load the maps onto it that way. They also seem to load faster than through the GPSr.

Max

I am just asking because I have 3 gps's with SD capability, so I was wondering if I took the maps out of one and placed them into the other how well it would work. I haven't done much of that ...I typically unlock the maps per unit and then do what I do, never done the SD thing.

Max

p.s. Yes I am embarrassed by not knowing this sooner, seeing as my last few GPS's have been SD capable but I just move other forms of multimedia entertainment stuff into the gps on them.

TOphotog

Using one SD card in multiple GPSrs is fine as long as you don't use locked maps. Metroguide and the old topo maps would work.
It would be interesting to test the following scenario:

GPS Unit #1 and GPS Unit #2.
Software which requires unlocks.

The user has two unlock codes for one piece of software, ie Bluechart, an unlock for each GPSr. User enters an unlock code into the program, for say Bluechart GPS1, and then adds another unlock code to the program, and nicknames it Blue CHP2. The user then transfers maps to one SD card. The user tries the card in both... do the maps unlock on both GSPr units????
Hmmmm, interesting.... next time my buddy comes over with his GPSr, we'll have to try this out.

Andy

I don't know if Garmin still does this, but they use to allow you to unlock maps for 2 devices only. They may have changed this policy though.

TOphotog

Axl, from reading your post further up the page, do you know that you can load various map data, ie Topo AND Navigator AND Bluechart all onto one card? If you get a 2GB micro, that should hold just about all the maps you'd ever need except for, say, a cross country trip.

In Mapsource, you open the Topo, select all the maps you want, then open up Navigator, and select all the maps you want, and then Bluechart .... You do need to pay attention to the bottom of the map list on the far left because you can only load 2025 map segments, no matter how large/small they are... up to the maximum of the card size. You then put the card in the unit, and choose which maps to view via Map Setup.

If you already know this, then please accept my apologies for reading your post incorrectly. If you, and others, didn't know this.... glad to help out.

TOphotog

Apparently they've stopped that... they reduced the pricing on their maps instead.

Andy

Yeah but too bad they didn't cut the price in half. Garmin wants me to buy 2 copies of the update for CIty Nav, one for the 76CSx and 1 for the Nuvi. I can live without updates. If I own the software, I should be able to use it on any GPS of their's I own. It's not like I use more than 1 at a time. But when we click 'accept' on the license agreement I'm sure there is wording in there otherwise.

Why can't they be like printer manufacturers and practically give away the device and then charge a fortune for ink? Make the GPS cheaper and charge more for maps!

Max

They still let you unlock for 2 maps, I just did this for my 2720 and Zumo with 2008 maps

You're doing this through their website right?

Max

See this is the issue I have with that if this is the case, I am paying for (1) legal working license to view the map software on the GPS of my choice. If I have the ability to switch those maps to another device, so be it - as long as I cannot duplicate them between more then my legally licensed amount of units.

But I haven't tested it yet, so I might be wrong. I have a few SD'microsd units here I can try with, just gotta run out to the garage and get them and I'm lazy today.

Max

Well...I grabbed a microSD tonight and attempted to load my unlocked-for-the60csx maps onto the card, and then put it into the 60csx.

Got a message "CANT UNLOCK MAPS"

dammit.

TOphotog

Max, if you unlocked the maps on your PC with the code for your 60GSX, then the maps should be unlocked on your GPS. I always load my maps via a card reader on the PC and then put the microSD card into the GPS and maps are unlocked, no problem. Maybe you need to delete the unlock code on your PC and re-enter it. Or are you trying to move a card from one unit to another? Only maps unlocked with a specific code will work in a specific unit - code is written to the header of the file telling the maps which unit ID it's configured for.

Max

It's weird, I knew this but at the same time I didn't really - as I thought as long as they were unlocked for (a) unit via the PC, then all was well. This isn't the case as you've stated.

Though now I am confused as to why they don't work because this is the only pc I have loaded anything to the 60csx from