DrData101

For the last year, I could "send" a route created in Mapquest TO my Zumo 550 without a problem. Now, it no longer works, error indicates it doesn't see the GPS device. Mapquest help screen refers you to Garmin!
Strngely, Google maps now works ok for "sending" whereas before IT didn't!

What gives? I downloaded the latest update to the Garmin communicator as well.
Anyone else experiencing this? any "Known Issues"?

Lost in Michigan

rugerkahr

I'd try completely removing Mapsource (save your data!) and reinstalling it. Can't hurt. Obviously, your computer "sees" the 550 since data can be transferred in another application. Again, sounds like a Mapsource problem.

HumVee

Hmmm...while I agree it can't hurt, I don't think this is a MapSource problem. That application isn't utilized for what DrData01 is doing. That's strictly a Garmin Communicator Plugin and web browser interface going stright to GPS device. You don't even have to have MapSource installed. There is a test page you can go to, to make sure that you have the latest version of the plugin installed and that it's working properly.

DrData01, have you changed web browsers, upgraded to a new version or different brand web browser lately? Garmin only supports Internet Explorer and Firefox on Windows platforms, and Safari and Firefox for Mac platforms. Have you tried using MapQuest from both browsers? Does neither browser see the device with MapQuest?

LOL...never mind. I just tried it myself, and got the same results as DrData01. It does indeed look like the MapQuest interface is broken, but the Google interface is working (too bad Google still doesn't support Routes - what's up with that)! I tried with both IE8 and Firefox 3.5.7 for Windows.

I have submitted a trouble ticket to Garmin. I'll let you know how they respond....

rugerkahr

You're right, HumVee. I saw Mapquest and jumped on Mapsource for some reason. Probably because I have had issues with it and had to reinstall it once to fix the problem. Sounds like Garmin communicator is working because it does work in one application. Usually, something like that is all or nothing.

DrData101, what browser and version are you using? Firefox (when I used about 8 months ago) and Opera don't always work so well with Garmins. I know I couldn't do a map update in Firefox or Opera and I've had trouble sending geocaches to a handheld Garmin from geocaching.com. IE always works.

rugerkahr

I just tried it from Mapquest. No dice, as expected, going through Opera, which is my default browser. Garmin communicator couldn't find the device.

Since I don't use IE normally, I tried my current version, IE6, because I never updated to IE8. I didn't try a route, but it's "communicating" because I successfully sent a couple of local addresses to my Nüvi 660 just fine and they showed up in favorites as usual. Weird.

HumVee

I searched the MapQuest forums, and found an entry dated 01/18/2010 reporting this issue: Send to GPS not finding GPS

Unfortunately, you must have a registered MapQuest account in order to view and search posts. However, it is free to get an account. LOL...birthdate is a mandatory field for registering - but only goes back to 1970! I guess that Mapquest thinks that if you're older than 40, you don't know how to use the internet anyway!

In any case, I hope that a MapQuest forum moderator picks up the thread and responds. I don't see any other way to report issues with the MapQuest site....

DrData101

Thanks for the good research and testing guys. It's appreciated.

I'm running IE 8 but it sounds like it's a MapQuest issue. I sent a trouble report to Garmin last night, we'll see if they get on it.

DrData101

I just went to Mapquest and their site is really screwy! A broken link on the main page to login (been that way for months), go to help section but can't get anywhere without siginging in but won't accept my login; tried to report login trouble, won't respond with an email as described, blah, blah, blah.
Maybe I'll give up on Mapquest if Google keeps working!

HumVee

MapQuest support posted back to their help forum:

I'm going to do one better, and install Garmin Communicator Plugin on a laptop that's never had it installed before, and see how it goes. I'll report back to this forum & the MapQuest support forum with my results....

HumVee

I forgot to mention that I had also gotten an e-mail response from Garmin:

I let the support technician know that I was also working with MapQuest regarding testing this issue, and what MapQuest's suggestion was. Hopefully, I'll be able to report that the issue has been resolved soon.

HumVee

Still no resolution on this issue. I did as the MapQuest support technician suggested. No improvement. I went one better, and installed the latest Garmin Communicator Plugin on a new laptop. I still couldn't download waypoints or routes from MapQuest (which still doesn't even see that a Garmin is connected), but had no problems downloading from Geocaching.com or Google Maps. I updated the MaqQuest support forum with that information.

Also, I sent a "Feature Request" to Google to have Google Maps provide Route download capability to Garmin GPS units, just like MapQuest does. Perhaps if lots of people start submitting requests for 'Send routes to Garmin GPS' to Google, they'll implement the feature. If you want to submit a feature request to Google Maps, here is the link. Select Request a Feature from the "What is your concern?" drop down list.

I have used TakItWithMe to download routes initially generated from Google Maps to my Garmin GPS units - but it's kludgy, and a bunch of uneccessary steps. It's also clearly unecessary, since MapQuest allows you to do the same thing straight from their web page. Maybe someday Google Maps will support route downloads directly.

HumVee

MapQuest still hasn't resolved this issue, but Sara (MapQuest Technical Services) did respond that she had pushed the trouble report up the chain....