So, went to update the Garmins in our cars. The new map bricked both of them. Went to Garmin support and "will get back to you in 3 to 5 days"
Great support.
Anyway, I was able get them off finally and powered back up. At least the 61 said "map corrupted" Nothing on the 50.
But as they would at least be recognized by the USB again, went to see if a different or older map was available. In that menu, it did say "map too large" Gee, could have told me that in the normal update! So it did load just the SouthEast map. I have to buy a micro SD to load the full 49 state map. ( But paying $8 for card and SD adapter from Amazon, not $35 from Garmin)
They may have fixed something overnight as my 61 succeeded in loading this morning, though it took forever with data rate as low as 1MB.
Yes, I like my Garmins. I make phone calls on my phone. Garmin's are installed as part of the car. Phone is in my pocket.
I was updating as shifting between cars. The wife's 57 failed totally. Unresponsive or unpredictable actions on the touch screen.
Great support.
Anyway, I was able get them off finally and powered back up. At least the 61 said "map corrupted" Nothing on the 50.
But as they would at least be recognized by the USB again, went to see if a different or older map was available. In that menu, it did say "map too large" Gee, could have told me that in the normal update! So it did load just the SouthEast map. I have to buy a micro SD to load the full 49 state map. ( But paying $8 for card and SD adapter from Amazon, not $35 from Garmin)
They may have fixed something overnight as my 61 succeeded in loading this morning, though it took forever with data rate as low as 1MB.
Yes, I like my Garmins. I make phone calls on my phone. Garmin's are installed as part of the car. Phone is in my pocket.
I was updating as shifting between cars. The wife's 57 failed totally. Unresponsive or unpredictable actions on the touch screen.
Here the cabbies have had linked phones, they enter the destination, and the app guides them, turn left, go straight so much and so on.
They can even accept app payments.
The GPS was hardly ever sold here, the Maps app was used.
GPS units are superfluous, all you need is a holder for the phone on the dash or A/c vent. And a charging cable if need be.
Even the non cabbies use them , though it occasionally takes you through the shortest (most congested) route.
If that happens, I ask the local people, still the best solution.
They can even accept app payments.
The GPS was hardly ever sold here, the Maps app was used.
GPS units are superfluous, all you need is a holder for the phone on the dash or A/c vent. And a charging cable if need be.
Even the non cabbies use them , though it occasionally takes you through the shortest (most congested) route.
If that happens, I ask the local people, still the best solution.
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Ahh, that good old GPS stuff.
Never liked it.
Being Old School, I prefer to take the reliable old Atlas along for the ride.
Planning the trip beforhand on paper with a pen, was the way to go.
But of course, people now want convenience, instantly, at the press of a button...... thus the problems using "devices".
Deal with it.
Never liked it.
Being Old School, I prefer to take the reliable old Atlas along for the ride.
Planning the trip beforhand on paper with a pen, was the way to go.
But of course, people now want convenience, instantly, at the press of a button...... thus the problems using "devices".
Deal with it.
Huh, does not compute?
Just kidding, I'm old enough to know what you mean. One of my goals is to make sure my kids actually know how to read a paper map.
Indeed.
There's nothing wrong with using/excersizing your brain as we all did for centuries.
I refuse to let mine rot with too many button-pushing devices.
Takes me back to the days.
When I would go inside the gas station for a soda.
And sometimes get excited when a station had a good map selection.
I would even buy maps
I did not need , just in case.
I am use to using Google Maps now.
But some areas dont have good cell service.
My phone gets satellite no problem, but the app dont work
without cell service.
I did find out, you can download area maps and store it
on the phone. No cell service needed.
Reminded me of the same situation, updating older GPS modules.
So I carry a " Navigation Phone" basically a phone
with no service. But it has Area Maps stored
for GPS use only.
When I would go inside the gas station for a soda.
And sometimes get excited when a station had a good map selection.
I would even buy maps
I did not need , just in case.
I am use to using Google Maps now.
But some areas dont have good cell service.
My phone gets satellite no problem, but the app dont work
without cell service.
I did find out, you can download area maps and store it
on the phone. No cell service needed.
Reminded me of the same situation, updating older GPS modules.
So I carry a " Navigation Phone" basically a phone
with no service. But it has Area Maps stored
for GPS use only.
They did get back to me. Asked my serial number ( already gave it to them in the e-mail) Said it has never happened before. Then "let's troubleshoot".
Fortunately, searching the WEB I was able to find out holding the power button for a minute reset them so they would again charge. The 60 powered on and said "corrupt map file". So I plugged the 50 in and went to see if there was a different map. In the manual select menu, it said "map too large" So, bad software not to tell me that in the automated update. Anyway, loaded the S.E. US map as it is smaller than the 48 state and it worked. I then loaded the full map on the 60 and it worked, but took forever. Something changed on their end.
For the fine and dandy comments not related to customer service:
Back before GPS, we had the ADC map books. Great. Gone. A set of maps for the areas I traveled in cost more than a GPS and you had to buy new ones every now and again.
Maps don't find you the nearest BBQ, brew house, or gas station.
Maps don't tell you about accidents and road construction closures.
Maps don't tell you about some of the really stupid exit ramps around here.
Built in GPS systems cost more for an update than a single Garmin with lifetime maps. Just another way they screw the owners.
I make phone calls with my phone. I don't have a data plan. A couple of months of data to use a phone costs more than the Garmin.
Phone is in my pocket and I don't want to have to take it out, plug it in and find a map app.
GPS is a great technology making driving safer. Don't take my eyes off the road. Have warning when to get to the proper lane etc.
I have not lived my whole life in a small town so I could know where everything is. I knew where I lived last, but I was there for almost 30 years. In four years, I have not memorized the entire N.C. roads.
In other words, I like the technology. It actually provides a useful function.
Here I paid $9 or so for 1.5 GB daily, unlimited calls, 100 SMS a day, some streaming services, and so on, for 84 days.
$3 a month, give or take.
2 and 3 GB daily plans are also available, so are monthly plans...
So for us, we find Garmin expensive.
Android Auto has been introduced, no experience with that.
$3 a month, give or take.
2 and 3 GB daily plans are also available, so are monthly plans...
So for us, we find Garmin expensive.
Android Auto has been introduced, no experience with that.
Here, I have a computer in my pocket so I use it like one 🙂 Until I got a smart watch, I didn't even wear one anymore because I had a clock in my pocket.
The only useful feature of sat nav for me is live traffic so I can find a better route so I usually use Google maps.
I'm special in that I can look at a map before I leave the house and remember where I'm going.
I specifically looked for a model of my car without iDrive because I didn't want it in my dash 🙂
My cell and service are expensive. Canada has some of the highest wireless costs in the world, but there's a lot of low population density areas that still get coverage and we have some of the fastest speeds, too.
The only useful feature of sat nav for me is live traffic so I can find a better route so I usually use Google maps.
I'm special in that I can look at a map before I leave the house and remember where I'm going.
I specifically looked for a model of my car without iDrive because I didn't want it in my dash 🙂
My cell and service are expensive. Canada has some of the highest wireless costs in the world, but there's a lot of low population density areas that still get coverage and we have some of the fastest speeds, too.
Well said. I remember back before smart phones a few friends had Garmin GPS in their cars. I hated those things. Told my friends they were "cheating" and that their brains would turn to mush. But on the boat? Garmin GPS was very handy indeed, even on inland waters. It could even steer the boat!
I remember coming back down the Rio San Juan in Costa Rica over 20 years ago. We picked up a couple of fishermen out of Nicaragua who's boat motor had failed. One had a Garmin with him. He could tell us our latitude, our speed - and then he said "Oh, coming up here on the left is a tree full of howler monkeys." Sure enough, there it was. Fun with tech. 🙂
Now I use Google maps and Apple maps a lot - especially if I have to be somewhere on time. If I don't, then I try to figure it out for myself, so that my brain doesn't turn to mush.
