Have seen a number of sites where you can download "unlocked" Garmin map
updates (free). 2012 North American, for example, is available on many of
these sites. Has anyone got any experience using any of these locations and
updating from any of them?
MLD

MLD wrote:
:: Have seen a number of sites where you can download "unlocked" Garmin
:: map updates (free). 2012 North American, for example, is available
:: on many of these sites. Has anyone got any experience using any of
:: these locations and updating from any of them?
:: MLD

I hope I am not reading your post wrong.

I just recently bought a new Lifetime map unit from Garmin to avoid paying
fees for their maps.

If you can afford the unit, pay Garmin the money for the maps and stop
stealing. It's situations like this that make manufacturers put in onerous
locking mechanisms that affect the vast majority of us that pay for fair
intellectual property.
--
-------------------------------------------------------------
Regards -

- Andrew

In article <4de0ff60$0$7976$(E-Mail Removed)>, "Andrew" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

> I just recently bought a new Lifetime map unit from Garmin to avoid paying
> fees for their maps.

Other ways to avoidi paying fees for their maps:

* don't worry about having new maps; they're plenty good for years,
practically speaking

* buy a new unit every few years and voila! new map, PLUS new
battery/screen/feature set, PLUS new warranty--all at the cost of the
map update itself

Is anyone really so anal as to think he needs updated maps three or four
times a year? Did anyone rush out and buy new paper maps every few
months, simply because a few months had gone by?

"Elmo P. Shagnasty" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:elmop-(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> * buy a new unit every few years and voila! new map, PLUS new
> battery/screen/feature set, PLUS new warranty--all at the cost of the
> map update itself
>
> Is anyone really so anal as to think he needs updated maps three or four
> times a year? Did anyone rush out and buy new paper maps every few
> months, simply because a few months had gone by?


In a way here a some paradoxes.

Not always a new device = better device. yes, usually they have faster CPU,
flashier UI. We don't use things just because of a nice interface. If you
look closer at functions, they are evaporating from generation to generation
of units. It is easier to make more complicated and faster functioning
electronics, but they do less and gain some not so necessary functions
making them slower. In a way the same things happen with photo or video
cameras and many other things. As long as I can I would like to keep my old
navigation units.

About map updating. Yes, we probably buy paper maps once in 10 years, but
electronic maps are somthing different. Simply not all possible data has
been incorporated in them, so you hope it would be in the next version. You
are aware of these cases in your own area, but you know nothing outside it.
Besides, the routing maps allow searching by address. My own house has been
located on the navigation maps perhaps 4 or 5 years after it has been built.
It's not in the middle of nowhere, but in the middle of a not so small city.

Map (and in general software) protection usually makes life more difficult,
but only for paying users. If someone knows how to circumvnet protection,
everything is vere easy.
In Garmin case the the newer 2xxx and especially 3xxx nuvis tend to download
wrong files, not the ones needed for device to function. If you put unlocked
map files, all the problems are avoided.

Besides, one more way not to pay for maps is to use OpenStreet maps. They
are open source, legal and free.

"Andrew" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:4de0ff60$0$7976$(E-Mail Removed)...
> MLD wrote:
> :: Have seen a number of sites where you can download "unlocked" Garmin
> :: map updates (free). 2012 North American, for example, is available
> :: on many of these sites. Has anyone got any experience using any of
> :: these locations and updating from any of them?
> :: MLD
>
> I hope I am not reading your post wrong.
>
> I just recently bought a new Lifetime map unit from Garmin to avoid paying
> fees for their maps.
>
> If you can afford the unit, pay Garmin the money for the maps and stop
> stealing. It's situations like this that make manufacturers put in
> onerous locking mechanisms that affect the vast majority of us that pay
> for fair intellectual property.
> --
> -------------------------------------------------------------
> Regards -
>
> - Andrew
Andrew
I'm only the messenger--haven't stolen anything! Garmin, however,
encourages this type of activity because they are somewhat greedy in the way
they charge for their products. Case in point: My unit's battery went
South; would no longer hold a charge. Garmin wanted a flat fee of $79 to
service the unit knowing that it was only the battery that needed
replacement. I found a suitable replacement (BatteryShip.com) for $20 and
it also came with the tools/instructions to accomplish the changeover. Took
me about 15-20 minutes and the unit was like new again. Obviously, they
want you to throw out the unit and purchase another one.
What about the sites like POI Factory? You can get POI's for just about
anything there , all available to download to your unit. Should one pay for
new maps in order to get POI's? Do you consider this stealing from Garmin?
MLD

AS wrote:
> As long as I can I would like to keep my old navigation units.

Agreed, which is why I am distressed that my Garmin GPS-II+ has a monochrome
LCD that is virtually illegible now due to missing pixel rows. My yellow
eTrex is going the same way...

Mike.
--
If reply address is Mike@@mjcoon.+.com (invalid), remove spurious "@"
and substitute "plus" for +.

Agreed. Also map pricing is questionable. Garmin wants us to pay for the
same map every time we want to put it on another device. I will not use all
my navigators at once. If I need to find a certain address several miles
away, I take a small and simple unit. If I travel 2000 km across Europe, I
prefer the one where I can make and possibly later adjust my route.
Another issue is map priceing for separate countries. I it very pronounced
in the Eastern Europe. There are local maps a lot better than the City
Navigator. They are in a way better because the giant is not interested to
make its own maps leaving the niche for local firms. It's not bad per se.
The really bad is the pricing. They have to charge approx. 100-120 USD for
every map for a country or two. The average sallary is lower there, then in
the western countries, but Garmin requires the price despite of any
arguments. Really not many local people are going to pay that price.
Foreigner usaully don't know about such maps, so they don't buy them either.

On 2011-05-28, AS <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> Besides, one more way not to pay for maps is to use OpenStreet maps. They
> are open source, legal and free.

Yes, though one needs to be aware of the limitations with the current US
data*. I have OSM on my old StreetPilot 2160, which can't even get Garmin
maps anymore, and it works just fine for me. I'm using it on my eTrex
Legend Cx as well, as I can route via bike paths with it (and that's why I
bought the eTrex in the first place).


* OSM was seeded from the Census Bureau's TIGER data, which was not of
the best quality; a lot of work has been done to clean it up, but it's not
done yet.

--

Kristian Zoerhoff
(E-Mail Removed)

On Fri, 27 May 2011 18:31:40 -0400, MLD wrote:
> Have seen a number of sites where you can download "unlocked" Garmin map
> updates (free). 2012 North American, for example, is available on many of
> these sites. Has anyone got any experience using any of these locations and
> updating from any of them?

Seems like a fantastic way to pick up a virus to me.

--
I picked up a Magic 8-Ball the other day and it said 'Outlook not so
good.' I said 'Sure, but Microsoft still ships it.'
-- Anonymous

"Elmo P. Shagnasty" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
>
> Other ways to avoid paying fees for their maps:
>
> * don't worry about having new maps; they're plenty good for years,
> practically speaking
>
> * buy a new unit every few years and voila! new map, PLUS new
> battery/screen/feature set, PLUS new warranty--all at the cost of the
> map update itself
>
> Is anyone really so anal as to think he needs updated maps three or four
> times a year? Did anyone rush out and buy new paper maps every few
> months, simply because a few months had gone by?

My maps are at least four, maybe five year old. My street has not moved,
nor have many others here in New England. Perhaps if I was a salesman
selling a product to new home owners, it would be good to update often.
Most of us have no need.

My decision to make though, is what to buy for a trip coming up. Do I buy a
SD card with Europe, or do I buy a 1370T or 2370LT with added features and
up to date maps of both places? In any case, I'll be taking my paper map
that did me well on previous trips as it works with no batteries, no cords,
etc. . If I was not making this trip, I'd just continue to use my present
unit until it dies. I have a couple of months to decide.

I also noticed on Garmin's web site, they do not list the map of all Europe,
but have several regional maps. If you want the UK and Italy, you'd have to
buy two SD maps.