Unlocking City Navigator

In the box Garmin gave you an unlock code - orange/yellow piece of paper - not sure what you do if you tossed it - very easy to do - you will probably have to contact them
Garmin will allow you to put the software on two PCs and/or two other Garmin products - they monitor this by the unlocking procedure that interacts with their website. If the product hiccups you can call them.
Nroute is only needed if you are going to use your laptop and a GPS receiver. The laptop screen acts your routing device.

Thanks tomstack. I have to check my packaging for this orange slip.

If I use this unlock code for unlocking this v8 DVD, what will happen when I need to update to a future v9 version? Wouldn't I be able to get free v9 update, if it is released in few months?

Probably not - since you did not pay for 8 that has been there usual practice.

Installed City Navigator and unlock procedure was smooth. It gives you 2 options. To enter 26 digit unlock code or to let the program obtain the code directly from the connected GPS. Second option didn't work, so I entered the 25 digit code found in the orange slip. I don't think it connected to internet to verify. If it did, my firewall software would have indicated it. If Garmin doesn't know that I have used my unlock code, shouldn't I be able to use it to install the software in as many computers and be able to use if for future map updates(v9). On the other hand, I wonder whether this info is stored in my GPS unit and prevents me from using the same unlock code again and again.

Updated the Mapsource software to the latest beta version. It has a number of new features over the current official version. I will install Nroute and see what it can do. Overall I am impressed with City Navigator. All Garmin GPS units should come with this software, without having us to go through a painful process to obtain it for free or to pay for it. I feel sorry for many of those Garmin users who don't use this to get more out of their GPS.

I was a little confused when I installed my city navigator. Kept saying I needed a 25 number unlock code and the dvd only came with a 8 number code. It seemed to work, but I'm still a little confused about it. I saw somewhere in the installation that it was going to e-mail me a 25 character code and never did. -AD

I have a C330 that I just bought earlier this month with v8 of City Nav NT.

1.With the unit having preloaded maps, what is the City Nav. DVD for?

2.What does it enable you to do on your computer?

3.Is it free or do I have to purchase it?

any help would be appreciated. They don't have a lot of help on the garmin web site.
P.S. I have already registered my unit in myGarmin.

I have a question. I've owned a C320 for 1 year, and just bought a second one for my spouse for Xmas. The new C320 came with City Navigator North America V8 (my old C320 has City Select V7). I've read elsewhere that Garmin allows you to unlock map data for up to 2 GPS devices that you own. I unlocked V8 on the new C320, but when I went to unlock it on the old C320, I could not find any way to do this. It asks me to enter the serial number of the device I want to unlock for, then says "You have no products to unlock". I made various attempts at this for over 2 hours, with no luck! Any idea how to unlock maps for a second device?

With Mapsource, you can preview a trip on your PC. You can also select waypoints and move them back and forth with the gps as favorites. For more information and availability, see the discussion: http://www.poi-factory.com/node/844

You only need to unlock if you are using Mapsource on your computer. You have read some pros and cons on its usefulness with the Nuvi line. It was very useful when the units could not hold the entire continent. You used Mapsource to download maps, waypoints and routes to the unit. Mapsource was not included with the Nuvi line. Garmin assumed that since all the data is in the unit and the unit does not support routes - you do not need the software.
Being a longtime user of Garmin products I was very used to using my computer to plot out waypoints, routes and a get a perspective of the entire trip. I and many users of Garmin prior products obviously hounded Garmin to release Mapsource to Nuvi users. While my trust in the device is well established, I would not take a long trip without seeing something in total. The software allows me to do this; so when the devices says get off at Main St in 500 feet it makes more sense to me.

FYI, I figured out how to do this! (unlock one copy of City Navigator on 2 devices).

I had to register both c320 devices under one account at the myGarmin website. Then, with the "new" c320 plugged in, I went into myGarmin and told it I wanted to unlock an additional device. I entered the serial number for the "old" c320, and because everything was already registered under one myGarmin account, it recognized the serial number and gave me an unlock code for the "old" c320. I then ran MapSource with the "old" c320 plugged in, highlighted the Navigator V8 map set which I'd previously installed on that computer, and unlocked it using the code I was given.

Note that this was all done with a version of Navigator NT V8 that came bundled with my "new" c320. I'd read somewhere that Garmin doesn't allow multiple unlocks on bundled software, but I guess this isn't the case at least with Navigator NT V8 included with the c320.

Know they have limit on how many devices - believe at least two.

Yes indeedy, the limit is 2. But that second free update is a really nice "bonus". It's great to be able to update multiple GPS devices that your family may own, using only 1 map data purchase. Kudos to Garmin.

You are right when you said if you wait when you register your unit till Garmin releases the next map update you are eligible for it. I have done it twice and am waiting to do it again wit my c550. The only thing I belief the updates are released around October or so.

Sorry that should have been reply to tomstack.

Wow I'm still at version 7. Usually the updates come out around June-August. So if I spend the $75+ dollars to upgrade this product say in May and they come out with a new version say in August are they going to give me the newest version for free. I would hate to have to waste another $75+ dollars.

Does Garmin require you to update your software every year? I buy a lot of software and I know with some companies that if you skip a version then the next upgrade will be more expensive.

Michael

If you havnt registered your street pilot register it and you are eligible for a free update. Other than that I would wait till version 8 is released and then buy it. Garmin support recomended me to buy the update about every second year. You are only 1 version behind.

I registered my 2720 last year in Feb when I bought it. Even looking at the websites now and seeing what places charge for it I still got a fantastic deal on it. I paid $700 dollars new (factory Sealed) for my Garmin 2720. I also bought a 3 year extended warranty and it is still cheaper than what they are asking for the GPS online.

When I buy something online I usually use go to:
www.resellrating.com I'm not interested in getting the lowerest price but I am interested in dealing with a copy that has good reviews on this site with good prices.

So you are telling me I am eligible to get 1 free update to the software? That I didn't no about.

Michael

Mike call Garmin and talk to their tech support. They are very good and you may be entitled to a free upgrade.You have nothing to lose by calling..

Ray

Ray is right. Garmin support is VERRY helpful but if you registered your item that long ago you will not get a update. Garmins policy is if you purchase a GPS during or after the update you will get it free of charge. I wait till they release a update then I register mine.Garmins support team is the reason I continue to buy Garmin. They are the best. Keep it up Garmin.

Hello, I had similar challenges when trying to download the city nav #8 to my rhino

Does anyone know how to update the quest 2 with the complete v8 city nav?

I have no problems with the quest 1 but cannot figure the quest 2

What the heck I don't have anything to loose I'll give them a call tomorrow.

Michael

Yeah, after reading this, calling seems to be the best idea.

From the Garmin FAQ

FREE UPDATES:
If you ORIGINALLY & NEWLY unlocked a NEW locked MapSource CD-ROM/DVD-ROM product ON or AFTER the release date of an update for that same product, you are eligible to unlock on that specific update what you unlocked on the original for no charge. In other words, you can update to the latest data for free!

http://www.garmin.com/support/faqs/faq.jsp?faq=240&webPage=C...

Well it didn't work for me considering I unlocked mine back in Jan 06. Oh well.

Michael