How to load Pois to a Maestro 4210

Yes, correct. You should also save, or copy, it to a folder on your computer.

For various reasons, they recommend putting CPOIs on an SD card. They will work in the internal memory.......as long as there is enough space but you should probably get an SD card and get in the habit of doing it "right".

Once loaded, you do have to go to the Custom POI menu and "activate" it.

Been there done that. Tried on the SD card and it still doesn't show when I attempt to activate it.

Does the file just go into the root directory of the SD card or does one have to create a specific directory and copy it to that.

It should be noted that when I hook the Maestro up to the computer; the maestro is recognized no problem; however; the SD card does not show ( It is inserted ). I would think that it should show as another drive!

I just used the "Backup" feature on the GPS and it successfully created a backup on the SD card. I therefore does recognize the card.

Try to eject the sd card out of the GPS unit, then push it back in again, sometime the gps doesn't see the card on the 1st try, repeat it couple time to see if this works for you

The SD card will have a directory tree similar to the internal memory: /USR/CPOI

You have 2 different problems:
1)Loading and using the POIs
2) SD card not right
You need to work on these one at a time.

Pick a smaller POI file, and load it into the internal memory. The unit must cold boot (blue screen and progress bar) to recognize new files.

What kind and size is your SD card? It needs a "plain" one, no larger than 2 G. Probably needs to boot to see a new card too but not sure about that.

When connected to your computer it MUST see the SD card or else it is not working right.

I have tried creating two sub directories on the SD card the same as the directory tree on the GPS. I then copied the POI file into that directory. ( /USR/CPOI ). Didn't work.

My SD card is 2 Gig. I have three cards; two different brands; none show when I hook up the GPS to my computer. I know they should! The only way that I'm able to copy files is through a card reader. I should be able to do that through my USB link to the GPS and then the SD card. Like I said before; the GPS did make a backup of it's file on the SD card; therefore showing that it knows one is there.

On my 4040 I placed the custom poi file onto the root of the card. When I look at the card from "My Computer", the backup folder and the custom POI's are right next to one another. My cards are formatted with fat32. Not sure if this will help or not. I can see my cards when the USB cable is connected.

Don't know what to try next. I've tried this connection on four computers. The SD card will not show when it is connected via the USB cable. I have 3 SD cards; 2 different makes. I did the "Backup" on each card successfully; yet the card doesn't show in "My Computer". Of course they all show using a card reader.

When you placed your custom POI on your card; did you use a specific file name or what ever you choose? What I mean to ask; is there a specfic file name that must be used. I was checking another forum and there is a detailed post about how to place custom POIs on the SD card. This post refers to a file called My_Poi. That is why I asked. The file I am trying to load is named "Red Light Camera".

Next question! Do these custom POIs work when loaded directly to the GPS?

But it doesn't know it's there correctly....or the other stuff would work too......like you said already. If your computer can't "see" it when connected then something is wrong with the GPS or the socket.

I don't know what format you need on the card 'cause I plugged mine in new and it worked without formatting or other tinkering.

A gentleman that I was dealing with on another forum; kindly sent me his two working Custom POI files. I loaded them onto the SD card via the card reader. Inserted the SD card into the GPS. They work! Must have done something wrong when I converted the files in the POI file editor; or saved them in the wrong format. I will experiment further as I have a file for campgrounds that I still want to load.

Are you using the Magellan POI editor that came with your GPS? If so, it will only save in one format.....that is .mgln that the GPS requires.

AFAIK, no other POI tool will save (or read) .mgln files.

If you haven't already, you REALLY should turn on the view of file extensions......so that you can tell the difference between MOTELS.CSV and MOTELS.MGLN.

Hi Theslaz
I am having exactly the same porblem on my 3225. First I thought that my unit is defective so I returned it and got a new one but same problem with the new one. I tried saving CUstom POI on the unit andon the card (512MB) but with no luck. The saved file is in the correct format that is Magellan format but the unit wont read the POI when try to activate the file in the unit. Have yo figured it out or still trying. I would be very thankful if you sent me just one file tha tyou got form your friend I would like to see the formate and extension of the file. Thanks in advance.

But is it in the correct PLACE?

If it is the same as my 4000, IN the unit it should be in the /USR/CPOI folder. On the SD card, it would be in /CPOI.

Also, after disconnecting from the computer, do you see it cold boot (ie. Blue Magellan screen and progress bar)? It has to do that to "find" the new file(s).