Garmin Nuvi 200W SW2.90

What does SW mean? I've got a 3.60 on my 200, but I think that's firmware.

OK, I guess that stands for software and the firmware cannot be updated by us.

my bad, its firmware of gps. i guess one can updated using webupdater application.

The latest version on the 2x0 is 3.60.

New to this GPS Realm...
I just bought a Garmin 200W on 31 Jan 08, been having problem Acquiring Satellites, and such. Takes 25+ minutes, ifit ever acquired a satellite connection. I contacted Garmin, got a Cable, and updated My system via the WebUpdater software on their site. I updated the GPS, and let is stand for 45 minutes to build an almanac and such... Now it seems to acquire satellites in less then 1 minute, and I am on my way.

Here is what i have for System Info:
Software Version 2.90
Audio Version 2.20
GPS SW Version 3.00s

Now I was wondering how you were able to access the screens that you show above, mainly the one in regards to The accuracy, (150kh8.jpg) and then the other screens... this is on the Garmin Nuvi 200w !?!

I have a nuvi260w (and a nuvi 200 before).
when the signal strength bars are shwoing in upper left corner of screen, place your finger directly over the bars for about 5 - 10 seconds and release.
Sattelite detail screen appears.
It took me several attempts before it worked.
Once you get the "feel" of it, works okay.

Happy navving

That worked perfect !! Held my finger on the bars counted to five then let go & Bamm !!

I like being able to see some behind the scenes goodies !!

Thanks a million

loving my nüvi more every minute ( lol )

I've done the latest update on my nuvi 200 and I have Software 3.60, Audio 2.30, GPS SW Version 2.30b. What is the last one for? The webupdater gave me no opportunity to update that and I see others have a higher version.

[quote=
Here is what i have for System Info:
Software Version 2.90
Audio Version 2.20
GPS SW Version 3.00s

Now I was wondering how you were able to access the screens that you show above, mainly the one in regards to The accuracy, (150kh8.jpg) and then the other screens... this is on the Garmin Nuvi 200w !?!

I just connected my Garmin nüvi® 200W with the WebUpdated, and it says it is the latest version. You have to 200 or the 200W ??
see that Navyman64 has the 250W

Glad I was able to help. There are quite a few "hidden" screens & features in the Nuvi's.
Read thru some old posts and you will be surprised what is hid.
I don't inderstand, though, why Garmin does not give a "detailed" manual with the GPS units.
This web site has taught me alot.

Just a quickie - when you are at the speedometer, track info screen, press & hold right on the speedometer for a few seconds for another screen.

Happy navving

That's one thing I wish Garmin would do is put out a manual showing us what all we can do with our GPS. The manual that comes with it leaves a lot to be desired.

Yeah, i agree.. there is a lot to be desired in regards to the manual. they barely cover the basics, and the extras are like playing a video game and unlocking the secrets !!

The non-wide 2x0 nüvis don't have a satellite screen.

I was wondering why I couldn't get that screen after trying for a while. Thanks for clearing it up.

Does anyone have an answer for my previous question, asked again below?

"I've done the latest update on my nuvi 200 and I have Software 3.60, Audio 2.30, GPS SW Version 2.30b. What is the 2.30b for? The webupdater gave me no opportunity to update that and I see others have a higher version."

Was doing some reserach, and seems tha MAYBE the 2xx series have 3 different chipsets available ??

B = bravo chipset
S = Sirf chipset
M = MTK chipset

i know that when i boot mine up, it says " Copyright 2007 Sirf Technology" and since i have an "s" at the end of my SW Version, would make since that i have the Sirf Chipset, what does yours say when you boot up/ turn it on ?? wondering if you have the Bravo Chipset.

also in talking with others, I know mine takes some time to acquire satellites, yet those with a non Sirf chipset seem to boot up QUICKLY !!

That is why we are here, learning. If we already knew everything, this board wouldn't exists and I wouldn't have met such fine ppl.

Nuvi 200 and 200W are different HW. Firmware is not intercangable

Nuvi 200 have 2.90, 3.10, 3.30, 3.40 and now 3.60.
Nuvi 200W (wide screen) have 2.60, 2.80 and now 2.90
Nuvi 250W have 2.60 and now 2.80 i believe.
Nuvi 260 have 3.10, 3.30, 3.40 and now 3.60

visit garmin site for more details. webupdater is the .exe file one should be using to upgrade.

I thought the 200W and 250W was the same model with different maps coming preloaded?

They have different firmware's?

apparently they have different firmware, but they do have the SAME mapset. They both should have the 2008 maps, just like any other garmin that is up to date.

Nobody has answered my question here, but I'm beginning to piece it together from the posts. So GPS SW Version 2.30b refers to the chipset and will never be updated? True? If so, is there anything you can tell me about that chipset?

I have updated both the unit software version and GPS SW Version on my 200 using WebUpdater.

Mine is:
Software Version 3.60
Audio Version 2.30
GPS SW Version 3.00s

I don't remember what the GPS chip version was before I updated to 3.00s.

So maybe we have a different brand of chipset and updates are only available within brand? Webupdater didn't even give me the opportunity to update 2.30b.

Must be. I have the SiRF Star III chipset. There was a news report on GPSpassion that SiRF released new software for their chipset. Here is the link

http://www.gpspassion.com/fr/news.asp?ID=678

I don't know what the bravo chipset is, but I suppose if there is an update to that software, Garmin will make that available also.

They post updates for the chips firmware too. I've updated my 260 from 2.50m to 2.60m since I got it in December. When it was released, it showed at the top of the list of updates, above the vehicle and voice updates. Even if the Web Updater says there are no updates for your unit, still hit the next button and check the list for other possibilities.

Good point! WebUpdater first checks for updates to WebUpdater! After you hit next (or OK, or Continue), it checks for system software updates for your GPSr. After pressing next again it will list other updates, like voice, text, chipset, etc.

That 2.30b is the software for you specific GPS chipset. Just because you have 2.30b and someone has 2.90s doesn't mean that you are running a previous version of software for your GPS receiver chipset.

So the letter at the end of 'GPS SW Version' tells you what chipset you have per the chart above...

I have 'GPS SW Version 3.00s' so i have the Sirf Chipset

And it would make sense that Each chipset would have a different software release to support it.

Yes, that's what I think, also. What chipset do the 600-800 series units use?

I just purchased a Garmin nuvi 200W and the software ver. is 2.70. How do I update it to 2.90?
I thought I did it right when I downloaded the web updater. It said I had the latest version but I see elsewhere that the latest version is 2.90.
Does that update the maps also? I noticed that the maps are a few years old and not all the streets are on them in my area.

You have 2.70 ? what letter is after that ?? if it is an 's' then there is a 2.90s available via using the Web Update software from Garmin & a USB cable...
As far as i know it doe NOT update any maps, just internal software.

Here is the way the about screen looks:

nuvi 200W
Software Version 2.70
Unit ID: (my number)
Audio Version: 2.20
GPS SW Version: 3.00s

I will try the web updater again after work and see if it updates. Before, I entered my serial number and it said no updates available.

Now Garmin launch firmware 3.10 but it works bad
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/11428
And I cannot find exe files with 2.80 and 2.90 to return it back to the state I bought in 3 weeks ago
The Garmin team gave me only option to step back to 2.60
Who can help me with 2.90 or 2.80 updates for nuvi 200W

i have a nuvi 200...what does the update actually do? any major differences?

Usually the new update comes without old problems but sometimes it carries new bugs.
You can update soft, map, vehicles etc.

specifically for the nuvi 200 though...

If you find a way to run an update to your 200W other than using the web updater I would love to hear about it. I just bought a 200W 1month ago and it has SW Ver 2.30. I was able to run the update to the GPS to 3.00s using the web updater but when I try to update to 3.10, it quits with an i/o device error. wish I could find an earlier version to try to load.

Firmware 200W has bugs (I think so)
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/11428
The earlier version you can find here
http://gpsinformation.org/perry/nuvi/
but there is only 2.60 for nuvi 200W
I havenot managed to find 2.70, 2.80, 2.90
If You find it let me know. OK

Those versions were evidently available only via WebUpdater and are therefore not available as an exe file.

thanx 4 the link to perry. It worked to bring my sw up to 2.60, maybe now my web updater will be able to update to 3.10

I got my nuvi 200 in December and it came with firmware 2.90, I think. I updated it to the latest, 3.60. The only thing I've noticed is that I no longer have the mileage scale on the maps.

It's better wait for next update (3.20 or the newer one)

try installing 2.60 for 200W and go forward? isnt that possible?

I have 200W 2.60 exe file.

edit: i see that on the link u posted has 200w 2.60 exe files for download.

You cannot install 2xxW firmware on a 2xx.

The latest version for the 2xx is 3.60.

talked to Garmin today and resolved the problem w/ loading 3.1 update. turned out to be a problem with the Nuvi plugged into a hub on the computer instead of plugged directly into the computer. 3.1 loaded fine after that and seems OK to me so far. Support also said there was supposed to be a full manual available on the Nuvi but she couldn't find it when she was connected to me. She said she was going to check around and e-mail a pdf file if she could find one. Will let U All know if I get a copy.

Thanks to Garmin team
It seems that all "bugs" from 3.10 has gone away
Probably it's my only case
Anyway after putting older firmware (2.60) and reinstalling to the newest one (3.10) my 200W started work properly!!!! Yahoo!

so basically, its a downgrade??? Because i dont have any problems w/ my 200

congratulations!!!

Mine runs on older firmware. I will try to install newest this weekend. lets see...

If you want the map scale back you will have to install firmware version 2.90. I think that was the last stable version of the firmware that still had the map scale.

Actually, now that I haven't had the scale for a while, I don't miss it. It was pretty hard to see anyway. I don't remember what they were, but I do remember that there were a few important-sounding improvements between 2.90 and 3.60.