Garmin 2610 (map capacity on CF card)

Is should contain both maps of North and South America. You can read more here https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=6397 and read more in the specs section. https://buy.garmin.com/shop/store/assets/pdfs/specs/sp2610_2...

SD Cards are used to load additional maps however many here use it for Custom poi’s to mp3’s. Whatever floats your boat…:)

The 2610 uses the SD card just for maps, you load them using MapSource. If you have a 2GB card you can load the maps for the entire US and Canada, or with a smaller card you can load a smaller area. It stores routes and waypoints in internal memory.

The 2610 does not load POIs nor MP3s. The only way to load a POI is to save the csv file as a GPX or LOC file and load that as regular waypoints, or as Garmin calls them now favorites.

Don,

Guess I'm a little confused but wouldn't be the 1st time. In trying to help my buddy understand his newly bought 2610, it appears that it will take the City Navigator North America NT 2008 update (which is V8, I guess). Are you saying this update won't load to the basic unit like it did on my 2720? Are you also saying that maps for a specific part of the US must be loaded before visiting there?

By the way, his unit hasn't arrived yet, probably in the next few days. He's totally oblivious in the electronic tech area so I'm trying to get up to par so I can direct him.

Not that the DETAIL maps are NOT preloaded. And the unit takes CompactFlash cards not SD cards. The unit has been discontinued for a while so I doubt that I will come with the latest maps.

The current North American maps are verison NT 2008. The previous version was v8. The maps are loaded to the card using MapSource.

I don't think that the NT v2008 update is compatible with the 2610 as it doesn't use the NT maps.

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Here's what it says on Garmin's website ...

The 2610 also features a large, easy-to-read screen, built-in maps, and everything needed to download additional map detail and look up points of interest and addresses in seconds. Select maps and transfer data directly to the unit through a USB connection and onto a standard CompactFlash® memory card.

And here's what the spec sheet says ...

Built-in routable basemap (North America and South America) contains state and country boundaries, lakes, rivers, streams, airports, cities, towns, coastlines, state and interstate highways, local thoroughfares and secondary roads within metro areas, federal interstate highway exit information for services such as food, lodging and truck, RV and automotive service stations

Includes: MapSource® City Navigator™ v7 DVD (full U.S. plus select Canadian coverage; unlock included) 128 MB CompactFlash® memory card

My mistake on the SD card, I have so many things that take SD cards I forgot about my 2610 taking CF cards.

If he gets a factory pack it will have the correct MapSource CD included Which is MapSource City Navigator, and a 128MB card. You have to install the software and define what maps you want that will have street level detail, then load them to the CF card. The 128MB card doesn't give much coverage, I had a 1GB card in mine and had probably 90% of the US covered. The areas that you don't have the street level maps loaded for will just have the base map.

I will have to suggest he get a 2 GB flash card. I notice in the spec's Garmin says Type I or type II. If I remember correctly, that's different thicknesses for one vs the other. How about brand of CF card? What brand works good??

Here's the link where he got the unit. Look about halfway down the page and the seller is talking about supplying the the 2008 version. Course that could be BS.

http://cgi.ebay.com:80/Garmin-StreetPilot-2610-GPS-Street-Pi...

I'm not saying that the vendor or the deal isn't legitimate, however, the statement about being an Authorized Vendor on that page is inaccurate. Garmin does not have ANY authorized vendors on eBay.

Question: Does Garmin have any authorized dealers on eBay or any other online auction site?
Answer:

Garmin does not have any authorized dealers that sell new products directly on online auction sites. Any purchases made through online auction sites are on a "buyer beware" basis. A copy of the original sales receipt is required as the proof of purchase for warranty repairs. Online auction confirmations are not accepted for warranty verification and Garmin will not replace any missing components from any package purchased through an online auction.

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Also, I'm not aware of a map update v2008 that has been released for the regular (non-NT) version of the maps. The 2610 uses the regular version.

Lastly, I would CALL Garmin and CONFIRM the largest size card that the unit can use. Since it's older technology, it might not be able to use larger cards.

The outfit does claim to be an authorized Garmin dealer in an answer to my mail to them. Key word may be "new products" vs refurbished. Who knows???

Garmin says the 2610 will support up to a 2GB CF card.

Still waiting on their answer to my question about Mapsource City Navigator North America vs the NT version.

Oh wow, just had another thought. I remember my buddy's wife telling me they got a new PC last month with Windows Vista on it. It just now dawns on me, that's probably gonna be a problem with Mapsource software??????????????????????

Don't go with the type II CF card, it is a miniature hard drive and doesn't handle rough use too well

MapSource will work with Vista.

Appreciate the info about the type II CF card, Don. That's nice to know.

Guess I've got most everything figured out now. I'm just gonna download the latest version of Mapsource (with Vista support except for help) to a CD. Might be much easier when I have to get him up and running. Here's the latest info from radioworld_canada

You would receive the non-NT version: BUT:
Without advising any of it's dealers Garmin stopped issuing unlock codes for v2008 maps effective Mar
15, 2008.Upon discussion with them they have advised us that the new v2009 will be introduced in the very near future, apparent within a few weeks.
We are in the process of having all our customers who were eligible for v2008 now upgraded to v2009.
So instead of having the v2008 maps that
were introduced in May of 2007 you will now receive the v2009 introduced in Mar 2008 a full year newer.
Please be patient as we work through this, the
following will likely happen:When v2009 is available you will need to call or log into mygarmin.com to have the DVD sent to you for FREE.
The unlock codes will then also be issued either through mygarmin.com or through the phone.
You can check here when the v2009 is available:

http://www8.garmin.com/unlock/update.jsp

-radioworld_canada

My buddy got the 2610 he ordered and I set it up for him today. It came with City Navigator North America V7 and also had a City Navigator North America 2008 (non NT version)update DVD with it.

So yes, the non-NT version of City Navigator is available in the 2008 flavor and after talking with Garmin it will be available in a 2009 version. Unfortunately, since Garmin has locked out the procedure for unlocking update maps I could not load the City Navigator North America 2008 update DVD. Seems like a terrible way to do business.

After getting it setup, I downloaded the latest version of Mapsource to his Vista machine and that all worked fine. Took quite a while to "acquire satellites". It seems that the refurbished unit was last used in Taiwan. Until I noticed that and clicked on the option about "moving hundreds of miles since the last use", satellites could never be acquired.

Working fine now with CN V7 but maybe the new V9 (when it comes out) will be a freebie for him. At least the tech and seller seem to think so.