Garmin Nuvi 260 (map updates)

I was wondering if i should of bought a model that automatically updated maps or if there is even such a thing. And if there is, is there any way that i could return my garmin 260 and purchase one that did... any help would be great!
thanx
bj

No such animal currently. Unless you have some other reason that makes you want to return your 260, you should be fine keeping it.

This one is easy. The map update will NOT be available by download from Garmin.

If you purchased your unit AFTER March 1 and if it has the previous version of the maps, you should be eligible for a free update. The updates will not be available from Garmin until AFTER May 1 so just be patient.

If you purchased your unit before that time frame and if you wish to update the maps, you will need to purchase the update disk.

Again, it will NOT be available for download. It's too big anyway. The updates are on disk and recently it's been DVD and not CD due to the size of the data.

thank you very much for the clarification. I was pretty confused after talking to the rep. I did purchase the unit after march 1st so how do I get the update? I am new to the gps units and am trying to add POI's. I am also wondering how to convert or if I can use .csv files --- or convert them to .gpx files. The gpx's work fine but I can not seem to use the .csv files ..... if you could help me I would really appreciate it!
Thank you again
bj

I grafted the two Nuvi 260 threads together, please ask multiple questions pertaining to one unit in one thread.

Miss POI

I'm not to sure about grafting threads... I downloaded files that ended with .csv and have also downloaded files that ended with .gpx the .gpx files went straight to my 260 but the .csv files do not show up .... I tried to rename a file with .gpx at the end to make it appear but it didn't work. I need help!!-- if you could assist ..
thank you

What Miss POI is saying is that you started two different threads about essentially the same subject. It helps keep the site organized if you don't do that but rather keep your questions in the same thread.

Now, as I said in my post, you need to wait until after May 1. Then go to your my.garmin.com page and it should show up there if you are eligible. If it doesn't show up there after a week or so, then call Garmin and politely ask for it. They will likely ask for you to send in a receipt so don't be surprised about that. And be prepared to be patient. Lots of people will be calling at this time.

Now, as to your POI question. POI Loader will load CSV and GPX files equally fine.

Read through the 'getting started' and 'faqs' sections linked at the top of each page. Those sections will provide you with TONS of information.

You can convert CSV files to GPX format using the POI Edit software, but you shouldn't need to.

You need to load the Custom POI files from your computer using Garmin's POI Loader software. If you copy the POI files to your nuvi, the CSV files will be ignored and the GPX files will be read as Favorites.

You can't simply rename the file extension.

Here's the basic procedure to load Custom POIs to your unit.

Download and install Garmin's POI Loader onto your computer in order to LOAD Custom POI files onto your GPS unit.

http://www8.garmin.com/products/poiloader/

Then create a folder on your computer for your Custom POI files.

Download and/or create whatever Custom POI files you want to load onto your GPS unit and place ALL of them in that folder and keep them there.

Attach your GPS unit to your computer with a USB cable. (Alternately, if you have a unit that will read the Custom POIs from the SD card, attach or insert the SD card to the computer.)

Run the POI Loader program that you installed to your computer and follow the prompts.

Select your GPS unit (or SD card if applicable) as the destination for the Custom POIs in the POI Loader screen. Use the drop down arrow if necessary.

When it asks for the location of the data, Select 'Browse ...' and navigate to the appropriate folder.

Select Manual or Express Mode using the drop down list. (Express Mode will set alerts based upon the data in the files. Manual Mode will allow you to set the alert information manually, if desired.)

If you select Manual instead of Express, you can set Proximity and Speed alerts for your POIs.

Follow the prompts.

Express Mode will load you files and present you with a Finish screen indicating how many POIs were loaded.

Manual Mode will present you with each POI file you have in your folder giving you the opportunity to skip loading that file, and to set or change the speed or proximity alert information. At the end Manual Mode will also present you with a Finish screen indicating how many POIs were loaded.

POI Loader will create a file in the destination you chose named POI.GPI with all your Custom POIs.

I followed all of the instructions and cannot find the manual or express modes. I am using a mac if that helps?

My garmin is now stuck on the loading maps screen ... and is not changing from that screen ??

what now to do?

The POI Loader beta version 2.0.2.1 which offers the manual mode is still available via cnet's versiontracker site:
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/32218

Not sure why Garmin removed it from their site, but it always worked fine for me and others here.

Do you have a reset button? If that doesn't solve it, see if your map file is still on the unit. You didn't use WebUpdater to update your firmware by any chance did you?

Did you back up your unit before messing with it?

No I have web updater however i did not back up any info... i will look for the reset button though

Okay, my one slight irritation, rant and request is to ask that are using Macs or other non-Windows OS (since the site tends to dealing what a majority of Windows users) and having problems, PLEASE state that at the beginning.

still stuck on loading map screen ---

I didnt realize ... sry for the confusion motorcycle mama

For the "stuck" problem, try doing a hard reset. If that doesn't fix it, try reloading the firmware. If that doesn't work, you will have to call Garmin. Do you have any MP3s loaded? Others with that unit have reported the unit hanging when corrupt MP3 files have been loaded.

As to the Mac issue, as posted above, you need to use the Beta version of POI Loader for Mac in order to get all the options.

I have been reading that M.M. said that the update will be on a DVD. My laptop only has a CD. Is there any other way to do the new update.

Not really.

If you have access to a network drive that has a DVD drive and if you can share it across the network, you should be able to do it that way.

Otherwise, there are external DVD drives.

Or maybe a friend or family member has a computer with a DVD drive.

Or maybe an upgrade to your computer is in order.

My wife has a DVD on her laptop. I will use hers.
I did not think that I could use hers, because I have all the Garmin sites (webdater,etc.) on my computer. Thanks for the answer.

Good luck. Be sure to run the laptop on AC power--or at least make sure the battery's fully charged if you run on battery. The update will take over an hour to move data from the DVD to the laptop and to the GPS. A PC shutdown midway through the installation might be very unfun.

Thanks M.M. & CraigW for the tips about loading the new 2009 update. I did look on Miss POI Faq page and only found information to update to 2009 with Mapsource.
Maybe Miss POI will post a how to update on the new maps, on that page. I am sure that once Garmin starts sending out the new DVDs, there will be many questions.

I'm looking for a recommendation for a GPS. What I don't need is: an MP3 player, Blue Tooth, Photo Viewer, Audio Book Player, Cell Phone, etc.

I volunteer for several bike rides, such as the MS150, as a SAG van driver. This consists of driving the course looking for riders that need help (tired, hurt, broken down, etc). I may drive back and forth between Break Points 1 & 2 for an hour and then move on down to work Break Points 4 & 5. While doing this I really don't need the GPS for navigation as every turn on the course is marked with big signs.

So what do I need?
* My location as lat & long. This is infrequently needed when calling for a helicopter so having to go through a few screens is no big deal, but it is a must.
* Distance from me to the Break Points in front and behind me. This is so I can tell an ambulance my location. Ideally I would enter the Break Points as labeled waypoints and then be able to pull up a text list of the Waypoints showing my current distance to each BreakPoint, preferably sorted by that distance. I guess if I could enter the BreakPoints as POIs and assign them to a custom POI category it would work if I could bring up that custom POI category and it would display my distance from each of the POIs. The Ability to handle 12 Break Points would be a requirement. From what I see the 260 could handle this as custom POIs, but what are the way point capabilities of the 260?

Appreciate your help.

If you don't need Canada go with the 200.