POI Icons on 260W Map View?

I'm gonna take a wild shot at this. I think the various mfg's steal each other's good ideas and sometimes the bad ones too.
On my Magellan, it automatically sets the zoom level depending (apparently) on how fast you are going and how far it is to the next "manuver". And the poi's don't appear at all if you are zoomed out too far. SO......as I am whizzing down the interstate, none of the built-in poi's show on the map. I have to use the "Exit POIs" function, which is not map based, or manually zoom in to a much closer level. At that level, I have to scroll around the map to see much of anything. This is NOT something you should be doing while driving and is my biggest frustration so far with GPS's in general. I think some/most of the Garmin's work in a similar fashion.

I believe, however, that custom POIs I have loaded show up on the map regardless of zoom level. Not being a really big fan of lots of custom poi's (gasp) that doesn't help me too much.

Judging from your question, I'd guess that the Garmin's handle all POIs the same and it's a zoom level thing.

Thanks the reply but that not it. I have the Custom Icons I need but the 260W only will show a "Checkered Flag" for any POI no matter if I have Custom Icon or not.

Entirely different question. I know nothing about that.

The checkered flag is usually a destination icon. Are you asking the unit to route you to the POI? If so, the destination icon is covering up your custom icon. Just route yourself past the POI (not to it) and you should see the custom icon if you zoom in all the way (and maybe change the mode to 2D on some models). If you just want to verify that the custom icon loaded correctly and see what it looks like, choose the POI from the list and then "Map" or "Show Map" instead of routing to it.

I have the same problem with my unit a nuvi 660. I loaded Sttarbucks locations, audio and Starbucks icon. When I go to the "Where To" menu and choose custom POI I can choose a location and it maps it out. If I look at the "Show Map" it will show the destination with the Starbucks logo. However, when I drive past any Starbucks no Icon appears even though it is a listed location in the custom POI. If I drive into the Starbucks no icon appears. No sound either. Zooming in or out on the nuvi does not change anything. I also cannot figure out why I get no alerts. Appreciate any suggestions.

Gerry

If you can see the icon when you go the "Show Map" route, then you know it is there.
1.) Have you tried one of the 2D modes and zoomed in ALL the way?
2.) Did you set the distance for the alert to 1/4 mile or more?
3.) Did you look to see whether the POI is placed within 50 ft of the road (my preference is on the road itself)?
4.) When looking for an alert, are you on the road where the POI is located and traveling toward it?
5.) Is the audio alert an MP3 (or, if a wav, loaded with POI Loader 2.5.2)?
6.) Is the MP3 named identically to the cvs and in the same folder when loading?
7.) Do you have alerts turned on in the settings?

These are a few things that can cause problems.

Are you zooming in all the way (until you can't zoom in anymore) while in a 2D map mode?

Are you not seeing even the default gray dot?

As to the sound, did you load a Custom Alert sound? Did you set alerts? (Regular POIs don't alert by default.) Are your icon and sound files named properly?

Thank you and Motorcycle Mama for your responses and suggestions. I believe I have met all the conditions you list except for trying the 2D mode. I never considered that.
The audio file is an MP3 that I downloaded from the same place I got the Starbucks POI file, it is the same name, as is the icon file. I hope to be able to try again next week when I get near a Starbucks. I live in a mountain area and am quite far from most POI location that I could test.

You mention being on the same road as the POI. The first time I tried I was on an interstate with the POI on a dirrerent road; However, I could see the POI, it was maybe 100 yards from me. On the second try I drove right into the parking lot with no alert or icon appearing. Must you be on the same road for the alert to work?

Thanks again Bentbiker and Motorcycle Mama.

Gerry

Check out Phil's great guide to setting alerts.
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/6764

Typically, several conditions must be met for alerts to sound.

1. You must SET an alert for the POIs. (Phil's post details how to do this.) For regular POIs, you typically will use POI Loader's Manual Mode to set them.

2. You must enable alerts on your GPS unit.

3. You must be traveling on the road that the POI is located on and in the direction of the POI and the POI must be sufficiently close (around 50 feet) to the road in order for the alert to sound.

The alerts will not sound if you are on a road perpendicular to the road on which the POI is located.

You don't need to be physically there to test it. You have a simulation mode. You just need to lower the antenna, turn simulation on, set you location on the street of the Starbucks but outside the alert distance that you set, and then ask it to simulate a route to a spot that you set just beyond the Starbucks. Save the gas.

Your wording of "the same place" leads me to conclude the file is not from this site and I am therefore concerned about the nearness of the POI to the street. When you ask it to "Show Map" and you see the icon, and you Zoom ALL the way in, is the icon in the roadway or just barely off of it?

In Simulation mode you can zoom in close and see icons on the map, but when navigating to a location in real time Nuvi WILL NOT let you zoom in fully to see icons on the map.

Steve

Was that true for you before the last firmware update and when traveling but not navigating to a destination? I'm running 4.3 (not the new 4.4) and I see my custom icons fine while traveling around and not navigating. I can't say I've ever paid any attention while navigating to a point that takes me past one.

I was forced to put ver. 4.40 on my Nuvi 660 to do the 2009 map update. I purchased the unit saw they were offering a free 2009 maps upgrade and did it. Not sure what it would do with old firmware.

Steve

I noticed that last night also. I was fooling around with the 260W in Simulation mode and when I used "Map" I saw my Icons for the 1st time so at least I know they on in the unit.

Keep the following in mind especially when you have correctly loaded the files and can see the bmp when in browse map or show map mode.

I've noticed on some poi's, that the actual physical location and the lat/lon used in the file can be quite a distance apart. The reasons vary, but keep in mind if you are in the parking lot of a Starbucks and don't see the custom bmp, go to the view map or browse map mode and see where the actual bmp is being displayed...chances are the lat/lon is off.

Additionally,

With the zoom level having to be 300', 200', 120' or 80' on most units (and 2D on some), the lat/lon will have to be as close to dead on as possible for the icon to display when just driving by or in the vicinity.

Anyone find any answers on this? I can't even find my built-in icons when in "MAP" or navagation. I can only see them if I pan the map. Then when I go back to "MAP" there gone again???? I've tried 2D and zoom.....WAZUP???? I'd like to try to load some custom POI's but....GEEE I'd like to master this obsticle first. Can anyone help or direct me to a thread. I've tried to no avail to find one. I'm sure I'm not the only 260W owner with this problem ...AM I?

I have loaded 50, but would like to load more. Does any one know if they can be loaded on the sd card?

To make sure you have used up all your space click on my computer and find the drive for your gps and see how much free space you have if any.

Yes you can put them on your sd card.Follow the same process you did to put them on the gps except when you get to find device using poiloader use the down arrow and select sd card and continue on with the prompts.