NUVI 660 and Custom POI Issues

 

I have a NUVI 660 that will not allow me to load custom POI's, that are actually usable. They are installed in a one large file that is in the Garmin\POI directory. Nothing will show up under custom >> Extras, even though there are several custom POI's installed. I have contacted Garmin three separate times about this issue, and did the install per their instructions, with no success. I have also followed the instructions posted here by Motorcycle Mama, again with the same result. I have found three other NUVI 660 users that are having the same issue. I was curious, before I contact Garmin again as to how many other 660 users are having the same issue. It appears to me to be a firmware issue with the 660.

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Are you TOUCHING the menu bar that reads Custom POIs?

Be sure to check under,

Be sure to check under, "Extras". I have a 660 and a 780 and they work fine.

--
Steve

POI Issue

You are useing the POI Loader?
I have the 660 and it loads everything.

NUVI 660

I am not having any trouble

--
It is not a sign of weakness to need other people; it is a sign of strength to have them!

NUVI 660 Custom POI Issues

I am using GeePeeEx Editor and the Garmin Poi loader with my 660. I have never had a problem creating or loading the POI's to my unit. I am using firmware version 4.50. If you want to try a different version, here is a link to them.

http://gpsinformation.org/perry/nuvi/

Probably Not A Firmware Issue!

I seriously doubt its a firmware issue, otherwise we'd have a LOT of people making complaints.

For now let us assume that it is something that can be fixed on your side.

When you connect your 660 to your computer can you see the modifed POI file on your 660? If no, then you may be doing something wrong when you try to install the POI file to your 660.

Please confirm you can see the modified POI file on your 660.

Yes, It says that it

Yes, It says that it installs the new POI's successfully, and in fact this is evident by the size of the POI file. However, it does not show up as having any custom POI's installed. As I said, I know of three other 660 users that are having the same problem. I have upgraded to 2009 maps, as well as upgraded to the lasted rev's on the Garmin site. I was really, just attempting to find out how many others were encountering the same issue to determine if it was an issue with the 660, or if I just had a bad unit.

My 660 has been flawless,

My 660 has been flawless, once I figured out the steps.

?

newjade wrote:

Yes, It says that it installs the new POI's successfully, . . . However, it does not show up as having any custom POI's installed.

When you go to EXTRAS and touch it, do you see a category called Custom-POIs? If so, and you touch it, what do you see?

--
Nuvi 660 -- and not upgrading it or maps until Garmin fixes long-standing bugs/problems, and get maps to where they are much more current, AND corrected on a more timely basis when advised of mistakes.

Always Worked

I've not had a problem loading POIs onto my 660.

Let me ask this question: after you have attempted loading the POI files, have you left the 660 connected to your PC and looked in the Garmin>Poi folder of the main 660 unit? You should see a single file named poi.gpi. If its there, what size is it and is the date/time stamp correct for when you last loaded POIs?

--
Tampa, FL - Garmin nüvi 660 (Software Ver 4.90), 2021.20 CN NA NT maps | Magellan Meridian Gold

No problems here.

newjade wrote:

I was really, just attempting to find out how many others were encountering the same issue to determine if it was an issue with the 660, or if I just had a bad unit.

Once I figured out how to do it, it works very well. I love how it works and makes my locations so easy to organize and use.

Alan

When I uninstall the custom

When I uninstall the custom POI's the POI.gpi file has a size of 0 KB. After installation of the POI's, the size is 527 KB, with the correct date stamp, so yes they are being loaded, as I said earlier, but when you go to "Where To" >> Extras, where the custom POI's should be, there is nothing. The points are definately loaded, because if you search for one of the points, it will in fact find it.

.

After you go to Where to? > Extras > Custom POIs, are you TOUCHING the menu bar that reads Custom POIs?

And are you saying that when you TOUCH it, nothing is listed?

I'm Confused

newjade wrote:

When I uninstall the custom POI's the POI.gpi file has a size of 0 KB. After installation of the POI's, the size is 527 KB, with the correct date stamp, so yes they are being loaded, as I said earlier, but when you go to "Where To" >> Extras, where the custom POI's should be, there is nothing. The points are definately loaded, because if you search for one of the points, it will in fact find it.

Ok, I'm confused. You say you cannot see the custom POI's under Extras, but then you say you can search and find the custom POI's. Somethings not right. Because if the unit doesn't have any custom POI's loaded, you won't be able to do a search.

Hmmmmm

newjade wrote:

When I uninstall the custom POI's the POI.gpi file has a size of 0 KB. After installation of the POI's, the size is 527 KB, with the correct date stamp, so yes they are being loaded, as I said earlier, but when you go to "Where To" >> Extras, where the custom POI's should be, there is nothing. The points are definately loaded, because if you search for one of the points, it will in fact find it.

I have a 66o and haven't had any problem at all loading and using POIs. What I find interesting about what you describe is the fact that you say there is "nothing" under Where TO | Extras . Before I ever loaded a single POI, I still had the Custom POI entry. Did you get the Fodor's North America Travel Guide? That shows up under Extras too.

--
-- Garmin 660 Ellicott City, MD

660 and custom POI's

This sounds like a broken record but same with me. My 660 shows foder and all the custom poi's I just downloaded for the trip I am on now. are you loading themon the unit or on as sd card. If not using a card I would try it that way to see if it works.

--
johnm405 660 & MSS&T

No I can not find the POI's.

No I can not find the POI's. I can search and find the individual listings contained in the POI's. There is nothing under, nor has there ever been any thing listed under WHERE TO >> EXTRAS. This has been blank ever since I purchased the unit. As I initially stated, I believe that there is a firm ware issue with my unit, and I was trying to find out if there were other 660 owners having the same issue.

How many files

Do you have all your files in one folder?If yes do you have more then 32 files?If yes you will need to break your files down into subfolders to get more of them to show.See this node for how to use subfolders http://www.poi-factory.com/node/8674

--
Charlie. Nuvi 265 WT and Nuvi 2597 LMT. MapFactor Navigator - Offline Maps & GPS.

.

newjade wrote:

No I can not find the POI's. I can search and find the individual listings contained in the POI's. There is nothing under, nor has there ever been any thing listed under WHERE TO >> EXTRAS. This has been blank ever since I purchased the unit. As I initially stated, I believe that there is a firm ware issue with my unit, and I was trying to find out if there were other 660 owners having the same issue.

I'm not sure how you could be searching the Custom POIs if the "Custom POI" menu item doesn't show up under Extras.

However, if POI Loader indicates that it has successfully loaded your Custom POIs and the POI.GPI file is showing up on the unit and if there's no "Custom POIs" menu item under "Extras" and if your firmware is updated, then you indeed have a firmware or other OS issue with your unit and you need to call Garmin.

Test file...

newjade wrote:

I have a NUVI 660 that will not allow me to load custom POI's, that are actually usable.

You could try copying this file to your \Garmin\POI directory:

arrow http://GeePeeEx.com/Florida.gpi

The contents of the file should appear in its own category, under Custom POIs (called Florida) and it contains 21 entries.

--
------------------------ Phil Hornby, Stockport, England ----------------------               http://GeePeeEx.com - Garmin POI Creation made easy           »      

How Are You Searching??

newjade wrote:

No I can not find the POI's. I can search and find the individual listings contained in the POI's. There is nothing under, nor has there ever been any thing listed under WHERE TO >> EXTRAS.

You need to tell us step-by-step how you are searching for custom POI's. Tell us every icon you press starting from the main screen.

The reason we are all confused is that in order to search custom POI's, you first need to open the custom POI icon under Extras. So if you are telling us there are no icons under Extras, then it stands to reason that you can't search for custom POI's!!! As I said earlier, something you are telling us isn't quite right.

You are quite correct, that

You are quite correct, that there is something not quite right. There is absolutely nothing under Extras, nor has there ever been anything under Extras.

.

So, could you please describe the steps that you are taking when you are searching the Custom POIs?

I'm Done

Since you won't tell us how you are searching, my guess is you are doing something wrong and don't want to admit it. Therefore, I will let others waste their time trying to help you.

.

Easy there. We're all just trying to figure the thing out. It's all fine.

Maybe he is searching where to? >points of interest

and finding Garmin's listings... If you can see the poi's loaded in your gps and there isn't anything listed in extras, then you can't search. In fact if they were there, you couldn't search. You would be able to select one by scrolling not searching as I interpret the term.

Edit and if you can see the pois loaded and there isn't anything in extras, there is indeed something wrong with your gps and you should call Garmin as MM suggested...

--
It is terrible to speak well and be wrong. -Sophocles snɥɔnıɥdoɐ aka ʎɹɐƃ

This, I believe is what I

This, I believe is what I originally stated, but some of the posters here obviously can't read or just assumes that everyone but them selves is a total idiot. I never said that I was able to search custom POI's. If you use the tool correctly, you can search for anything by >> near what city, and then spell what you are looking for. As I said, using this method I can indeed find the listings within the POI's that I have loaded, but they do not show up as custom POI's installed in the Extras folder. By, posting here, I was simply trying to ascertain, if the NUVI 660 has a problem, or if it was simply the unit that I have has a problem. To those of you who actually tried to be helpful, THANK YOU. I will be returning my unit to Garmin for repair or replacement.

.

Ok, there is absolutely no need to call people names or say bad things about others. No one called anyone an idiot.

We are desperately trying to understand what it going on with your Custom POIs based on what you have posted here. You repeatedly stated that you were able to "search the points" and find them.

I'm fairly sure that everyone reading the post (myself included) interpreted that to mean that you were searching the Custom POIs that you installed.

The fact that you now seem to be stating that you were searching the built in POIs and you were able to find some the of the same locations in those POIs is completely incongruous to the previous statements.

The built in POIs have no relation to the Custom POIs whatsoever. They are kept in separate data areas on the unit and have to be searched separately. Searching one database will not result in finding locations contained in the other databased.

Several people repeatedly asked for you to give details of how you were searching, but the questions went unanswered.

I appreciate the fact that often it's difficult to describe to others exactly what is going on and it can be frustrating, but I believe that most people tried very hard to be extremely patient through the process.

I'm sure that Garmin will take good care of you as they have excellent customer service and hopefully your new unit will be free of any problems.

Good luck.

Well I sure thought you meant searching custom pois..

newjade wrote:

I never said that I was able to search custom POI's.

From one of your posts: "When I uninstall the custom POI's the POI.gpi file has a size of 0 KB. After installation of the POI's, the size is 527 KB, with the correct date stamp, so yes they are being loaded, as I said earlier, but when you go to "Where To" >> Extras, where the custom POI's should be, there is nothing. The points are definately loaded, because if you search for one of the points, it will in fact find it."

That sounded to me like you were searching the custom pois, it sounded like you were giving proof they were loaded because you could find them by searching; and as you can see it did cause a lot of confusion..

I thought after reading all the posts Maybe he thinks he can find custom pois by searching the factory installed pois.....

I did think that you might have a problem with your gps.

This is my take on the whole issue and once again hope you get the gps fixed and come back..

--
It is terrible to speak well and be wrong. -Sophocles snɥɔnıɥdoɐ aka ʎɹɐƃ

I could be mistaken, but I

I could be mistaken, but I don't think that Garmin installs built in POI's that are names of cabins in the Smokey Mountains. One of the POI's that I loaded contained this information. I am able to find the cabins when I search for them, but there are no custom POI's shown under EXTRAS. This is the reason, I initially asked about other 660 users having the same problem. This is also why I beleive that there is a firmware issue, as I stated earlier.

No custom POI's

newjade wrote:

I could be mistaken, but I don't think that Garmin installs built in POI's that are names of cabins in the Smokey Mountains. One of the POI's that I loaded contained this information. I am able to find the cabins when I search for them, but there are no custom POI's shown under EXTRAS. This is the reason, I initially asked about other 660 users having the same problem. This is also why I beleive that there is a firmware issue, as I stated earlier.

Obviously there is some problem here. My suggestions would be:
1. If you bought the Nuvi from a place like BestBuy or some place where there are sales people who might know how to use the device - take it back and let them test out the machine. If there is a problem with your machine that will certainly show it.
2. Do you have any friends with Nuvi's or simililar who you could take the device to and let them play with it?
I think your best course of action is to find somebody who knows what a working Nuvi looks like and let them see yours. Good luck.

660 POI's

I have used both the Mac and PC up-loaders with my Nuvi 660, and without doubt, the PC version is more reliable (and I am a die-hard Mac user).

--
RKF (Brookeville, MD) Garmin Nuvi 660, 360 & Street Pilot

Firmware version?

newjade wrote:

This is also why I beleive that there is a firmware issue, as I stated earlier.

Which firmware version are you running?

Also, did you try loading the pre-built .GPI file I mentioned in my earlier post?

--
------------------------ Phil Hornby, Stockport, England ----------------------               http://GeePeeEx.com - Garmin POI Creation made easy           »      

Beta?

rkf wrote:

I have used both the Mac and PC up-loaders with my Nuvi 660, and without doubt, the PC version is more reliable (and I am a die-hard Mac user).

Randy, are you using the Mac beta version of POI Loader? If so, I can't understand why you would have even a single reliability issue.

--
Nuvi 660 -- and not upgrading it or maps until Garmin fixes long-standing bugs/problems, and get maps to where they are much more current, AND corrected on a more timely basis when advised of mistakes.

Sorry, but by the time you

Sorry, but by the time you posted, I was about to get peeved at the " it can't be problem with the unit, must be another dummy" approach that was being taken by a few of the posters. Yes I just downloaded the file and installed it to the Garmin >> poi directory. The results are the same. The unit does not recognize that it has any custom POI's installed. Thanks for your help.

Firmware version

newjade wrote:

Yes I just downloaded the file and installed it to the Garmin >> poi directory. The results are the same.

To my mind, that really only leaves the firmware version...

It's possible that this unit sat on a shelf, for a long time before you bought it. (My Nüvi 310 from Amazon certainly had).

The quick and easiest way to find out, is to run the WebUpdater.

arrow http://www8.garmin.com/support/collection.jsp?product=999-99...

--
------------------------ Phil Hornby, Stockport, England ----------------------               http://GeePeeEx.com - Garmin POI Creation made easy           »      

2009 Map Uprade and POI Problems..

Hi newjade, Of all of the responses to your POI problem I have read, the fact that you upgraded to the 2009 maps has me wondering a few things.. First, did you really pay what, $149.00 for the 2009 mapset from Garmin? Or did you do like lots of folks, and download the 1.4GB Torrent? Hopefully, you didn't, but, if you did, and overwrote your V.8 mapset on your 660 with the cracked version, instead of using an SD card to put your V.9 software on, then you may be in a bit of a bind.. A Garmin Firmware update to V 4.50 is fine, but you should never overwrite the original mapset, instead, write it to a SD card, and that way, you can navigate to the little spanner wrench icon, then maps, and map info, and put the checkmark on which mapset you want to use. I know that when the "cracked" V.9 mapset is used, there have been some POI issues, like you load POIs with your POI loader, and when you go to Extras, they custom POIs don't show up.. However, a reboot of the 660 usually will allow them to be seen.. Please note, all files in this case, including the POIs were written directly to the SD card, and NOT the Nuvi itself... If your Nuvi 660 V.8 mapset has been overwritten by a cracked version of V.9, I don't think I would be sending it back for repair.. Of course, for legal purposes, this info provided is only what I have heard from other folks that have done this! Best Luck, and Regards, Cashfoot.. grin

Wow! what a change. I've

Wow! what a change. I've gone from a dummy to a pc geek criminal in less a week. Couldn't resist Cashfoot. The reality is that, because of when I purchased the unit ( April 2008) I was entitled to the free upgrade from Garmin, which I downloaded and installed with no problems. The stupid part of all this is that I didn't really want the GPS unit. My wife had to have it. The other ironic part of this whole thing is that I have made my living for the past 36 years, installing and maintaining PC and computer based process control systems. This is why I know that things don't alway work the way that they are supposed to. I am waiting for the RMA from Garmin to send the unit back for repair. The funny thing is that I didn't really ask for all the input, althought most was appreciated, I was just trying to find out if there was a production problem with the 660 or if I just had a bad unit. Thanks for the input anyway.

Nuvi 660....

Hi all First off let me say you all sound like a great bunch of folks who are trying their best to help, I will throw in my 2 cents here.. for what it's worth. I loaded a bundle of custom POI's in to my unit and I too have only one POI.gpi file on my garmin it does contain all my POI's I put in. It took me a while to see that, the garmin *Seems* to only show you POI's that are within like 35 or 40 miles of your current location, I will be moving around some today so I will test this theory out. What I'd like to have is the custom sound alerts. but don't see how this is possible with only one .gpi file and the redlight file I have being combined into that file. so having a custom sound file is something I have yet to figure out..

If you asking how to add a

If you asking how to add a mp3 file for a csv file?

Pick the csv file you want the mp3 for and name it the same name except the extension and put it in the same folder.For example

redlight.csv
redlight.mp3
cracker barrel.csv
cracker barrel.mp3

The gps shows you the closest 50 pois to you.
You can go to the bottom of gps screen after touching where to and touch near to get another city to pull up. It will now show the closest 50 to your selection.

--
Charlie. Nuvi 265 WT and Nuvi 2597 LMT. MapFactor Navigator - Offline Maps & GPS.

If you asking how to add a

Yes, I am asking.. as I don't see how this is supposed to work.. if I simply copy in the .csv file with it's corresponding .mp3... into the garmin's POI folder doesn't recognize anything.. untill I use the POI loader and then we are back to 1 file.. and no .mp3's

Sry if this has been discussed in detail elsewhere.. but I could not find it.

O.T. smile

Trust

OT,
Just do it and you will be amazed. All of the alerts and icons will be included within the POI.gpi file.

--
Nuvi 660 -- and not upgrading it or maps until Garmin fixes long-standing bugs/problems, and get maps to where they are much more current, AND corrected on a more timely basis when advised of mistakes.

.

You have to load both the MP3 and the CSV with POI Loader.

Loading MP3s as Custom Sounds
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/4360

Keep in mind that when you run POI Loader, you are selecting the FOLDER and not the FILE.

Also, the MP3 will not show up on the GPS unit. And you must SET alerts for your Custom POI file in order for the Custom Alert sound to come into play on the unit.

Subfolders maybe

OldToker wrote:

Yes, I am asking.. as I don't see how this is supposed to work.. if I simply copy in the .csv file with it's corresponding .mp3... into the garmin's POI folder doesn't recognize anything.. untill I use the POI loader and then we are back to 1 file.. and no .mp3's

Sry if this has been discussed in detail elsewhere.. but I could not find it.

O.T. smile

Let us know how it comes out?I would suggest that you may want to start using subfolders if you plan to download a lot of files and want some type of order to them. Once you reach 32 files in the one folder you have now you will need subfolders to get more custom pois to show on your gps. See node http://www.poi-factory.com/node/8674

--
Charlie. Nuvi 265 WT and Nuvi 2597 LMT. MapFactor Navigator - Offline Maps & GPS.

RE: Trust

bentbiker wrote:

OT,
Just do it and you will be amazed. All of the alerts and icons will be included within the POI.gpi file.

Wow!!! I'm impressed worked like a charm.. smile now I just would like to know how to move my music elsewhere on the garmin.. as flying down the freeway and hearing "Warning Speed Trap" between songs is a bit ummm..... "un-nerving" LOL not that I speed anyway.. but still a little strange smile

Elsewhere?

OldToker wrote:

I just would like to know how to move my music elsewhere on the garmin.. as flying down the freeway and hearing "Warning Speed Trap" between songs is a bit ummm..... "un-nerving"

I'm confused about your use of the word "elsewhere". It doesn't matter where you put a music file on the GPS -- the GPS will find it in any folder on the unit or card. If you just mean you want to quit listening to radio or CD, I agree it is much better to have the music/book to pause and allow the alert to play. If that is all you want, create a folder wherever you like (maybe "Music") and drag any mp3 files you want. If you search for "mp3 music", you will find a lot of reading material.

--
Nuvi 660 -- and not upgrading it or maps until Garmin fixes long-standing bugs/problems, and get maps to where they are much more current, AND corrected on a more timely basis when advised of mistakes.

RE: Elsewhere?

Ok, I must not have explained myself adequately, sorry what is happening is that I copied aproximately 20 or 30 Mp3's onto my nuvi. and then Subsequently loaded in a few POI's with Proximity warnings, and matching MP3 file for the warning. What I didn't realize at the time was how / where the POI loader software was going to put the mp3 for the proximity warnings. I found out that they are in my mp3 directory. Kinda makes sense, but when you are moving down the freeway and hear between song's " Speed Trap ahead " and "Approaching RED LIGHT Traffic Camera " while going down the freeway between songs.. is a little bewildering that a red light would be on the freeway.. once I actually found out that the mp3's for the audio warnings were mixed in with my music mp3's it all became obvious.. now the question is can I seperate them so I don't hear the proximity warning mp3's. When all I'm really trying to do is listen to music? I hope that makes sense.. as I don't know how to explain it any better. and as I re-read it, it's still kinda confusing.

RE: Elsewhere?...

OldToker wrote:

Ok, I must not have explained myself adequately, sorry what is happening is that I copied aproximately 20 or 30 Mp3's onto my nuvi. and then Subsequently loaded in a few POI's with Proximity warnings, and matching MP3 file for the warning. What I didn't realize at the time was how / where the POI loader software was going to put the mp3 for the proximity warnings. I found out that they are in my mp3 directory. Kinda makes sense, but when you are moving down the freeway and hear between song's " Speed Trap ahead " and "Approaching RED LIGHT Traffic Camera " while going down the freeway between songs.. is a little bewildering that a red light would be on the freeway.. once I actually found out that the mp3's for the audio warnings were mixed in with my music mp3's it all became obvious.. now the question is can I seperate them so I don't hear the proximity warning mp3's. When all I'm really trying to do is listen to music? I hope that makes sense.. as I don't know how to explain it any better. and as I re-read it, it's still kinda confusing.

Hi OldToker,

All of your poi files, along with their associated alert.mp3's and .bmp files, should all be in the same folder. The POI Loader will ask you to locate "that" folder and will load all of those files, onto your unit.

Your music .mp3's are manually loaded (by drag 'n drop) by you, into a folder you create on the unit itself (in my case the folder I use is called MP3) or on to an SD card. None of your poi alert .mp3's, should be in "this" folder or on the SD card. If any of your alert.mp3's are in your music (MP3) folder or SD card, then remove them and put them in the POI folder on your hard drive.

HTH (hope that helps)

Regards,

Tailspin

Nüvi 670
Mac User

--
Sullivan's Law: Murphy was an optimist!

RE: Elsewhere?

tailspin wrote:

All of your poi files, along with their associated alert.mp3's and .bmp files, should all be in the same folder. The POI Loader will ask you to locate "that" folder and will load all of those files, onto your unit.

Your music .mp3's are manually loaded (by drag 'n drop) by you, into a folder you create on the unit itself (in my case the folder I use is called MP3) or on to an SD card. None of your poi alert .mp3's, should be in "this" folder or on the SD card. If any of your alert.mp3's are in your music (MP3) folder or SD card
Hi OldToker,

then remove them and put them in the POI folder on your hard drive.

They are in the same folder on my hard drive. the POI loader when it loaded everything from my drive to the nuvi.. the loader software moved the .mp3's for the proximity warnings into the mp3 folder on the NUVI where I happened to put all my music at.. So what I'm gathering from your post is that I can create a new folder anywhere and just move my mp3's there? and leave the proximity warning mp3's where the loader put them?

.

It sounds like you copied the MP3 files with your alert sounds to your nuvi (or your SD card). Don't do that. Remove them. They only need to be on your computer.

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