Dumb newbie question about POIs

Look under >where to >Extras > Custom Pois

Where to? > Extras > Custom POIs

That's the sequence for the C530.

AND... Welcome to the POI Factory. The most friendly forum on the Internet.

Welcome to the site, it is nice to have you with us.

Miss POI

I just wanted to assure you, that isn't a dumb question at all.

everyone of us here asked that at some point, because Garmin doesn't clearly explain it.

There are never any dumb questions here. Everyone here wants to help each other. This site is great.
Period!

Welcome to the group, I'm sure you will enjoy your stay.

Don't feel bad, took me some time to find the Custom POI's on my unit also.

Remember, three more weeks of activity and you can download the red light file (patent pending, all exclusion apply, void where prohibited, use at your own risk, do not fold/spindle/tear, do not remove tag from mattress, do not taunt happy fun ball, Copyright © 2008-2009).

as stated above

► Where To ► Extras ► Custom POIs

Press on the box containing the words Custom POIs

That last press often trips up new users.

I don't think anyone mentioned it, but you can also upload icons that correspond to the POI file. That way, the store/restaurant/etc. logo will appear on your GPS.

Glad you joined POI Factory, H.B. Are there any other official "roadgeeks" on POI Factory?

-Dave

Welcome to the site,where there is never a dumb question when you need help, And here is a tip that may come in handy,(Don't forget to backup your system on your gps.)

Thanks for the tip, Dave. I finally figured out that the Custom POIs are under Extras (thanks to everyone who offered that advice, I discovered it by playing around with the unit during lunch) and was getting frustrated by seeing multiple copies of the POI files I'd installed, but then I figured out that it was because I'd copied what was on my SD card to the GPS. And then I finally figured out how to make it quit asking if I wanted to copy the info from the card to the Garmin.

I'll check out how the logos work at lunch today. I've got to make a trip to the local Wal-Mart so I'll see if the logo shows up.

What would be really nice is a way to make the custom POIs show up along a route or just on the map if I'm using the GPS without a destination having been programmed in. Any way to do that? I'm planning a trip to Pennsylvania next month and it would be nice if the Garmin would tell me every time I'm passing near or approaching a Sheetz.

Thanks again, everyone, for the welcome and the help. I'm sure I'll be asking a lot more dumb questions, that are easily evident to most of you, as I get more into loading POIs for use with my travels.

For Sheetz POi's go to
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/4833

And set up a proximity alert !

You could also set it up as a TourGuide file for
a radius proximity alert.

I just wanted to let you know that you do not have to store POIs on SD card. Your unit can store 1000's of POIs in its internal memory. I am amazed on how many I can store on my Nuvi. I am sure someone will be able to tell you what your unit can handle. I bought a 1 GB last year and never used it.
On my last download of files, at the end it told me that I had loader 125,000. files on it.

hbelkins

Welcome to the club.

I actually pulled the Sheetz POIs off their Web site. Wish more companies were forward-looking like that!

Unfortunately I have no option to set up proximity alerts. I read all the tips in the thread on proximity alerts but don't have that option under Tools>Settings>Language.

I use a Mac and loaded the POIs with the Mac software v2.0.1 of POI Loader. I did make sure the POI files, BMP icons and MP3 alert sounds all had the same name with different extensions. But I have no option anywhere to turn on proximity alerts on my 750.

hbelkins>>I'll be asking a lot more dumb questions

No problem.

Remember ... there's no such thing as a dumb question.

Now, dumb answers are an entirely different thing ... not pointing any fingers here. Ha!

Running POI Loader in manual mode will allow an alert to be set by distance or speed. On about the 3rd screen in setting up POI loader is a drop-down box allowing you to execute in manual mode (it states something like automatic is preferred). Once you select manual, you can then activate a lert for the file. The POI location has to be within about 50 feet of your route to activate, so you probably will get none until you are on a road going by the station.

Oh, I do keep a lert, doesn't everyone?

Welcome to the site. As stated above Look under >where to >Extras > Custom Pois.If you have any more question just
ask, they are some very smart people here that will be glad to help you.(A quote from Motorcycle Mama that once said) This is a place were you are able to learn things that you didn't know while you are helping other.

Garmin Nuvi, 750

Hi hbelkins,

Welcome to the site...

You set your proximity alerts within the POI Loader. You have to choose "Manual" instead of "Express" when loading them. Choosing "Manual" allows you to set alerts on each and every POI you've loaded...

HTH (hope that helps)

P.S. Check out Gary Hayman's excellent website dedicated to Nuvi owners. It's a diamond in the rough...

Garmin GPS Tricks, Tips, Work Arounds, Hints, Secrets and Ideas
for the Garmin nüvi GPS (and others)

http://home.comcast.net/~ghayman3/garmin.gps/index.html

Regards,

Tailspin

Nüvi 670 & 880
Mac Pro & OS 10.5.4

The Mac software has no option for "manual mode."

[rant] Why is so much Mac software "crippleware" when compared to the equivalent PC software? [/rant]

Hi hbelkins,

Use Garmin POI Loader v2.0.2.1 beta found here:
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/32218

For some unexplained reason, it's not available for download on Garmin's website. This version will allow you to set your speed and proximity alerts in the "manual" mode.

Regards,

Tailspin

Nüvi 670 & 880
Mac Pro & OS 10.5.4

deleted

There are no dumb questions. I am thrilled to have found such a friendly forum for help in customizing my Nuvi 200. I have the Honda icon downloaded to my desktop. Can I sue that as a substitute for the ICONS Garmins provides as I travel. I would love to have an Odyssey Icon is such is available. Thanks in advance.

You can't use custom icons for internal pois.You can use for custom pois.On favorites you can select edit and pick ones from the list.

Next "dumb" question. Can I make my own personal POI's (such as work, home, whatever) with an Icon and personalized alerts?

Yes you can.

Do you know how? Can you help me out?

Thanks a million for the tip on Gary Hayman's website... I've got reading material for the next week just looking over all the information he provides there.

**********************************************
Garmin GPS Tricks, Tips, Work Arounds, Hints, Secrets and Ideas for the Garmin nüvi GPS (and others)

http://home.comcast.net/~ghayman3/garmin.gps/index.html
**********************************************

Seems like 'operation' manuals don't ever give you enough information... just enough to 'get by'... but this website has it ALL.

Uh, pretty much the same way that all the other people create POI files around here. Have you looked at any of the existing POI files? Do you understand what people are doing? Have you loaded any POIs? Have you loaded any with a custom bmp icon? All of the information you need is already posted many times on this site, I'm not going to retype it all here again. If you have specific questions then ask specific questions.

Ah, such a short question with such a long answer.

Seriously, making POI files, while not difficult has a lot of variables. I would suggest reading some of the FAQs, like here:

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/6664

One thing that help me in the beginning was to download an existing POI file from POI Factory and open it with Excel and/or Notepad to examine the file format.

Read the FAQ there is a wealth of info there.

http://www.poi-factory.com/faq

at least with respect to favorites. However, for me, more important are the POIs from here. I travel all over the country (on the road about 150 days/year), and I like having as many POI files as I can. So with a cheap $15 2Mb SD card, I download all the POI files on to it, not worrying about capacity.

At last download POI Loader said I had successfully downloaded 650,000+ POIs. It takes so long that for quite some time Windows Task Manager thinks it is "not responding". I discovered that if I just let it go overnight, I'm happily presented with a fully loaded GPS in the morning!

If I understood, I would not be asking. Thanks anyway, others have been more patient and helpful.

iamevolved.

After you look over what I sent and you have any more questions just let us know.Many users here that will go out of their way to help.

Your email was extremely helpful. I am running through it now and I appreciate the assistance.

Cheers

Update: Worked great! Thanks to all!

It can't be overstated: THERE ARE NO DUMB QUESTIONS - only dumb answers

Before you know it, you will be answering newbies questions yourself...

Welcome to the site hbelkins.

The only dumb questions are the ones I ask when I'm being audited by the IRS!

I have appreciated finding this original post. It sure has answered a lot of my "newbie" questions. But........... I have decided to utilize the POI Factory's Rest Stop file for my Garmin 750. I have decided to store it on a SD card. What I still don't understand is.... this file is found in the EXTRAS option on my Garmin. Does it show up on the "map" as I am traveling? Or do I need to click on the 'extras' while I am traveling to find the next rest stop or will it show up as I am going along. You can see I am definitely a newbie to this new technology. Also I am not sure how one has the Garmin alert me to each rest stop while traveling?or can it? Rest stop awareness is VERY IMPORTANT for us!!
Thanks

P.S. - - how do I load the icon(bmp) and sounds(rest area ahead) into a my Garmin and to show up while traveling. Gosh I wish Garmin did a better job of explaining stuff......

No dumb questions, just unanswered ones.

Try these links and see if they help you any,hope this works for you.

http://home.comcast.net/~ghayman3/garmin.gps/pagepoi.htm#get...

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/4360

I've been a classroom trainer of many different ages and topics for 20 years. Believe me: There are stupid questions! I always told every class that in the intros, but also told them that they'll never know if it's not a stupid question unless they ask it, and you only truly learn by asking.

It all is extremely easy. Put the 3 files into a single folder that has all your other POI files.

Rename the RestAreasCombined(Ver X) to something simple like Rest Areas. Rename the icon file to the EXACT same name except leave the BMP extension. Name the sound file to the EXACT same name except leave the MP3 extension. Be certain, VERY VERY VERY certain you do not have double extensions on any of the file names.

Run POI Loader.

That's it.

If the sound doesn't play, you didn't check for double extensions or you bungled the name. If the icon doesn't show when you are zoomed in, same fix.

Exact same procedure for all your POI.

Thanks for asking the n00b questions, I wanted to know the answers too

won't you need to use manual mode, so that you can set the distance?

Yes, they do show up as you're traveling. Just get the POI loader software (links elsewhere in this thread, I think) and load 'em up.

Although I'm finding that if I'm near a POI and I start my Garmin and I get a POI alert before I get to touch the "view map" icon, the thing locks up and I have to turn it off and back on. That's a bit of a pain.

What's also funny is when you go along a stretch where there are several POIs that you've loaded. The thing will go crazy with alerts. When I tried my POIs out this weekend, I drove along one stretch of less than a mile that had three different POIs and my Nuvi was talking and dinging like crazy.

As you get a little more experience with your unit you learn which POI you need to know about and which are "nice to know" but don't need to alert.