myGarmin: myDashboard...warning

DorkusNimrod
Downloaded the Garmin Communicator 2.71 and went to the download page and sure enough it showed software updates.I had checked webupdater prior to this and no updates were listed.Went ahead with the software download on Dashboard and it took about 15 minutes.Went back and checked after re-starting the gps unit.Have 5.0 software now.I had deleted voice,help and text files I didn't need before and the update put all of them back.The voice file that I had modified with Turbo voice editor was replaced with the original file.Had to go back and make the changes again.I know when I run web updater it does not re-install the files that I had remove unless I select them.Just wondering if this will replace webupdater in the future?

2.71

For my 765T - updated communicator, also found update via dashboard, but firmware update, not software. Downloaded with no problem. It did not change my Turboccc voices, it did add any of the voices that I chose not to update (voices I would never use).It did not changbe any of my settings however. The only thing I think has changed is under settings/system/about/ the way the info is displayed seems a little different. Still says software version 3.40.
GPS version is 2.80

I have not tried Bluetooth or the MP3 player or other items to see if they have been improved....

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

tampa8.It show software updates for my unit.Just for the heck of it when back to Dashboard and it shows software update again.It must because I change the orginial sound file back and removed the files I had done before.

charlesd45, if there was an update to a voice you changed with the TTS program, then yes it replaced it with the updated voice just as Webupdater would if you let it. But otherwise it does not touch voices that do not need to be updated. It does not see a voice edited with the Turbo program as needing an update....

Also perhaps you are using the term "software" update generically, but my update said it was a "firmware" update....though it did add any voices that have been updated but not downloaded by me.

Thanks for this thread.

Tampa8.This is what it shows.Software Updates
A software update is available.

Update Now

Since I am a glutton for punishment, I thought I would give it a try with my nuvi 680. I had to update the communicator first. Then it said I had a firmware update available. Went ahead and ran it. Took quite some time, more than 30 minutes. While it was updating I had visions of grandure. Maybe I would get new MSN features? Maybe I would get eco route? What would change? As far as I can tell, I see nothing new. I do see that my available space has been cut by 1/3. Guess I am the "latest and greatest" now. Will probably know more on my next adventure out of the house.
Jon

I believe you! But look at the post by DorkusNimrod and jonzim, they also had a "Firmware" update indicated.....

I believe the "firmware update" message showed in the progress bar window...I will check again in a while when I get home. Believe me, it DID specifically show "firmware update".

But the fact is, it's not showing you or even giving you a choice of what is being updating...it's doing all or nothing. This is not good.

it is makeing you take your unit back to factory, meaning all of the org. voices, all of the current updates, so any voice tweaks that you have done or voices you have trash canned you will need to do this again!

....regrettably, not ready for "prime time"

...needs a lot of work

Maybe it was in the progress bar and didn't notice it.I copied and pasted on my post what it said.I didn't say it updated the voice.It replaced the modified one with the original as well as the other voices that I had deleted that I don' use.Plus the text and help files that I had deleted.I know it didn't update the voice files.There has not been a update for the voice file for the 265wt since I had it back to Nov.Have not noticed any changes but sure got a little worried for the length of time it done the update.I didn't check the software version before updating but according to webupdater I had the latest.It is now 5.o for some reason I believe it might have been 4.something.Maybe someone who has a 265 can verify that.For sure unless they change this I will stick to webupdater.I email Garmin to get some idea where they are going with this.

Edit.Did notice one thing those updates for msn flight schedules etc that I don't need are no longer showing up on webudater.Either they went away but most likely they were downloaded to my unit.

one cancel the update with out any ill effects?!

one cancel the update with out having any ill effects?!

werskine.That was on my mind when I saw that download bar hardly moving.Had visions of blank screen if I stopped it.

ME TOO:)

doesn't want us fooling with the voice files any longer, and didn't want to change them. So by using the dashboard it appears to refresh all the GPS files wiping any modified one's by replacing them with fresh copies.

If you checked the WebUpdater before running the dashboard you probably noticed that your GPS had no updates, and the Dashboard mystically found one.

This is just a thought though.

right! suckers

"Updating Firmware" appears in the "Updating Software" window below the progress bar & the xx% complete. It proudly displays "Updating Firmware" but no firmware is actually being updated.

Perhaps we are talking about a difference of updates between models. For my 765T NO changes were made to anything I have added or done on my unit. It only added voices that have been shown as being updated through Webupdater that I had not uploaded.

Guess I have to laugh at the made up posts.....
("doesn't want us fooling with the voice files any longer, and didn't want to change them. So by using the dashboard it appears to refresh all the GPS files wiping any modified one's by replacing them with fresh copies."

After spending what seemed like 45 minutes to 1 hour updating my 765 through myDashboard (I make a full backup before doing this), I power cycle (at least 4 times) the unit, then reconnect my now "fully updated" 765 back into the PC & run WebUpdater where is finds an update for ALL the voices on the unit, both TTS *and* non-TTS. I decline.

I then use myDashboard to again check the unit for updates...yes indeed, there is an update. Of course it doesn't tell me what it is but I can only assume it will take another hour at least and will update the voices once again...I decline the offer.

This is just plain silly...

Tried myDashboard on a new 760 with 4.60 firmware. As DorkusNimrod thought, myDashboard will apply ALL available updates. Besides the 4.80 firmware, it downloaded 375MB of updates - 62 voice files, 1 text file and 3 remote S/W updates (GDBxx, GTMxx and GPS Chipset). Ran WebUpdater and verified that it reported the same set of updates installed with myDashboard.

In my case, it took the same time (about 8 minutes) for the download using Firefox 3 or IE8 on Windows 7. CPU usage was high (1 CPU plus 20% of another) for most of the time.

I was happy to find that like WebUpdater, myDashboard will download the updates to a flash drive or SD card instead of your nuvi.

I'm not planning on doing an actual update for a while,so I don't know if a 760 update will mis-behave like DorkusNimrod's 765.

So go ahead and laugh! I just love that stuff!

I guess the whole issue with this new dashboard thingy is whether you like having control over what gets updated on your GPS. Some folks, like tampa8 apparently, don't mind if Garmin forces them to update every single file on their unit. Other folks, like myself, want the ability to control which files get updated.

So if you have 100% confidence in Garmin then go ahead and use dashboard. Otherwise stick with webupdater. Let's just hope Garmin doesn't do away with webupdater!!

WebUpdater myself, seen to many Garmin Screw up's with firmware for anything to be automatic as far as I'm concerned.

DashBoard at this time is for those that are faint of heart, and need to have their hand held for updates.
I have to laugh at folks that just don't get it when other are trying to help, but at least Garmin completely updated his Nuvi 765T.

For all others, Call or email Garmin and ask them not to remove Webupdater, tell them you want a choice.

I used Dashboard today and installed the firmware update. I checked WebUpdater for my 765T—which I do every week when I update my speed and redlight camera pois—and the only software update was a foreign language voice. I am confused (which happens often). Does Garmin intend to replace WebUpdater with Dashboard or is it a alternate method for keeping the unit software and firmwire current?

You are either missing the point the I made, or are trying to change the subject. I was specific - posting "it appears to refresh all the GPS files wiping any modified one's by replacing them with fresh copies" is the misleading or false remark I referred to.
That Dashboard is not as good as Webupdater because it does not let you choose is a complete different issue. I would agree 100% that I would rather be able to choose what to download.

What firmware version was on your unit before the myDashboard "update" and what version is on your unit after the "update"? If you previously had v3.40 (it's been out since Feb 17) on your unit and it is still at v3.40, guess what? No firmware update was actually installed. If you read some of the posts above, myDashboard states that "firmware" is being updated, regardess of what is actually being downloaded. That seems to be the only indication that is being given as to what is actually being updated, whether it be firmware, voice files, vehicles, or something else. All it says is "updating firmware"

Like others including myself have mentioned, stay away from this myDashboard garbage and stick with WebUpdater for now. Even if they do away with WebUpdater, there are still ways to download only what you want to install.

When I download the plug in it will not work. It tells me to close all the program I have nothing at all open. What do I do?

didn't read the whole Node or you tried to take a cheap shot at my expensive. And I'm never going to let that happen. You see you didn't read the very last line on the node. which said it was just my thought and really nothing more.

I have no problem when People that need training wheels to get the job done use them. All you read was a few folks brainstorming trying to figure out what is being done. And your input is also appreciated to help figure it out, but if your gonna get cantankerous about it, you might be better off letting others figure it out, and stick with the automated garmin stuff.but beware you could very well end up with something as complex as a stuttering karen, or a frozen jack.

So please understand I didn't miss the point, you see I haven't upgraded, you did

Try closing your browser. It has to be closed before running the Communicator setup.

I had to restart the computer. I don't see a difference is their really one that is noticeable?

I went to WebUpdater and found no updates. I went to Dashboard, downloaded and installed the Garmin Communicator update, and was told there was an update available. After 30 minutes of waiting and watching the progress bar, I get an error message popup from Garmin at 50%. This has happened 3 times, so I guess I don't get the update...

More? I now see that all the voices have been added, along with all the vehicles, to my 680. I went into Webupdater and it now says, " No Updates". Before the dashboard firmware update there were voice, vehicle, and traffic receiver updates available. From what I can tell, Dashboard added all available updates, including Fm traffic,(I have MSN) and kept the software version at 4.70. Guess no harm has been done. Think I will stick with Web Updater. I WILL NOT try the 265t that my wife has.
Jon

I have a 200, first activated in Dec. '07. This unit was discontinued about a year ago and software updates stopped coming. After updating the Communicator and signing on to "My Dashboard" lo and behold a message states "You have updates!" Well, I did "update" and after it failed to update completely as there wasn't enough space left in the unit RAM, I moved the base map to the SD card and tried again.

Like it was reported, all the files were restored to the last software update including the voice and text files. All had to be deleted from the unit once more and like Tampa8 has been reporting, no new software was installed, just a restoration of the latest default software from Garmin.

Moral of the story - don't believe the Garmin Communicator when it says "New Firmware Available."

Oh, after doing the update and scrupulously following the instructions, I was told by My Dashboard "New Firmware Available." It seems to be a VERY BIG BUG in the new communicator plugin.

Or Garmin's way to sucker folks in to loading the dashboard and whatever else they put on the GPS's of the unsuspecting Garmin loyal, Not me though, Not until I have no choice of my own.

It will be interesting to see what Garmin finally has to say about exactly what they are up to.

Spoke to tech support and their reply was, "Ahhh...Ummm.... its new and its not working right yet."

And even worse, it wont download the new 2010 map update for my 205 I just bought. Same person said it was on my end, although the error clearly says it cant find it on the server in download manager. A manual download yields a file of 0k... all this on the Mac, PC doesn't appear to have issues, I'm trying it now.

Sorry to veer off into the gravel a little bit..... but they tilted me in the wrong direction.....