Proximity Alert Differences in the 260w & 260wt

Well, the 260w does not have an MP3 player so you will not be able to get MP3 alerts on it.

You can use WAV files in conjunction with SOX.EXE properly set up.

All the nuvis process alerts themselves the same.

all the time for off beat tourist attractions. Set your client file up as a TourGuide. I use 10,000 ft that is nearly 2 miles. You can use mp3 or wav files to give alert. On my nuvi 350 it will give audio and visual alert.

Here is how you do the wav file for your voice alert on the 200 series Nuvi.

a.Download the latest PoiLoader file at http://www8.garmin.com/products/poiloader/ .
b. Download Sox Exe at http://rapidshare.com:80/files/139638423/sox.zip .
c. After un-zipping Sox Exe file place it in your Garmin folder where the PoiLoader exe file is located on the computer.
d. The wav file for alerts will be named the same as the CSV or GPX file except for the extensions.
e. You can make your own wav files by going to http://www.research.att.com/~ttsweb/tts/demo.php and typing in what you want it to say or use a program to convert mp3 files to wav. When using the conversion it must be saved as PCM, 44.100 kHZ., 16 bit, Mono. Wav files are also on site for download.

Select manual mode on poiloader to set speed or distance for alert.

I have a 260W.

I first uploaded:
starbucks.csv
starbucks.bmp

I set the proximity alert for 10K feet. Each time I come to a stop within 2 miles of a starbucks, it would ding twice to alert me. This is annoying to get repeated dings for a single starbucks.

So I went an installed the sox.exe as explained in this thread. I then uploaded:

starbucks.wav (custom file)

Now my system isn't giving me an audible alert at all that there's a Starbucks. No dings, nothing. I can see icons but that's it.

Does the alert work with the map and regular views? Or just one or the other?

Any ideas on what to do?

Verify you unzipped the SOX.zip file and put the SOX.EXE file into the program files/Garmin folder where POILoader.exe is located. Then rerun POILoader and set the alert distance.

You also need to be ABSOLUTELY certain the .wav and .bmp files have only one extension (period) in the file name. Windows hides "Known" extensions by default, so you have to be certain that option is turned off.

Did you make sure to do these two steps?

b. Download Sox.Exe at http://rapidshare.com:80/files/139638423/sox.zip .
c. After un-zipping Sox Exe file place it in your Garmin folder where the PoiLoader exe file is located on the computer.

The unzipped Sox.exe goes on your computer.In my case I click on my computer,Local disk c,Garmin folder.You will see lots of files including poiloader and mapsource.Paste a copy on any blank spot.

The biggest problems with the alerts and icons not working are the files not being named exactly the same except for extensions and having double extensions. Double-check each of them. The best way to prevent double extensions is to go to your folder options in the control panel and click view then find hide extensions for known file types and remove the check mark. Click ok.

I did all of that...I'll redo it again tho. I turned off that default for extensions along time ago - I like to see my extensions as they really are.

Is there a way to test this manually on my Garmin while at home? (It's actually about 0.5 miles away so you'd think that since I set the alert for 5280' (1 mile) that it would say something. But it doesn't.

Linda

Charlie,

I double checked my file options - I am not hiding extensions...so it's not that.

File names are all done so that the part before the .csv, .wav, and .bmp are all alike for spelling and case.

I can't help but think that something is wrong with the sox.exe or the poi loader.

Is there a sox.exe file in the c:\program files\garmin folder before adding in this new sox.exe?

Also, which mode does the GPS give me the audible alert for my 260w? The "where to" or "map" driving mode?

Thanks again!
Linda

Just copied/pasted sox.exe into c:\program files\garmin again.

Ran poi loader and chose manual mode to set distances.

At end, my system asked if I wanted to run sox.exe and said that it was from an unknown source. It asked me about 5 or 6 times and I said "yes" each time.

Finally it loaded the poi files but I have to wonder if it really ran sox.exe?

Linda

Charlie,

I double checked my file options - I am not hiding extensions...so it's not that.

File names are all done so that the part before the .csv, .wav, and .bmp are all alike for spelling and case.

I can't help but think that something is wrong with the sox.exe or the poi loader.

Is there a sox.exe file in the c:\program files\garmin folder before adding in this new sox.exe?

Also, which mode does the GPS give me the audible alert for my 260w? The "where to" or "map" driving mode?

Thanks again!
Linda

That is the correct sox.exe file that we all use.That is the only one that will be in the Garmin Folder that you downloaded,unzipped and placed there.The alert will go off if you use the manual mode and set the distance for the alert.You can just be in map mode navigating or selecting where to.As long as the coordinates are no farther off the road more then appx 50ft on the road of travel.To test to make sure the alert works.Select tools on your gps,settings and system last.You should see gps simulator in the off position.Touch on then check OK.Now go back to where to,extras and touch custom pois.Select the one you want to test and hit go.Screen will ask to run in simulation mode touch yes.

Edit.For your test since you are so close to it set for about 500 ft.It may go off as soon as you turn the unit on now at 1 mile.

Charlie~

Well the "Starbucks" alerts are indeed working! Thank you!

A question about how they work: when I come to a stop light and stop the car, then proceed, the message will play again. It'll keep doing this each time I start until I've reached the starbucks.

Also, one big problem:

I've lost ALL of my regular voices so that when I'm driving it's silent. There aren't any verbal instructions at all. Not even the dreaded "recalculating". Do you know how I can reload my voices? I'm hoping that there's a file that I just need to copy/paste these items onto my 260W. Also, is there anything else I might have lost? (How on earth did this happen?)

Thanks,
Linda

Glad you got the alert to work.You can touch tools ,settings,proximity points,proximity alerts,touch change.You will see audio at bottom.Touch that and set to single tone.Note on some models even setting at single tone you still get the continuous alert.Not sure why.

Run webupdater http://www8.garmin.com/products/webupdater/ and make sure to go to second screen to load and voices you lost.Check first to make sure check mark in selection on gps.Tools,settings,language.You will see voice and text.Touch to select what you want for both.

Sometimes this happens when you update or make changes but usually comes back after a re-boot.Sounds like you just have to re-select as per the instructions.Everything else should be OK.Do simulation again when you finish to certify.

I followed your instructions and everything seems back to normal. Thank you!!!

I'll have to retest to make sure that my Starbucks alerts still work now. (I'm sure they do!)

Linda

Everything should be back to normal now. If you still get the continuous alert after selecting single tone not much you can do about it.Except shorting the alert distance.The single tone works on my 265 and a lot of other members reporting the same thing.It should be the same thing on the 260.Would appreciate if you would let us know the result on selecting single tone.Some members have reported different results.Depends on the model.

Now that you have the sox.exe installed on your computer it is a done deal.Just make your wav files or download from site and your are done.Have fun with the alerts.It does add that extra to the unit.

Edit .You may also look at the Extra Poi Editor program and build you alerts in to keep from running poiloader in manual mode.See this post near the bottom for some information I posted on setting up the alerts http://www.poi-factory.com/node/25082

Hi Charles,

I just realized that I'd skipped looking at the area on my 260 where I can change my 260 to "single tone" or "continuous tone". I just took a look - it's selected as "single tone". If it persists giving me the multiple tones, I'll unselect it, reselect it, and see if that helps.

I'm new to POIs so this is great fun to me. I have over 8000 Starbucks loaded but it's not enough as I'm constantly passing them on the road and I check my .csv file and, sure enough, it's one that I don't have in my file. I wish I could get a data feed from Google Maps so I'd have them all.

Next on my list are Trader Joes and Whole Foods!

I'll report back on the single vs. continuous tones tomorrow evening.

Thanks again for all of your help!

Linda

When you locate one not on your custom poi files notify the author so he can add them.See http://www.poi-factory.com/user/46153 and click on the contact button to send email.

Once you start adding poi files to the gps it is hard to stop.I have quiet a few on my unit.

Edit.I forgot to mention if you don't like that re-calculating message you can change it along with other voice commands.I change it to listen up wrong way.See http://turboccc.wikispaces.com/TTSVoiceEditor

Charlie,

Well I just got back from a short drive - the GPS is set to "single tone" but it's not giving me ANY audio alerts - even when I was literally driving right past a Starbucks.

What to do?

I've updated everything and have reloaded the POI files.

I just noticed that all of the files that I created for "Peets", "Whole Foods", and "Trader Joes" didn't load. I just tried TWICE to load them using the POI loader and when I look in my garmin/vehicle folder, the new files aren't there.

Something seems to be terribly wrong. I've triple checked file extensions, too.

Linda

Did you load the file using Manual mode and set an alert distance?

Is the POI within 50 feet of the road you are on?

Are you certain the sound file is the proper one? I know you have SOX installed, make certain the sound file doesn't have 2 periods in the name (a double extension - starbucks.wav.wav)

Just in case, here is my procedure for people loading poi for the first time. It's a lot like Charlies.

Basic POI Loading Procedure Using WINDOWS

Following these instructions will allow you to load custom POI into your Garmin unit. These are VERY BASIC instructions and are intended as a process on how to load POI to the memory in your unit.

1. Download and install the latest version of POILoader from http://www8.garmin.com/products/poiloader/.

2. Create a Folder to hold all your Custom POI. NOTE: I put my folder on my Desktop.

3. Download the desired POI files from POI Factory and put them into the folder created in Step 2.

4. Visit the Icon library and download the desired icons for your POI files and put them into the folder created in Step 2.

5. Visit the Sounds Library and download the desired sound files for your POI. NUVI 2XX units require WAV sound files. WAV files require you to install a sound conversion program called SOX. SOX.EXE can be downloaded from http://rapidshare.com:80/files/139638423/sox.zip. Unzip the folder containing the program SOX.EXE. Select the SOX.EXE file, right click and select COPY.

6. Using Windows Explorer, go to C:\Program Files\Garmin. This must be the same folder that has the program POILoader.exe. Right click on any BLANK space in this folder. Select PASTE. SOX.EXE should now be copied to the folder. Check and be certain the folder contains BOTH POILoader.EXE and SOX.EXE.

7. If SOX.EXE is not copied to this folder, WAV sounds will not play.

8. Using Windows Explorer or another program, open the folder containing the files to be loaded into your NUVI.

9. Match the file name to the ICON file. Rename the ICON file so it has the same name as the POI file. POI files can be either CSV or GPX – it doesn’t matter. These file names must match exactly with the exception of the file extension. NOTE: there can only be one period in a file name. A period in a file name marks the beginning of the file extension. Icon file names can only end in BMP.

10. Match the file name to the SOUND file. Rename the SOUND file so it has the same name as the POI file. POI files can be either CSV or GPX – it doesn’t matter. These file names must match exactly with the exception of the file extension. NOTE: there can only be one period in a file name. A period in a file name marks the beginning of the file extension. Sound file names can only end in MP3 or WAV. NOTE: Using WAV files requires another program not found on POI-Factory.

11. Connect your NUVI to your computer using the USB cable. Wait for the NUVI to show it is connected and ready to receive files (Black screen with an ICON at the bottom showing it is connected to the computer.)

12. Run POILoader.

13. Select Garmin Device as Where to save your Points of Interest.

14. Press Next and wait for the program to find your NUVI. The NUVI will be shown in the box labeled Device:.

15. Press Next. The program will ask the location of the files to be loaded. Use the BROWSE button and select the FOLDER containing the POI, ICON, and SOUND (Alert) files.

16. Select the measurement units used for your NUVI. Feet and Miles per hour or Meters and Kilometers.

17. The NUVI suggests running the program in Automatic. For BASIC file loading, this is sufficient. NOTE: The only two alert sounds that will play automatically are for Red light and Speed cameras. For other alert sounds to play, you must select MANUAL and set either a distance or speed alert trigger. NOTE: If a file name contains ANY number, POILoader will assume it is a speed alert and play the sound file for that POI automatically. Press Next.

18. POILoader will begin to convert the POI files, ICONs and ALERT sounds and load them to your NUVI. If POILoader encounters an error with a source file, it will tell you the name of the file POI file containing an error. When finished, POILoader will tell you the number of POI successfully loaded to your NUVI.

NOTE: Every time you run POILoader, it will overwrite the previous output file and you will loose any POI not contained in your source folder.

19. Disconnect your NUVI using the Stop or Eject USB device.

20. Power up the NUVI and select WHERE TO -> EXTRAS and see if CUSTOM POI is displayed. Press CUSTOM POI and you should see a list of all the POI loaded.

TROUBLESHOOTING:

21. If you do not see a custom icon or hear the custom alert sound for a Custom POI that successfully loaded, it is most likely because you have a double file extension (two periods in one or more of the file names.)

22. Open Windows Explorer. Select TOOLS. Select Folder Options. Select VIEW. Under FILES AND FOLDERS uncheck the box that states: Hide extensions for known file types.

23. Using Windows Explorer, open the FOLDER containing the custom POI files, icons, and alert files. Verify each file name has only ONE period just before the 3 character file extension. Rename any files containing more than one period so the file contains only ONE period.

24. Restart this procedure at Step 9.

Repeat as necessary.

If you are just navigating and have not selected go to for StarBucks the coordinates have to be located at least 50 ft off the road you are traveling on for the alert to go off.You can increase that range using a radius alert that requires you to add TourGuide to the file name.Example below.TourGuide has to spelled just like I have it with a space between TourGuide and Starbucks.You will need to use the manual mode in Poiloader to set the radius alert.

TourGuide Starbucks.csv
Tourguide Starbucks.bmp
Tourguide Starbucks.wav

Be careful when you set the distance this works in a radius.It is like putting the coordinates in the center of the circle, so the farther you set the distance the greater the radius for the alert.

The files you created were custom pois correct?If yes you find them by touching where to,extras and touching custom pois last.If loaded correctly they will be there.Did you get message so many pois loaded after running poiloader or a error message?

Edit.Most likely the Starbucks custom poi file have the coordinates set close to the building not the road .Unless that building is close to the road of travel you will not get the alert unless you have selected go to.

In Canada, you would be setting the alert for Tim Horton's, instead of Starbucks ! Eh! LOL

Stopped at every Tim Hortons when I was there.Plus they do good on the money exchange for US visitors.

It's quite odd, but earlier today I was "on" the street where the POI was located, drove right in front of it and it did not trigger the audio file. I reloaded the POI files when I got home and went out a bit later on in the day. It's working fine now. I didn't change the names or anything, I merely reloaded them. It seemes to have worked.

Another new problem came up this evening though:

I have 6 POI files (csv format) and their respective .wav and .bmp files loaded in a folder on my desktop. (starbucks, wineries, california_wineries, whole foods, peets, trader joes).

When I run the POI Loader in manual, it prompts me for all 6 POI files. I enter the proximity data for each.

It says everything was successfully loaded at the end.

However when I go to the garmin\poi file on my nuvi, only the POI files for 2 of the 6 are there (with their respective .wav and .bmp files), namely my Starbucks and wineries files.

Is there any reason that the others aren't moving over?

I've checked everything such as file names, extensions, extra periods etc. None of the obvious fixes are out of order.

By the way, you guys are great. I can't tell you how much I appreciate all of your help. I hope this newbie curve is steep so I can become self sufficient!

Linda

On the Garmin unit you touch where to,extras and custom poi files last.There you will see all the pois you loaded.If you are looking on the drive in the garmin folder what you see is the result of poiloader converting the files into one big gpi file.

When you run poiloader you didn't select skip on some files you didn't want alerts for by chance instead of next?

It sounds as if you are ready for phase 2 loading. You can organize POI files by putting them into subfolders.

Let's assume your folder you load from is My_POI and you have your different poi files but now you want to organize them so they display in categories.

Under My_POI create subfolders, only one level deep.
Now you have:

My_POI
>Coffee
in Coffee you put the Starbucks files and Peets
now you also have another folder,
>Groceries
and in Groceries you have Whole Foods and Trader Joes
Finally, you have
>Fine Wine
Here you have the wineries. So now your My_POI folder looks like this
My_POI
>Coffee
>>Starbucks.csv (or gpx)
>>Starbucks.bmp
>>Starbucks.wav
>>Peets.csv
>>Peets.wav
>>Peets.bmp
>Groceries
>>Trader Joes.csv
>>Whole Foods.csv
>>Whole Foods.wav
>>Trader Joes.bmp
>>Whole Foods.bmp
>>Trader Joes.wav

I think you get the idea. The files need to be grouped, the order isn't important.

Point POILoader at My_POI and it will go through each folder and list the files allowing you to set alerts if in manual.

When you now look at Custom POI, instead of seeing file names you see categories, Coffee, Groceries, and Fine Wine. The CSV files are now organized into the categories.

Phase 3 is learning how to do it with GPX files so you can run POILoader in Express and still get alerts for some files.

Clear as mud now?

You're right! They are there. Why am I not seeing these files (csv/bmp/wav) when I navigate to garmin\poi though?

Linda

Yes, this makes perfect sense now.

Off to make folders.

Thank you!

Linda

The bmp or icons will not show unless you zoom in real close .Garmin does not want to clutter the screen.I prefer not to worry that much about seeing the icon.Hope users not going down the road zooming in on the icons.Next thing you know we will be on the hit list like the cell phones.They show better whe you use go to and get close to the location.You will not see the wav just hear the alert when you get within distance.Subfolders are the way to go.Since you already have the files.The easiest way to do it.Just go to your main folder and click on it.You now see your custom pois.Just right click the mouse on a blank spot and select new folder and name it the category you want.Same place for the next category folder.Now just slide your custom pois files into your category folders.When you run poiloader select the main folder for browse.Now you will see the categories when you touch where to,extras and custom pois last.