SD vs. Garmin memory

 

I have been loading POI files for some time now. I loaded first to my C340 Street pilot and then to my 855 Nuvi.
I never payed much attention to where they were going on the Nuvi.
As I understand it the POI files can be loaded to either the SD card or the Garmin memory.
It appears on my setup they are going to the Garmin memory. Is this the default location for POI Loader? If it is, how do I load them to the SD card?
I do not remember having a choice when using POI Loader.

There is a choice

Yes, the default on the Nuvi is the internal storage. There is an option in POIloader to send them to the SD card however. When you start POIloader and get to the Find Device page, it will default to the Nuvi if it's attached to your PC. To send the file to the SD card use the pull down menu arrow to the right of the Nuvi listed and select your SD card from the list presented.

You of course need the SD card in the Nuvi or in a card reader for it to appear on the list. Also I find it helps to use Windows disk management utility to give the card a name like Nuvi SD. This makes it easier to identify the card from the list of available storage locations.

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Nuvi 350, 760, 1695LM, 3790LMT, 2460LMT, 3597LMTHD, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, DriveSmart 61, Garmin Drive 52, Garmin Backup Camera 40 and TomTom XXL540s.

Good Information

Thanks for the tip.
Is there any advantage to load on SD or internal?
I guess the erase function would keep you from loading on both.

Configuring SD Card

The SD card must have a subdirectory setup the4 same as the Garmin itself. In my case the SD card shows as a G drive, so my SD card is configured with the following:

G:/Garmin/POI

I have gone on step further and made additional subdirectories for specific areas of interest.

G:/Garmin/POI/Business for business POIs, such as location of dealerships for my particular car, specific shopping sites, etc.

G:/Garmin/POI/Rest Areas. This pretty obvious.

This simplifies upedating of files, since I have the same subdirectories on my computer where I keep the specific gpx and csv files.

When you load, it will start the GPS, it will ask if you want to load these to the GPS, for each subdirectory. Say "No"

It will also ask if to "Not show this message again". You can check this. Otherwise it will ask the previous question everytime you start the GPS.

The only way it will ever show this message again, is if the file of the particular subdirecdtory is changed.

Also, having it on an SD card makes it easier to share a file with someone. Instead of needing a computer and POI Loader handy, simply pop the SD card into your friends GPS. You can now load these files onto their GPS' internal memory. Alternitively, simply copy your SD card to one of your friends.

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DriveSmart 65, NUVI2555LMT, (NUVI350 is Now Retired)

SD Advantage

I normally only update Redlight/Speed/Roadside Rests on a frequent basis. They are easy to update by drag and drop.

If I load to the SD do I have to run POI Loader each time I update as well? Or can I just go in and make the changes on the SD itself (by drag and drop)?

The subdirectories would not be much of an advantage to me.

Maybe I just need to load my POIs to the SD and try all these questions out!

Thanks for the input.

Yes

you need to run POIloader each time. When POI loader runs, it creates a file on the Nuvi/SD card called POI.GPI which contain all of the POIs that you send from the PC to the Nuvi. Each time POIloader does a transfer, it overwrites the existing POI.GPI file with a new one. You can't drag and drop GPX or CSV files onto the Nuvi or it's SD card.

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Nuvi 350, 760, 1695LM, 3790LMT, 2460LMT, 3597LMTHD, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, DriveSmart 61, Garmin Drive 52, Garmin Backup Camera 40 and TomTom XXL540s.

SD for other things

Interesting comments. I use the SD card to "hold" my GPS Appelets like POILOADER and GEEPEEEX and a converter as well as the raw POI Files. That way I can still update when travelling even if I use the hotel/motel computer - keeping the sticks for business only data! Also allows me to update/load POI files on other GPS more easily!

Just a thought.

BTW, I keep my audible books and MP3 files on the SD too.

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Tom

Good Idea

birchtree wrote:

Interesting comments. I use the SD card to "hold" my GPS Appelets like POILOADER and GEEPEEEX and a converter as well as the raw POI Files. That way I can still update when travelling even if I use the hotel/motel computer - keeping the sticks for business only data! Also allows me to update/load POI files on other GPS more easily!

Just a thought.

BTW, I keep my audible books and MP3 files on the SD too.

Thats a good idea. What size card are you using to hold all that?

SD size

I keep most of my stuff on the SD card as well. Got the whole Europe map and eastern topo on it plus ~1000 mp3s. I use an 8GB Transcend SDHC Class 6 card.

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Garmin Zumo550

Good Idea.

birchtree wrote:

Interesting comments. I use the SD card to "hold" my GPS Appelets like POILOADER and GEEPEEEX and a converter as well as the raw POI Files. That way I can still update when travelling even if I use the hotel/motel computer - keeping the sticks for business only data! Also allows me to update/load POI files on other GPS more easily!

Just a thought.

BTW, I keep my audible books and MP3 files on the SD too.

I use my 8Gb card the same way as you do except I never thought about putting POIloader and the other programs I use on the card as well. Great idea, thanks for sharing.

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Nuvi 350, 760, 1695LM, 3790LMT, 2460LMT, 3597LMTHD, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, DriveSmart 61, Garmin Drive 52, Garmin Backup Camera 40 and TomTom XXL540s.

geepeex on sd???

birchtree wrote:

Interesting comments. I use the SD card to "hold" my GPS Appelets like POILOADER and GEEPEEEX and a converter as well as the raw POI Files.

How are you keeping geepeex on on an SD card?
Is it just the install??

I'm curious because I have it loaded on my laptop and one desktop.
I just upgraded to win7 on a new rig and due to the way it licenses itself to the computer, I'm boned if my laptop blows up...

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Nuvi 350 Born Oct 07 - Nuvi 660 Unit #2 (re)Born Sept 08 - Nuvi 360(Gift to 'the chick' yet maintained by myself) Born July 08

SD Card and GPX

Thanks for the notes. Appreciate the feedback. I'm using a 2GB card which holds all my "connect info, GPS info 4 books and about 150 songs. More than enough for me! (Incidently I also load my MS Outlook data file as a "secret source when travelling".

For the GPX stuff I installed to the SD card and Phil gave me the install/activation code. I keep it on a small read file on teh GPS and then simply load it to the right place on the C: drive of the "other computer" Once finished I delete the code to ensure privacy. Works for me!

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Tom

on a sub thread of this post....

birchtree wrote:

Thanks for the notes. Appreciate the feedback. I'm using a 2GB card which holds all my "connect info, GPS info 4 books and about 150 songs. More than enough for me! (Incidently I also load my MS Outlook data file as a "secret source when travelling".

For the GPX stuff I installed to the SD card and Phil gave me the install/activation code. I keep it on a small read file on teh GPS and then simply load it to the right place on the C: drive of the "other computer" Once finished I delete the code to ensure privacy. Works for me!

Now that birchtree mentioned the name PHIL, does anyone ever see him or his posts anymore? It sure would be nice to have him back with all his knowledge and wisdom. I sure hope he didn't stop posting on this site.

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You can walk a horse to water, but a pencil has to be led.

SD card in the card slot

I've been updating a POI file on an SD card in my PC's card slot. Then, I insert the SD card in the nüvi. I don't connect the nüvi to the computer unless I'm updating the software.

Since nüvi isn't hooked up, the POI Loader only recognizes the SD card.

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nüvi 750 & 760

POI Loader

I leave SD Card in the Garmin and load the poi files from there as some 'puters do not have the card readers for SD Cards.....jsut a thought but whatever works for you!

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Tom

No Card Reader

I don't have a card reader either on my PC, or on my older OfficeJet printer, so I also do all my read/write with the SD card plugged into my 660.

I just wish the 660 USB port ran at 2.0 speed. It would make map udates, mp3 copying and loading POIs so much faster. sad

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

sd pois

It appears that the poi data will be either on the internal memory or the SD. In otherwords, I cannot fill up the internal memory and then have extra Pois on the SD then switch back and forth. Am I right on this assumption?

To FXS44 - Switching around

Not sure as I've never had the problem. That being said, the answer should be if the POIs are properly placed on Garmin in the normal course they will fill up the internal memory and then the overflow will go on the SD card - after all the reason you have an SD card is for the extra space for more POIs. That being said, I'm just not sure if you can "switch" back and forth manually between the SD and the internal memory although if the directories are set correctly I presume you can.

Remember I use the UNUSED space on the SD card for the programmes themselves (set up in a separate directory/folder) and since I do not always have my laptop when I travel and like to update POIS (or get more) while on the road, I just need to carry the GPS and a USB cable!

Hope this helps

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Tom

PoiLoader on SD Card

Birchtree, Could you explain how you installed PoiLoader on the SD card. I got the other programs to install but Poiloader wants to install on the C: drive

look out here comes the newbie

Just what is on the card that comes installed in the removable slot on the Magellin roadmate 1200? If I add some more poi's should they be on this card or can I use a larger chip for poi's only?
Thanks

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lonely traveler

poi loader

Sorry to take so long in replying but I wanted to try it on a new machine before I replied. I downloaded the poiloader from Garmin and saved it on the sd card. In fact when travelling I installed poi loader (from the SD card), on the remote computer and cleared it after I was through.

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Tom

How did u get around

Tom, as a follow-up to spectrum44's comment. How did u get around poiloader wanting to install on C drive?

poloader on c drive

Honest answer is I'm not quite sure. I tried redoing it on another machine for a friend and it loaded automatically to C Drive.

I think the trick is to save it to the SD card and then run/install it from there. The obvious question is the impact to registery under windows.

For some reason it works on my GPS and when I use a computer in Best Western (for example) and connect my GPS I can upload and change the files OK.

Given some of the other comments, I'm loath to delete and retry to sae it in case it works via voodoo!!

Not much help I know and apologize.

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Tom

High Speed SD/SDHC/MMC Card Reader/Writer

Gary A wrote:

I don't have a card reader either on my PC, or on my older OfficeJet printer, so I also do all my read/write with the SD card plugged into my 660.

I just wish the 660 USB port ran at 2.0 speed. It would make map udates, mp3 copying and loading POIs so much faster. sad

Gary, Wal-Mart sells the referenced unit in the camera/photo shop. I have one made by Targus. Other electronic shops should have them also. It is about the size of a jump drive, works off a USB port and is portable.

FWIW - Curt

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The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.

GPS or SD Card

Are the POI files large? I am new to this site. I had not considered using an SD card with my GPS, but should I? I am basically only interested in red light cameras. Thank you!!

Most are quite small

greenbre wrote:

Are the POI files large? I am new to this site. I had not considered using an SD card with my GPS, but should I? I am basically only interested in red light cameras. Thank you!!

Although some POI files (Schools at about 7.5MB, for instance) are moderately large, most are well under 1 MB. The red light file is just over 250kb. So for most folks, using Garmin's internal memory for POI and associated files is a good way to go.

Memory vs. SD Card

I have always loaded the custom POI files into my 660's internal memory (plenty of room for them). Depending on how many POIs you load, YMMV.

The only thing loaded on my SD card are mp3 music files and playlists.

Each time a new map update comes out, I first check my available memory because I know that each subsequent map update is larger than the last. The problem is that there is no way to quantify how much bigger until you actually try to update. So far, I have been able to install each update without first deleting un-needed files like voice and vehicles.

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