No POI icons/menus for my 255w-should there be??

I bought my Nuvi 255W late in August. It does not come with any custom POI, GeoCache or other Extras preloaded. You'll have to load them based on your interests. This is a great site to get a whole lot of POI files. Highly recommend subscribing or contributing to the site for the RedLight Cameras - I find these most usefull!!

Really? This is the first that I heard of any Nuvi not having pre-loaded POIs. Quite frankly, the ones that are on the Nuvis are out of date, incomplete, contain plenty of bogus entries, and just plane wrong, but there are a few useful things there among all of the clutter. Garmin has used these POIs as a big marketing point, I can't imagine them dropping them from the product The only reason to do so would seem to be to save money on memory, and with memory getting cheaper and cheaper that makes no sense. Can you please tell us your 255W memory size, both total and free as it is seen from Windows explorer?

I'm just not quite ready to accept this information until we see it confirmed by more users. And what does the package say about POIs? Have they removed the references to them from the box and other marketing materials? I'm also wondering about new maps, which are packaged with the POIs in the maps. Will older users lose their built-in POIs when they install a map update (and what will Garmin say if the complain if it does happen)? Or will the map file still contain POIs but just waste the space by not displaying them for new Nuvi users?

I'm really more inclined to think this may just be another nasty surprise from an E-bay seller. That fits far better with what I expect from E-bay sellers than from Garmin. You didn't get your 255W from E-bay, did you fgrygus?

In any event, yes freehugs I suggest that you load up on POI files from this site. However, that may be harder to do if you don't even recognize U.S. restaurant and lodging chains and other POIs of interest and know which fit your tastes and budget and which don't.

First off, welcome to the forums.

Secondly, where are you looking for POI on the unit? The POI supplied with the base maps are found by touching Where To -> and I believe Points of Interest.

The next thing I would verify is I have the map selected. This is done by touching the wrench from the main screen and then proceeding from there. The map must have the box checked. Maps can be become unselected and the voices disabled as a result of doing some of the updates you download from Garmin.

Without a base map, virtually nothing will work on the unit, so you current location in Oz could be part of the problem.

Here is a web site put together by a VERY knowledgeable user that may help answer a lot of your questions. I suggest you view this between now and your departure to try many of the tips and tricks before arriving.

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

Good luck, and enjoy yourself. I will tell you they did have snow in Denver this past week and the route you will be driving will take you through some beautiful country that will be snow covered this time of year.

I have just arrived in LAX, and have tested the 255w here, as it is loaded with US maps, and it works perfectly!! All POI icons and info that was factory loaded now appears, and all seems well with the world. Now, if I can just get used to driving on the wrong side of the road!!!!! Again, thanyou all

Frovingslosh,

Sorry if I mislead, I mentioned "custom POI" which are totally different from preloaded map POI provided by the manufacturer.

My Garmin 255W came with 2010_20 map, and very well equipped POI database. One complaint, IKEA furniture store(has been in business for years) is not in the POI db for the Chicago area..

Otherwise, all good.