Perhaps I can help...

I would load a few POI onto that unit (with the owner's permission of course).

It accepts an SD card, so I would think about investing in one - assuming there isn't one in the unit when you receive it.

The custom POI I would load would be of course rest areas. Once I had those, I would then load some of the other highway oasis like truck stops and travel plazas. Follow that up with some eateries and you have a good start.

Loading POI is easy, and you can save interesting points of interest you come across straight to the unit as favorites. Once you are ready to retrieve those POI, use something like Extra_POI_Editor to copy them from the unit.

As you are new to the board, here's a little tutorial on how to load POI. This was written for the NUVI line, but the procedure should work for the C330 as well. You may not be able to load any alert sounds though.

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. NOTE: You only need to load SOX once.

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

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

8. 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.

9. 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. Using WAV files requires another program not found on POI-Factory.

10. 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.)

11. Run POILoader.

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

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

14. 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.

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

16. 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.

17. 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.

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

19. 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:

20. 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.)

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. Restart this procedure at Step 8.

Repeat as necessary.

The biggest change is when using POILoader, it will ask where to put the POI file on the second screen. If you have the SD card in the unit, you can select it. If you have a card reader and the SD card is there, then you need to do a custom install and select it as the output device.

Oh, and welcome to the site.

Thanks for that post, I'll definitely read that before I head out...but

I was mainly asking if there was something while on my trip that would benefit the site...

You know...locating historical markers (i wouldnt stop but i'd POI them)...

Or, good eats at hole-in-the-wall places, etc. Be creative.

now that sounds like a good idea, umm....im kind of on a shoestring on this trip....i'll think of something

Diners, drive-ins and dives pois

places to visit pois

rest stops come in handy.

find your favorite restaurants, hotels and gas stations and dowload their poi's.

In okc I would recommend the Bombing Memorial and the River walk in Bricktown.

there are also several non-chain restaurant pois you could download.

To get more help, you might mention the general route you plan on doing.

hope this helps.

Off Beat Tourist Attractions, edit the file name by adding TourGuide at the end before .csv extension.
When loading these poi files use manual option and set this file for 10,000 feet (that is almost two miles proximity). Anything less than that will can cause alerts from multiple poi's to conflict, this happens when in bigger cities.

You might consider going to the Garmin site and downloading the PDF of the manual.

Then you will know what the C330 will do or not do.

The c330 is very limited for custom pois.It only has 2MB for space to use and the sd card is only for maps.I use to own a c340 and had to be very selective in the custom pois I stored to the unit because of space.Not much difference in the two except one announces street turn by turn.