Low Clearance POI Questions..

What is the intended useage of this file?

The intent is to avoid low clearance while in her rv...

thank you

Here is the link to file
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/1154

I noticed, when I saved this file to my computer the file extension was Low Clearance 92909.gpx.xml rename the file Low Clearance 92909.gpx

Kristin,

We understand your reluctance but rest assured it is almost impossible to do something that would kill the unit.

Here is a tutorial on how to load custom POI. As you will be working with a 200 series unit you will need to use SOX.exe if you want alert messages (tones you get free, but spoken alerts need sox.) Don't worry about the length of the procedure, the reason it's long is because of the detail.

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.

To set an alert and warn about a low clearance spot enroute, you will need to run POILoader in Manual mode and set the alert for a distance. The distance is in feet (or meters) so for 5 miles you want to enter 26400. That should give enough warning you can find an alternate route.

Download the Rest Area POI as well. Plan on adding campgrounds - I think KOA is on the site as well as others. Wal-Marts, truck stops and travel plazas are also good additions.

Thank you!

Can you tell me how many locations are in this file? Also, I am not sure if this Garmin unit has a memory card (yet). Would you recommend this?

kristin

Download the file and look at it with Excel or another spreadsheet program. Each line is a low clearance point.

As to memory cards, you probably need a micro SD. As the 265 doesn't play music, almost any 1 or 2 gig card will work. I wouldn't waste money on a larger card. I've got an 885T and have about 140,000 custom POI and over 20 hours of MP3 music on a 2G card.

There is about 330 locations currently, your unit will hold that easily.

I am going to give this all a try! As I said I am helping a friend with her Garmin...it will arrive here in a few days. She is a great driver but she had a little incident with her toy-hauler and her front a/c. Not nearly as bad as it could have been but enough that better planning is in the works! I am thinking of trying the red light poi...and I would like to support this great community. NOW, if only I had a Garmin of my own!

THANK YOU!

kristin

I will be giving this a try when my friend's Garmin arrives today. Following the above conventions, I have a few questions if you could help..

1. When I installed the Garmin poiloader, I used the default install and it installed NOT under program files but instead the poiloader is in a Garmin file in the root directory of my C drive. There IS a Garmin folder under program files but it appears to contain the USB drivers. I will be using sox.exe. If I paste sox into the directory where my loader exe is, will I be ok?

2. If I want to use two different low clearance files, would I be better to convert both to csv, then cut and paste values? Or, just use two different low clearance poi files?

3. If there are duplicate locations, what effect will this have on operation of the unit?

Appreciate your help!

kristin

Earlier versions installed in program files. Sox needs to be in the same folder as the executable - POILoader.exe otherwise sound files won't play.

Where are the files from? If both are POI-Factory, then they are probably the same data. GPX files normally have more information in the file but CSV files are easy for a human to read and understand.

One thing you can try, since you seem to know your way around a computer a little is to download Turbo's Extra POI Editor program. This will allow you to load different input formats and using a Merge/Open add another file to the one already opened. Once you have all the files loaded and merged, then you can ask the program to list the duplicates and it gives you the opportunity to delete the dupes. You can then save the program as either a GPX or CSV. EPE is a powerful program that is easy to use - and it does offer a lot of options.

The most notable affect will be double warnings. Other than that, nothing remarkable.

You are welcome.

That EPE program is amazing. I am off to recommend it to someone else!

Every question I had was answered here...right down to "how do I stop from being asked..." (faq)

Is there a way to test my installation? I can see my file in extras>poi, but I would like to hear my wav files....

kristin

Yes, EPE is amazing and I understand even more is coming. One of the great features of EPE is the 'bulk' setting of certain parameters - such as proximity. You can use the CTL-R key sequence and then set the same parameter for all the entries if you save as a GPX. This makes it easier to load the files using POILoader. By setting the proximity/speed in the individual entries, you can then load using express mode. The caveat is that all lines will have the same value, so it doesn't work for files that have different values for each entry. Even though I have been using it for months, I've barely scratched the surface as I only use a small portion of the features.

As to testing, there are a couple of ways you can test. If it's just the sound file, open it in Media Player. If you want to see if the notification happens at the correct distance, you need to simulate driving a portion of the route. Gary Hayman's site has a great explanation on how to get your unit to do this using SET LOCATION with a programmed route.

The Garmin 260 you have asked about dose use a file with the ext. of .GPX and also .CVS so you and load any of them on that GPS.