Confused about maps

Welcome to POI Factory.

You are confusing a few things.

MapSource is the software PROGRAM that can be used to manage favorites, create routes, and send data to and from compatible GPS units.

City Navigator is the name for the MAPS that reside in the MapSource program.

MapSource is not used to update the preloaded maps on nuvi units.

The maps are updated by purchasing either a single or a lifetime map update and RUNNING the map update program that is downloaded after purchase.

Note that this will also update the corresponding maps in MapSource.

An update to your unit's map is an update. The difference is if you pay a per update fee or one fee for as long as your unit works (lifetime).

Both are now downloaded from the Internet and can take a few hours as it is over 2 gigs in size. The D/L file will always have MapSource, the Garmin PC program which will allow the planning of routes and the transfer of the waypoints to the unit. If you transfer a "route" or not depends on your unit.

Thanks for replies. Darn right it is confusing. I see City Navigator and Lifetime map updates for sale. I was trying to read/learn how to prepare routes on my PC so I could transfer them to 760. Someone said to use City Navigator to load them. I also read that even if I planned a route on my PC and then loaded it into my 760, the 760 might ignore it anyway. I guess I'll have to play with it and find out.

You are bumping in to a common problem - confusing different applications, equipment and such because of their VERY similar names. And distinguishing between the different components and functions is not very intuitive. For example, Garmin has the MapSource application for planning trips and routes and such; but the SOURCE of the maps that Garmin uses is NavTeq. And what exactly is the difference between my 660 and your 760? Or a nuvi and a zumo?

It actually gets easier as you gain experience, but this is the right place for asking questions. Remember, that most of the experts offering solutions to other peoples' problems have the answer because THEY already made the same mistake!

Welcome aboard, and enjoy your GPS and this site.

How the heck does Trip & Waypoint Manager play into all of this? I noticed it for sale on Garmin along with City Navigator NT. Thanks.

Edit: Perhaps all of this is a moot point anyway. I was just reading that you can use mapquest to create a route and then send to your GPS. If I can get that to work, it would be perfect, exactly what I need.

Trip and Waypoint Manager is just MapSource without any detail maps. Meaning it does not have City Navigator. It only has a basic basemap.

I updated my nuvi 200W with CNNANT 2009 via DVD/MapSource. Long story, but I bought it 1 1/2 weeks before the lifetime maps were offered.

I registered it to the 200W and installed it in Map Source, then created a full NA map set and loaded it on the 200W in addition to the 2008 lower 48 map it came with. I have the option to upgrade it to NUMaps lifetime or NuMaps Onetime, but haven't yet.

So at least you can do it either way on the 200W (and probably yours, but I don't know for sure). I'm also not sure how/if you can get the NuMaps map set into MapSource.