Updating map data on two units

Garmin is checking serial numbers.

It "marks" the download file so you can apply it as many times as you want... to the one unit.

The second unit is a separate "transaction".

This is correct. I tried updating two garmin units with one mapfile a while ago and didn't work...

See http://www.poi-factory.com/node/26375 if you have purchase map for each unit.

I believe you need a separate download because the maps are unlocked only for one Garmin - and I think the downloaded file is unlocked only for the unit for which you download it.

{edit} -- Dumb me. As much as everything I say below I feel to still be true, I somehow overlooked your statement of the two nuvi models you have. All that follows doesn't apply to you but does apply to owners trying to update a nuvi 8xx model. Sorry! Sadly, I now have no clue as to why a 2nd download is being done.{end edit}

According to DorkusNimrod who we should always believe, if you have multi-units, each with their own lifetime subscription, then the process you are trying should work without redownloading the whole 2GB update a second time.

But there's one caveat with this latest update that applied to me when I tried this and may be what's happening to you. I don't see which two nuvis you have in your user profile, but here's my prediction based on your experience:

First--one unit is a nuvi (any model except the 8x0 or 8x5-series) or other Garmin model that can use City Navigator and that's the one you successfully updated to the new 2011.10 map. Yes?

Second--the model you're trying to update next but see that it requires a redownload is a nuvi 8xx model. Yes?

If true, check the other message threads showing that there's a problem with the new map and the 8xx series nuvis--and until it's fixed in a week or more (Garmin's predictions for an availability date keep changing to a later date as the initial prediction approaches), nuvi 8xx models can not be updated. If you do try to use the download from the other GPS's update, rather than install it, running the update file will redownload the latest available map for the 8xx model--which is 2010.40! Assuming I've guessed right, don't continue to try to update your nuvi 8xx until you read here that the fix has been issued. There's no indication right now as to whether the fix will be a revised map download (in which case you'll sadly need to download the revised 2011.10 map) or if it'll be a firmware fix for the 8xx which allows the map update you already have from the other unit to be installed.

Then again, just to be sure--if you only have a lifetime subscription to one GPS, attempting to do an installation of a map update to a 2nd unit will always fail. You need a paid subscription for each unit.

I belive this is not correct, although you do definitely need a paid lifetime numaps subscription for each GPS. See my other post regarding the issue when trying to update a nuvi 8xx model to 2011.10 right now.

AFAIK (and if Garmin has not changed the procedure recently), you should not have to download the same update file again. The file should be the same for all units (8x0/8x5 series would be the exception as CraigW mentioned) with only the unit validation process being the differentiating factor. As he also mentioned, you do need to make sure you have valid nuMaps Lifetime subscriptions for each unit you are updating.

If you're still having issues, I would contact Garmin who may be able to help fix your problem by connecting to your PC remotely and fixing any unit validation/file issues that may have occurred in the process.

I have updated three different units with lifetime map subscriptions from the same single download on more than one occasion. One was a 885T and the other two were 760's using the single file downloaded.

Just connect the second unit and run the same map update file that was used on the first one. During the install the install software will check the connected unit and go on line and verify that the connected unit qualifies and if it does it will do the install and it would be the same process for any other additional units.

It custom tailors the install to match the type of unit connected. There is normally only one map install download file.

Whew, thanks for confirming my thoughts.

This now brings two possibilities to mind:

First, that Garmin has changed the policy and requires a download for each device.

Second, that the nuvi 260 series also has issues with the 2011.10 map update.

Neither option makes much sense to me since the first puts a very heavy (and unneeded) added effort on both Garmin's users and Garmin's update internet servers and the second is hard to believe since no one's mentioned an issue with the 2x0 series and the new map. Maybe Garmin's servers are confused and the original poster's nuvi 260 is somehow listed as a not-2011.10-ready GPS--sort of like our two POIFactory members who somehow had their nuvi 8xx updated to 2011.10.

Has anyone here used one 2011.10 update file to successfully update more than a single unit? The answer may shed some light on the issue.