There's a New procedure for numaps City Navigator North America NT updates

The advance option provides with the choice to install the maps on your PC as well. This download for me was very smooth, I think Garmin got it right for now

Thanks for the info's!

Thanks for the info - this is good to know for the next map DL. I hope that at least there will be a choice in the advanced option that asks the user if they want to update another unit since it is already downloaded and in the temp DL location. The user should be able to enter another product key when this option is selected.

I agree that Garmin may have done it right this time, Nick.

I didn't think to time it, but I feel that updating my GPS and computer to the new map with this new procedure took less than 1/4 the time that past updates required. I do think I had the latest Mapsource before starting, so if the update also checks for and updates Mapsource, it may take a bit longer if you also get a newer Mapsource.

Also gone (thank goodness!) is the "apparently frozen" computer when starting to execute the old 2GB update file on PCs running Vista or Windows 7 with UAC turned on.

I did a real quick test and see that the new map is active in Mapsource and on my GPS. Now to give it a driving test.

Unless changed in the future, you are not given an option to update more than the one connected GPS. However, I do note that the whole update process takes much less time than before so updating multiple units isn't the hassle that multiple downloads would have required in the past--dial-up interneters excepted!

I think that updating my GPS and computer from start to finish took about 30 minutes. In the past, it's been 1-2 hours for me. And if Garmin's right, updating a 2nd nuvi only (no computer update to be done), the 2nd unit download and update will even take less time.

I do agree with you that an option to update multi units per single download--and even being able to store the download for future reinstalls, if needed, is a great idea that Garmin should consider.

So does that mean you no longer get a standalone downloaded file that can be saved to your HDD or burned to a DVD as an archive/backup

I wonder what happens if you run out of internal storage space on your GPS (I'm getting close on my 660) during the install? Will it give you the option to install any uninstalled regions to an SD card

Yes, there's no standalone file to keep (unless someone can figure out that it's a temporary internet file of some obscure name that can be saved by the savvy).

I can't remember if a SD card option was offered. It does seem to be able to ID how much free space you have and offers you the biggest map that can be installed into internal memory. So for my 855, I was offered All of North America. Other options available and which may be the default offering on nuvis with less internal memory include US/Canada, and even smaller regions like maybe Lower 48 states, and regions of the USA.

Here's a follow up based on some test drives this morning. Everything seems to work perfectly, except that the update reverted my voice prompts from Karen back to the default Jill. I've re-Karened and all is well.

All in all, this was the most trouble-free and absolutely the fastest update Garmin has offered for CNNANT updates. The only caveat is that to put the new map onto both your GPS and computer, you need to select Advanced, then change from the default GPS Only to GPS and Computer. If someone runs the default installation rather than the Advanced, check and confirm that it's a GPS only installation. I didn't try a default installation, but chose Advanced and then changed from GPS Only to GPS and computer. I suppose theres a small chance that if not choosing Advanced, you will get the map installed to GPS and computer.

I just finish updating my gps 855. It took about one hour. Everything is working just fine. Elimated the lag when inputing the second character on the keyboard. Used VR with no problem. It changed voice to Jill-American, I liked it. It seems to be working a lot faster. So far no problem.

I used my Lifetime update for the first time a few days ago on my 265wt via a laptop and wireless connection and it took nearly 3 hours to complete. You guys did pretty good.

You can save a map from MapSource to your SD card by selecting the map area you want. I did it as a test with the Mexico maps from 2011.10. It worked well!

The amount of time that it takes to update the maps on your GPS is mostly dependent on the internet connection speed. If you have a 1.5 mbps connection it's going to take roughly twice as long as a 3.0 mbps connection.

Those that are stating very quick update times like 1/2 hour likely have a very high connection speed and are able to download the update in a very short amount of time.

Just did a quick test of my wireless connection download speed and it came in at 6029 kbps.

I have a fast internet connection, but shortly after the new updates come out, my download speed from Garmin is very slow. I believe that no matter what the connection speed is from your provider, it is either throttled down by Garmin or by the number of users at the time.

Thanks for that info.

I'm pretty sure that Garmin doesn't support high speed downloads in favor of handling a larger set of people. They really need to upgrade their access speeds.

Fred

my was at 900kbp

Strange. When I DL'd the 2011.10 map, I started off at 1.2 MBps, and then it rolled back to 985 KBps till it finished.

I think this may be your provider throttling your connection.

PS - Yes, that's mega and kilo bytes, not bits!

The 2011.01 map started at 400 KBPS and slowed down to around 300 shortly after starting. That was up from around 200 kbps that dropped to 120 for the map before that. Yes it's the provider closing the pipeline on long downloads. They've told me they routinely do that. I stay with them because I want no part of MediaCom. They have the best connection here besides MediaCom. Normal browsing is plenty fast, it's just the big download that this occurs in.

I have a 10 down pipe, so no need to count blessings, and I have a great ISP.

What I mean is, my laptop has a company power scheme which I can't edit. Once the download starts, I must stay at my desk for the whole duration of the download - or else it'll go to screen saver, then power save, and my DWL will eventually peter out.

The good news is, I eventually found a couple applications for preventing those behaviors. One is named Insomnia (from http://blogs.msdn.com/delay/ ), and will prevent hibernation.

I thought I'd share

for the info ~! It's good to know

nice to know this information as I plan on updating my units maps.

Great thanks for the update.

If I do a check of my burst download speed, it has a similar speed, but on a 3 Gig download, it slows down to around 300-400 kbps. This allows the IPS to even out the usage and prevents a few heavy users from taking the whole band width. The tech guys have explained this to me every time I complain which I do about the time a new map comes out. I've never figured out how people routinely download movies. They must be bigger than the maps.

Divide your advertised speed (that's given in mega(kilo)bits per second) by 8 and that is what you (should) get in mega(kilo)bytes per second. Many ISP's count everything higher than 80% of advertised as normal and don't even bother trying to reach 100%.
One of the speed test sites is: http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest

As one who ordinarily checks all my options, I hit the Advanced button and chose the "install to GPS and computer" option. Once the download was well under way, I walked away long enough (a few hours) that the installation finished, but reported that installation to the computer had failed.

The GPS indeed looked updated, but MapSource was still seeing only the prior map. On the PC, the new map was installed in parallel with the earlier map off the same MapSource directory tree and no amount of Utilities > Manage Map Products (unlock codes, etc.) worked to get MapSource utilizing the new map.

Key Point: The initial download and installation was performed while using a non Admin user login. After switching to the Admin login, a subsequent download using the "install to PC only" option completed successfully. MapSource's Map Management now shows both maps, in the proper location and both unlocked.

Perhaps I missed where it's documented, but I'll be doing future updates only under an Admin or equivalent ID.

All together, that was 2 complete downloads. Seems odd that Garmin wouldn't 1) check the user type before downloading, or 2) save the download for later installation after switching to an Admin type login. Multiple downloads cost users time and companies money. I don't see who benefits with their new scheme.

Garmin should check for a firewall to be enabled allowing the app to communicate to their server. I had to restart 3 times before it actually downloaded the file. Just extra hassle that some additional care in design could have eliminated.

Might as well stick in a reminder to roll back the firmware to 3.60 after using WebUpdater to install the new map, since it forces an update to 3.90 in the process. Despite applying the other updates offered after the map update, if anything, I found the previously documented problem of freezing after entering the 2nd character was lasting about twice as long as before--until I did the rollback.

I did it and it works a whole lot better than the old way.

Thanks for the heads-up, Craig. The download took 11 minutes at 25 mbps, and 40 minutes to install on the nuvi 760, which may have a USB1 interface.

I chose to do the advanced install on the PC and nuvi, like you said.

dobs108

Yes, it went very smoothly for updating the maps on my new 1350 too.

Thanks.
Fred

I'm going to try it soon. Thanks.

2011.10 default installation was GPS only and took 51 minutes to a 265WT on 64-bit Windows 7 -- 18 minutes for the download, and 33 minutes for the install.

The new installation process is documented at: http://www8.garmin.com/documents/instructions/Garmin_Map_Upd...

I tried two Install to Computer only 2011.10 installs which took 25 minutes each -- much quicker than the old process, and only 7 minutes longer than the download for the GPS only 2011.10 install.

On 64-bit Windows Vista, Mapsource was already at the latest 6.16.2 version, and was not updated.

On 64-bit Windows 7, Mapsource was updated from 6.15.6 to 6.15.11. I was surprised (but happy) that it was not updated to the latest 6.16.2 version. I still like the old-style track and route colouring

Thanks for the info.Reviewing it now.

Thanks for the info. Good work.

Now can someone please explain to me how I can copy and paste this guide in a word document for future reference?

You should be able to save a copy of the PDF file

I would like to save the user guide which is in PDF format into a word document. Is that possible ?

. . . by ordinary methods. I don't use the browser-embedded version of Adobe Reader, but if you open the document in the stand-alone version, you should notice a padlock at the top of the sidebar. Click on the padlock and "Permission Details" link therein for more info.

By this I mean, you don't need to force your way through the brick wall, between its bricks. Sometimes you'll notice that the wall ain't that tall - or that it can easily be side-stepped.

Every problem has a solution - if it doesn't, then it's not a problem.

These great truths being said, allow me to be more productive, and offer some workarounds ?

1. Is it print-protected as well ? If the answer is yes, then you're almost toast. Except I know one program (commercial, but not overtly expensive), which will convert from PDF to any Office version (including PPT). The name is PDF2Office, just google it up.

2. If it isn't print-protected, you could print it, then scan the output again - and then import everything in Word or any other application.

3. But oh you are right, save the trees and shoot a beaver... So try installing a virtual printer such as PDF Creator (this one's open source, it's one SourceForge search away !). Print the PDF to a new PDF, and the copy protection will no longer be a problem for you.

And if those solutions still don't work for you, I suggest a box of aspirin, a cold drink, and some rest. It does wonders for me !

I'm not sure either why canuk needs the document in a Word file, but out of curiousity, I tried your suggestion 3 above and found out that the pdf document permissions do allow printing. So, since I have Adobe Acrobat Standard on my PC, I decided to try printing it to a new pdf file.

I got an error when I did:

%%[ ProductName: Distiller ]%%
This PostScript file was created from an encrypted PDF file.
Redistilling encrypted PDF is not permitted.
%%[ Flushing: rest of job (to end-of-file) will be ignored ]%%
%%[ Warning: PostScript error. No PDF file produced. ] %%

They encrypted the darn thing. Guess I'll leave it as a pdf.

I use a word document that has several different topics in alphabetical order as a guide or reference when needed.

Example of topics: Calibrating the Screen, Downloading Maps, Firmware, Hard & soft reset, etc.

In the specific topic I'll copy and paste useful tips and info.

Example : Calibrating the Screen

1. Turn off the nüvi.
2. Hold the upper-left comer of the screen while turning on the nüvi
3. Release the power key when the Garmin screen appears.
4. Continue to hold the upper-left corner of the touch screen for 30 seconds until a white screen with "Press dot" appears.

For the best results, use a stylus and carefully press each calibration dot in the exact center and hold for a moment for registration to take place. You will then get a more accurate calibration.

When Garmin came out with the procedure in question, I would have liked to copy and paste a few lines of their PDF document in my downloading map topic.

I've always proceeded this way in the past when I've come across something of interest. It's a personal preference and a method I like using thus the reason why I asked if it could be done.

I would have bet good money that an Adobe product would create such a problem, which is why I mentioned PDF Creator

Another way would be to fax it to yourself, with one of those Fax to Email solutions. My ISP offers such a fake fax to their users, and many's the time when I've used that.

And then again, if you don't desperately need it, no sense hitting your head against a wall

I am a full time RVer. I have HughesNet Internet that restricts me to 275 MB a day of download and Verizon aircard that restricts me to 5 GB a month of download. I have two units (765 and 760) with lifetime updates. If I now have to download twice, that is double the bytes that go against my daily or monthly limits. Also, my typical speed is 200-300MBS.

I asked this once and I think the answer was 1.7 gig. I think Hughes allows unlimited downloads in the wee hours (like 2-6) of the morning. The speed is probably 200-300 Kbs. Or you could just use your Verizon for about one-third of the monthly limit. Do the two units in different months. Or go to an RV park with Wi-Fi.

The best solution is someplace with free wifi, but be prepared to spend up to 4 hours downloading the file if you do a full update. A lot of the "free' places limit the time you can be logged in, so take that into consideration. I've spent 3 hours at my local Starbucks, but then their access is free for me as an AT&T data customer.

Thanks for the new information. I was considering the lifetime update but was a little concerned about the times I was seeing for download and installation. Now I think I will go ahead.

Thanks to Garmin for greatly shortening the download and install times for these very large files!

dobs108

I agree. The only big issue with this new technique is for folks with more than one GPS with numaps lifetime updates, especially if they're on a slow or monthly-data-quota-limited ISP. For these folks, the need to re-download the same data for each unit is a real downer.

Then again, there's nothing that says Garmin can't learn--I would imagine a small tweak on their end could add the "install to multiple units" feature which would be a plus for some owners and would lessen the need for Garmin's servers to download essentially the identical data files to those individuals multiple times. A change to the current technique could be a win-win for both Garmin and some users.