New maps coming From Garmin

Last time I talked with Garmin Tech in April, he told me around late July or August.

I just bought my 360, and it starts up with"American Lite Basemap 4.00. That sounds a bit behind the time, if so, what do I need to get this thing in gear? Thanks for your much anticipated reply...

Milt

Your America's Lite Basemap is just the very basic map features, and is current. To see your routing map version, on the main screen, hit the wrench, then, 'Map', then the 'Map Info' button - it should Be City Navigator North America NT v8, or, if you're lucky and got the new one, instead of v8 it will be 2008.

Yeah, don't worry about the basemap. You've got the detailed maps loaded so, for the most part, the basemap will never come into play. Besides, it's not ugradeable. And v4.0 of this basemap is the current version.

...thanks Keith! I have the city Navigator North America NT v8.

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I guess I'll just have to wait. How old is this one? It must not be too current, Homes built 9 months ago are not on my map.

Milt

Thanks for your reply, at least I'm not alone!

Milt

CN v8 was released in Aug/Sep 2006. They release a new version each year.

It can take 2 - 3 years or longer for new roads to make it into the maps. It all depends upon how the data gets reported (and then it has to be verified). There are a couple of restaurants near me that have been gone for at least 7 years (demolished for the local university's expansion), and they still show up on the map.

You can report errors and omissions directly to Navteq which is the company that provides the data to Garmin.

MapReporter

Not any more.

Apparently on May 1 Garmin discontinued the practice of allowing two unlocks per purchase. This was at the same thime they discontinued their '30 day free upgrade' program.

Actually no.

Garmin does TWO releases. One for production, the other for retail sale (DVDs). The data comes from Navteq (at least the US data does) and they can get the mappnig into the navigators quickly, but they need to stamp, pack and distribute those pesky DVDs, so they are already shipping V9 onboad new units, but the upgrade program won;t be ready till mid summer.

Garmin buys their US mapping data from Navteq. Updates are collected by Navteq after the initial drive-through survey and are included in subsequent releases.

So anything built has a 50/50 chance of being included the same year - anything PLANNED as a major project might be included before the project actually is completed. That was the case with V7 and highway reconstruction around MOntreal last year.

I've been reading this thread and I agree completely that $75 is a fair price to consider for annual upgrades. Having just purchased my first GPS (Nuvi 360) this past week, I'm frustrated about the "no free upgrades policy." Garmin confirmed to me that new 360s are shipping with the new map version (2008), but mine has the older (v8). Their solution for me to upgrade without paying an additional $75 is to return the unit and get a new one. Silly advice to begin with, however that solution has problems, too. There is nothing on the box indicating the map version, according to the Garmin rep I spoke with, so I'd have to return/buy/open/power up to see the version. If it's not 2008, then I have to continue to do the same thing? First, I buy online and that makes it a big hassle. Second, any B&M or online store is going to love me when I do this 10 times to try to get the software version I want. When these things are shipping/in stock with different maps simultaneously, it's really frustrating... Sorry for the rant. The "where do your draw the line concern" is a very valid one, however this type of situation should be a clear example when when it's bad policy to not have a customer-oriented solution.

I agree.... it does not make good business sense to allow an outdated product to be sold once the new one is shipping. You can end up with units on the shelf in the store with two different map versions on them.

Why would Garmin want to alienate it's customers by making them send back the units or return the unit for another one.

I can't see a reason to NOT ship someone the newest map "IF" the customer purchased the GPS unit AFTER the new version was being shipped.

What I don't know, is if this is a case of greed by Garmin, or by NavTeq, who is the supplier of the maps to Garmin. Whoever made up this policy is certainly NOT customer oriented. My "gut" feeling, is that it is NavTeq who is the problem. I don't think Garmin wants a hundred units shipped back to them to have the most up to date maps installed, and I'm SURE that the retailer is going to be very unhappy too.

Tim

I am new here, just bought my 350 about a month ago. Do I understand correctly that when they relase v9 of the maps I can buy it for the PC then send it to the 350 and use it both places?

i hope there will be an update soon

So says the proprietor of GPSmagazine.com Here, in the second post of the thread. We'll see.

I ordered a Numvi350. It was shipped to me last week and it has the latest map NT2008.

So many roads are changing in my area (Raleigh, NC) that I look forward to the new update. If I see that the update was worthwhile, I will probably do it every year. If not, maybe every 3 years.

The NavTeq link at http://mapreporter.navteq.com/dur-web-external/ just worked for me. You can create a free account and, when creating the account, can select to be notified 1) when they receive your error report, and 2) when they resolve your error report.

Garmin changed the way they name the maps this year.It is not v9,new maps will be called CN North America 2008.

how can you get the new maps

When the time comes, they'll be available via Garmin's web site and perhaps at some retail locations as well.

It's probably cheaper just to replace you GPSr every 3 years than to pay for an annual update.

How do you figure that?

Even if you purchase the update every year (and for most users every 2 years is more than adequate), then $75 x 3 = $225. That's far less expensive than a new unit.

I have no objection to Garmin charging for periodic updates. My issue is when you receive a brand new unit, and it already needs an update, or a new map version comes out within a couple of months. I think that Garmin should provide updates free for the first 12 months after initial purchase.
I bought my Zumo about 2 weeks ago. The first thing I checked for was a major boulevard that was extended about 2 1/2 years ago, and is still not shown on the Garmin map. Navteq has the road on their map, so it's obvious that Garmin has access to it. I suspect that V9 might be corrected. I don't think I should have to pay $550-$750 for a "new" GPS, but with old maps.
Suppose I bought a brand new car, but found the tires were dry-rotted. The car dealer would not make me pay for replacement tires. Of course if I did not need tires until after I had driven for a year or two, I would expect to pay for them.
Garmin has a lot more competition now then they did back when I bought my GPS III+, and they need to update their customer focus.

Does anyone know how to report when there is not a road or the road dead ends where the GPS says their is one.

I feel the same way about updates needed when you have just purchased a new unit without the current maps. According to Garmin, however, new units have been shipping with the newest maps since the last of June. It's just the updates that won't be available until the end of July or first of August. According to Garmin, this new "system" will have some benefits such as not having to get an "unlock" code, now, from Garmin.

Navteq is the creator of the maps. All errors and omissions should be reported to them: http://mapreporter.navteq.com/dur-web-external/secured/submi...

That is the way it was until this year. We need to continue to let Garmin know that the new policy is not customer friendly. BTW, I believe the map version is on the outside of the box and we should check it before purchasing (if retail).

I just had to report a whole shopping mall missing on their maps in NYC that was built more than 10 years ago!!!

Just in general, I find that POI database in NYC is very outdated. And it is not only because businesses change often, they do. But there are businesses that have been at those locations for ages, and I mean longer than 5-7 years, and yet they are not even listed. Some businesses are shown, but their names are totally misspelled.

I guess I will be a frequent visitor on that Navteq site :0)

At the rate the price of GPSr are dropping. You can probably get a Nuvi 200 for $200 and a 300 series or its replacement for $300 by Xmas. And by the end of third year the battery in your unit will need replacing that's another $75? Or put that money toward a much better unit with the latest bells and whistles.

Well, that is just me, but there are people that travels a lot and will required annual updates.

My Nuvi 350 has the latest map NT2008

I just received an email from the Garmin map people, stating that he couldn't be specific but expected the upgrades to roll out within the next two weeks.

You are correct on the DVD but what about the operating system? I just bought a new PC with Windows Vista. Is the software Vista compatible?

So far, I've had no problems with Garmin's Web Updater, MapSource, and POI Loader on my Vista machines - desktop or laptop. I presume that the update for the map on my Nuvi 660 will work just fine.

is it possible to download the update and share with other people?? when i order the sd card map update which is city navigator 2008 they are gonna send me the sd card. is it possible to copy the info and put it on another sd card or online and use it to update more tha one navi system???

Are you sure the update is on an SD card? The Garmin updates in the past have not been on SD card. They sell full mapping products on SD card however.

Regardless, the update can only be unlocked to a single GPSr.

Also, as a side note. Garmin's map products on SD card are not copyable.

Also, do you live in a "gated community"? Many of these are not listed due to privacy issues. That is straight from Navteq's mouth.

jdk6662 wrote:
I have wondered if there is any way we can report inaccurate/new roads as we come accross them to anyone?

Garmin has a page to report errors:
http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/mapSource/errorForm.html but I think NAVTEQ - NAVTEQ Map Reporter™
is the way to go. From other posts, I gather Garmin gets its info from Navteq.

The new Garmin 2008 maps do not have a lot of the new roads around Wake County in N.C. i.e. the Raleigh area. Is there a way to get these new roads added without waiting 2 years?!?

Unfortunately not.

that was just built and opened near us last year. I was glad to see that in the 2008 update. It's a "Single point" intersection where a major surface road (M-59) crosses under US-23. First one in Michigan.