Updating POI on the road?

Take a laptop or netbook with you, put POI Loader on it/them, & visit the library or a motel which has internet access.

Fred

Thanks FZbar. But I don't have a laptop (or netbook) to take on the trip.

I wonder if the POI Loader program can be taken on a flash drive / memory stick and run from a motel pc? That would require the pc have 2 USB drives, one for the memory stick and one for the 265WT, I think.

The loader would have to be installed on the computer, as it accesses certain dll's (dynamic link libraries). And to do that, you'd have to have admin rights to install it.

The downside to using public computers is, viruses, trojans, and other nasties from the web. Or, just infected USB sticks that infect the computer, and then your thumb drive.

You may want to rethink this.

I guess the only place I could update would be at trusted sites (like my friends place, or my daughter's in Chicago). I would have to download the POI Loader program to their computer and do it that way I guess.

Darn. If, for example, I decide to come back a more southern rather than northern route, I would want to search and locate POI's for that segment. I may or may not be at a trusted site for days and would miss it in that event.

Why not just look at different routes before you leave and then download all the poi's that could be used on any route. That way you don't need to worry about trying to find a place to get on the internet. I do it that way all the time as I never know which way the wife wants to come home when we are traveling in the motor home. Good Luck

I don't know what you mean by updating POI - how many, etc.

However, think about this. I have been trying with my 765T to understand how "temp.gpx" files in the X:\Garmin\GPX folder get merged with the "current.gpx" - an OUTPUT file created at Nuvi load time of your "Favorites". I have been successful in using EPE to make changes to the "temp.gpx" file on the Nuvi and have the changes show up in Favorites.

EPE is "portable" so it can be carried on a flash drive. Perhaps it would be possible to access POI Factory on a public computer and download POIs. If you use EPE to message the file on the Nuvi and merge what is there with the file just downloaded, and save it TO THE NUVI, there may be a way to do what you want.

On my 765T,
1)connected to PC with USB cable, determined that I had over a gig of free space
2)downloaded small POI from POI Factory and saved it on the 765T - call it mypoi.csv (note it was CSV file)
3)ran EPE
4)in EPE, opened POI file G:\mypoi.csv
5)in EPE, "merge opened" G:\Garmin\GPX\temp.gpx
6)in EPE, did a File > Save As > G:\Garmin\GPX\temp.gpx and answered yes to replace it
7)safely disconnected 765T and looked in Favorites
8)new POIs were there

Since EPE is portable, I could create an EPE folder on my 765T and store EPE there - space is not an issue

If you decide to do something like this PLEASE make a backup of your GPS first. If you do not know how to do that let us know and we will give directions.

Would others please test this and let us know if it works on other Nuvis?

Just a thought how about an external hard drive,, you should be able to load programs and files on it,,and bring it with you and hook to whatever you have availiable.

Last time I did I got virus into my USB drive. From that time on, I only use it to check email or browsing the internet only.

On an external hard drive you can put virus protection on it but I am not a computer geeeeck

I've brought in both flash and external drives to the library and run programs from them. They are usually locked down fairly tight, but you almost always have access to the control panel and can run a program using the "RUN" command.

If you can pick up a cheap new or refurbed laptop between now and when you go on your trip that would be the way to go. Whenever my wife and I go on a trip we always take our laptops to keep up on things (email, poi factory) also great for uploading photos from your camera and emailing to family.

You could put EPE, POI Loader and/or GPSBabel in their own folders off of your unit's memory card and run them from there using a cheap usb card reader, maybe. Generally if you put the needed dll's in the same dir as the exe file a system will find them. I've never actually tried this, mind you (using a unit's card).

Except for POILoader which looks at some registry info I'd bet they all would run from the card. Probably POILoader too.

I too would be careful/worried about virii.

You would definitely need a laptop or netbook to keep from having to use public computers and virus risks.

Just plan your trip ahead of time and them load all the custom poi's you might need on to and sd card and enjoy your trip.

Loftus,

You can load up national lists of POI files so you're covered for your entire trip. Restaurants and major department stores for example. Your GPS probably already has files for gas stations nationwide loaded so no issue there. If you stay at a specific hotel/motel chain during your trip, just download the files for that chain. Failing that you could always look up a specific hostelry when you arrive in a town then input the address into your GPS.

Bottom line, in probably 99% of cases you can be covered just with files preloaded on your GPS and those you choose to download here like speed and red-light camera files.

Cheers

Personally i get all the poi's that i think i may use then some, put them on a s/d card and use them from there. It works out good for my use anyway.

If you are concerned about having too many POIs on your GPSr, you could have multiple memory cards loaded with different POIs. Then, if you decide to change your route, load in the specific card you need. You can do the same thing with maps.

First - thank you all for the info. You've given me some things to think about.

I can probably get a laptop working from a couple "sort of working" HP models I have. I also like the SD Card idea, even multiple SD Cards.

We men often accuse women of changing their minds a lot. But that is what I am trying to accomplish here - provide options for whatever "change" I do to the initial itinerary or plan. This is sort of the way I travel ... infinite spontaneity.

Using EPE and memory sticks (flash memory) is another route that might work.

I think it is evident from your comments that using public computers with any of your own equipment (memory sticks, SD Cards or Hard drives) is too risky because of virus threats.

Between my AAA Triptks, Travel Maps, Travel Books and my Nuvi 265WT with POI Factory members helping, I should be in pretty good shape.

Many thanks.

I'm working on repairing an old HP Omnibook Laptop. Assuming I get it working ok, what besides POI Loader would you suggest I load on it?

I take it you mean other than communications software. You can download what you need when you need it. I wouldn't worry too much about loading it up with a lot of POI or programs that you won't use.

From on the road you can see what has been updated and if you need it then download the freshest version.

As I said above, EPE would be essential to me.

I would also take Audacity - download a portable version form http://www.portablefreeware.com/index.php?q=audacity

Here are the official versions: http://sourceforge.net/projects/audacity/files/

I don't see a portable version. I wouldn't DL from a non-trusted site.

Your statement is good advice. The question therefore is about trust.

I check www.portablefreeware.com for new additions every morning (I had a favorite link to the site). I have downloaded several hundred truly portable versions of software and carry them with me on a flash drive. Thus, I am often able to accomplish something for a friens (at the friends house) without installing anything on their computer.

By the way, the download link on portablefreeware.com for audacity takes you to another trusted site www.portableapps.com.

However, lets say that you wanted "Recuva" which has been discussed on POI Factory. Portablefreeware.com sends you to the Pirform.com site - the authors of Recuva, CCleaner, and other programs recommended by magazines such as Consumer Reports and PC magazine.

That's my point. The link doesn't send you to the author's site.

If I execute my version of Recuva (v 1.38.504), the title bar says "Pirform Recuva"

That can be spoofed. And, I was referring to Audacity.

What determines whether you will "trust" a site?

The owners site. But, I see we're about to go in circles here.

Once you start using a laptop on road trips, you will never go back to not having one! It's great having all your GPS tools with you, as well as email and web access for making changes on the fly.

The reason I ask is that you give lots of useful information and people look to you for advice. I am interested in what steps you follow to determine if a site or an author is trustworthy.

I have Norton as my security software and Norton tags each browser site with an icon indicating their view of the safety of visiting the site.

Over the years I have found that magazines like Consumer Reports, PC World, PCMagazine, Popular Science and so on will from time to time have some article on PC software. I take their advice and at least try out the product reviewed if it is freeware or open-source.

You were the one who recommended Recuva in http://www.poi-factory.com/node/29812

What convinced you that that site was safe?

Download from the authors site. Norton and others aren't necessarily spot on for DL's. Malware happens, and sites are hacked.

It's Piriform's site. And, if you run FF with NoScript, it'll give a good idea what's running in the background.

Never go on long trips with out my laptop.Comes in handy for many things.Great for loading the pictures off the camera and keeping in touch.

This one time I went out of town without my laptop. It really freaked me out. I went about ten miles out of town. I hit the home favorite on my Nuvi. It took me back to the where the precious was. I grabbed the laptop and felt much better.

I'm pretty sure it is the electronic version of crack.

I agree with that.It just comes in handy for so many things while traveling.Got to keep in contact with POI Factory.

Using Pirform as the example, how would one know that these authors were trustworthy. Each of us have to make that initial determination. But, how?

Well, one way would be to rely on the advice of knowledgeable technology people. In this case I am assuming that writers for big name magazines have vetted the sites they recommend very carefully. They could hardly stand to have malware be delivered by a site that had been recommended to millions of their readers.

Over time, one begins to accumulate a list of places whose recommendations have been used with great success. Not only was the site safe, the software turned out to be as useful for the task as the recommendation implied that it would be.

One also learns of products from others who are known to be knowledgeable as well as cautious. Let's use this site as an example. We are continually recommending software from TurboCC. How do we know there are not trojan horses in his software. We don't really, but we trust there is not.

POI factory posters provide links all the time to articles and/or software - should we follow those links or not? And - since I said we would stop here, I do not expect an answer. I just wanted to point out the fact that, at some point, we all have to make assumptions about the provider of the link.

It would be pretty hard to use the flash drive on a hotel PC etc.. because of the limitations the system would have to prevent you from changing features on the CPU which will limit its security features.

to know whether one can use a usb flash drive period. Assuming there is a slot into which you can attach a device or cable, you ought to be able to access the flash drive.

Anyone ever tried it? If so, where were you successful?