Garmin Map Update - Improved

I just did it and it took an hour and a half , if that's fast how slow was it before lol

Too much info (but something to read on a rainy day):

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/29239

It used to take 2-3 hours for me. Back then as I recall, the map update was downloaded to PC, then processed (which took forever), then transfered to the GPS (which will always be slow on current models due to the slow write time on them.

Depends on whether you have USB 1.1, or 2.0.

Map update took me around 45-50 minutes with USB v2.0. The file has 1.3 GB. Took only 2 minutes to copy it on my USB stick. The GPS processor cannot sustain the USB 2.0 full bandwidth.

The speed is quite an improvement compared to before. Thanks for the info!

Last year when I downloaded a new map the size was over 4.5 gigs. It made me over my 5 gig limit for the month and I was charged over $125.00 for the extra.

How often should one update maps on their GPS?

3 months ago and it took about an hour.

I just bought an update on SD card. I thought that the GPS unit would download the update from the card like it does for the POI's, then I'd beable to remove the card and keep it in a save place in the house... I am needing to leave the card in the unit for the new map to show up. Is this the only way (to leave the SD card in the unit) or can I bring the unit in and download the map update from the card to the unit via the computer?

by the way, installing the card directly in the unit only takes 3 sec or so to load the maps.... on startup.

Maps are locked to either the unit (and Mapsource) for a download, or to the card itself. It's the nature of the beast. At least with the card you can move it from unit to unit.

How can you tell if you have a USB v2.0??

Leo A. Notenboom on Google says:

•Right-click My Computer
•Click on Properties
•Click on the Hardware tab
•Click on the Device Manager button
•Scroll down as needed until you see Universal Serial Bus Controllers
•Expand that by clicking on the boxed plus sign in front of Universal Serial Bus Controllers
At this point you should see something like this:

"... on most machines the presence of 'Enhanced', even only once, means that all USB ports are USB 2.0 ports ..."Note the highlighted line: "Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller". While the exact text may vary, the key is the word "Enhanced".

If it's "Enhanced", it's USB 2.0. If it's not, then it's USB 1.x.

Thank you.

Ok i just checked one says it the very top one..but the rest just say "universal host controller"

so???

thanks for the heads up, my Nuvi is telling me its time to update. How much did it cost?

oh well.... thank you.

it was $99 for the SD card plus shipping for my kenwood unit.... I'm thinking a download would be cheaper. I think I'll try the download method next time.

BAH! That's nothing, My daughter has an Iphone with no data plan, and somehow the data got turned on, and she downloaded 101.8067MB at $51.20/MB and I got dinged with a $5,929.69 Bill for the Data.

I WIN!

Just Bought Lifetime maps today from Amazon, and got the code to download and install was $78 and change. Still installing been over an hour now. The download and decompress was fast on my system its the USB 2 transfer thats slow to the garmin 1390T.

New Question on LifeTime Maps. Why is there an expiration date of Sept 5th 2011 for my LIFETIME map updates, whose lifetime are they using if they expire next year?????

Not to worry--you will continue to receive up to 4 updates/year for your GPS into the future. The "expiration" is a poorly worded way Garmin has of telling you how long you have to download the most recent current map.

True. It's when the current map set expires for download.

Unfortunately, my GPS is the limiting factor and it takes over 1 hour to load the maps onto the unit.

over a USB 1 using my nuvi 750.

Yes, the USB transfer is very slow. I wish they would update the interface to USB2

They have; my 775T is USB 2.0

They have; my 765T is USB 2.0

So is the 265 WT.

Not my old 660. But, its not so bad that I would get rid of it just for that reason.

I just bought new Garmin and want to know should I do it now or wait depending when the new one come out.

thanks for this info

Took about 45 minutes using USB 2.0

Nuvi765T

There are no firm dates and if someone gives you a date, they may well be wrong. Folks at Garmin may know but won't tell us; folks outside of Garmin can only guess. But I wouldn't expect a new map (2011.30) to come out before late October or early November, 2010. If your free map update expires around this time, I wouldn't wait too long for fear of missing your window.

But then, if you plan to buy a lifetime numaps subscription for your GPS (currently in the low $70s or less with free S&H from third-pary vendors), there's no need to wait--do your free update now.