Look out for the 2011.3 map update soon

Another update already, there are new streets that were open in 2008 and 09 and still not on the 2011.20 version well I'll be optimistic and hope its on this version, the toes are crossed.

I notice a few speed limit's in my area are not on the gps. but I am using .10 version as I just got it, waiting for the new map to come out before I use my 1 time free update

Maybe easier to report the missing roads to Navteq so they can add them :

http://mapreporter.navteq.com/dur-web-external/secured/submi...

I reported an error to Navteq over a year ago and it still hasn't been corrected. I am sure it's a big job keeping the maps up to date but....

I don't know the link between Navteq and Garmin map, but trying to report a local problem we have had for the last 5 years, resulted in: Navteq have already corrected the map.

I always report street changes to Navteq. You just have to be patient - When they expanded I-75 in my area and added a complex interchange I reported to Navteq. My the next map update it was on the maps.
Always report changes to Navteq first all of the gps makers use their maps.

I thought that Tele Atlas provided maps to TomTom. They are owned by TomTom and I would think that's where TomTom gets their maps. Also, quite a few car manufacturers use Tele Atlas maps in their navigation systems.

http://www.teleatlas.com/index.htm

Over that past three years, I reported several updates to NAVTEQ via their Map Reporter site and I usually received some kind of response within six months. As it is now, all of my major reports have been incorporated into their updates. The last was a change in geometry on New York route 63 in Pavilion, NY. It took a while but the 2011.10 update picked that one up.

I did.

The few I reported made the cut though I never did get any emails with regard to the reference number.

I hope to see the changes reported in my new area soon.

I figured it would be soon.

I did report an addition of a traffic circle and a missing street a while back. It took about a year, but they made it.

I have so many changed roads around me that my unit gets very confused, and will try to lead me off in nowhere-land.

A new median was placed in the center of a semi-popular street here. GPS said to take a left turn down a main street which happens to have the same name as the adjacent street, the one that is now blocked by the median. I ended up way off base. I'm not sure if this is Navteq's issue or the city planner's. I will report to Navteq, they probably will update faster than the city.

Maybe they will update some POI with this update...maybe?

Well maybe Navteq is somewhat slow but they have more on their plate than just the changes from users.

Also remember that Navteq are the map suppliers to Garmin. What that means is that Navteq makes a change/addition/deletion and creates an map update. I think they are still on a quarterly update release. That update goes to Garmin who have work to do on it before they release it to us as a City Navigator update. So from the time your change goes to Navteq it is at best about a 6 months process before it will appear on your Nuvi (best case).

This actually is a pretty good improvement over what was happening 3 or 4 years ago. Back then, although Navteq would create an update every 3 months, Garmin only updated the maps on an annual basis. We get a lot faster update data now when Garmin is only, at most, one quarter behind Navteq's most recent release.

One other thing to remember, if you report something to Navteq you may NOT get any further feedback from them. You can however follow the process of your input via the Navteq website. Go to Navteq MapReporter page and in the upper right part of the screen you can create and login to an account with them. Now when your logged in you will be able to go the the MY MAP REPORTS tab and see all the items you have submitted and the current state of that submission.

Here is an example of what you will see on the Navteq site for your submissions:

Category:
Road and Road Feature

Problem Modifier:
road is missing

Problem description:
Sandy Lake Dr. connects to Marie Cresent

Resolution:
After investigation, it was determined that the NAVTEQ database was missing the connection between Sandy Lake Dr and Marie Cres. After field investigation, it was determined that Sandy Lake Dr does connect to Marie Cres. This was changed and updated in the database. Sandy Lake Dr now connects to Marie Cres, the database is correct.

I would think that Navteq would have some sort of priorty for updates. A heavily travelled interstate would have a much higher priorty than a new road in a sub-division. Way more users would complain about an out-of-date interstate interchange than a "10 cars a day" street.

How often do you really need to update your map data base. I probably only use my Garmin 4 or 5 times a month in Chicago. Occasionally use it for longer trips, but usually only in Illinois.

I think it depends on where you live. If you normally use it in older areas that are not really adding or changing much then you really would have no need to update the maps. My area is still rapidly adding roadways and shortcut connections to newer features in our town so it becomes more important to properly choose the quickest routs.

Hi rjrsw/Dudlee, I agree to a point, however I would say it depends more on where you drive to rather than where you live (I would assume most people would know their home town). Typically I've been traveling about 1K a week for the past few years (work mostly) to places I've never been to before. So for me, I would say regular updates are quite necessary in this situation, as road work is constantly being done all over.

For the average driver who typically travels to work and back with about 12-15K annually, would not need regular updates. I would even question if they would even have a need for a GPS in the first place?

Looking forward to the update, thanks for the notice. I thought one would be coming out soon, just didn't know about when.

I logged in but there is still no update yet.

Not yet.Just checked.

It's garmin that sets the priorities for when new data will be incorporated into the gps map updates. Navteq just provides the information that Garmin then prioritizes. There have been changes that have been immediately corrected in the very next map update, while there have been changes that have taken more than 6 months to appear in the garmin map update. Most of the things that take more than 6 months to appear are new roads in sub-divisions or superfluous map data like junction views and speed limits.

"It's garmin that sets the priorities for when new data will be incorporated into the gps map updates. Navteq just provides the information that Garmin then prioritizes."

That clears things up a bit for me. I am using the latest maps from Garmin, and any time I see an error I report it to Navteq. I found it somewhat odd that the errors I reported a year or two ago are fixed in Navteq, but not updated in Garmin's map, and some updates were updated within the next release.

Nice, thanks for the heads up

but I've got seven of these to update. I bought them for my two girls, wife, and I have 4 myself, lifetime on all.!! I may have gone a bit overboard?

Garmin told me this morning that the new maps 2011.30 should be available for download in about two weeks.

It seems like Garmin only HOPES to ship 4 map updates a year. Seems like they keep slipping 1-2 weeks later than the 3 month interval that would allow 4 updates per year. It's like bait and switch; receive "up to 4" map updates per year for the "supported life" of your product. You think, ok I'll get 4 updates per year, till my GPS breaks. Wrong...

You would think it would take a set amount of lead time to process the map update after receiving it from Navtec. However it seems Garmin takes more time to get the update out every release.

Is this just my perception?

be patient since Garmin does not use exact dates or consistency for their updates, firmware or maps.

Up to 4 updates a year means just that. They could have said no more than 4 updates a year. Up to 4 per year could mean none or one just as easily.

If you create routes with MapSource, be advised that Map Intersections, Map Points and Map Lines, which are those via points that are not also WayPoints, lose their index when you switch map versions. That means that all sorts of inconsistencies can occur if you use old routes with new maps. You might consider not updating unless all your routes are new ones. Otherwise you should redefine every non-Waypoint via point by moving them slightly.

for the new update.

Hoping to see the update soon..

I don't think they could get away with providing no updates in an entire year. I understand your "up to" reasoning, but they created a reasonable expectation when advertising and selling lifetime map updates that updates would be available yearly -- and at least a few yearly. Under your reasoning, they could go years without providing an update and still be within their "up to" promise. I doubt this would meet the reasonable expectation of the buyers, and I imagine it would open Garmin up to litigation. If people are going to sue for coffee being too hot, you can bet a lawsuit would be filed if no updates were provided during a year.

I also called Garmin and asked them if they knew when the next map update would be released and all they could tell me was that it would be before the end of the year, most likely early December. The fact that they told you within two weeks and they told me in early December shows that they truly don't know, which doesn't surprise me. Garmin is never consistent.

You're probably pretty close.

Past issues show a pattern:

Jan 22, 2009 (Thu): 2009
April 8, 2009 (Wed): 2010.10
July 30, 2009 (Thu): 2010.20
Nov 19, 2009 (Thu): 2010.30

January 21 (Thu), 2010: 2010.40
April 21 (Wed), 2010: 2011.10
July 28 (Wed), 2010: 2011.20
Estimated: Nov 17/18, 2010: 2011.30

Expect it on the Wed/Thur of that week.

Since Thanksgiving is on the following Thurs (25th), they might want it to be out in time to be installed before the travel days.

I live in Biloxi, MS. Know my area fairly well.

But I'll probably get the latest each year so I'll be ready for Hurricane evacuation season. Gotta think they'd help a lot when getting out of town.

Thanks for the info

Just as I had hoped would not happen, the whole business about Garmin starting my 60 day free upgrade clock when I registered, rather than when I first acquired satellites while driving, has come back to haunt me. Garmin's forced starting of the clock means my free update expires on November 10. I didn't drive with it for 2-3 weeks after being suckered into registering it online, which would put me easily past Thanksgiving according to Garmin's printed statements on the packaging.

looking forward to new maps too.

If it was me I'd call Garmin and ask for a short extension due to the imminent release of the maps. It can't hurt and Garmin can (sometimes) be surprisingly willing to stretch the "rules" a bit.

Garmin Support:
US: 913-397-8200
US Toll Free: 1-800-800-1020
Canada: 1-866-429-9296

Now that settles the confusion...

Dave is correct, Garmin states up to 4 updates, does not mean you will always receive 4 updates a year, strictly up to Garmin as to how many updates they will provide for us.

As always, nickjr is correct, but it is such a great way to blow a rainy afternoon - and to make yourself feel good about that lifetime subscription...

a friend of my has the lifetime update and he say that it is out.

Nothing out when I checked about 3 hours ago.

I agree with perpster--2011.30 is not out for me yet either.

Ditto

waiting...

It seems the map updates never update anything useful for me because Garmin lags so far behind...for some unknown reason. I get tired of wasting money.