2012.20 JCV file size confusion

I heard of this big jcv file first on GPS Passion - my other favorite website for GPS "stuff". There is a good thread there that people having problems may want to review. I could not clear enough space on my 885t to hold the file so I put it on my SD card, a 8 GB about half full of music. You have to create the same directory structure as the nuvi uses for this file and then download it. I am using 2012.20 maps. I deleted the jcv file from the nuvi and it found the file on the micro SD card without me doing anything else. Virtually every intersection on the interstate has a jcv now. They fill the screen for a few seconds about a mile before the intersection. They are picture type, which probably helps explain the file size. When you have multiple intersections in a row, they do not always load fast enough. I will soon move to lifetime maps on my 765t and try them there too. It has the 2012.10 maps and I haven't tried the large jcv file with it. I am under the impression that the large file goes with the 2010.20 map version.

Jim

Maybe I am doing something wrong. I took the older , much larger jcv file and placed it on my data card but it would not show any junction views. What I did was open my Garmin file on the data card, create a JCV folder and opened it and placed the larger JCV fil ein it. Nothing more. Unfortunately, on a test drive up and down the freeway, I got no JVC's when I should have. I removed the newer JCV file from the internal memory and then replaced it again, just to try it both ways. No soap. Won't recognize the newer JCV file, on my data card. Do you suppose that it just isn't going to work on the 885T?

Two things:

First, the procedure and file download in this thread was to be used with the earlier 2012.20 map. If you have the new 2012.30 map on your nuvi, you need a different jcv file. jcv files can only be used with the City Navigator map version it was intended for--it can't be used for older or newer maps. The file you want, assuming you have the new 2012.30 map, can be found here--look for the replies starting with the first one by user wp3gi:

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/34881

Second, besides having the new jcv file in the proper directory (which is \garmin\jcv) in your SD card, you need to remove or rename the smaller jcv file inside your nuvi. Did you do this?

Your 885T will be able to use the bigger jcv file, so don't give up. In some areas of the country, the file Garmin loads with the past two map updates has been extremely limited in the number of Junction Views offered. The larger file Garmin has made available to us for a manual insertion is about 20 times bigger and includes Junction Views for what many think is every Interstate interchange and exit ramp. If you like Junction View, it's well worth the effort to get the large file to work. Once it's working, you should be seeing JVs along I-17, I-10 and probably Greater Phoenix's various "Loops."

Thank you, so, so much for the explanation. Apparently I used the incorrect JCV file. I will follow your instructions and try again. You were correct, I used it with the latest update. The newer JCV file is too large to place in the internal memory, so I am installing it in the Garmin folder of my data card, as I said, within the Garmin folder of my memory card, I create a JCV folder and paste the newer JCV file into the JCV folder that I created in that Garmin folder. That sound ok?

That should do it.

thank you.

Well, it's back to the drawing board. To reiterate, I am using the latest map update for my Nuvi 885T. I deleted the existing JCV file from the GArmin/ JCV folder of the internal memory card. I then took the larger JCV file, to be specific, the D3060040A.JCV file, and placed it in the external data card Garmin/ JCV folder by it self. Again, I just opened my data card Garmin folder and then created a JCV folder and placed the larger JCV file mentioned above, inside that folder. Then I drove up and down I-17 on a route to and from and never got a junction view displayed. Any other ideas what I could be doing wrong?

Here's one thought. The nuvi 8x5 series never truly turns off--it goes to sleep. I've found that for newly installed Custom POIs to be seen by the nuvi that I need to remove the battery, then replace it. This does turn the 855 and 885 off and when started up again, it's a true reboot. Moving the jcv file from the internal memory to the SD card may require the nuvi to restart to be seen.

So try a battery removal/replacement, then repeat your test drive (either in real time or simulation mode). I'm hoping you have JVs showing then. I-17 exit ramps and interchanges should be showing photorealistic images with lane guidance.

As always, report back with your results.

I was going to recommend a hard reset. Yours is a better first-to-try though.

Thanks.

And gerry, I don't know if it matters, but my SD card used with my 855 which holds the jcv file, is in my card's \garmin\jcv directory (no caps for either garmin or jcv). I don't know if it matters but maybe the directory needs to be jcv and doesn't want to be JCV.

You have the correct jcv (D......40A.JCV) file which I assume is around 750MB in size and it sounds like you're doing everything right. So if the battery removal doesn't fix things, maybe we could check your upper/lower case info.

I know you're doing you test correctly, but if others read this for advice, remember that JVs only appear when on a route to a destination. Simply showing the map with no active route will not display JVs.

I'll bet this is the winner!

If I were down in Phoenix, I'd create a route to the nearest Culver's Frozen Custard and celebrate seeing JVs with a Butterburger and Turtle Sundae. Or a longer trip up to Rock Springs Cafe for a pulled pork platter and piece of pie.

I like the pulled pork option, skip the pie. I'd eat too much pork!

...or Tim Horton's.

I pulled the battery out (twice) for over a minute, each, then began a route in simulation mode....still no JCV along my route on I-17. Now what?..lol.

Didn't you know, not to bring up "FOOD" when Juggernauts around? He'll go on and on for days now.

I like BBQ!

I pulled the battery out (twice) for over a minute, each, then began a route in simulation mode....still no JCV along my route on I-17. Now what?..lol.

A hard reset.

Sorry, still didn't work after I erased all user data.

Bummer, we're now entering an area where I expect my suggestions will fail since they're so unlikely.

j's thought of a hard reset is an option.

Is there a chance that the SD card is defective? Could you try loading a mp3, free topo map, or something to the SD card and see if the nuvi can play the mp3 or see the topo map? Or try using a different SD card if you have one handy. What brand and Class is the card you're using? I hope it wasn't an eBay purchase from Asia as many cards coming from Sellers there are selling counterfeit or defective cards.

Is the SD card formatted correctly? It should be formatted in FAT32 from what I read here.

Have you tried removing and replacing the SD card (with the battery removed followed by a powerup)?

How did you get the jcv file on the SD card: a card reader on your computer or with the SD card in the nuvi? If a card reader, did you "Eject" or "Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media" before pulling the SD card? How many KB is the jcv file in the SD card? To be safe, I only install and remove SD cards from my nuvi when it's off; i.e., battery removed.

Just to be triply sure: your current map version is City Navigator North America NT version 2012.30, right?

Are you using a Windows PC? If so, in Control Panel Folder Options, have you unchecked "Hide extensions for known file types"? If not maybe the file you've loaded to the SD card has a double extension.

Just curious--before copying the large jcv file and storing it on the card, did you ever see a JV on your unit using the default file? I'm not sure why I'm asking this since I don't know that Phoenix has JVs to view with the default file.

Yes, to all your questions. I am running the latest, 2012.30 and any other maps, etc on my data card all work fine. With the old jcv file in the internal memory, yes, I did see jcv's but not nearly as many, which is why I wanted the larger file, in the first place. Guess I'll have to giv eup and just reinstall the old file and use it. Thanks for all the advice.

Here's one last thing to try before throwing in the towel. Install the old small file on the SD card and see if it works? If so, then maybe the large download was corrupt and a re-download could help. If not, then maybe try a different SD card.

Is your large jcv file 775,464KB on the SD card?

Yes, that is the correct large jcv file: 775,464kb on the SD card. And as I said, I think the card is ok, after all, the additional maps on the card all work correctly.

You mentioned that you deleted the original JCV file from the internal drive of the nuvi. Did you also remove the JCV folder? If not, try that, then do the soft reset (battery removal).

You can tell if the nuvi is recognizing the JCV file by using the Diagnostics inventory screen (Press and hold the battery icon to get to diagnosics mode. Press next to get to the version Information screen. Press Start Test, then Inventory. The loaded JCV file version should be listed in the inventory.)

Note that after you do the above diagnostics procedure you will have some small .sum checksum files on your nuvi. You can delete these files.

There is one other simple item that is often overlooked. People seem to often transpose the letters of JCV to JVC and it is not easy to spot. So make sure you have named the folder and the file with the correct JCV name.

Well done, let's hope one of these works for gerry. I will say that on my 855, I'm able to leave the nuvi jcv directory but without the jcv file in place and my 855 will see and use the large jcv from my SD card. But given all the problems gerry's seen, removing the directory might even be better. The access to diags info is very useful. Wouldn't it be nice, though, if it were a simple misnamed SD directory?

Gerry, have we asked what software version you are running on your 885? The current version is 4.70. I am not sure if SD card support for JCV was in the older software versions or not. But it might be worth a try to run Webupdater to see if you have any updates available.

Yes, thank you. I always run web updater every week even though there hasn't been an update for the 885T for quite a few months. I am running the current versions. And yes, I thought of the JCV< JVC thing my self and rechecked to make sure all of the files were names JCV.

The one thing left to try then is to delete the JCV folder on the internal drive. I had to do this on my 855 to get it to recognize the JCV file on the SD card. Don't know why my experience on that is different than CraigW but it is worth a try.

I did that, too. When it didn't make any difference, I put the internal JCV file back. Actually, I didn't delete the internal JCV folder, I just deleted the JCV file in the JCV folder. Think that makes a difference?

Yes, that's what alandb is saying--delete the internal jcv folder so that the jcv folder on the SD card can be seen and used.

Ok, I'll try it, thanks.

Well, that's it. I give up. That had no effect either.

I noticed that when I install the JCV folder and file inside my Garmin Folder of my data card, that the europe map file that also resides in that Garmin folder, does not show up in my GPS map files...it just disappears. BUT, when I remove the JCV folder and file, the europe map file returns in the gps map files. Apparently,there is a conflict between the two. Maybe the europe map file needs to be in a separate folder or something or maybe there can only be one folder in the data card Garmin folder. I don't know but this seems to be an issue.

Well, I doubt you want another suggestion, but...

As long as you're in the US and not Europe, you could buy a little 2GB SD card, create the \garmin\jcv directory and place the large jcv file in it. With a SD card containing no European map, maybe your large jcv file will finally kick in and give you Arizona Junction Views and JVs throughout the USA. I think Radio Shack has micro Sandisk SD cards on sale right now. It'd be a cheap test. When in Europe, just swap back to the original SD card since you won't be needing US JVs in France.

Once I took the europe map out of the sd card, with only the new JCV file in the Garmin folder, it worked perfect. That was the conflict. Odd, it seems. Wonder if anyone else encountered this issue. Also, it raises the question: every time we get a new map update, each quarter, are we going to have to change the JCV file to acommodate the newest map version?

What great news. Thinking back, I did have an issue somewhat related. When I added the large jcv file to my SD card, the card already had the free AZ Topo map on it:
http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/view/1/
Prior to putting the large jcv file on the SD card, I could run City Navigator from the internal nuvi 855 or I could run the AZ Topo from the SD card--selecting the one I wanted from the Map Info page. Whatever I chose would stick. After installing the large jcv file, I found that after restarting the nuvi (either by battery removal/replacement or by letting it go to sleep, then turning it back "on") I found that both maps were selected and I'd have to go back to Map Info and deselect the Topo. This occurred only after putting the large jcv file on the SD card. My solution was to remove the AZ Topo from the card. I now put one SD card in my 855 when I want the Topo and swap to a different card (the one I generally use) when I want JVs. So all in all, I've had issues between a map and jcv file residing on the same SD card, but not the issue you've seen.

This is a very interesting result and one we'll need to keep in mind when offering help to folks trying to put a JCV file onto a SD card. Thanks to you for your persistence for helping learn this new result. Luckily, your reward is now having the complete file of JVs throughout the USA.

Regarding your 2nd question: yes, each time we get a new map update (and the next one's only about 8 weeks off or so now) we will need to obtain a new large jcv file from Garmin (assuming they continue to offer one to us for manual insertion) and manually download it, then copy it to the SD card to replace the older one we now have. Garmin has been good to us these past two map updates and offered the large jcv file for us nuvi 8x5 and other models so that we can replace the default tiny jcv file that comes with the map update.

Just note that Garmin's never guaranteed that they'll continue to offer the large jcv file to owners. My suggestion for those of us with models that normally get a tiny jcv file with a map update and who want the large jcv file is to wait on future updates until we are offered the large file for manual insertion. If the time comes that Garmin doesn't offer the large jcv file to us, our option is to either 1) go with the newer map and tiny jcv file, thereby losing many or most of our past JVs, or 2) keep the previous map with the large number of JVs and stick with that outdated map until we find a real need to do the map update knowing that the update eventually chosen will lose our large number of JVs. It's also possible that Garmin may do something else but for me, I won't do future updates until I know what my options are for the new map's JVs.

Craig, when I updated my 775T to 2012.30, I did get the large JCV this time. I was kind of shocked, as I got the puny one in 2012.2.

Garmin should really make it easier to utilize the SD cards, but they would rather confuse people into buying new units.

People will become more tech savvy, instead of relying on SW to do it for them. Knowledge is power.

I wiped my whole unit and let the updater restore it.
I had a jcv size of 470,901,407KB to start and ended up with a file size of 459,865KB. A bit smaller. I guess in some cases it can grow if one leaves it there to update. Next time I think i'll just delete the jcv file first and then update, just to see what happens.

Did you back up the larger JCV first, Speed? You could have restored it perhaps.

Of course i did, just in case something went wrong. But since I formatted the whole unit, it all got backed up. Works just fine with the smaller jcv file.

Some do, some don't. Some will, some won't.

I do have faith. In myself. But, we all make mistakes. Don't ask me how I know that! Heh!

Yep..I sure remember, you and motorcycle Mama having at me for not doing some things when i first got here. It's really a no brainer. Back your unit up before every update, make a copy of your favorites on a regular bases if they change. I don't worry about my Custom Poi's, no need to back them up. I can go ahead and do what ever i want and no harm done if something goes haywire, but that NEVER happens

It occurs to me that on some of the units, like the 1490, we are already being forced to place the updates on the sd card, so apparently, on those units, we will not be able to add the larger JCV files because of the map files on it. Sooner or later, we are going to have the same issue with the 800 series and then we won't be able to add the larger JCV's to that unit, either.

Get a bigger SD card. This is an easy fix, right?

As you say, this is going to be a problem for folks with 2GB of internal memory like some/all/? of the nuvi 1xxx series. But I think some of these folks have put the spill-over of North America on the SD card along with the large jcv file and find that the map and JVs work for them. I may be wrong here so we should wait for confirmation from an owner of one.

I'm not sure about your 885, but my 855 has over 900 MB free space post-2012.20 update after I removed unneeded voices, text files, etc. I have the entire North America on my 855 so by keeping the jcv file on a SD card and having nearly 1GB free space on the nuvi, I should be able to keep doing map updates for a long time before space issues crop up. Do you still have all the factory-installed voices, etc? If so, deleting Finnish, Danish, Africaans, etc. will give you oodles of room. I've kept only American English and the three pairs of English language voices: American, English and Aussie.

Once again, congrats on your perseverance and discovery of the "SD map/JCV failure" issue. I'm very happy hearing that you have you many photorealistic JVs on your 885 now.

Thank you. I have the 1490T and a couple of the 885T's and so that's why I was concerned about the problem of adding the larger JCV file, when it gets to a point where I am forced to put map files on my sd card. I'm not sure how others are adding the JCV file to the sd card with map data on them as well, but I just know it hasn't worked for me.