Garmin Communicator Plugin

Thanks for the info.

RT

Downloaded & installed the plug in...

tested here: Plug-in test - Detected my 660, and loaded the favorites - and displayed them in Google Map.

I installed the s/w and went to the test page and get the following error:
unhandled exception: Error: Garmin Plugin not Activated.
Not really sure how to "activate" the plugin.

~Rob

Hit the link I posted above - it should take you to a working demo page.

That's just cool. So since when I go to that page you posted and hook my 660 up and it works (I can see my waypoints etc), I should just ignore the error?
By the way, that site seems to update pretty fast after picking a different waypoint to display then the one currently displayed.

~Rob

I only got the error on the test page where the download page link sends you when clicked...seeing the other page work, I presume all is well.

I noticed that too. Cool.

I downloaded the communicator and tried to install it to no avail. It asked me to close my Explorer window...I closed ALL my running programs and it still asked to close my Explorer Window. Any suggestions?

Thanks
Robin

Do a control -alt -delete, which should bring up the Windows Task Manager, then take a look at the processes running, if you see iexplore.exe, highlight it and end task it.

Okay so I downloaded the program, installed successfully--it said so and when I visit the link, it says so. Next, I plugged in my Nuvi 350 and went to the test page and it give me the error--unhandled exception: Error: Garmin Plugin not activated. Am I doing something wrong? Do you think I need to update my firmware and then try?

Thanx,

Mask667

Out of curiosity, has any one had this working with a Garmin C3xx?

The reason I ask, is that I can only seem to get it working in Mass Storage Mode (on the C510, which gives me a choice). Since the C3xx doesn't have Mass Storage Mode, I was wondering if Garmin have forgotten/abandoned them...

(It does recognise the C510 in 'Garmin USB GPS' mode - but won't transfer any data either way. Since I already had programmatic access in Mass Storage Mode (i.e. to \Garmin\Gpx\current.gpx), I'm a bit under-whelmed

Using the C530. Loaded communicator, went to recommended "plug in test". Found my device. Went to "get Data" waited for 5 minutes and nothing! Stays at 0%

I downloaded this for my C330 and it installed. However not only did the Garmin Test Page fail as others have mentioned. But when I went to the site that others are using with different units on which they got successful results I didn't. The site detects my C330 correctly but it then displays: "InvalidTypeException: This device does not have read support for known file types".

Yet, when I used Garmin's site starting with the C330 page and then directed to the "download" page, the software apparently is suppose to work with the C330. I'll just wait 'til the final version is developed and try again

There are some amazing possibilities for this plug-in. I hope that websites start supporting it soon, I can't wait to see this in action and how far it will go!

Works great loading favorites from my Nuvi 350. Now features that would be
nice for this tool:

1) Load Custom POIs
2) Ability to resize the google map window. The map is very small.

Agreed

~Rob

I loaded the plug in and I guess it works fine. I am now able to see my favorites on a Google Map. Is that all this web site does? I can see my favorites on the GPS screen. Why would I care if I can see them on a Google Map? Why is that helpful?

Now, if you could find s spot on the Google map and have it upload that location as a favorite on GPS, that would be helpful. I am assuming the web site will not do that. Am I correct?

This is development demo for others to write more sophisticated applications. Another DEMO to look it is at:
http://developer.garmin.com/web/communicator-api/apidemo/gar...

This one reads / writes .gpx files.

I tried the following link and it worked for me--I could see my favorites and that was it. I will wait till some you experts figure out how to write data--ah, maybe routes can be created in the Nuvi 350 now!

http://developer.garmin.com/web/communicator-api/apidemo/gar...

Mask667

It's only available right now for Windows, however, they say Mac support is coming...

Regards,

Tailspin

When I run he test page it finds my c330, when I hit the get data button I get the following message.:InvalidTypeException: This device does not have read support for known file types

On the surface of it, I was thinking this might be pretty cool. I havent' installed it yet but as I looked around the Garmin site, I find that the application would seem to allow the web site to add waypoints to my unit. (writeAddressToDevice)

http://developer.garmin.com/web-device/garmin-communicator-p...

I wonder if, as this catches on, I might find my Garmin populated willy-nilly with unwanted waypoints of retail stores for example.

I suppose, if the unit software allows me to approve the addition before allowing it, then it's a case of no harm, no foul.

Perhaps I'm being overly suspicious.

It's like any on-line situation...someone with malicious intent may be able to do harm - we just need to protect ourselves.

I can see this as a hot thing for web sites that want to quickly, easily provide GPSr owners a "click here to install our store directory" kind of thing...or here, a means where we can upload and share our "Favorites" just by having our unit hooked to the computer, and clicking a button - and it's done.

I like to Geocache and the geocaching.com site already corporates this feature to move caches to a GPS. So long as I can approve the writing before it happens, I'll be good with this. I'll test it over the weekend.

The plug installed and runs without issue (Windows XP and Garmin SP7200).

I downloaded a sample geocache from geocaching.com using Communicator and it worked fine except it reset all my category names back to default. Kind of a low level bummer.

Redownloading the waypoints from Mapsource returned the category names.

No biggie, just an extra step.

seems like this is going to take a bit to be worth while. cool idea though.

I downloaded the garmin plugin. Its installed perfectly picked up my garmin 7200 device without error. It showed my favorates,but how do you access it without the computer or do you need the computer.
(I KNOW DUMB QUESTION), The only way I can access it is with the computer and going to the test Page

When more web sites implement the functionality.

For example: Some company, on their 'find a store' web site, could enable the code so one could "click here to add this store's location to your GPS"...Several geocaching sites are using the code to enable transfer of cache coordinates to units.

Thanks Keith, This sounds promising

Got the same errors as others when trying to read and map from My C330, "InvalidTypeExceptions". I couldn`t find any information about supported devices on their site, but obviously, the C3xx serie is not supported for now.

I am building a Vista machine. Will it work with Vista?

Yes.

Thanks for the great Info.

DizzyFox

mac? always last w/ garmin...

With all the glitches, would it be better to wait and install it when they work out some of the bugs?

Probably...as I noted above, this is beta software...but me, being one that likes not only the cutting edge, but the bleeding edge in technology sometimes...I went for it. But it's not going to be of much use until there are more web sites out there that support it.

Me too!!! Mac Support coming soon.

I get the same result with my StreetPilot i5.

The Garmin test indicates that communicator has been installed properly, but I get the following error when trying the API test:
InvalidTypeException: This device does not have read support for known file types

anyone finding any creative implementations of this yet? Very cool possibilities though...

I just stumbled on what looks like the release version of the Garmin Communicator Plugin for Mac.

http://www8.garmin.com/support/agree.jsp?id=3739

The release date was Dec 18, 2007. I am trying to figure out if I should install it or not?

Geocaching.com uses it already to send cache site coordinates directly to your Favorites. The link below will allow you to search on your zip code and it will show a map of cache sites near your target zip code and send them to your Favorites.
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/

Garmin's own Geocaching page ties in with this, too.
https://my.garmin.com/geocaching/geoInfo.htm

As far as I can tell from using this, your GPSr must be in mass storage mode. Works great with the Nuvi 350.

Been trying all morning to install the Garmin Communicator Plugin to use with my Garmin 780 and always end up with this message when I run the test page at the end of the install or try and send a POI from Google maps . . .
"This website uses the Garmin GPS Control, which has not been installed in your browser".
I tried taking down Explorer and that kills everything to the point where I can't do anything and also tried installing the plugin in safe mode with always the same results.
Anybody have any luck installing this plugin on your 780 or can give me something else to try? I'm using Windows XP with Explorer 7.

Assuming that everyone who is trying this with a c330 are correct, should I assume that since Garmin has discontinued the c series, I will not be able to try this.

Yes, I had the same problem. It was a security setting on my Explorer 7. I was getting the same message. Then I noticed a message bar along the toop edge of my browser window saying "this website is trying to install "active x" click here if you want to continue. Click "here" and you get a drop down window. Click to allow Activ X and you will be good to go.

I am getting this error during the basic install when you must have Explorer down or the install won't run. After it fails, being a optimist, I bring Explorer up anyway but do not see any active x bar appear. I tried to install the program on my notebook computer and it fails exactly the same way in the same spot.
Oh well, guess I will have to use Windows Live until I find a solution to this problem.

I had no problem installing on my notebook.In the past on some programs I had problem like you did on the install. I found that by saving it somewhere on my computer like my download file then running the install from that location instead of following through from orginial it worked.Just a suggestion.

Was able to run the plugin test, but then in Mapquest I can't seem to sent to the GPS. Only shows me "Send to Cell". Look everywhere but no "Send to GPS". Going crazy with this!

Also same problem with Google Maps. Useing a business address.

Here is a example I done on Google maps have not tried Mapquest http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=8701+US+Hig... once the page comes up click on send and another screen should pop up showing
Email
Car
GPS

My understanding is Mapquest will not come on line for send to Gps until 4-15-08 accoring to another post. I tried Mapquest just for the heck of it and it does not work.Only send to cell is what I also get.

on the site it says "cut & past" Windows® 2000 or XP operating systems. There is a download for Mac as well I thank I am going to hold off for I have a vista

jolleyr

You don't load it onto the unit. It is a plugin for the browser. I have it installed and it works fine. Just make sure you have IE open and not your browser's version of it. If a yellow stips appears at the top, click on it and ok the install.

alanrobin1, this answers your question also. It works on the C330.

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I must be missing something here and it's diving me nuts or in my case nuttier. I tried the install on a third computer with the same failure message.

I don't understand what you mean when you say "Just make sure you have IE open and not your browsers's version of it". What is the difference between IE and my browsers version of it? Isn't IE7 my browser?

I download the plugin program from Garmin and click on it and say install. If IE7 is open, the program will not continue and tells me to shut down IE7 and click retry. You must shut IE7 down for the install to continue. I do that and the install continues and then I click on the test the plugin box and it tells me that the install failed. It seems like a pretty simple process and I can't believe I can't get it to work on three different computers. Can I assume then since it's an IE7 plugin that the Garmin does not have to be attached to the computer, although I have tried it both ways with similar results.

I am familiar with the activeX yellow strip you mention but I have never seen it in my many attempts to get this plugin installed

I appreciate all the tips and suggestions I have received so far on getting this problem solved.