Voices arrrrrrrgh!!!!

Welcome to the site.

There is a Getting Started button in the upper right of this page right under POI Files. It is worthwhile visiting this page.

To make navigation easy, most browsers provide the following option. When you want to follow a link - but still keep your current page open - you can hold down the "Ctrl" key as you left-click on a link. That action will open a new "Tab" in your browser up on the "Tab" bar. When you then left-click on that new "Tab", you will follow the link - leaving the "Tab" you are now reading open and available to click on and return here.

So, using the "Getting Started" link, you might try the "Ctrl" - left-click sequence and then return here. You can return by either "X-ing" out of the "Getting Started" page (using the "X" on the "Tab" itself) or just left-clicking on the "Tab" for the page you are on right now.

Since you are new here, I encourage you to go through a couple of the Beginner Education FAQs.

The first link makes sure the settings on your computer are such that you can do more advanced POI loading.
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/30393

The next link helps you make a backup of your GPS by attaching it to your computer. (NEVER do anything to your GPS until you have a backup - because it sounds like you are anticipating voice changes)
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/30394

We need more information on what you are trying to do. I assume you want alerts - but you do not want to hear any "voice" - otherwise you would just turn the volume off.

What is intriguing to me is that by not having a voice, you would not be able to hear routing instructions - i.e. "In .3 miles, turn left on X road". Have I interpreted what you are asking for correctly?

Once again, welcome.

I agree with jgermann, it does appear you want to turn off the voice that is providing the routing instructions. That would defeat the purpose of using the GPS safely and not relying on the screen for turn instructions.

Since you're from England I'm assuming your using the female British English voice. As an alternative you may try changing it to the male voice, or Australian English or American English and see if that is more pleasing to your ears.

I'm not familiar with the 50LM so I don't know what voices are availble for that unit. Many of the Garmins come with both a male and female voice for British, American, and Australian English, so there are 6 choices in total.

Yes,
I wish to turn the voice off completely, I do not wish to have the routing instructions constantly read out to me. I find it quite easy to follow the map display. Without the road names being read out like a young child trying to read for the first time - reading every syllable and pronouncing easily read words, totally wrong - some of them are quite laughable. Marylebone - pronounced by Garmin 'mar-rill-leb-on-e' or Friary - 'Fro-rey'.

Its hard to concentrate on the road when laughing so hard.

Joking aside, I've been using Sat-Nav's for so long, that I have gotten used to reading the Sat-Nav, without the need for the voice.

Sadly as far as I can see one of the few drawbacks with the new Garmin I have purchased is there is no option to simply turn the voice off, or select 'No Voice' in the vast listing of every language in the world supported by the unit...

Regards

Oilburner

Have you tried to use a non-TTS voice? It will still give voice but not street names. If once isn't available, you may be able to download one.

I am not aware of amy simple way to turn off voice commands on Garmins since it's part of the firmware.
Personally I think I think it's an unsafe way of driving since your attention will be compromised when looking at the Nuvi for directions.
But that is your choice to make.

The only thing I can think of is to copy of all your voice files to your PC, then delete them from your Nuvi. But BEWARE there's a good possibility the Nuvi will freeze when the voice file is not found.
If it doesn't work you can copy the files back.
Perhaps somebody has a safer and better suggestion.

When you say you want to keep the alerts on, are you referring to custom POI alerts?

Make a voice file with silence with Garmin voice studio.

All Garmin devices can mute the voice directions. On your main menu screen, press the speaker icon below the magnifying glass and map once to mute. Push it again to hear the voice.

.

I got a bunch POIs with announcement sound files I would like to hear.

using a non-TTS voice may be an acceptable halfway solution for you. I can't think of a way to have alert sounds but no voice directions.

I tend to use the basic female British English voice most of the time although American Michelle is quite nice too.

Silence vpm file for those who need them, downloadable on my site:
https://sites.google.com/site/odingpsm/garmin-lydfiler
(I don't think I can upload them to poi-factory)

There is a wav file called Silence on this site. It is used when you want a popup alert with no sound. Sounds like this is what he needs.

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/36943

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/37121

David,
That's not what he needs, he wants the ALERT SOUNDS,
he just doesn't want a TTS voice giving directions.

Sorry about that chief!