Questions about OpenStreetMap and nuvi 250

It seems I read somewhere that some older nuvi's had a map file size limit of 2 GB. I am not sure if that restriction applies to your 250 though. If it does, you may need to split the map into two files. If you have software version 5.10, you can have 2 map files on the SD card (gmapsupp and gmapsup1).

it needs to be in \Garmin\maps

I recall the limitation of the 2GB map size only applies to the 3XX, 6XX, and the Street Pilot Series.
The 250 should be able to handle maps over 2GB in size.

I think the 3.5GB OSM map should workon the SD card as long as it is named gmapsupp.img and located in the Garmin folder on the SD card. I'm not sure, but you may have to rename the OSM map.

With all due respect, I believe that is incorrect. The Garmin\Map folder on SD Cards was applicable with the beginning of the 1XXX Nuvi's. Also the folder must be named Map not map, the M must be a capital.

Muell9k, thanks for clarifying which models the 2GB map size restriction applies to. Since the 250 is not in that restricted group, I agree that the whole OSM US map should be able to go on the SD card in the \Garmin folder as a single file named gmapsupp.img.

That may be my point of error, I wasn't aware that I needed to rename it. Will experiment with it this evening.
Will report back results.

That should solve your problem but please let us know.

What name does the downloaded OSM map have?

Still don't get the map offered in settings, only the internal map. With a different microSD card (1 gig) I can load a SE topo map.

The topo map was named as you indicated, and it was in the garmin folder, not a map or Map subfolder, so I'm just putting the OSM img into a garmin "folder".

As to the file name, what I downloaded was
4000MB-lon_-168.62_to_162.99.2013-05-27.gmapsupp.img
- clearly that stuff before the gmapsupp.img was expected to be removed, and I likely did that with the topo map, but the neuron that was assigned to remember that must have died.

So still looking for the insight on how to resolve this. would be really good to hear from another 2xx user who has done so.

I may at some point try one of the smaller regional OSM maps. But I really wanted the national map for road trips where I most need the GPS. I already think that I know from several years ago that this unit only supports 1 map on the memory card (what a waste, wanted several options out there) and it took several hours to transfer the 3.5+ gig file to the microSD card through the nuvi USB, so I'm not in a rush to delete it to try a smaller file.

Please confirm that you did the following steps below.

1- Your SD card was formatted to Fat32
2- Your SD card has a Garmin Folder with no other maps in it.
3- You renamed the OSM map from
4000MB-lon_-168.62_to_162.99.2013-05-27.gmapsupp.img
to gmapsupp.img, and it is in the Garmin folder on the SD card.
4- When you booted the Nuvi and checked the map info
the OSM map DID NOT APPEAR.

Edit: Just had another thought, try unchecking your installed map on the Nuvi and reboot.
It's possible you are having double coverage of the same area thus the Nuvi is disregarding the OSM map.
If that still doesn't work go back in and check the Garmin installed map again.

The OSM map I use is from this site: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/OSM_Map_On_Garmin/Download. I pick the one generated by Ben Konrath (USA map). It is precompiled for Garmin and downloads in .ZIP format. You have to unzip it before copying the gmapsupp.img file to the SD card.

1. Fat32, check. The 1 gig microSD card that works is actually FAT, but the 8 gig and the internal nuvi memory are both formatted fat32.

2. garmin folder, only map in there. Folder is garmin, all lower case, exactly as it is on the working 1 gig card.

3. yea, the map was renamed. I didn't even trust myself to not make a typo, I cut and pasted from the name on the working card.

4. only the internal garmin maps shows with the OSM map, but two show with the SE topo map on the other card.

I went ahead and tried the disable/reboot thing. Didn't think that would fix it, as there is overlap with the topo map too and that works, but it was worth a try, It didn't work.

I'm at a loss here for any more suggestions.
Only thing left I can think of is a corrupted downloaded OSM map.

It may be time consuming but consider alandb's link provided for the (USA) OSM map he uses.

I used the torrent to download the file. Since the Bittorrent protocol checks the validity of every block that it downloads, and then checks the final file once it has all of the blocks, I'm pretty confident in it. I have never seen a bad bittorrent download when done correctly, and I've downloaded a lot of linux distributions with it.

Still, I'm letting the torrent program recheck the file, just to be sure.

I looked at the site where yhe file came from, but there is no MD5 checksum posted. Verifying the MD5 just takes a couple of minutes and would have made a lot more sense than downloading another copy of a file that I don't believe to be bad.

The torrent program just finished confirming that the file is good against the checksums in the torrent file. So it seems senseless to download again. At best I'll wait another month and download the next version of this file, not this one again. But I expect the same results unless I can figure out what is going wrong.

By the way, if anyone else has or wants to download version
4000MB-lon_-168.62_to_162.99.2013-05-27.gmapsupp.img
of the file, particularly if you have a fast connection, the MD5 that I get for this file is
5b36c0857a64d6ba4f716c8946e4b8a2
Same result with both MD5Summer and MD5 Checker.

I never use Torrent downloads so I wouldn't consider downloading the file and testing it.

But why wait a month to download the updated map again when you can use alandb's link to download a working OSM map?

Just choose a time when you won't be using your PC and download it. Once downloaded, I'd suggest using a card reader to transfer the map to your SD card using a USB port connected directly to your motherboard, not to a USB hub.
I find it faster then copying files this way then sending to the SD card inserted in the Nuvi.

If you don't have a card reader they have portable ones on Ebay quite reasonable. I have several of them and they work well.

The reason that I don't redownload the file is that I'm extremely confident that the file I have is the same as what was posted. If mine is corrupt then the original must be to. Torrents just don't let errors slip through. Just the opposite, I've talked people who did download an entire Linux .ISO without using a torrent and confirmed it was bad (by checking the MD5 check digits) through repairing the bad download by setting up a torrent client, downloading just the tiny torrent file, and sticking their corrupt download where the torrent program would store its downloads. On starting the torrent client it saw that it had the file, checked it, and then only had to download the few bad segments to make a good file. This has been done more than once on systems where the full download without using torrents could take a day or more, but the repair took just minutes. The end result, of course, is exactly the desired file.

Wish the MD5 were posted, mostly so we could get past this conversation, but I'm certain that the file is as good as the original, or in other words, if there is a problem with the file then there must be the same problem with the file that I would download again. The only reason to download next month's is to get newer maps, and that one in a million chance that the May 2013 USA map file was bad. But I'm expecting when I do get it that I'll see the same issue.

I'm sorry I couldn't help get your issue resolved.
Maybe somebody with a 2xx model that has OSM maps will come forward and post some other suggestions for you.

I download from garmin.openstreetmap.nl

Pick your area and They e-mail the file.

Are you using the pre-compiled map generated by Dave Hansen? That is the first one I tried, but was never able to get it to work on my Oregon 550 or in Basecamp. It is probably something I did wrong, but I never figured it out. I switched to the file generated by Ben Konrath and have had no problem with it in either Basecamp or on my Oregon.

I use the 4000MB-titled (3.5GB) file available here:
http://daveh.dev.openstreetmap.org/garmin/Lambertus/latest/

There's a torrent link as well as a link to download the file normally. I use this map on an 8GB card with my 265W and have not had a problem. Path is /Garmin/gmapsupp.img. In my case the "Garmin" folder name has a capital 'G'.

I'm not familiar with the 250 but I assume it can handle SDHC cards? That's the one thing that comes to mind when you say it works with the 1GB card but not the 8GB card. You may want to consider trying a different version of the file and/or a different card, perhaps there's some issue with that particular card that your 250 doesn't like.

The torrent should be fine although it is unfortunate that they don't post an MD5sum for the file.

- Phil

Yes, I am trying the one that is on the very bottom of the page that you gave a link to, the United States one by Dave Hansen. I did see the one by Ben Konrath, I didn't originally take it because it included Canada and Mexico (and I haven't bought my exit paper from our U.S. government, so I didn't need that). But, if there are potential issues with the one that I got, then taking the one from Ben Konrath seems wise, even if it includes stuff that I don't need. And I haven't looked yet, but maybe Konrath does the common thing of also posting MD5 checksums for files, so that I can validate the correctness of what I got and avoid anyone not understanding way I don't want to just download the same 3.5 gig file again when I have every confidence that no corruption was introduced during the download.

Thing have become very busy, not sure when I'll have a chance to work on this again, but will get the Konrath version at some point and post back my result when I do. Thanks.

Good to know that another 2xx user is getting one from this same person to work, but still don't have any insight on why it isn't working on my 250. The 250 does accept 8 gig microSDHC cards (not full size SDHC), and I downloaded the map into the microSD card through the nuvi rather than a card reader. Have a card reader, but loading through the nuvi was fine. Also, the nuvi can see some jpegs that I put on the card, so there just can't be an issue of incompatibility with an 8 gig microSD card.

Looks like I'll be trying the map from Ben Konrath next. Turns out that the promoted Canada and Mexico are not part of the USA file. Konrath's USA map ends up significantly smaller that the above discussed one, weighing in at 2.6 gig. It is zipped while the other is not, so hopefully either map based on the same input data will be about the same size and same level of detail after I download and unzip the Ben Konrath one.

Curiously, the Konrath map is updated weekly but the current offering as of now (6/4) is 5/15. Makes me wonder if I wait a matter of minutes if I might get something fresher.

I downloaded the latest file today, but it's newer and it works. The file name is:
4000MB-lon_-168.64_to_162.99.2013-06-02.gmapsupp.img

The MD5SUM is:
563AE7C65BB1E82597189C032724071A

Same result with whatever add-on I put on my Windows PC (the name of which escapes me at the moment), which gives you access to MD5 in the properties dialog, and with the md5sum command on my Linux telecom server (RHEL5/CentOS 5.9).

It shows today's date (June 4) on the web page.

Your instincts are good.

- Phil

Downloaded the same to an 8GB SD card. Works without a hitch on my old trusted 260.

Have not forgotten about this, just got very busy and had limited time to experiment.

Complete failure so far, but here is what I know:
Got both the current map by Ben Konrath and the one by Dave Hansen. Loaded each on my 8 gig microSDHC card, properly named, the Nuvi 250 didn't see them, only the internal map.

So I did an experiment, downloaded the SE Topo map that I had on a 1 gig microSD card and put it on the 8 gig microSD card that I've been trying to put these 3.5 gig maps on. Booted up the nuvi and it saw the map just fine. So that pretty much confirms that there isn't any sort of conflict with the 8 gig card, and that the Garmin directory is spelled properly and that I don't need a "map" sub-directory.

About the only thing that I'm left with is a belief that the nuvi 250 does not support this large of a map.

When I have more time I may try downloading a smaller partial map and see how that works. But I really need the GPS the most when I'm away from home and familiar roads, so this is far from a satisfactory "fix".

Does anyone have any insight on map file size and the nuvi 250? This exercise was started because I saw a nuvi 250W owner advised to get and use the US OSM as a replacement for his dated nuvi map, but I never heard how that worked for him.

At this point, I would have to concur with your assessment of this. I think you have done everything right, so there must be some restriction in your 250 that is preventing the map from being recognized.

As I recall, there were two versions of the 2x0 hardware platform; the original version, then a later version that used 2x5 hardware components, but still was branded as a 2x0. Do you know which of these two hardware platforms your 250 is?

You may be bumping up against the map segment limit of the GPS. I've skimmed the thread and don't recall seeing anyone tell you to remove the topo map and see if the GPS functions properly without it.

I understand (and this was reinforced by a Garmin technician when I first registered it) that it is the newer version, and it has round zoom in / zoom out buttons on-screen rather than the older nuvis with square buttons.

topo map was in a 1 gig card, which was removed to insert the 8 gig card with the OSM map. Only had it in the 8 gig card briefly for testing. And even at that point one of the OSM maps was in place and I could see the topo map and not the OSM map. So unless I hear from another 250 user who had better luck, I'm going to think that the full USA OSM just isn't going to work in this model.

Well, here is what I now know: I downloaded the east and west versions of the Hansen OSM USA maps (the Konrath maps don't seem available in split form) and the east coast map works fine in the 250. I'll try it around home in the next few weeks to see how it differs from the Garmin map in this nuvi. I already see some curious dotted lines on the map that don't really seem to demark any logical boundaries.

Unfortunately, the 250 apparently only supports one map in the memory card, so, even though I have 8 gig of space, I can't easily switch between the east and west maps without having a computer to rename the files. And the further I get from home the more I need current GPS maps.

I'm not sure why the OSM maps are so large, each half seems to be larger than my entire Garmin USA and Canada map from 4 years ago, and there can't have been that many streets added. Given the apparent 2 gig limit it would be nice if someone would make an OSM version with less dotted lines and other stuff and get it all to fit under 2 gig.

So, not having heard from anyone who got the USA OSM map working on a 250, I'm feeling confident in saying that the 250 must be limited to maps less than 2 gig in size and that you just are not going to get a current full USA OSM map working in the 250.

Only way I see to make this work is if I had another 2 gig or larger microSD card to swap out. If the east coast maps check out then I may indeed pick one up, but it sure would have been nice to include both maps and even the topo map on the one 8 gig card, there is space for all 3. But no easy way to switch between the maps when needed.

And I'm not sure that swapping between the two maps would even work for me if my origin is in the east coast map and my destination is only in the west coast map. So this is far from a satisfactory resolution.

Glad you figured out the OSM issues on your 250 Frovingslosh. Do you have software version 5.10 on your nuvi? The changelog indicates that they added support for a second map on SD. If you have this version, you should be able to name the second map gmapsup1.img.

http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=3665

The main differences I've noticed between the Garmin and OSM maps are as follows:

OSM maps appear to contain more detail, especially in rural areas off the beaten path. They also tend to show a lot more of the local businesses in the area, while the Garmin maps only show the businesses which have paid for inclusion so you generally only see the larger commercial conglomerates. You'll find KFC in the Garmin map but you probably won't see "Jeb & Norma's Good Eats, Bed & Breakfast and Gun Repair", which would probably have better food.

Garmin maps are better for routing to numerical street addresses, as the OSM map doesn't appear to contain as much in the way of enumerated address info.

OSM maps have other interesting features like bike trails, which may explain some of the dotted or dashed lines you're seeing.

I'm a big fan of the OSM maps but I like to have both maps available for easy routing to a numerical street address. Otherwise I think I'd just use the OSM maps exclusively.

You should able to get both maps working as alandb said. Let us know if that's the case.

- Phil

Seems I had 4.80. Working on getting it updated now. Sure would be nice if the change also allowed me to have maps larger than 2 gig, but there is no mention of that in the changelog.

Nice that Garmin made the change, but pretty short sighted of them to stop at two maps. I have at least 4 or 5 that I would like to include, and the microSD has space for them all. But while Garmin recognized that you might want more than one map on the SD card, they apparently stopped at two!

Well, I seem to have 5.1. At least I now see the east and west maps in the map selection screen. They both seem activated at once, hope that doesn't cause any issues in the overlap area. Can't seem to select just one or the other, only the "family" and enable both.

I say "seem to have" because previously I could hold the speedometer icon on the dashboard screen and get to the secret screen that would tell me my software version. But now, although it still opens the secret screens of data, it no longer seems to want to tell me my software version.

Still want to experiment and swap back in one of the 3.5 gig maps that didn't work before, just in case that was addressed but not documented in the change log.

It seems like you should be able to get a total of 4 maps ... gmapprom and gmapsupp on internal storage, gmapsupp and gmapsup1 on the SD card. Of course, I realize you are limited on storage in the internal memory, but maybe you could put the 2 smallest maps there.

The newer nuvi's (1xxx and above) don't have these map naming restrictions, so you can put more than 2 maps on the SD card.

FYI - Getting your software version should be easy, no need for hidden screens.

Tools > Settings > System > About

On most 2xx models should give you the info

Frovingslosh,

I just downloaded that same OSM Map you have via the torrent, put it on a micro SD and it works perfectly on a Nuvi 200, 755, & 765. (I think your 250 should work just fine also).

The Nuvi 200 I used was running Firmware V5.1 (Latest version I think). I also have the internal memory of the Nuvi almost completely filled with an older Garmin City Nav Map.

Here's what I tested and heres how it was saved to micro SD. I only used a 4gig micro SD but 8gig cards work fine in the 200 as well

Downloaded This via the torrent
4000MB-lon_-168.62_to_162.99.2013-05-27.gmapsupp.img

Put it on Micro-SD like this
sd:/garmin/gmapsupp.img
The size on sd reported by Win XP-Pro is 3,645,568 KB

The first indication that the Nuvi(s) were seeing and loading the map was the unusually long load time when booting.

Then De-Selected my other North American Map.

I've never seen these OSM maps before but they look pretty decent. Street level detail in my town her in MA was surprizingly better than the latest 2014.1 from Garmin and the local POI content ... some better, some worse. OSM is very weak on address lookups and lacks local towns.

Are you sure your SD card was formatted FAT32 to handle the large file size?

Edit: 06/22
Verified that the OSM map also worked in the Nuvi 200 (with 5.1 firmware) on an 8gig microSD as a 2nd map named "gmapsup1.img"

Yea, that works, sort of. I get an information screen that says my "Software Version" is 7.60. Never saw any other mention of a version that high and the change log that I was given a link to was only talking about changes to get to 5.10. Would love to see the change log that tells me about changes between 5.10 and 7.60, if that is where I really am at now.

My "GPS SW Version" is listed as 4.10b, but whatever that is I don't think it is what we are talking about.

So, as I indicated I would do, I tried one of the large maps again and now it worked. So the factor that was keeping the large map from working must have been a 2 gig limit in the old firmware. As I indicated in my last post, The nuvi now thinks it is running 7.60, well above 5.10 and well above the 4.80 that I was previously running. I have no change logs beyond 5.10 so I don't know where the file size limit was bumped from 2 gig to 4 gig.

I'm copying the renamed topo map over to the 8 gig microSD card now. I have every expectation that I'll be able to keep both the full OSM USA map and my SE topo map on the card with lots of wasted space. I'll do further experiments to see if I can now have more maps out there with my new firmware, but expectations on that are low.

Remaining space in internal flash is too small for the topo map. May I'll see if one of the other maps I'm currently not using will fit there, but I've seen conflicting info for what they have to be named. And don't I already have two internal maps? The normal Garmin map (now 4 years old and currently disabled) and the "base map"? May also delete some of the unused NYC cab driver languages from internal memory, both to free up space and also to make picking from the language list easier. Got a few additional English language voices with the firmware upgrade too.

I drove around a little tonight with the new map and a new voice and so far so good.

Should have a new map waiting for me on my other computer as well, the one on the nuvi is over a month old and was the first one that failed to work when I started all of this. I'm interested in comparing that map generated by Hansen to the map generated by Konrath.

The following is the change log.

http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=4103

The 7.60 is indeed the latest "functional" firmware and if I'm not mistaken, the 4.10b is the version of the firmware controlling the internal chipset responsible for managing satelite reception.

I'd be interested in hearing your observations when comparing the different OSM maps, especially when comparing Hansen's map to others.

- Phil

Thanks for your posts. After having tried everything you did, and having no success with my 250W 'seeing' an 8 gig SDHC card, I read all your posts. That got me thinking and I took the 64 gig Micro SD card out of my laptop, created a 'Garmin' folder, then transferred the NA map (1.9 gig) to the new folder. I then put the Micro SD into an adapter and loaded it into my Garmin 250W. Turned on the Garmin, and after boot-up, checked Settings > Tools > Maps > Map Info, and there were both maps - Canada and also NA. So the limitation is definitely the type of SD card. FYI - Firmware had been updated to 7.60 Thanks again!

How is the 8GB SD card formatted?