NUVI 680 NA question

OSM or wait. There is a site camelcamelcamel.com that will monitor prices. You can wait until the addon lifetime map update drops to the $40-50 range, then you can do for for the 680 like you are doing for the 200. Is it worth it? That's your call.

The 200 is a newer model than the 680. The 6xx series was the second of the Nuvi models to be released, a year or so after the orginal 3xx models. Garmin's model number were all over the map (no pun intended) at one time.

There is a way to get the entire Garmin map working with your 680 but it involves some extra work.

Another question is whether it's worth doing since with a bit of searching and waiting, you may well find a refurbished newer devices with lifetime map updates for about the same price as the map update (OneTime or lifetime numaps) for the 680.

The procedure is, after buying one or the other map update:

1) with the nuvi connected, have Garmin Express install the map to the device and computer (not the device only which is the Garmin Express default).

2) Garmin Express will install a smaller-than-North -America subset of the map to the nuvi. Note what subset was selected.

3) Now, with a SD card in the nuvi, run MapInstall from the computer and install to the SD card the portion of North America not in the nuvi.

4) The nuvi will now be able to access all of North America using the map files in the nuvi and SD card. Just be sure that on the 680's Map Info page that both halves of the map are checked.

The Garmin FAQ:

https://support.garmin.com/support/searchSupport/case.faces?caseId={a209e880-9319-11e2-65d0-000000000000}

In my opinion, unless you can find a real cheap deal on a Garmin numaps OneTime or lifetime, I'd instead find and buy a factory refurbished device with lifetime maps which will likely also include other features not available with the 680.

Note: if you look through the FAQs here you will find the clone method of installing a map to a SD card. Due to the 680's 2GB file size limit, the clone method is not for the nuvi 680 since the full North America map is greater than 2GB.

thanks for the replys, it sounds like I should put the 680 back on ebay and find something newer, I bought it because it was dirt cheap - now I know why.

what would be a nice "fairly new" GPS to buy that would be inexpensive? or is that a loaded question?

other then my 60csx the only car GPS's I've ever had is the NUVI's, I like Garmin, maybe it's time to step away from the NUVI line and try something different?

I figured it out, I bought the one time update for 50 bucks, and was able to split it between the 680, and a 2 gig memory card and I was able to load the whole CN NA 2017.20 map using mapsource.

the gps has an img file that's about 1.35 gig, and about the same for the memory card, it sees both maps and is working fine as far as I can tell, I just couldn't see throwing out a perfectly good GPS, so I bought the map update for it, I'm in the whole thing about 70 dollars now.

I don't know if it was worth it or not, but it's working fine.

the battery seems weak, I might try replacing that in the near future, the batteries can be had fairly cheap off ebay.

there's probably cheaper ways to get a GPS, but I like to tinker

Good work. "Worth" is a relative term so as long as you're happy, all is well.

Regarding battery replacements, look for a combo battery/tools package unless you already have the Torx driver and a hard plastic pry bar. Here's one source that I've bought from before with good results:

http://www.batteryship.com/htmlos/htmlos.cgi/66226.1.3965321...

I'm sure you've already found the appropriate YouTube video on your nuvi's battery replacement.

[Later] Whoops, I just reviewed the video and see that no Torx driver is needed. I also see that the 6x0 series is a lot like the older 3x0 series and involves a bit more work than replacing a battery in a newer Garmin device. Take care with the ribbon cable going to the antenna when replacing the battery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pbOknpt2Qo

I have the tools, I bought them a while back to take apart an old 270 I found at Goodwill, I completly destroyed that one trying to get the case split open after removing the screws.

I'll take better care with this 680 when I decide to open it, but it seems the more I'm using it, the better the battery seems to be staying charged, so maybe it just needs to be used and the battery cycled?

I don't think it got used much before I got it, the maps were really old (2010.40) and the GPS hasn't got a scratch on it, it looks new.

so, maybe the battery is weak from sitting unused for many years? that's just a guess though.

a new battery off ebay looks to be about 7 or 8 dollars or so

The diminished capacity of older NiCd and NiMh batteries can often be improved by multiple charge / discharge cycles. The trick is to fully discharge the battery and then charge it well beyond the recommended charge time. A dozen or more cycles is often required for the best results.

The result may be reduced if the battery has exceeded it's designed limit, usually 500 to 1000 cycles.

There are pulse type "conditioning" chargers available that will do this for many standard size batteries but I have yet to see one for Nuvi's.

when I'm not using it in my car, I've been charging it through a mini USB with my desktop computer, I'll charge it up over night, leave it on until it goes dead, then charge it again, it seems the more I do this (as well as using it in my car) the longer it stays on before it goes dead, at some point I'll probably replace the battery anyway.

I'm using the same mini USB cable to power it in my car, it's the cable that came with it when I bought it of ebay.

Just found this thread. My 680 is about 10 years old and I never purchased Lifetime update. Is Lifetime update available for 680 ? Would same install process (using memory card) still work?

Welcome to The Factory!

Amazon is selling the lifetime update for $80 which will add lifetime map updates to a device that already has a Garmin North America map installed:

https://smile.amazon.com/Garmin-n%C3%BCMaps-Lifetime-America...

Given the price, the age of your nuvi 680, and the ability to buy a new Garmin automotive nuvi or Drive unit with lifetime maps for very close to the same price as adding lifetime maps to your old unit, I will suggest not adding lifetime maps. Use the money and buy a new or factory-refurbished new nuvi or Drive model that will already come with lifetime map updates. Also, if you've never replaced your nuvi 680's battery, this may be a needed additional expense possibly in the near future.

There are multiple issues that complicate map updates with the nuvi 680. One is that the device can not read files greater than 2GB and the current map file exceeds 2GB meaning that you need to install part of North America internally to the 680 and the rest to a SD card:

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/42561

A second problem is that the nuvi 680 will not automatically be offered the "install to SD card" option when insufficient space is on the device internally:

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/44310

Because of these two issues, the only way to update a 680 with all of North America that has a lifetime map update subscription is to: 1) install a portion of the map to the nuvi while also installing all of North America to your computer. (This is done via the Garmin Express program after manually changing the default update method to "install to device and computer;" then 2) use your computer and the Garmin MapInstall program to install the remainder of the map to a SD card.