Unlocking In Basecamp For The First Time With WIN10

Not sure I follow what you've done. BaseCamp has nothing to do with downloading maps, and Garmin Communicator is no longer required. You say you've installed Express and run that, selecting the option to download the map to your PC? All should then be well. BaseCamp should simply 'see' the map on your PC and use it, and it should appear when you select Maps in the BaseCamp toolbar. Does it? If so what happens when you try to select it? Do you get any error messages?

I have maps installed on both a Win7 and Win10 PC and have never had to specifically unlock them. If it is simply an unlock error you're getting then:

Start Map Product Manager from "Maps" menu, go to "Unlock regions" tab, select the appropriate map and then click on Import to get the unlock Code files (*.gma and *.unl) from your GPS. Those files will either be in the Garmin folder (older devices and handhelds) or the hidden .system folder (newer devices) on your GPS. However if you've installed maps to a SD card then they'll be in the Garmin folder on the card. Note you may have to select the file type from the drop down box.

The GPS must be connected to the PC while trying to solve this problem. The GPS is the proof that you are entitled to an unlocked map.

I am assuming that Garmin Express was used to download the map to both the GPS and the computer. Like sussamb says, this should have put an unlocked map on the computer. Using BaseCamp, you should be able to view the map without the need to unlock it.

Garmin Express communicates with the Garmin server without the need for Garmin Communicator. As far as we know, Garmin Communicator is no longer used or needed. It is clear from your description that BaseCamp was trying to use Garmin Communicator to communicate with the Garmin server. Garmin Communicator was a plugin for the web browser, and most web browsers are now not compatible with it.

Make sure that both BaseCamp and Garmin Express are updated to the latest version. Restart the computer in Windows. Restart the GPS. Connect the GPS to the computer. Start BaseCamp. You should be able to view the map without unlocking it. If not, try to unlock the map in BaseCamp like sussamb describes. If you get the same errors, delete the map from the computer. Then, with the GPS still connected, use Garmin Express to download the map to the computer only. This map should be viewable without unlocking.

I have used Garmin Express to update two of my nuvi 3597s recently. The map download did not complete the first time it was done. Garmin Express said it was done, but it was not really done! The GPS had to be restarted and Garmin Express then completed the map. Perhaps Garmin Express did not complete the map download to your computer.

dobs108

I'll try to be clearer.

With Garmin Express I downloaded 2018.10 to both my Nuvi 40 and my several months old WIN10 PC.

Since my WIN10 machine is new and I downloaded Basecamp to it the version of Basecamp that I am running must be recent if not the latest.

I Started Basecamp and went to unlock 2018.10. The Nuvi 40 was still connected and Garmin Express still recognized the Nuvi as connected. I received the message: plugin status: Garmin Communicator plugin is not detected.

I haven't used Basecamp in years. I got a severe case of grumbles when Mapsource was obsoleted and any route planning I do is with Google maps. What stirred my up to try Basecamp again was anticipation of being in locations without online access.

I'll boot WIN10 to get the versions of Garmin Express and Basecamp that I am running and will get right back here with the results. I should have done that first.

thanks,,,

Garmin Express 5.1.1.0
Basecamp 4.6.2

... Try the steps I outlined above.

This is a help file on this site created by jgermann -

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/42611

After looking at some old threads on POI Factory, it doesn't look like this has ever been solved by anyone without calling Garmin tech support and giving them control of the computer to fix the problem.

Perhaps it would be better to do that first, rather than beating your head against the wall.

dobs108

Please try to delete the map from the computer, connect the GPS, and redownload the map to the computer again. I suspect that the problem could be caused by an incomplete map download.

dobs108

To the members of POI Factory - minke has a new Windows 10 install and the latest version of Garmin Express and BaseCamp. The BaseCamp software is asking for Garmin Communicator to be installed. We all know that the plugin will not work in Chrome, Edge, the latest version of IE, and who knows what other browser. I wish Garmin would solve this problem!

dobs108

GCP will work with IE11 (still) but why his BaseCamp is asking for GCP I have no idea, I've been using BaseCamp for years and it's never done so, so I'm not sure if there is a problem there for Garmin to solve?

I don't think so, not if he can select it which is what he implies he can do.

Thanks for the many thoughtful replies. I'll get to work tomorrow morning.

Again,,, thanks.

status:
BaseCamp works using the nuvi 40’s internal 2018.1 map
BaseCamp does not work using the PC’s 2018.1 map
the PC’s 2018.1 lock status seems to be in a gray area between locked and unlocked

details:
I signed into MyGarmin and discovered 1) the unlock code, and 2) the statement that the map was unlocked on 19 January!

​From BaseCamp I signed into MyGarmin (separate from MyGarmin at the Garmin website above)
​ went to ​map product manager​:
selected the PC based map
found map now under regions tab (which I didn’t find there before)
selected the map
clicked add and entered the unlock code
map is now “unauthenticated”, not “locked” or “unlocked”
​ double clicked on 2018.1 and viewed unlock code in unlock code properties box
note: unlock code parsed with hyphens but this is unlikely to matter

I’ll try to call Garmin tech suport tomorrow.

Thanks for all your assistance.

We are glad you were able to accomplish that!

dobs108

Solved! Thanks everyone. Garmin tech support tried 3 times to no effect. The call was escalated and we had 2 more unsuccessful tries. Then they found the unlock code file (*.gma ??) on the μSD card instead of the base memory of the GPS.

This is good info that could help others. We are unsure whether the 2018.10 North America map or Garmin Express version 5.1.1.0 has one or more bugs. Your discovery that the latest version of BaseCamp asked for Garmin Communicator has not been heard here previously.

dobs108

We did go thru the Garmin Communicator installation with Internet Explorer (running as supervisor). IIRC that was after the call was escalated. During the whole process the nuvi 40 connected without difficulty to Garmin Express and BaseCamp. I'd like to think that a separate secret-handshake wouldn't be necessary.

The other disappointment was the lack of discipline concerning the placement of the unlock file. If it can be in the main memory or the μSD card then BaseCamp should look in both places. If it should only be in main memory then Garmin Express should enforce that. (Note: It is easy to take pot-shots at software and it is easy to only see an over-simplified view of the underlying issues. I might be guilty.)

I did point this out in one of my posts above so it shouldn't have been a surprise. The unlock codes are always in the same place as the map.