nuvi 680 Memory Card Question

 

Hi all:
I have both a nuvi 680 and a nuvi 3590. On the last map update, the full North America (NA) map was too large for my 3590, so I got a 16gb microsd card & installed it. Garmin Express (GE) was then happy to load the full map.

I then tried to update my 680. No surprise that the map didn't fit. I dug up an 8gb SD card, but GE still told me the NA map was too large. I thought there might be a problem with the 680 addressing the 8gb SD card, so I tried a 4gb card. Still no luck.

Is there some voodoo that has to be done on the 680s after installing an SD card so that the 680 can use the additional memory? Or is 4gb (or even 8gb) not enough?!?!

Thanks for any insight you can give.

Cheers,
--Lee

Well ...

Express is unable to use a memory card on some devices, your 680 is one of them

https://support.garmin.com/faqSearch/en-US/faq/content/i8HMi...

You need to use the procedure given by following the links at the bottom of the FAQ

--
Where there's a will ... there's a way ... DriveSmart51LMT-S, DriveSmart50LMT-D, Nuvi 2508LMT-D, 1490LMT, 1310, Montana 650T, Etrex 20

It's time to TINKER

The nuvi 6xx series has two issues that are complicating your map update:

1) The 6xx series nuvi can not read files larger than 2GB:
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/42561

2) The 6xx series is not offered automatic map updates to a SD card when the full map won't fit internally in the nuvi:
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/44310

It is possible to install all of North America for use with your 680 but you will have to do more work than was needed for your 3590:

1) Using Garmin Express or GarminMapUpdater, install the map update to your device (the 680) plus your computer. This is not the default update offered so be sure to choose the option to update to device and computer. You will be asked to choose a smaller subset of the map to be installed to the nuvi so remember which smaller map you chose.

2) Now you will use your computer's Garmin MapInstall program to install to the SD card the portion of North America not in your nuvi.

Garmin's FAQs:

https://support.garmin.com/faqSearch/en-GB/faq/content/WIFhf...

At the bottom of the above FAQ, click on:
Related Install maps to a device with MapInstall

The end result will be to have all of North America available to your 680, partly from the nuvi's partial map and partly from the SD card's partial map. Install the largest possible submap to the nuvi so the SD card's submap will not be larger than 2GB.

In case you were thinking to try the clone technique instead of the above method, it can't be used on the 6xx series because it installs the entire map (>2GB) to the SD card, so don't try this.

Don't forget to have fun doing this. As you've probably already figured out, you'll have to do this with each new map update offered.

Thanks

Thanks guys. Worked like a charm.

Cheers,
--Lee

That's great

RebHawk wrote:

Thanks guys. Worked like a charm.

Cheers,
--Lee

Great news. Another antique rescued to work another day.

Well ...

..I wouldn't call RebHawk an antique ... smile

--
Where there's a will ... there's a way ... DriveSmart51LMT-S, DriveSmart50LMT-D, Nuvi 2508LMT-D, 1490LMT, 1310, Montana 650T, Etrex 20

:)

smile Not yet, but getting there. However, if you go by what the state of NC uses to determine an "antique car" (50 years), I'm past the limit smile.

Getting the 680 running with the full map was really just an exercise in completeness for me. The vehicle it lives in probably will never leave the state again, let alone go to Alaska LOL. The 3590 is much easier and nicer to use in many ways.

Ditto

RebHawk wrote:

smile Not yet, but getting there. However, if you go by what the state of NC uses to determine an "antique car" (50 years), I'm past the limit smile.

Getting the 680 running with the full map was really just an exercise in completeness for me. The vehicle it lives in probably will never leave the state again, let alone go to Alaska LOL. The 3590 is much easier and nicer to use in many ways.

I'm sure I out-antique you by more than a smidge agewise. And as much as I use a nuvi 3597, I still have a nuvi 750 with lifetime maps, nearly as old as your 680, and I update the map each time a new update comes out.

Antique, classic car

RebHawk wrote:

smile Not yet, but getting there. However, if you go by what the state of NC uses to determine an "antique car" (50 years), I'm past the limit smile.

Where I live these are the stipulations as to what constitutes a historic, classic vehicle and certain attached restrictions.

As an aside, people who do have these cars seem to go on "extended and frequent" test or demonstration drives !

“historic vehicle” means, a motor vehicle that,
(a) is at least 30 years old,
(b) is operated on a highway in parades, for purposes of exhibition, tours or similar functions organized by a properly constituted automobile club or for purposes of repair, testing or demonstration for sale,
(c) is substantially unchanged or unmodified from the original manufacturer’s product, and
(d) does not have attached to it year-of-manufacture plates

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Nuvi 2797LMT, DriveSmart 50 LMT-HD, Using Windows 10. DashCam A108C with GPS.