Installing poi in garmin units

 

I recently used the Garmin POI Loader to install POI IN two different Garmin NUVIS. After which both units turned off and would not turn back on. I called support and they attempted to talk me through various attempts to get the units up and running. All of which failed and I subsequently send both uninstall in for repair or replacement. The tech said he had never encountered this particular failure before. He also said it was possible that the POI Loader caused the problem.

That all said, I will now be somewhat hesitant to use the Loader again. So is it possible to copy files from my PC to the Garmins using the Windows Explorer File system?

If I copy files into the Garmin using the same naming pattern for the folders and files as what is in the Garmins :already will the Garmins be able to access these folders and files?

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Ever Wonder ?

Custom POIs

Your Garmin device requires POIloader in order to take the various POI files, which are in CSV or GPX format, and combine them into a file type called GPI. Although you can easily copy CSV and GPX files to the GPS using Windows File Explorer they will do little but take up disk space, as POIloader must be used.

Although POIloader has been around for years and we hear of very few problems with it, if you really don't want to use it then you could save the .gpi file that it will create and save it to an SD card instead of your GPS. Placing the SD card in your GPS after the .gpi file is created will allow it to be used from there or give you the option to transfer GPI contents your your devices.

Also if you find you have a Nuvi that will not turn on, you can often bring it back to life if you press the power button continually for an extended period of time, like 2 or 3 minutes.

--
Nuvi 350, 760, 1695LM, 3790LMT, 2460LMT, 3597LMTHD, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, DriveSmart 61, Garmin Drive 52, Garmin Backup Camera 40 and TomTom XXL540s.

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Make sure the GPS' are fully charged via a wall charger, not a computer USB. They should turn on after that.

--
nüvi 3790T | Those who make peaceful revolution impossible, will make violent revolution inevitable ~ JFK

null

sent to bit bucket

Subfolders

Start with the fundamentals.

Get the POI files from a known-good source like this website. They will have been checked using special software before being posted.

Like Juggernaut said, charge the GPS if it will not boot. It is also possible that the battery was discharged when POI Loader was placing the .gpi file on the GPS and it became corrupted, but not on two different units.

When running POI Loader and browsing to the Custom POIs folder on the computer (the folder containing the POI files however it is named) it can have only one level of subfolders, and there is a limit of 32 subfolders. If either of these is exceeded, you can brick the GPS.

So if the POI folder arrangement of the PC (directory structure) is too complicated, a corrupt .gpi file is placed on the GPS which will crash the GPS every time it starts. This can be avoided by loading the POIs with POI Loader onto the SD card like T923347 said. Then, if the GPS will not boot, remove the SD card. Credit goes to sussamb for the idea of removing the card.

This is a rare problem, but here is another recent thread that discusses how a corrupted .gpi file may have bricked Garmin GPSs. A lot of it is about a Mac but most of it is about a PC:

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/47329

dobs108 smile

Welcome

Welcome to the site.

We usually recommend the following.

There is a "Learn" button in the upper right of this page next to "red light cameras" that takes you to a Getting Started page. 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 "Learn" 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.

Note that the Learn Button will give you access to two valuable reference pages -
the "Index" to all of the FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) and the Glossary of Terms and Links.

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

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). It also assures that you put your (newer) unit into a state where you can see all of the folders there.
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/30394

Now, let's try and get your units back to life.

What happens when you attach your units to your computer via the USB cable you used when you ran POI Loader?

I hope you have already put your nuvi into mass storage mode, but if that is not the case then see
MTP Mode Garmin| How To Change It To Mass Storage.
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/41416

Hopefully, your computer will recognize each unit as a removable drive and let you work with its files. If it does, then "search" for ".gpi" (without the quotes) and then copy any you find to your computer. Once any are copied, then delete them from the nuvi.

Do just this and then please give us a report.

POI Loader.

I am curious. Were all the source (.GPX and .CSV) files you processed with POI Loader from POI Factory? And, if they were, which files were they?

It is too bad you didn't post here before you returned your devices to Garmin. I wouldn't be surprised if one or more of the experts here would have been able to help you get your devices booted up again. Calling Garmin support is a good thing to do too, but the quality of the advice often depends on the tech support person you happen to get.

--
Alan - Android Auto, DriveLuxe 51LMT-S, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, Nuvi 3597LMTHD, Oregon 550T, Nuvi 855, Nuvi 755T, Lowrance Endura Sierra, Bosch Nyon

Good suggestion

t923347 wrote:

Your Garmin device requires POIloader in order to take the various POI files, which are in CSV or GPX format, and combine them into a file type called GPI. Although you can easily copy CSV and GPX files to the GPS using Windows File Explorer they will do little but take up disk space, as POIloader must be used.

Although POIloader has been around for years and we hear of very few problems with it, if you really don't want to use it then you could save the .gpi file that it will create and save it to an SD card instead of your GPS. Placing the SD card in your GPS after the .gpi file is created will allow it to be used from there or give you the option to transfer GPI contents your your devices.

Also if you find you have a Nuvi that will not turn on, you can often bring it back to life if you press the power button continually for an extended period of time, like 2 or 3 minutes.

My NUVI2555LMT wouldn't fire up. I got the same advice from someone on POI factory and it ultimately powered up.

--
DriveSmart 65, NUVI2555LMT, (NUVI350 is Now Retired)

POI Loader

When I use POILoader, I just generate the .gpi file and save it on my computer and then manually move the file to my microSD card POI folder. It's fast and easy to do and I've never had a problem.

SD

jackrabbit000 wrote:

When I use POILoader, I just generate the .gpi file and save it on my computer and then manually move the file to my microSD card POI folder. It's fast and easy to do and I've never had a problem.

You do not have to save it on the computer first. On the second or third page of POI loader you can chose where to save the file, ie on the SD card.

In fact you only need to put a BLANK SD card in a reader. POI loader will create the Garmin and POI folder and install the gpi file into it.
Plain and simple.

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

I'm curious

Juggernaut wrote:

Make sure the GPS' are fully charged via a wall charger, not a computer USB. They should turn on after that.

Given the fact a battery only holds an electrical charge measured in volts and amperage, why would using a different mode to place the required charge into the battery be different? In all the years I have been in electronics, volts is still the measurement of electrical potential and amperage is still capacity why would there be a difference in the DC supply?

--
Illiterate? Write for free help.

Charging current

Box Car wrote:

Given the fact a battery only holds an electrical charge measured in volts and amperage, why would using a different mode to place the required charge into the battery be different? In all the years I have been in electronics, volts is still the measurement of electrical potential and amperage is still capacity why would there be a difference in the DC supply?

This has been discussed previously. The charging current depends on how discharged the battery is. It is a basic precaution that the GPS battery should be near full charge when loading POIs or updating the map. If the battery is mostly discharged it will draw more current than the 1/2 amp that an ordinary USB port can supply, and the voltage will drop as a result. A garmin wall charger will supply 1 amp, twice as much as the USB port while charging the GPS in advance.

See the FAQ and the link to the previous thread:

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/46169

dobs108 smile

500MA versus 5A

Box Car wrote:
Juggernaut wrote:

Make sure the GPS' are fully charged via a wall charger, not a computer USB. They should turn on after that.

Given the fact a battery only holds an electrical charge measured in volts and amperage, why would using a different mode to place the required charge into the battery be different? In all the years I have been in electronics, volts is still the measurement of electrical potential and amperage is still capacity why would there be a difference in the DC supply?

Because the USB port on a computer is only capable of 500MA charging current. Wall warts can supply up to 5A. Much quicker charge in a much shorter time.

--
Frank DriveSmart55 37.322760, -79.511267

charging current

dobs108 wrote:

.... The charging current depends on how discharged the battery is. It is a basic precaution that the GPS battery should be near full charge when loading POIs or updating the map. If the battery is mostly discharged it will draw more current than the 1/2 amp that an ordinary USB port can supply, and the voltage will drop as a result. A garmin wall charger will supply 1 amp, twice as much as the USB port while charging the GPS in advance.
dobs108 smile

I have observed this with my Garmin Nuvi 40:

The charging current does vary during the charging cycle but the maximum charging current depends the type of source and is never more than 450 mA.

When connected to my computer the maximum charging current is 225 mA.

When connected to a wall wart rated at 5v 1000mA the maximum charging current is still reported 225mA

The connection type reported is "USB Type-B" in both above cases.

When connected to my Garmin lighter socket cable (output rated 1A), the Garmin reported a "Power cable" connection and limits the maximum current to 450mA

In all cases the Garmin reported "Batt Voltage" to be a little over 4 volts during charging.

When the Garmin was disconnected after the "Batt Capacity" was reported as 100%, the "Batt Voltage" was a bit over 3.8 Volts and soon drops to a bit over 3.5 Volts

I believe that the only difference using different charging sources make is the amount of time it takes to reach 100% charge.

If units are not getting fully charged they probably were not charged long enough.

BTW The way I understand it, a device connected to a computer USB 2.0 port has to negotiate with the port if it "wants" more than 100 mA. While negotiating, the port will not give the device more than 500 mA.

USB 5th pin jumper and charging current

According to Falcon9, charging current is limited to 1/2 amp unless either a resistor or jumper to pin 5 exists on the USB B end of the power supply cord.

Devices such as phones, tablets, and GPSs that get their power from a USB cable will limit themselves to 1/2 amp unless they can identify the source of power as their dedicated source of supply.

Thus a Garmin brand wall charger will supply 1 amp of current if the battery is discharged. The Garmin wall charger either has a jumper to pin 5 or a resistor of a specific value in the jumper that the GPS can identify and therefore increase the current, if the battery is greatly discharged.

Evert's current tests are valid, but he did not test using a battery which had been discharged a great deal. If that was done the tested current may have been higher.

See the FAQ and the link to the previous thread:

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/46169

USB 5th pin jumper and charging current

dobs108 wrote:

According to Falcon9, charging current is limited to 1/2 amp unless either a resistor or jumper to pin 5 exists on the USB B end of the power supply cord.

Devices such as phones, tablets, and GPSs that get their power from a USB cable will limit themselves to 1/2 amp unless they can identify the source of power as their dedicated source of supply.

Thus a Garmin brand wall charger will supply 1 amp of current if the battery is discharged. The Garmin wall charger either has a jumper to pin 5 or a resistor of a specific value in the jumper that the GPS can identify and therefore increase the current, if the battery is greatly discharged.

Evert's current tests are valid, but he did not test using a battery which had been discharged a great deal. If that was done the tested current may have been higher.

See the FAQ and the link to the previous thread:

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/46169

My nuvi 40 was discharged down to 1%. There is more to it than the battery state of charge and the resistor on the mini Type B end of a cable.

When connected to my Garmin lighter socket cable (output rated 1A), the Garmin 40 reported a "Power cable" connection and limits the maximum current to 450mA.

When my Garmin 285W is connected to that same cable it indicates that the maximum current limit is 1A.

Thus the same ID resistor results in different maximum current levels depending on the Garmin unit connected to it.

I attribute the difference to the recommended charging rate.

The rate for Li-Ion batteries is approximately .1 to .5 times the capacity of the battery in mAh.

The rate for Li-Polymer Batteries is 1 times the capacity.

My nuvi 40 Li-Ion battery capacity is 830mAh so that would have a maximum charging rate of 415mA.

My nuvi 285W Li-Polymer battery capacity is 1250mAh so that would have a maximum charging rate of 1.25A but the cable is limited to 1A.

BTW The maximum current rate stated on the Garmin's diagnostic screen stays the same during the entire charging cycle. The actual charging rate decreases during the cycle.

Thanks

Evert, thanks. You have good information.

dobs108 smile

however

dobs108 wrote:
Box Car wrote:

Given the fact a battery only holds an electrical charge measured in volts and amperage, why would using a different mode to place the required charge into the battery be different? In all the years I have been in electronics, volts is still the measurement of electrical potential and amperage is still capacity why would there be a difference in the DC supply?

This has been discussed previously. The charging current depends on how discharged the battery is. It is a basic precaution that the GPS battery should be near full charge when loading POIs or updating the map. If the battery is mostly discharged it will draw more current than the 1/2 amp that an ordinary USB port can supply, and the voltage will drop as a result. A garmin wall charger will supply 1 amp, twice as much as the USB port while charging the GPS in advance.

See the FAQ and the link to the previous thread:

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/46169

dobs108 smile

The supply side of a charging circuit is also dependent on the receiver circuitry within the device being connected. You could connect a supply capable of supplying over 10A of current at the 5VDC level, but if the input to the battery is limited by its circuitry to 500 ma, then the excess amount available at the supply side is not usable. Charger inputs are often limited through the use of diodes and resistors, so unless you are familiar with the input side of the circuit contained within the Garmin, you can't state for certain that a charger with a 1000 ma capacity will work better than a 500 ma capacity if the battery input is limited by design. LiPO/LiFe and other chemistry batteries are often limited on the amount of current they will accept to prevent overheating during the charge cycle that could result in a fire or other failure.

--
Illiterate? Write for free help.