2018.30

Thanks

I have some unusual things going on and wonder if anyone else has the problem? ...or has a suggestion or solution for me.

First, unlike past updates where an SD card is needed for the full map, this time my nuvi 750 updated to the new map using the SD card without me having to first manually free up the space on the SD card as was required previously. It seems now that Garmin Express is able to do a SD card update like a internal GPS map update in that its update process knows how to delete the old map files on the SD card and to know that the space taken by the old map files can be considered free space for the new map update. Good news.

Here's my problem. I am working on updating five GPS devices using four PCs and chose the "Map update to device and computer" with each GPS/PC. On my nuvi 750, all went well. Of course, all devices have lifetime maps and have undergone map updates many times in the past without a problem.

On a nuvi 855 and a different PC (Lower 49 states to nuvi and North America to the computer), the download went well, but the update process hung up at Activating maps for hours, but it eventually succeeded after letting it continue to run overnight.

On two different PCs, a nuvi 2460 and 3597 again downloaded just fine but are currently hung up (several hours) at the Activating maps step. I'm going to give it more time but wonder if I'll succeed. I do have one additional 3597 but haven't started the update process for it.

Has anyone else seen this? Any thoughts?

Thanks guys for the heads up.

Updated on (3597, 2495 and 260), no issues.

GE first prompted for updating itself to 5.7.1.0, no problems.

First on the 3597, dwnloading took ~20 min, map building and transfer took another ~30 min.

Subsequent updates on the 2495 and 260, downloading completed in just a few mini. transferring map to the 2495 took 30 min or so, on the 260 it took about 2 hours.
New map works without issues so far.

Updated my 2450 with no issues. I'll update my friends 1450 next week (he has VERY slow internet).

CraigW, I'm not going to quote all that. I just want to say that I've never seen GE "activating" a map in all the installs I've done. I have used Windows up to and including Win 7 and Mac.

Also, I've never seen an update take that long. Either it's done in a couple or hours, or it fails.

As expected, GE prompted for updating itself to 5.7.1.0 first. Did that update with no problems. Then updated on our 2455 and 2555 with no issues. About 25 minutes from start to finish for each device. All done on a Windows 7 system.

Now it's time to go see how everything works in the real world

Yup, I think normally the Activating part of a GE update takes a few seconds and won't be seen unless you're watching every second of the entire update. The longest processes should be the Downloading and Copying (dependent upon the ISP speed, USB version of the GPS device, and probably the load on Garmin's servers) but something certainly went wrong for me this time. I did eventually get all five GPS devices updated via four PCs with the update appearing on the device and computer, but it took way more time and effort this update than in my past map updates. For what it's worth, my updates generally are on Day 1 or 2 of the update being available when Garmin's servers are probably taxed the most. Maybe all would have succeeded if I had given each process overnight to succeed. In the slowest of the five updates; i.e., stalled at Activating for many hours, I closed GE (with a dire warning not to), then deleted the various temp files and the CoreService files on the computer, then chose to update the GPS only, then update the computer only and finally succeeded. I don't know if the fix came from PC file deletions and a restart or the decision not to try to update the GPS and computer in one fell swoop, but I did eventually succeed.

I've been doing Garmin map updates to GPS and computer 3-4 times a year for many years with multiple GPS devices and multiple computers and have never had such a bad experience.

I did try searching the internet for GE stalling at Activation during map update but found nothing. Oh well, I did succeed eventually.

Woo hoo

I'm so excited I won't be able to sleep tonight!

My mind, updated all the GPS units, took about 45 minutes. The updates went pretty smooth as always.................

Once upon a time, not too long ago, as part of a new map install effort we were encouraged to change folder options in the Control Panel to show hidden files, hidden system files, and file extensions. Do we still need to do that?

Phil

It's certainly not necessary but is helpful if you plan to view files and folders, especially with the newer Garmin products with a .system folder. It's also helpful when troubleshooting problems with custom audio or icons when loading POI files.

has never been a requirement for doing a map update. But most of us regulars on the forum could be classified as "GPS enthusiasts" and as such we want to inspect and discuss every boring detail about the update. Most users just want to "get it done".

I wonder how many Garmin customers with lifetime map subscriptions actually update. I bet it is pretty small ... way less that 10% is my bet.

I just got through updating a 350, 3590, and a 3597. Started at 1730 and just got done with all three. Took about 2 hours, 40 minutes running at 10MB. Not bad. Quicker than the last update.

Thanks for the heads up re the latest update. I got sort of.. hung up at step 2 of 4 where I was asked to unplug my Garmin.. wait 5 seconds and plug back in. However.. unplugging disconnected GE and the whole process seemed to hang.. Not knowing what to do left it and went and made supper.. it seems that after some.. length of time, my Garmin did connect and the update completed.

This is the first update where I was told that the Garmin needs to be shut off and restarted.. rather vague though. They did not specify as to a hard shutdown.. or just a hibernate mode.. In any case it seemed to do whatever was required on its own.. by unplugging from the PC. but took its time.

I have seen this prompt for a device software update, but never for a map update.

I've had issues like this once when there was a software update available for my 3597, which I had not yet installed, and a map update came out.

Connecting the GPS and running GE it does the software update first and then I had to reconnect the device to the computer to continue to do the map update. It was a bit of a PITA and since then I've always made sure the device is fully up to date BEFORE I start the a map update.

Yes, finally.

I try to check in every day and missed a day and the map update finally comes in lol up dating now and its 5 am oh well.

Did the update. Didn't time it as I left it running while we went on another errand.

My GE did show 2 updates available.. doing one at a time may have prevented my confusion as to my "what now" moment.

No problem with Latest GE on W7-64, on Nuvi 2689LMT or Nuvi 660 via SD card!

Also, I'm Happy to report that the Non-Existant "Upper" entrance to Ned's Cove Road from Crystal Tree Drive NO LONGER IS INDICATED INCORRECTLY!!!

Yippee!!!

I'm having all the Homeowner's sent an email indicating that this is now fixed in the 2018.30 Map Update!!!

THANK YOU Narvick!

So, on the first day (10/11/2017), I downloaded and installed the 2018.30 map update to my 3597 and the computer (Win 7 Pro, 64 bit & up to date with all MS updates). All went well and happened quickly and with out errors.

Disconnect 3597LMT and connect 660LMT. GE shows map update available for 660. But I know that GE won't install complete map.

So I close GE and open MapInstall. Can't find 2018.30 in the drop down! I open BaseCamp and its there, as well as already being the default map in the Map dropdown (already highlighted).

Go to MS Control Panel and uninstall 2018.20 with no errors. 2018.30 still shows as being installed in panel.

Rebooted PC, just to be sure.

Reopen MapInstall and 2018.30 is still not there. I closed MapInstall.

Checked BaseCamp and 2018.30 is there, but 2018.
20 is gone. Closed BaseCamp.

Open GE again and see "Update Available" for 660. Knowing that 2018.30 is already on computer, I select "Install". Well, GE wanted to download and install "updates". Hmmmmmmm! Map is already on PC, so why does it want to download updates? So I proceeded and message pops up about updating software. It listed a couple of updates. Sorry, I didn't take notes and I don't remember what the updates were (I think GE was in the list though). GE did NOT download the map and whatever it downloaded and installed was over in less than a minute. I closed GE.

I then re-opened MapInstall. 2018.30 was now listed!!!!

Installed 2018.30 to 660 and SD card with no problems. Although, installing the map to a 660 takes way longer than a 3597 (as usual).

So something has changed.

GE shows 5.7.1.0. and MapInstall is 4.0.4

Another Garmin mystery.

My results were different... I USED GE to do partial Map on 660... Did Lower 48. Time to load 2018.30 on 660 via SD card took 1/3 to 1/4 as much time as to load on 2689LMT...

Not really, I suspect it won't give the option to install 2018.30 to your 660 as at that point it doesn't know unlock codes etc for the 660. Once you've done the bit via Express you should then find that MapInstall will see the 2018.30 map

I know I don't get options to install CN maps onto some of my devices, as they're not authorised to have them.

I used Garmin Express along with the Alandb clone method on my three units and all went extremely well.

I have a 30MB/s internet connection & Garmin Express showed a download speed of 4 MB/s. It took a little under 30 minutes for the download including writing it onto the SD card.

I kept the three map files on my SD card for my 3597 & copied the remaining files onto the GPS. When I proceeded in doing both my 255WT, the files had already been downloaded onto my computer therefore it barely took a minute to write the map files onto the SD card.

This morning I went to work & used a GPS to go & another to come back & both worked flawlessly

Once the computer & GPS updated, remember to do a little clean-up as fellow member bennor3814 has suggested in order to save several gigabytes of disk space :

C:ProgramDataGARMINCoreServiceDownloads
C:ProgramDataGARMINCoreServiceDownloadsFirmware
C:ProgramDataGARMINCoreServiceDownloadsMap
C:ProgramDataGARMINCoreServiceDownloadsTemp

I'm curious & hope that fellow members that have the newer GPS units that are able to update wirelessly, will share their experiences with us.

Just wondering if this new Garmin feature is successful & works well ?

The Laptop that I update maps on is connected to internet via wireless... on a 60Mb Down, 5 Mb Up Local Cable ISP system.
It's been that way for 1+ years on new laptop, and have updated our 2689LMT and 660 (Via SD Card) -- (and 2+ years using an older/slower laptop I used before we upgraded)...
The older laptop had a Dual Core CPU.. 2.2Ghz
New Laptop has I7 Quad core with Hyper-threading (8 cores) turned on at 2.0Ghz

Both were running 5Ghz and 2Ghz wireless here, and never had any map issue I could point toward Wireless (Iphone can't do 5Ghz, so Wireless system now at 2Ghz since we moved here)

Hope this clears up any questions

I think the question was aimed towards the new Drive unit with wifi map updating built into the device with no need for a computer. I could be wrong.

I thought about that. Makes sense that the license keys are needed for both D/L and install for both units.

in about 22 minutes. I guess I have a FAST internet connection.

Went smoothly done in 35 minutes

2597LMT

Has anyone used Garmin MapUpdater yet to install the new map?

It only took about 30 minutes each to update all of the units I support for my crew.

I've been trying because my old 276C doesn't do GE, but so far Map U is only offering me 2018.2.

Thanks for passing the word along!

Thanks for the info

Thanks! That doesn't surprise me. If you recall with the last map update, it took a week or so before Garmin activated the MapUpdater with the new map. I suspect we'll be able to use MapUpdater to install this new map in the next week or so.

Garmin never was thinking too much when "improving" their software. It was mostly "let's do it and see what happens" way. It seems to still be their way of business for software.

I updated my 1450 it took about an hour all went well !

started a fresh node

Worked for me. Thanks for the work around

Yeah, but Garmin also periodically tries to pull their "you need to buy a new GPS because your 276C is no longer compatible with the new maps and can't be updated" routine.

I had updated GE prior to doing the map update. On a Win 10 machine it went very smooth. Not sure just how long it took as I didn't stay in attendance. After it was well underway I watched a football game. It was done when I came back. Everything works fine.

For those who have TWC (now called Spectrum )and do not know, if you had 60 MBs download speed, Spectrum update all customer to 100Mbs free and no additional charge..do a Speed test it will show your true internet speed..

https://www.spectrum.com/internet/speed-test.html

My speed range about 118/120

Got both GPS units refreshed with fresh maps for the Thanksgiving driving season. Both downloads went very fast and smooth.

Thanks, didn't know that. Just did speed test, not 100 but about 80. Maybe need a new modem (it is mine)
Doug.

Thanks

Yes indeed, it could be the modem. I think that for 100Mbps, four download channels are needed at a minimum. But I'd suggest thinking towards the future and get an 8 or 16 download channel modems. Amazon shows some popular brands with the 8-channel choice being cheaper than the 4!

It's quite likely that your ISP will have a support page on their recommended cable modems for their available download speed options offered.

You're doing the right thing by owning the modem rather than renting one since the breakeven point is often reached in less than a year of use.

Remember that many ISPs will require you to call and give them the new modem's MAC ID before it will connect to the internet.