Failure of Wi-Fi map update on Garmin DriveSmart 51LMT-S 5-inch

 

Hi

Has any Garmin DriveSmart 51LMT-S 5-inch user here succeeded in updating maps by Wi-Fi?

On Wi-Fi my unit will update software but wrongly shows 2019 maps as "up to date" every time.

Thanks.

supply power to the GPS

Before you begin, make sure the GPS battery is charged. While the map update is downloading, make sure the GPS is receiving power. Use a wall charger. Do not use a computer USB port to supply power, because the GPS will try to update using the USB port.

If a map update fails, do it again.

https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=tIpEmgk7bt4MegvC3jqNq7

DS55 here

I plug my DS55 into a wall charger in a room close to my router and have had great success with WiFi updates. I actually prefer WiFi. Don’t know if your 51 is much different internally.

--
"You can't get there from here"

Questions

Fiddfun, if the problem persists, can you share some answers with us?

Have you updated the map with Wi-fi before and this is a new problem or is this the first time you tried an update? If possible, what happens if you try to update using your computer, a cable, and Garmin Express software?

How fast is your internet and Wi-fi connection?

Was the DS 51 bought new, factory-refurbished, or used?

The most recent "2019" North American map, 2019.30, was released Nov 07, 2018. Garmin has a policy that Garmin devices in use that haven't done a map update in 24 months may lose their lifetime map updates:

https://www.garmin.com/en-US/legal/lmdisclaimer/

I've never heard of anyone reporting a loss of updating due to this, but it certainly could apply here, especially if you bought a used DS 51 that its previous owner used, then put in a drawer for a few years before being resold to you. It does seem to me that rather than getting a "map is up to date" message, you'd get something along the lines of "your device's useful life has ended" message if your problem is due to this policy.

One last question. Your profile says you're from Cambridge. Are you in Massachusetts, the UK, or elsewhere and is your 2019 map City Navigator North America or is it a European map? When you go to you're device's myMaps, exactly what map version does it report now?

problem updated to NUVI 3597

I tried to update the maps on my NUVI but got the message that H have to install a micro SD card no bigger than 33gb. I had one that we 64 gb but it did not work. I never had to do that before. Now I have to order the card before I can do the updates.

Don't order, go to a Best Buy

bsp131 wrote:

I tried to update the maps on my NUVI but got the message that H have to install a micro SD card no bigger than 33gb. I had one that we 64 gb but it did not work. I never had to do that before. Now I have to order the card before I can do the updates.

Maps (and related stuff) are growing in size and hence the need for the card. I would not "order" a card. Simply stop at a Best Buy and grab one. They currently are offering a PNY 32 GB microSD card for $9. See https://www.bestbuy.com/site/pny-32gb-microsdhc-uhs-i-memory...

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John from PA

No problems on my DS55

Wi-Fi update works fine on my DS55.

great to know. Thanks

great to know. Thanks

Micro Center

Thank you. Serendipitously, I happened to receive a coupon from Micro Center in my email for a free SD micro card. I picked it up and downloaded the map today. I just don't understand why the larger (64gb) micro card did not work.

Thanks

dobs108 wrote:

If a map update fails, do it again.

It doesn't get as far as fail. It does not start.

Thanks

> Have you updated the map with Wi-fi before

No.

> and this is a new problem or is this the first time you tried an update?

First.

> If possible, what happens if you try to update using your computer, a cable, and Garmin Express software?

GE fails to install due to a known issue.

> How fast is your internet and Wi-fi connection?

Fast and fast. But I cna't see how that makes any difference I get no error.

> Was the DS 51 bought new, factory-refurbished, or used?

refurbished.

> Garmin has a policy that Garmin devices in use that haven't done a map update in 24 months may lose their lifetime map updates:

> I've never heard of anyone reporting a loss of updating due to this, but it certainly could apply here, especially if you bought a used DS 51 that its previous owner used, then put in a drawer for a few years before being resold to you.

Thanks. How can I check?

> ne last question. Your profile says you're from Cambridge. Are you in Massachusetts, the UK

UK.

> is your 2019 map City Navigator North America or is it a European map?

Euopean.

> When you go to you're device's myMaps, exactly what map version does it report now?

2019.10

Thanks

I just received a second unit and it has started map-updating. Fingers crossed.

But the update says it takes over three times as long as the battery life and a warning said interruption can render the unit inoperable... so hoping for no power cut!

Ah, and now the update is saying completion in half the time. 1hr 15m.

Well...

Map update attempt #1 failed with an error, and an instruction to use Garmin Express. I won't be doing that, since I bought this for computer-free updating.

#2 failed. "Cannot communicate witht he update server. Try installing updates later".

#3 ditto. And at the same the other devices on the network lost connection. Hmm. A reset of cable modem Wi-Fi router was required.

I decide to give up on map update and I reset the Garmin to defaults. Oh dear. Now it says "No detailed maps were found on this device." And Search finds no locations at all.

So then I did reset thus http://www.poi-factory.com/node/50057 and still no joy.

Any ideas?

Max is likely 32 GB

bsp131 wrote:

I just don't understand why the larger (64gb) micro card did not work.

64 GGB won’t work (without doing something special) because most Garmin GPS units have a maximum of 32 GB.

--
John from PA

second unit?

fiddfun wrote:

Map update attempt #1 failed with an error, and an instruction to use Garmin Express...

...So then I did reset thus http://www.poi-factory.com/node/50057 and still no joy.

Any ideas?

Is this the second unit?

dobs108 smile

Thanks

> Is this the second unit?

Yes.

Well

John from PA wrote:
bsp131 wrote:

I just don't understand why the larger (64gb) micro card did not work.

64 GGB won’t work (without doing something special) because most Garmin GPS units have a maximum of 32 GB.

The issue with larger cards is by default they are not formatted FAT32 which is what Garmin requires. Larger cards will work if you reformat them, but really anything over 32 Gb is overkill

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

No WiFi

I don't do wifi since it's slower than connecting to my pc.

Wi-Fi

I'm happy with slow, since I can leave it going when I'm not driving, which is often up to 12hrs at a time! smile

slow

When the WiFi is slow and an update takes several hours, it is more likely that the GPS battery will become discharged. This can be overcome by using a wall charger, (from the mains on your side of the pond).

The unit is required to be

The unit is required to be connected to an external power source before it will start charting via WIFI. On battery Power alone is a no-go.

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Frank DriveSmart55 37.322760, -79.511267

Thank you

Thanks. Got the 32gb card, now, all set.