C-340 questions

I see that question number one was answered on the forum elsewhere. Garmin says no to utilizing the memory on an SD card. So, that begs the question, what the heck is the SD slot for then?

Question number two still remains. Perhaps it is a dumb question but would someone please inform me one way or the other? Thanks. Just trying to learn about my new C340.

Retired professional geographer, GPS user, licensed pilot, and RC glider flyer.

I have the C340 as well so I think I can answer your questions.

The SD card slot's primary use is for when Garmin publishes a new version of the City Navigator NT. You can purchase it from Garmin on an SD card, Just insert it in the SD Slot and the device will use the new Map. You chould have Version 8 now so when Version 9 is published sometime later this year, you can buy the new version on SD plug it in and be current. Other than that is pretty useless on the c340.

As for using Tourguide files on the C340 you cannot, according to the Garmin web site they are only compatible with the nüvi, zūmo, and the StreetPilot c550, 2730, 2820, 7200 and 7500

The slot is redundent... if a newer version of City Navigator NT comes available you would simply download it to your c340 and overwrite (update) your base maps. The only use I can find for it (so far) is if you wanted to run a "different" set of maps (different from City Navigator) you could run them from an SD card in the slot. Since the c340 does not come with the CD, I had it sent out and while setting it up on your computer it gives you the oportunity to "update" your base maps if you want. This overwrites the base maps and still leaves the SD slot empty and lonely on the side of the Garmin but your unit is updated to the latest software version of maps.

The SD Slot on the Garmin 330 and 340 is nothing more than a Garmin Map loader, it will do nothing else. As far as maps goes, I wouldn't use it to load US Maps as Flashing the unit and loading it straight to it's internal memory makes more sense. The SD Card slot is really designed to to load European maps on a trip, that way when you come back home your US maps are still intact just by pulling out the SD Card......

It's has some value but not much.......

Thanks very much guys. You answered all of my questions. I did use Ximage to customize my start up screen and have loaded some custom POIs so I guess that is about all the tinkering I can do. Thanks again for the responses.

BB3

Page 30 of the owner's manual (pdf) for the c340 says:

"The original maps that came installed on your c340 are protected from overwriting; you cannot accidentally delete them."

It also says:

"You can purchase additional MapSource map data from Garmin and download the maps to your SD card."

(Of course, you can also buy the maps already on an SD card.)

It never mentions anything about copying the map data from the SD card to the internal memory. This would seem to imply that any map data installed on the SD card will be used INSTEAD of the internal memory. If this is true, you will be FORCED to use an SD card all the time if you want to use the future version 9 map data in a c340 that [permanently] contains version 8 map data.

Garmin says:
"The original maps that came installed on your c340 are protected from overwriting; you cannot accidentally delete them."

I believe they mean that through NORMAL use of the functions available on the unit that you cannot "accidentally" delete the base maps or internal software. Updating the internal maps and software via the Garmin CD from your PC will "Intentionally" overwrite the internal software and when V9 becomes available it will also overwrite the internal software to update the unit. The CD is designed to update the software from previous versions - No SD card required.

Dave,

Thank you for contacting Garmin Cartography. The 340 can store up to 500 waypoints. I don’t believe that a previous POI file you load gets deleted when you load another. You have to delete POIs manually if you want to get rid of them. Unfortunately it is not possible to save POIs to an SD card at this time.

Please let me know if you have any other questions and thank you for your interest in Garmin.

Regards,

Nathan

This promted me to call him directly and he stated that the sd card for the 340 is used to store maps that I would purchase from them (Garmin)The 340 cannot read from the sd card unless it has the additional maps down loaded on the card. His reference on WayPOINTS is their term for our POI's.

Hope this helps......

Actually, waypoints are different than custom POI. On c340, waypoints are your "favorite locations".

c340 has 2MB internal memory for holding custom POIs. That's enough to hold 40,000 locations (give or take depending on the amount of text / description).

JM

That leaves me with this question. Is it possible to download, say, some European maps to the sd card, then use the card in the unit, or is the only way for it to work is by BUYING the maps via sd card. I can get information onto the sd card myself, but will that work?

thanks

Buz said: The original maps that came installed on your c340 are protected from overwriting; you cannot accidentally delete them."

I was attempting to change the splash screen on the c550 and was having difficulties as the process is not the same as when you change the splash screen on the c340. Anyways, whatever I did, it deleted all the original map info from the garmin device so when I called Garmin support and had a tech take over my computer to see what he could do, he tried but there was nothing he could do as a lot of garmin files were missing so I ended up having to get an RMA number and shipping the device back to them. He and I think they will send back a new c550 with the updated NT maps as it will be to much for them to reinstall the old maps.
Oh well..

According to Garmin, the SD card slot can be used to store mapping for example Europe. You can purchase a pre-loaded map of Europe, or you can download "regions" on the unit from a DVD.

I was told the pre-loaded card can NOT be updated, but the disk can. So, it is my understanding that it is less expensive in the long run to purchase the DVD, and a 2 gig card, at least if you plan on updating your Europen mapping. The 2 gig card should hold the mapping of Europe in its' entirety.

Hi all,

Could anyone tell me how to update the C340 with the Garmin City Navigator North America NT 2009 version? When I try to do it it asks me to have a SD card. Can I overwrite(flash) the existing 2008 version on the internal memory? If so, How do it do that?

If I cant? Will the C340 support a 4gb SDHC card?

Thanks in advance.

http://www.garmin.com/garmin/cms/site/us/lang/en/searchsuppo...

According to Garmin FAQs
The largest SD (Secure Digital) card that is supported on the StreetPilot® C3xx is a 2GB (gigabyte) card. The StreetPilot doesn't support SDHC.

That said, if you have one try it, I have found that this info is not always true...

Thank you! for the update.

I was going through the Garmin web site and it says that a software version update to v4.40 or higher would make it compatable with HC SD cards.

Hope there are no performance issues!!

I have the C340 also. I notice that now it is listed as Discontinued on Garmin's web site. Will Garmin continue to release updates and fixes for it? What have they done in the past with discontinued units?

They just did an update for firmware/software on the C330 & C340. Try the WebUpdater application from Garmin to get latest versions available.

Just create a folder on an SD card called "Garmin". Drag the 2009 or 2010 (which I have) into the folder. Put the card in the GPS. Then click the wrench on the home screen of the unit. Then "Map". Then "Map info". You should then see the 2009 version in addition to what is is in the memory. Unclick the old version. Click the new version. You are done.

The file in the "garmin" folder on the SD card is called GMAPSUPP.IMG

rs6er

You may want to get this added to the faq.This question will come up again.Just click on create content top right.Select faq and put your information there.

This is useful!