Garmin Lock?

 

I was just reading a couple of other posts that mentioned it, and I was wondering how many actually use it. If so, why???? I mean, if someone steals your GPSr, then finds out later that it's useless to them, aren't they just going to toss it in the trash? They aren't going to bring it back saying "Since it won't work for me, I just thought I might as well give it back. Have a nice day!" You'll never see it again anyway, and I just see it as an inconvenience to getting going when I get in my car.

I just don't see any advantage in bothering with it.

--
Rick - Nüvi 260 - eTrex Summit HC
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Garmin Lock

I believe its a minor deterent. Per the Garmin website you would have to send it back to them to activate it. I figure if they throw it away thats better than them getting something for it. If they really wanted to use it they could type in a code, turn it off and on and try the next code. Only 9999 combinations, shouldn't take but a few hours to unlock it. It would be a pain but it could be done easy enough.

power cycle takes my 200

power cycle takes my 200 about 1 minute, and with 9999 combos, that's 166+ hours.....have fun smile

--
nüvi 200

Re: Garmin Lock

I don't know about you but I have many sensitive addresses on my Nuvi that I don't particularly want some criminal to have easy access to (i.e. friends, family, etc.)

Not that long

dr5274 wrote:

power cycle takes my 200 about 1 minute, and with 9999 combos, that's 166+ hours.....have fun smile

I have done it twice on a c550. Took about 6 hours the first time and 45 minutes the next. Granted I just happened to setup my spreadsheet right, but it isn't that hard. If someone wants to unlock it - you can. But most folks don't take the time to do it.

The other thing that you want to keep in mind is if you have your home set at your real address, it will keep someone from knowing where you live right away (steal it from your car at a ball game - drive right to your house).

Daniel

--
Garmin StreetPilot c580 & Nuvi 760 - Member 32160 - Traveling in Kansas

start with 19

A great majority will use a year as "the code" instead of a random number.
So I would start with 1900, 1901, and so on, that will narrow it down to 108 combinations.

--
Garmin 38 - Magellan Gold - Garmin Yellow eTrex - Nuvi 260 - Nuvi 2460LMT - Google Nexus 7 - Toyota Entune NAV

But.....

I don't leave it in my car anyplace where it might get lifted. Most of the time I even bring it in when I'm at home with the car in the garage. And I don't leave any favorites on the GPS that link to any home addresses. I have those stored on MapSource and categorized into subjects. I just load them onto the unit when needed.

But that is the one suggestion that makes sense... you don't want someone hitting your house at a time when you have made it easy for him know you aren't going to be there.

--
Rick - Nüvi 260 - eTrex Summit HC

rapriebe wrote: I was just

rapriebe wrote:

I was just reading a couple of other posts that mentioned it, and I was wondering how many actually use it. If so, why???? I mean, if someone steals your GPSr, then finds out later that it's useless to them, aren't they just going to toss it in the trash? They aren't going to bring it back saying "Since it won't work for me, I just thought I might as well give it back. Have a nice day!" You'll never see it again anyway, and I just see it as an inconvenience to getting going when I get in my car.

I just don't see any advantage in bothering with it.

You're probably right about never seeing a stolen unit again.. Garmin locked or not.. but, maybe, just maybe, if the money from a bank robbery had no value.. maybe by a dye pack or small explosive.. there would be less robberies.

If we used the Garmin lock more.. and rendered the stolen units useless, there would be less thefts.. Sooo, lock your Nuvi 260 so they won't swipe mine.

The lock isn't a hassle if, when your Nuvi is turned on, you're within 50 feet of where the lock was set.. (on my 260)

Getting off the soapbox..

--
Nuvi 260 Nuvi 295W

I'm with Tubby

I'm with you on that one, Tubby. I joined the cause and turned the lock on when I got home.

--
nuvi 285WT

Me too

Tubby hit the nail on the head.

Lock

I don't have my lock enabled, but if I did I wouldn't make my home location my actual location at home.

I would drive down to a nearby gas station or grocery store and set my home location. So, if someone would steal my GPS in my driveway they wouldn't be able to unlock the thing.

Btw, I don't leave my GPS in the car overnight anywhere. I have a beanbag that can be easily removed and stored in the lockable console. Even then I generally take the GPS itself with me.

--
Garmin Zumo550

A simple rule to follow

The definition of a portable GPS is exactly that. You take it with you wherever you go.

The rule is simple. If you leave it in your car, you have a significantly increased chance of having it stolen at which you will now have more than one headache to deal with.

1. Buy a new GPS
2. Deal with your insurance company
3. Repair your car if there were any damages
4. Stolen (valuable) info within the GPS

I am certain there may be other factors in which are minor but you get the point.

The bottom line: NEVER leave it in the car.
Lock or no lock, if the thief wants it bad enough he will steal it.

--
TOMTOM - LG LN740 - Magellan Roadmate 1430 - Garmin Nüvi 255W - Garmin 2455LMT

I Keep my Lock Engaged

I try to never leave my bike where I can not directly see it and I have a proximity alert/alarm that pages me if someone gets too close to the bike. I also keep the bike locked up and have my Zumo lock enabled. When I do have to leave the bike out of my sight, I take the Zumo with me and chain the bike to an unmoveable object.

Since the bleeding hearts and dirtball lawyers have made it inadvisable to set a booby trap, I do all I can to make it difficult or at least futile for some scumbag to steal my hard earned property.

150 grains of lead moving @ 1200 feet per second can also be quite effective at discouraging an individual from stealing another persons property.

--
Firemen Like It Hot, Wet, and Nasty !

Lock Password

All the comments make sense but the last thing I need is another password to remember and still have the same risk of loosing the unit. I'll take my chances for the convenience and spend my effort making sure it is not left in the car where it can be seen.

Home address

I have considered setting the home location to something other than my address. After thinking about it, I realized my address is already easily obtained. How many people keep their insurance card or car registration in the glove box?

Just a thought. I know it is easier with the GPS, but a thieve can quickly rummage through the glove box and get the information there too.

--
Jim Garmin nuvi 660

As indicated previously,

As indicated previously, there's already info in my car that will identify where I live.

I use the lock so that whoever might steals it will be unable to use it... just a small bit of consolation on my part.

I use Garmin Lock

I use Garmin Lock, an ID Splash Screen (so it can't be pawned), and have the Security location set to a place not likely to be visited by the thief.

--
><> Glenn <>< Garmin nüvi 2598

Well....

l050606 wrote:

I have considered setting the home location to something other than my address. After thinking about it, I realized my address is already easily obtained. How many people keep their insurance card or car registration in the glove box?

Just a thought. I know it is easier with the GPS, but a thieve can quickly rummage through the glove box and get the information there too.

Why anyone would leave their GPS unattended in their car, let alone any valuable pieces of identity is beyond me. Then when people get robbed they begin to scratch their heads wondering why me??

Then the real acting begins: "Oh GOSH! I've just been robbed!!! They stole my GPS and all my other documents!!!" smile

Unfortunately there is no formula for these type of incidents.

Do not leave anything valuable for a thief in the car.

--
TOMTOM - LG LN740 - Magellan Roadmate 1430 - Garmin Nüvi 255W - Garmin 2455LMT

Agree, Garmin Lock is not

Agree, Garmin Lock is not going to stop thief. But it take away the "reward" they get by stealing b/c the unit is non-functional (until they hit the right code).

Thoes who take GPS units

What I have found from interviewing thief’s is that they do not take these units for personal use rather they take the units to sell to the people that will buy stolen merchandise on the street. And for a unit we paid $500.00 for they will get $20.00 to $40.00 to support their drug habit. So I say lock the GPS units so the person who buys it will get just what he or she deserves nothing.

Garmin Lock?

Your are correct the lock will not stop a thief, but at least I will have a little satisfaction knowing that the punk, pothead or just a loser will have a little more trouble trying to get anything for my GPS. I would rather know that my GPS was smashed to bits than think that someone, who did not work for the money to pay for the unit, or another loser who was trying to get something for dirt cheap, was using my unit and getting one single bit of enjoyment from it. If you feel its not worth the effort to lock it, I guess the pothead will just say "Thanks" cool

--
2597 Sometimes I wonder..."Why is that Frisbee getting bigger?"...and then, it hits me.

Garmin Lock Talk

Mike107 wrote:

All the comments make sense but the last thing I need is another password to remember and still have the same risk of loosing the unit. I'll take my chances for the convenience and spend my effort making sure it is not left in the car where it can be seen.

Mike, It's not quite a password.. it's a 4 digit code. and you may not every have to 'remember' it.. if it's turned on within (about) 50 feet of where the code was first placed you won't have to input anything.

Just a few suggestions, numbers of a school address, work address, phone number, neighbors address, birthdate, license number of your dog, of your car.. yada yada

Try it.. you'll soon say 'Mikie likes it'

--
Nuvi 260 Nuvi 295W

stylus + map

...and don't forget to clean the very visible four fingerprints you're leaving on the screen or the screenprotector when typing the four digits password... use a stylus instead.

Also, leave a local unfolded map in plain sight razz

--
“There is always a solution; the only challenge is to find the best one”

Not a problem....

Nuvi Addict wrote:

...and don't forget to clean the very visible four fingerprints you're leaving on the screen or the screenprotector when typing the four digits password... use a stylus instead.

Also, leave a local unfolded map in plain sight razz

Just don't clean your screen. Then you have fingerprints all over it anyway. No way to tell what are the code touches.... wink

--
Rick - Nüvi 260 - eTrex Summit HC

Garmin Lock

I’m not sure how to set up the lock. I’m afraid I will lock myself out of the thing. How dos it work if I go out of town and I’m not at my home unlock point?

Stan Nuvi 760

How about taking the GPS

How about taking the GPS with you? Is this not the best solution?

--
TOMTOM - LG LN740 - Magellan Roadmate 1430 - Garmin Nüvi 255W - Garmin 2455LMT

I agree

I agree with thefastbird, that is the reason I locked mine-you can steal it from me, but you won't be able to use it. Carrying it is easier said than done in summertime-when you're wearing shorts and a tee shirt, you don't have room for tons of stuff. Between my GPS, transponder for toll roads, radar detector, cell phone and wallet I'd look pretty stupid. And I don't really want to wear a belt pack for all my stuff.
I can't force the thieves to clean up their act, but I can deny them the income from selling it to support their lifestyle.

Less than 166 hours

dr5274 wrote:

power cycle takes my 200 about 1 minute, and with 9999 combos, that's 166+ hours.....have fun smile

Well, that would be up to 166 hrs max ... chances of them hitting the combination on the very last possible combination is slim.

If they try stuff like all the 1900's first and early 2000's, then start at 5000 and alternate trying plus one and minus one (5000, 4999, 5001, 4998, 5002, etc), they will hit the combination a lot sooner than 166 hrs.

Thats assuming they are smart enough to keep track of the pattern they decide to try.

If they do research and find out that there is a secret location, they can drive around where they stole the gps from, or your home if they have your home address.

But I doubt most of these idiots known even how to turn on their stolen computers to do research anyway!

I don't garmin lock mine, I don't leave it in the car anytime. Nevetheless, I am sure Garmin will force us to use unlock codes in the near future whether we want to or not ... just a feeling ...

Answer

scdcrane150 wrote:

I’m not sure how to set up the lock. I’m afraid I will lock myself out of the thing. How dos it work if I go out of town and I’m not at my home unlock point?

Once you set your "secret" location if you boot up your device at that location, it will unlock all by itself. If you are not at your "secret" location all you have to do is enter a 4 digit pin you have previously set up. The owners manual explains it pretty well.

Stan Nuvi 760

--
Firemen Like It Hot, Wet, and Nasty !

I am content with the

I am content with the satisfaction that if its stolen, it will be useless to the theif

Suggestion

I never used the lock on my Nuvi and after some reading I’m willing to try it out. Let’s say a set location two blocks away from my resident. Would this be one of the wise ways to set this lock?

Murphy's law = "Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong".

--
nüvi 3590LMT "always backup your files"

Set your security location

Set your security location someplace that the thief can't drive past on the way to or from your home.

Mine is a location about 3 miles from home that I doubt the thief would ever visit.

--
><> Glenn <>< Garmin nüvi 2598

True Story

I bought a used 350 on ebay and when I got it it was locked. I was getting ready to email the guy but thought what the heck let try 1234... It unlocked on the 1st try.

Moral of this story is dont use easy to guess numbers

Security Location

gdfaini wrote:

Set your security location someplace that the thief can't drive past on the way to or from your home.

Mine is a location about 3 miles from home that I doubt the thief would ever visit.

Thank you cool

--
nüvi 3590LMT "always backup your files"

Security Location

If you are looking for ideas for a place to set your security location, why not use you local police or sheriff station? It's a place that's easy for you to remember in case you forget your password. Just a thought smile

Security Location

DrewDT wrote:

If you are looking for ideas for a place to set your security location, why not use you local police or sheriff station? It's a place that's easy for you to remember in case you forget your password. Just a thought smile

Sweet lol ty.

--
nüvi 3590LMT "always backup your files"

There are really two reasons

There are really two reasons I use it.

1. So a thief can't get access to the addresses on it.
2. The satisfaction of knowing he can't use it.

I set my security location to the place where I park my car. I don't leave it in my car overnight so I don't have to worry about it being stolen, and I never have to enter the code when I'm leaving my house. Works out quite nicely. smile

So for all you know...

For all you know you may have someone else's stolen GPS.

--
Rick - Nüvi 260 - eTrex Summit HC

If

If I were to use Garmin lock, I think I would make my secret location perhaps where I park at work, my parents driveway across town ... something like that.

I don't think I would make it where I park my car ... for any thief that knows anything about GPS's, that would be the first place they would likely check. Don't criminals always return to the scene of the crime ???? smile

Garmins Goal

I think the reason they have the Garmin lock is simple - it will not prevent theft, but will make the probablity of theft lower. Sure, it still might get stolen and fenced. But the second time, the thief will bypass the GPS, instead they will look for an iPod, change or something that will actually have value since the first time they got nothing for the GPS (due to the lock). Why waste the time again? So, instead they take other valuables and move on to the next car...

Oh, and I do not think they take the time to look for your address in the glove compartment. If you have ever seen the show Thief, those guys are in and out of a house in like 15 minuates. I would guess a car is probably like 2-3 minuates tops. Grab and go... if they know they can't get anything for the GPS, it is a waste of time and space.

Why I use home for security location

Aconite wrote:

If I were to use Garmin lock, I think I would make my secret location perhaps where I park at work, my parents driveway across town ... something like that.

I don't think I would make it where I park my car ... for any thief that knows anything about GPS's, that would be the first place they would likely check. Don't criminals always return to the scene of the crime ???? smile

My nüvi 650 has on two occasions indicated that I have used the wrong code although I did not change it. It has produced less stress on me to reset the code from my bedroom. I also always remove the unit from the car. I love that the nüvi 650 fits into my shirt pocket.

david

--
nüvi 1490T, V1, Sanyo PRO-700a, maps, sunglasses, hot co-pilot, the open road

Location

After 30+ years in public safety (police & fire) I can think of no better place to use as a "secret" location than your local police station. I personally use the "sally port" at my pd, the LAST place any self respecting scumbag would go and try to unlock my unit.

--
Firemen Like It Hot, Wet, and Nasty !

I like the sound of this location.

aquafire wrote:

After 30+ years in public safety (police & fire) I can think of no better place to use as a "secret" location than your local police station. I personally use the "sally port" at my pd, the LAST place any self respecting scumbag would go and try to unlock my unit.

Don't forget to register

fjr15288 wrote:

I think the reason they have the Garmin lock is simple - it will not prevent theft, but will make the probablity of theft lower. Sure, it still might get stolen and fenced. But the second time, the thief will bypass the GPS, instead they will look for an iPod, change or something that will actually have value since the first time they got nothing for the GPS (due to the lock). Why waste the time again? So, instead they take other valuables and move on to the next car...

And don't forget to register your unit with Garmin. They will not unlock it over the phone. It must be sent in. And of course, if the serial# is on record from when you registered it, you'll get it back. Obviously, the thief will not try and unlock it, but the unsuspecting person who buys it from him will need to do so. See the hilarious discussion below of a thief who USED his stolen GPS and even saved his home address as a Favorite.
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/8424

Garmin lock

I agree. I wouldn't want anyone to get a list of my addresses. Also, if they know they can't use them, they may stop targetting the GPS to steal.

How Exact

davidwynyard wrote:

My nüvi 650 has on two occasions indicated that I have used the wrong code although I did not change it. It has produced less stress on me to reset the code from my bedroom. I also always remove the unit from the car. I love that the nüvi 650 fits into my shirt pocket.

david

How exact does a location have to be for a secret location. I assumed (but have not tested) that the location would have a certain radius around it ... maybe 15 meters or so.

Garmin lock range

Aconite wrote:

How exact does a location have to be for a secret location. I assumed (but have not tested) that the location would have a certain radius around it ... maybe 15 meters or so.

Think you're in the ballpark.. on my Nuvi 260, its 45-50 feet.

--
Nuvi 260 Nuvi 295W

For my nüvi 200 it is up to 200 feet.

For my nüvi 200 it is up to 200 feet.

--
><> Glenn <>< Garmin nüvi 2598

no interest

Aconite wrote:
davidwynyard wrote:

My nüvi 650 has on two occasions indicated that I have used the wrong code although I did not change it. It has produced less stress on me to reset the code from my bedroom. I also always remove the unit from the car. I love that the nüvi 650 fits into my shirt pocket.

david

How exact does a location have to be for a secret location. I assumed (but have not tested) that the location would have a certain radius around it ... maybe 15 meters or so.

Not only have I no idea how exact it is but I also have had no interest in finding out. However, I do use the back of the house as the secret location so that it will limit public areas within the radius.

david

--
nüvi 1490T, V1, Sanyo PRO-700a, maps, sunglasses, hot co-pilot, the open road

Security

I have a 250W and did put a security number in it, the reason is for what is in it, address, phone number and more, like DrewDT said.
The best is to always have the GPS with you and if you leave it somewere nobody can look in it.
Can we add letters it that code?

--
Claude using Garmin c330,Nuvi 250W and a Etrex venture Cx. Member #2602

Security

claude wrote:

I have a 250W .....(( snip ))

Can we add letters in that code?

Nope, four numbers only.

--
Nuvi 260 Nuvi 295W
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