[vharihar]

Wanted to share my experience:

I've been pretty impressed with mapmyindia.com. When I brought my Garmin GPS device from the US when relocating, I was doubtful whether it will work (though I had read on the internet that maps are available for India, just need to load them, etc, I was still very skeptical). I ordered the maps for my Garmin device from mapmyindia.com. It cost me Rs 5K in early 2012 (a bit steep, about the price I paid for the device itself in equiv INR). But it works like a charm, and well worth it I now feel.

The only downside (and a big downside at that) but one that has a workaround which I'll describe shortly, is that locations in India dont have a systematic street address that you can easily search on the GPS itself.

Workaround: Use latitude/longitude coordinates. Locate the addr, perhaps at home or even midroute on your smartphone in an app that shows coordinates. I've done both. I use the Wikiplaces app on iOS. Even more options to find coordinates on your PC at home (Google Maps itself). I suspect Google Maps on Android may show coordinates too (it doesnt on iOS). Then I just enter the coordinates into my GPS and keep saving it to my "favorites list" as time goes along, so I can pull it up in future without the same rigmarole.

This way, I have used my GPS successfully many times, stepping out totally unprepared from home. I relied on it completely to go from Bangalore to a wedding hall in Chennai. Took it to Mahabalipuram all the way to the hotel, and back to Bangalore. Took it many times in Bangalore to various locations that I was unfamiliar with.

This, in conjunction with a cup-holder mounted GPS holder (I didnt want a dash-mounted holder, for fear of inviting theft/vandalism), works like a charm. The specific mount I used was http://www.amazon.com/Bracketron-UCH...pr_product_top

[sbiswas]

Originally Posted by rohanjf

As suggested by GD, I downloaded the India map. I copied it into my mobile's 2 GB micro SD card and inserted the card into GPS device. But the map was not detected.

So I copied the map directly to the device's folder where the original US map is (*.img file). Only after that, the map got detected. This means, I don't even need a separate micro SD card.

EDIT: I couldn't find a 2 GB micro SD card in any store. I did not buy 4 GB, because I don't know if my device is capable of handling large memory units.

Your SD card needs to have a folder named 'GARMIN' (without the quotes). Place the map inside this and name it GMAPSUPP.IMG.

I just tried out my nuvi 205 with a 8 GB SDHC card. It worked like a charm.

Originally Posted by rohanjf

I did not delete the US map from my device. There is enough memory in the device for both maps to co-exist, and probably many more

When I opened the device memory, there was 765 MB free. Out of that, India map used only 169 MB. As mentioned by R2D2 in an earlier post, you have to uncheck US map when you use the device in India (probably because your searches should be limited to your present country).

My device has an internal storage of only 2 GB. The latest Garmin CN 2013.10 North America maps (USA, Hawaii, Canada, Islands) are taking approximately 1.49 GB, leaving little space for voice/language/gpx files. So I used a GMAPTOOL (downloaded from Noeman.org forum) to join all these maps (GMAPPROM, GMAPPROM1, GMAPSUPP) into a single GMAPSUPP.IMG and moved it to SD card. My GPS now has India maps on device and America maps on SD. Garmin CN India 2013.10 is 930 MB and MMI 7.1 is 471 MB.

I never had to uncheck US maps. The GPS automatically detects my location and sets country accordingly. Of course you can always click 'change country' manually.

[ZedMae]

Originally Posted by rohanjf

As suggested by GD, I downloaded the India map. I copied it into my mobile's 2 GB micro SD card and inserted the card into GPS device. But the map was not detected.

So I copied the map directly to the device's folder where the original US map is (*.img file). Only after that, the map got detected. This means, I don't even need a separate micro SD card.
----.

Hi Rohan,

I tried the same - copying the gmapsupp.img file onto the .system folder which has the current map (gmapprom.img) file. Had to make space by deleting some voice other language files. But the device does not recognize the new map. It still shows the North america map. Any pointers? Does this work only with SD card?

thanks

[rohanjf]

Originally Posted by ZedMae

Hi Rohan,

I tried the same - copying the gmapsupp.img file onto the .system folder which has the current map (gmapprom.img) file. Had to make space by deleting some voice other language files. But the device does not recognize the new map. It still shows the North america map. Any pointers? Does this work only with SD card?

thanks

No, I did not use SD card. In my device, I did not have any problem, as this custom map appeared in the list of available maps automatically.

However, when I tried in my colleague's device (same model as mine), the map did not appear in the customizing setting. But after restarting the device a few times, it appeared for selection!

[ZedMae]

Originally Posted by rohanjf

No, I did not use SD card. ---it appeared for selection!

Thanks. No luck for me though when I tried to directly put the gmapsupp.img file in the Garmin device system folder. Tried putting the openstreet map in the micro SD card of my mobile and now the device shows the open street maps.

[sgiitk]

@rohanji; I saw on Garmin forums that up to 8GB is supported.

[rockyb]

Will give it a try and report. I have a old Garmin Nuvi 1490T. Am not happy with Sat Nav maps and MapmyIndia is too costly

[Rudra Sen]

Need help guys. I have a GARMIN nuvi 2565LM and I understand it comes with free lifetime map (LM) support.
But it says System Requirements: * IBM-compatible PC running Windows 2000 or later operating system and an available USB port.
I don't use windows but Mac system. How do I solve this? Do I need to get this updated through a window system?

http://www.garmin.co.in/products/ont...dia/#updateTab

Suggestion/s please.

[sgiitk]

@Rudra_Sen; The basic route us to install the driver (Garmin Communicator) and then update. Are you not having Windoze as a secondary OS on your Mac. I am sure there is a way for Mac and linux users. One of the other threads

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/modifi...gation-13.html

has a lot of discussion about upgrades. Have you Googled for it? Once you manage please post the route here.

Just checked Garmin Express does show Upgrade for the Mac.

http://software.garmin.com/en-US/express.html

In the windows world Garmin Express is no good, so we have to download and install from the Taiwan site of Garmin. However, it should get you the communicator. Of course USB is (I think) a must.

[ajitkommini]

I use Garmin BaseCamp for downloading maps to the device, adding or editing POIs, route and track information etc. It's quite a comprehensive tool with an easy-to-use interface. I use the Windows version but I think there is a mac version as well. Perhaps you could give it a try. When I'm planning a trip I generally find a POI using Google Earth or whatever, then save it to one of the maps on my Garmin nuvi 1250 using Basecamp. This allows me to add useful fields like phone number etc. (In case I need to check something before arrival). When I return I retrieve all the tracks and stitch them together into a trip (what Garmin calls an adventure). It also has interesting tools like speed and altitude profile plotting.

[DerAlte]

Originally Posted by Rudra Sen

Need help guys. I have a GARMIN nuvi 2565LM and I understand it comes with free lifetime map (LM) support.
But it says System Requirements: * IBM-compatible PC running Windows 2000 or later operating system and an available USB port. ...

Map update is usually a file dropped into the device. I did the US map update on my ancient 260W on my Mac. Worked through the browser, with device connected to the USB port.

The "IBM-compatible PC running Windows 2000 or later operating system" is a language that they forgot to pay attention to after they first wrote it!

[NetfreakBombay]

Originally Posted by DerAlte

I did the US map update on my ancient 260W on my Mac. Worked through the browser, with device connected to the USB port.

How did you make that map work with 260W? Now Garmin changes Map ID with each update, so file will not work unless unlocked for that specific device + map ID combination. I think they started doing this from 2014 Q2 onward.

Gamin's update utility copies map file and also creates the file that has license for that map+device.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by NetfreakBombay

Gamin's update utility copies map file and also creates the file that has license for that map+device.

On a totally different topic: @nfb did you try installing MMI 2014 Maps on Mapsource/Basecamp? Does not work for me. But yes I can browse the map by keeping it in a flash drive and accessing. But I cannot install it on PC/MAC.

[NetfreakBombay]

Originally Posted by ampere

On a totally different topic: @nfb did you try installing MMI 2014 Maps on Mapsource/Basecamp?

Have not tried MMI maps in last couple of years. Now Garmin maps coverage is good enough for my usage.

[DerAlte]

Originally Posted by NetfreakBombay

How did you make that map work with 260W? Now Garmin changes Map ID with each update, so file will not work unless unlocked for that specific device + map ID combination. ...

It was an official update, so it did what it had to do! There is a background process that checks the device (the device should be connected over USB - the page asks for it. Or one can give the SNo to get the file) and pulls the appropriate update.