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Garmin Nuvi / Mapsource compatibility?
Yahoo Message Number: 87216
I will be getting a Nuvi 360 and in reading the owner's manual, it is not clear to me if I will be able to install a set of maps from Mapsource on an SD card, readable by the Nuvi. In particular, it would be nice to use the topo maps. I currently upload the maps to my Etrex Vista for trail/bike use. Any Garmin experts know the answer or could point me in the right direction, it would be much appreciated. I will not be able to play with the Nuvi until 12/25. Thanks.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
Re: Garmin Nuvi / Mapsource compatibility?
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 87261
Quote
I will be getting a Nuvi 360 and in reading the owner's
manual......snip, .

Quote
Steve
Steve, Last year for Christmas I purchased a Nuvi 350 through Wal-Mart.
It was a fine unit, However I returned it for a refund because it wasn't fulfilling my need. I have not been on the road traveling where it would be really useful. Locally (NY City area) it was not chooseing the routing that I normally would (or that mapquest would). It was great in every other way, with really good satellite sensitivity. I figure when I'm back on the road I'll buy whatever is the unit available at that time (and with more current software).
 Anyway, when I opened the unit it had a very sparse instruction sheet (Quick Reference Guide). I called Garmin and told them that there was no manual telling me how to operate the features.  They said that they hadn't been available at the time of production. They told me that I could download the "Owners Manual" from their website. I explained that at that moment my printer was out of service. They were kind enough to forward me their small spiral bound 42 page Owners Manual, AND they printed out the more up to date 70 page one off their website and mailed them to me! Great Service!

Specifically in the manual...."You can use SD cards up to 2GB in size"..........."You can purchase additional map data from Garmin and load the maps onto the internal memory or an SD card.  The original maps that came on your nuvi are protected from overwriting"..........."you can load GPI custom point of interest files from Garmin's POI loader"...and"GPX waypoint files from Mapsource""

Since your 360 is newer than my 350 was I expect it will do all the same.
 Hope this helps, thanks for your many tidbits of info over the years that have helped me.

Regards, Don Howe 2002 MB Long Island
Don & Dorothy
Sold our LD in June of 2023

Our boring always non-PC travel blog
Traveling Dorothy
Re: Garmin Nuvi / Mapsource compatibility?
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 87267
I just purchased the Garmin nuvi 660. There is no mention of a 2GB limit to the SD card in the specifics. I am currently using a 4GB SD card.

Neil
Re: Garmin Nuvi / Mapsource compatibility?
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 87280
Quote
Since your 360 is newer than my 350 was I expect it will do all the same.
Thanks, Don - the manual with mine seems pretty complete, but the version of Mapsource I have does not support SD cards, so I was hoping I could just load the files onto the card via Windows and go? Anyway, I believe I can upload the maps with the card inserted in the Nuvi and store them that way, but it will take a LONG time using Mapsource. I think the main difference between the 360 and 350 is Bluetooth.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
Re: Garmin Nuvi / Mapsource compatibility?
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 87287
Quote
Thanks, Don - the manual with mine seems pretty complete, but the version of Mapsource I have does not support SD cards, .......> Steve
Steve, Out of curiosity last night I went on Garmin's website. All of their manuals are there in pdf format. Neil had mentioned that his 660 manual didn't limit SD card size. I looked in a number of manuals, and while the 350 listed a limit it was dropped beginning with your 360 unit. Either they found it was not a problem, or they modified their software.
Interestingly, with their older units they had always listed in their specs the size of the internal memory itself, but I don't find it mentioned in any of the newer units.
I will be very suprised if you can't load everything you want onto an SD card.  Since Neil has a newer unit and is utilizing an SD card he may be able to help you in that area.
I think in our archives Andy has listed a few sources for advanced information on all the gps systems, and I know that many have been adding POI files of campgrounds and dump sites to their units.
I had spoken to a Garmin rep at a show earlier in the year to tell him that we (and truckers) really need roadway clearance restrictions (height and width) info onboard these gps units. The Northeast is laced with roadway clearance problems. I get at least one photo a month of a semi-trailer getting it's roof removed by our parkway bridges. He said they were working on that data! I'm sure that you'll be happy with your Christmas present!

Regards,

Don Howe
Don & Dorothy
Sold our LD in June of 2023

Our boring always non-PC travel blog
Traveling Dorothy
Re: Garmin Nuvi / Mapsource compatibility?
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 87295
I just revisited the Garmin nuvi website. I clicked on the SPECS tab and the internal memory capacity did not come up. I had to click on the DOWNLOAD DETAILED SPECS link. I see too that the 350 also has a 2GB internal storage capacity.

Neil

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Garmin Nuvi / Mapsource compatibility?
Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 87304
Quote
   I think in our archives Andy has listed a few sources for advanced information on all the gps systems, and I know that many have been adding POI files of campgrounds and dump sites to their units.
Thanks, Don - I'll be experimenting after I 'receive' the Nuvi, and at least I suspect I can at least upload maps by connecting the Garmin to a computer running Mapsource. My Etrex Vista gets its maps that way, but has no memory card. With the Vista I can load both Metroguide and Topo maps of the same locations, but the Metroguide takes precedence - to use the topos, I have to disable the metroguide maps for the area of interest. Ideally, with the Nuvi I would like to have the full topo set for the US on one SD card, and switch between streets and topos by some quicker method. Maybe, just by removing the card? Anyway, after Christmas I can get more specific if questions remain.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
 
Re: Garmin Nuvi / Mapsource compatibility?
Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 87306
Hi Neil,

I recently bought a nuvi650 and noted that the available memory, after accounting for the internal NA database is quite small.
Probably why most of the optional data bases (European city maps etc. come loaded on SD cards. And if you want to use the nuvi to play audio books via Audible.com, MP3 files for music or display pics you really need that external memory. Good news is that you can pop a 1 Gb SD card