wmgoat
If It's Not Broken, Don't Mess With It
join:2000-12-12
Huntley, IL
clubs: 
 ·AT&T Midwest
| Beware! Updating a Garmin GPS is good for only 1 unit
Got caught in a fine wording clause with my Garmins.
Not a gripe, but posted so that others may know.
I have 3 Garmin GPS units, a 330, a nuvi 200, and a 350. I purchased a map update program, loaded it on the PC and successfully updated one of the units, the oldest, a 330.
I then tried to do the map update to the next older unit and it wont work. Got an error msg about the map product key already being used. So I sent an email to Garmin to see what could be done. After all, a Garmin update program is an update program, regardless of the unit.
They replied back that they have no control over the map company and that I have to buy a DVD for each unit (thats $180 of updates!). A DVD product key is good for only one serialized unit. Once its registered with Garmin, its tied to that serial number (and I think that it requires internet access to do the update to validate the SN/key combo).
I like the Garmins, but they totally lost my loyalty with this alliance to the map company. Next time Im looking for a GPS, Ill shop features and pricing instead of a name brand.
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Remember: To err is human. A computer is required to really mess things up!  |
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Kayrac
Premium
join:2001-09-29
Lee, NH
| I like my dash
»www.dash.net
that being said garmins are good, and did you really think buying 1 map update would update every gps you own? |
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gquiring
I Did It My Way
Premium
join:2001-04-07
Matawan, NJ
| reply to wmgoat
You can't blame Garmin for this. The maps are from Navtech, they charge per unit. When I had my Magallen RoadMate 700 I did not bother with any map updates (also Navtech). How many times does a road change or open? Not often in my area.
After a few years of not paying for map updates I easily was able to justify buying my Garmin 660 last year. I would prefer to have a new GPS every 4/5 years. |
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wmgoat
If It's Not Broken, Don't Mess With It
join:2000-12-12
Huntley, IL
clubs:
·AT&T Midwest
edit:
September 26th, @06:49PM
| reply to Kayrac
said by Kayrac 
that being said garmins are good, and did you really think buying 1 map update would update every gps you own?
Kinda hoped that it would. Its sure expensive enough for 1 DVD. |
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OZO
Premium
join:2003-01-17
| reply to wmgoat
said by wmgoat :Got caught in a fine wording clause with my Garmins. Thank you for sharing your experience with Garmin.
I'll keep that in mind when I'll look for a GPS unit.
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Keep it simple, it'll become complex by itself... |
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avd706
Premium
join:2003-02-06
Great Neck, NY | reply to wmgoat
Dash is the way to go. |
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overrryde
join:2007-04-10
Etobicoke, ON
| reply to wmgoat
What if you use the update program on another pc?
Could it be that it detects taht the update was already used on a specific unit and keeps a record of it in the system? (unit serial # has to match update maybe?)
Try it on another pc, might work! |
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Siko
Premium
join:2006-11-27
Mechanicsburg, PA
clubs: | reply to wmgoat
Now think of it this way, if Garmin allowed it for multiple units. Then all the maps will be pirated so much. |
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wmgoat
If It's Not Broken, Don't Mess With It
join:2000-12-12
Huntley, IL
clubs:
·AT&T Midwest
| reply to overrryde
said by overrryde :What if you use the update program on another pc? Could it be that it detects taht the update was already used on a specific unit and keeps a record of it in the system? (unit serial # has to match update maybe?) Try it on another pc, might work! No, it somehow uses the web to match it to a unit. Appears to do a lookup against the CD key to see the sn of the unit it initially upgraded.
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Remember: To err is human. A computer is required to really mess things up! |
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Kayrac
Premium
join:2001-09-29
Lee, NH
| reply to wmgoat
Garmin maps are pirated quite a bit btw
That being said, garmin just released map updates for the life of the device for 119$
"effective October 15, at a cost of $119."
"subscribers will be able to download quarterly updates for their GPS system as long as they own it."
but it's only for the device(IE if your device dies so does your lifetime maps), and garmin releases new devices so damn often, i'm assuming they think people will get a new gps every 6months-1year or so
Dunno, take from it what you will |
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cahiatt
Premium
join:2001-03-21
Smyrna, GA
 ·BroadVoice
·dock.net
·AT&T Southeast
 ·Charter Pipeline
| reply to wmgoat
I've honestly been more satisfied using Telenav on my PDA phone than any stand alone GPS device I've ever had. At $10 a month it can average out to be the same (or even less) than stand alone units with updates. I have also found the maps and points of interest to be more up to date as it is downloading from a live server (similar to Dash I guess) instead of being stored on the device. |
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