Question about GPS units with lifetime map updates
Mar 19, 2013 | 2:28 pm
#16
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Orlando, FL, US
Programs: DL-Dirt Medallion;US-Cast Iron Preferred
Posts: 3,617
For those of you with Lifetime Maps: have you had trouble applying your updates due to a lack of space available in the internal memory of the unit?
I have a 1.5-year-old nuvi 1450. The device came with lifetime maps...I know it's questionable whether lifetime maps are worthwhile for a built-out part of the world like the U.S./Canada, but on Black Friday all of the Garmins were pretty much the same price (read: cheap) so I took it.
Anyway, now I'm trying to apply updates since we're headed out to Phoenix this week and that is one part of the country where I can see a new road or two having been built since late 2011.
But...it won't let me update all of U.S./Canada due to space limitations!
Since, at a macro level, the size of a U.S./Canada roadmap shouldn't significantly change in that time (maybe by a percent or two max), I'm guessing this is because of how the data is stored in the unit? I unchecked the "backup" option, thinking maybe that was causing the device to retain two full sets of maps. Didn't work.
For now I'm updating the western maps. Good enough for the time being, but this summer we'll head back east and if we encounter a new road somewhere it'd be nice if our Garmin was aware of it.
I know I can acquire SD cards to add all sorts of maps to a Garmin, but it seems like internal memory of a U.S./Canada product in 2011 should be able to handle U.S./Canada maps in 2013. It's not like we've annexed all of Mexico or something...
I have a 1.5-year-old nuvi 1450. The device came with lifetime maps...I know it's questionable whether lifetime maps are worthwhile for a built-out part of the world like the U.S./Canada, but on Black Friday all of the Garmins were pretty much the same price (read: cheap) so I took it.
Anyway, now I'm trying to apply updates since we're headed out to Phoenix this week and that is one part of the country where I can see a new road or two having been built since late 2011.
But...it won't let me update all of U.S./Canada due to space limitations!
Since, at a macro level, the size of a U.S./Canada roadmap shouldn't significantly change in that time (maybe by a percent or two max), I'm guessing this is because of how the data is stored in the unit? I unchecked the "backup" option, thinking maybe that was causing the device to retain two full sets of maps. Didn't work.
For now I'm updating the western maps. Good enough for the time being, but this summer we'll head back east and if we encounter a new road somewhere it'd be nice if our Garmin was aware of it.
I know I can acquire SD cards to add all sorts of maps to a Garmin, but it seems like internal memory of a U.S./Canada product in 2011 should be able to handle U.S./Canada maps in 2013. It's not like we've annexed all of Mexico or something...
I'm not really sure why the later map needed more memory, but they could have added more map detail in areas that lacked it or the POI database could have been made more comprehensive.
Mar 20, 2013 | 2:33 am
#17
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Upcountry Maui, HI
Posts: 13,720
http://www.amazon.com/Sandisk-MicroS...dp/B000SMVQK8/
I have a 2GB SD card on my nuvi, and the last update (last week) wouldn't fit in the internal memory. I had previously deleted old maps, I just let it use the SD card this time.
-David
Last edited by LIH Prem; Mar 20, 2013 at 2:53 am
Mar 20, 2013 | 7:19 am
#18
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,077
My iPhone's GPS accuracy is poor when the WiFi is turned off. I did some tests yesterday and it showed me almost 1/2 mile away from my true location but with the WiFi turned on the accuracy was within 100 feet. The WiFi did not have to be connected to any network but the mere act of turning it on improved the GPS accuracy with the built in Google maps. I then read an article in an Apple support forum that confirmed this condition as reported by others.
Mar 27, 2013 | 10:00 am
#19
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 53,012
Yeah, I figured I could throw an SD card in there. Just seems like I shouldn't have to. Seems like the amount of mapping detail they had for the U.S. and Canada in 2011 shouldn't be orders of magnitude different from today.