Updating Garmin maps, is it worth it?
obieone
Posts: 5,077
My GPS is a 2006 model, which means the maps are 5 years old. I'm thinking about upgrading the maps, but, I'm paranoid about paying $50 and getting maps that only 2-3 years newer.
So, is it worth it?
TIA
So, is it worth it?
TIA
I refuse to argue with idiots, because people can't tell the DIFFERENCE!
Post edited by obieone on
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When I bought my Garmin i got the model with lifetime map and traffic updates. With all the building they are dong down here its worth having the updates.
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No you need to pay the $90 bucks and get unlimited lifetime maps, and you can download more maps from anywhere in the world, so if you travel allot you can download where you will be traveling to and your ready to go when you get there. My Garmin was only like $120 but it is growing so fast around here It was out of date in just a few years. In my opinion it was worth it.
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Yeah, I agree. I will be getting the lifetime when I upgrade the maps. 40 bucks more isn't that much in the whole scheme of things. My only question is, or would be, if I have multiple GPS units.....can you use it on all devices or just one of them?~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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How NEW are the maps, though?I refuse to argue with idiots, because people can't tell the DIFFERENCE!
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as new as the current road census, there are still some subdivisions that are not on mine yet, but they are not on google maps yet either
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I use mine for the GPS mph speed :eek:Panasonic 50" Plasma + Pioneer 6010
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They are not accurate. Ask a trooper to verify.
Truth be told, I am using it for that as well until I get my instrument cluster assembly repaired but it can be off and cops don't give a damn. The speed limit is the speed limit, no matter what. Just an FYI.~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
I use mine for my high speed runs(1 mile) only and it's accurate with the Tag Heuer timing gear.They are not accurate. Ask a trooper to verify.
Truth be told, I am using it for that as well until I get my instrument cluster assembly repaired but it can be off and cops don't give a damn. The speed limit is the speed limit, no matter what. Just an FYI.
Panasonic 50" Plasma + Pioneer 6010
Toshiba XA2 HD-DVD
Panasonic BD30 Blu-Ray
Pioneer 1014
Polk RTi12 (front)...Polk CSi5 (center)
Polk RTi4 (rear)...Velodyne DLS 5000-R Sub
3 Outlaw M-200 Amps -
The Garmin lifetime update is a nice service. Garmin did transfer it to my new GPS when I upgraded to one of their better GPS units, not sure if they will allow multiple GPS units to be updated from the same lifetime license. In the Chicago metro they are constantly updating the base GIS data from which Garmin develops their mapping from.DKG999
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A friend of mine brought his GPS on a plane once. His max speed is like 450MPH or something.If you will it, dude, it is no dream.
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the new generation of Garmin GPS's have free lifetime maps updates if I understand them correctly.
I have a 2007 one myself.. and back then. it was $69 per map update.. and they would release an "update" every year. I only updated mine one time.. for $69 about 3 yrs ago.
mostly what you are paying for on those map updates is for POI (points of Interest) and some roads too.. but I figure as fast as some business open and close.. the PIO will almost always be outdated from year to year.PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin: -
2007 model here too. I upgraded to lifetime updates last year. Painless process, sometimes I get the out to date nag screen, but the dates show correctly on the next screen.
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mdaudioguy wrote: »<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tZXM_g3mqew" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
I swear to god i thought that was a picture of me behind the wheel in that freeze frame....
all joking aside....
scary
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Just bought my Garmin last yr while back in the US. I wanna say it's the 255WT model. Does pretty well for what I need since I'm not back there that much.
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Roads change, maps change... yeah. POI's too... I am impressed with navigon 1.7 for my phone... it has POI's I would not even expect it to have.
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Lots of roads have been updated, for new subdivisions, since the census. When I bought the house, I was driving in an open field. Now the whole subdivision shows up. Got to talk to the guy who was taking GPS coordinates of the streets. He said that 2009 was the big year for street updates to try and get an as accurate a census as possible in 2010.
ScottWithout music to decorate it, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines or dates by which bills must be paid. ..... Frank Zappa -
Anyone have an update available on disc better than 2008? I'm way out of date.CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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cell phone GPS units don't compare to a stand alone GPS... for the sole reason... if you ain't got a cell signal.. your cell phone GPS is worthless..
a stand alone GPS uses satellite.. and is not dependent on a cell signal.. i travel a lot in the mountains of Washington and Idaho.. and with the hilly terrain here.. my cell phone GPS is nearly worthless as soon as I drive behind a mountain. GPS still has my location and route.
PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin: -
They are not accurate. Ask a trooper to verify.
Truth be told, I am using it for that as well until I get my instrument cluster assembly repaired but it can be off and cops don't give a damn. The speed limit is the speed limit, no matter what. Just an FYI.
I'm not sure every brand is perfect second by second (we have Magellan, Tom-Tom and Garmin) as I think there may be a slight lag with some, but over the course of trips of 15 minutes of more they all seem to be spot on. I've found our Garmins match the speedometer best in real-time.danger boy wrote: »the new generation of Garmin GPS's have free lifetime maps updates if I understand them correctly.
I have a 2007 one myself.. and back then. it was $69 per map update.. and they would release an "update" every year. I only updated mine one time.. for $69 about 3 yrs ago.
mostly what you are paying for on those map updates is for POI (points of Interest) and some roads too.. but I figure as fast as some business open and close.. the PIO will almost always be outdated from year to year.
The free updates are nice and go by serial number. I bought four 1600 LMT's for the kids for Christmas and have found you can only update one unit per lifetime license meaning I have to download the whole update for each unit each time.
That's the only bad thing about it as it takes almost an hour to update each unit, and they issue a new free update 4 times per year.VTL ST50 w/mods / RCA6L6GC / TlfnknECC801S
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danger boy wrote: »cell phone GPS units don't compare to a stand alone GPS... for the sole reason... if you ain't got a cell signal.. your cell phone GPS is worthless..
a stand alone GPS uses satellite.. and is not dependent on a cell signal.. i travel a lot in the mountains of Washington and Idaho.. and with the hilly terrain here.. my cell phone GPS is nearly worthless as soon as I drive behind a mountain. GPS still has my location and route.
That's.... kind of misleading.
Both cell phone and standalone GPS's use satellites. The same GPS satellites. The difference is the majority of cell phones download the actual MAPS from the Internet (via cell networks) wihle standalones keep the data on a flash chip onboard. Hence why you have to update them (while the ones that get the info over cellular are constantly updating).
I have seen an app or two, at least for iPhone, that lets you download a local copy of maps in case you are somewhere without service.If you will it, dude, it is no dream.
