WOOHOO!! Garmin mailed out my update CD while I was in NM and I finally got around to installing the new maps, etc. this morning. I'm still delighted with my c330 streetpilot and wandered fearlessly throughout NM, knowing this little sweetie would take me wherever I wanted. The update disk was soooo simple with only 3 or 4 steps to perform and now my North American maps are being updated to the newest version. I remain quite delighted with my streetpilot and have no "buyer's remorse". I'm wondering if anyone else went the cd route or perhaps just downloaded the updates. I'm also wondering if any of you have used the new maps. Anyone????

 

I update on a regular basis for my Quest.

 

Val....After reading your post i went to Garmins Web site and looked at the Street pilot I 5, i had no idea you could by something that small and that powerful. I will
be getting one soon......thanks for the post

Bill

 

Yes, Valentine. I got the new CD and reloaded all the maps on my Garmin StreetPilot 2610. I can't say I've noticed a difference but it wasn't too hard to do and I do love my GPS. I programed it for Andy to use last week when he had to go to a new jobsite in Bakersfield, so it took him right to the door. He likes it too. Maybe I finally have a Christmas present for him!

 

I'm enchanted with mine and never travel without it. It is particularly good when we're in unfamiliar places. My son was in this week and he's always been a magellan fan, but after using my Garmin (we call her "Betty" because of the female voice), he's ordered one.

 

My Garmin stopped working last week. I have the Streetpilot 2620 and I love it. I am feeling lost without it. I even miss the female voice that tells me where to turn (I tease my wife about my "girlfriend who lives in the garage").

It seems the hard drive in the unit went bad. When I'd turn it on, the unit would show the Garmin page and the first info page and then reboot. It would continue to go through this cycle until it would finally tell me that the media had a bad format.

I called Garmin and was immediately given an RMA number and told to mail it back. The unit would be covered by warranty and the problem would either be fixed or the entire unit would be replaced. I sent it back last Wednesday and expect to have it back by the end of this week.

So far I like the customer service (one hint, call them, don't rely on e-mail. For some reason they don't answer their e-mails.)

After I get it back I intend to update the maps (if they don't as part of the warranty service). My maps were two generations old, but when I bought the unit I decided to buy every other map update (roads around here don't change that fast). The only address that I've not been able to find so far has been OhioRacer's home when we drove to the Buckeye. The only site that I've not been able to locate so far has been the StillBay Inn, but my 2620 wasn't working properly by then.

I did update the software once. A very simple process of downloading it to my computer and plugging the Garmin into the USB slot.

 

Valentine,

We also have a Street Pilot C-330. Are you referring to the new software Version 4.80 dated 11 Oct 05? I went to Garmin's web site an I don't see a Map update available for the C-330.

They sent me an e-mail about ten days ago and I did update to V4.80. Like Valentine suggested it is an easy process.

I was under the impression that the Map updates were a subscription service that cost about $75.00 per year.

Are we referring to two different things here? Please advise.

 

Matt: Apparently when I bought the unit earlier this year, it was preloaded with Version 6 maps and now v 7 is out. They sent me several emails telling me updates were available (and they were free of charge), so I asked for a dvd rather than a download from their site. The dvds became available for mailing around 8/15/05 and mine arrived while I was away. Looking at the cd today I see that is for the c330 only with fully routable detailed maps with updated road details throughout the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. When I got the unit I subscribed to their e-mail service for available updates, but I believe it was free of charge.

Rob: I reported to Garmin that once we were hit face-on with a radar gun that totally stopped my unit. The service folks (wonderful service on the phone -- never tried the e-mail route) told me they had never heard of such a thing happening, but would investigate it. They also told me if I had any more probs with the unit to return it during my one-year full warranty period. So far this has not happened again, but I've not been as close to a radar unit as I was that one time.

 

I have been "painted" with radar and have not had any problems.

Did you have a radar detector? If so did you happen to notice which "band" you were hit with?

 

Had a radar detector (it happened in North Carolina) and no I did not notice the band. It was a gun and the officer was aiming directly at the car. I've NEVER gotten such a direct hit before. The radar detector was screaming and the gps unit shut completely down. The detector was affixed to my visor on the right side of the car and the gps was on the left side near the steering column -- ie, they were not side by side. The folks at Garmin said they'd have their engineers look into this, but I've not heard anything from them and the unit has been operating normally since the event.