Garmin Updates On NA Maps

[jackrabbit000]

I'm thinking about buying a Garmin Lifetime Update for my GPS. Anyone have any idea on how many times a year Garmin does updates to maps in Canada. I'm guessing that Canada is probably not on the high priority update list.

[HammerJoe]

I'm thinking about buying a Garmin Lifetime Update for my GPS. Anyone have any idea on how many times a year Garmin does updates to maps in Canada. I'm guessing that Canada is probably not on the high priority update list.

Garmin releases new maps 4 times a year for all of North America.
You dont say what model you have but with the cost of the lifetime maps its probably a better deal to buy a newer unit with lifetime maps.

[Poulet]

Check Costco, they have the nuvi 3760. Very very thin. 200$ with lots of features.

[bvit6667]

There was a thread with a similar question a few weeks ago. I did a search but can't find it right now. Someone there mentioned free maps found on www.osmmaps.com that work with the Garmin Nuvi GPS. My maps on my Garmin are about two years old and should be updated but I didn't like the price for new ones so thought that I'd give them a try.

I have a Nuvi 255w and downloaded the maps for Canada and the U.S. The files are rather large (especially the U.S. one). I put them on seperate SD Cards and followed the directions noted on the site. That was a couple of weeks ago...so far I am more than pleased. The Canadian map seems to show more detail than the Garmin map.

I haven't been able to figure out how to get both the U.S. & Canadian maps to work on the same SD card (if it can be done). But, for all the times I go to the U.S. I can just switch memory cards.

[DavidY]

There was a thread with a similar question a few weeks ago. I did a search but can't find it right now. Someone there mentioned free maps found on www.osmmaps.com that work with the Garmin Nuvi GPS. My maps on my Garmin are about two years old and should be updated but I didn't like the price for new ones so thought that I'd give them a try.

I have a Nuvi 255w and downloaded the maps for Canada and the U.S. The files are rather large (especially the U.S. one). I put them on seperate SD Cards and followed the directions noted on the site. That was a couple of weeks ago...so far I am more than pleased. The Canadian map seems to show more detail than the Garmin map.

I haven't been able to figure out how to get both the U.S. & Canadian maps to work on the same SD card (if it can be done). But, for all the times I go to the U.S. I can just switch memory cards.

That's a good, cheap solution...Canada map on one card and the US on another. Recently, I have only tried my OSM map locally...not many POI's like Garmin map (August 2011). But, it's FREE! My GPS is the 1350.

I believe that, based on my check last summer, the cost for lifetime maps (after GPS purchase) was like $80 or so....way too pricey IMO. You can buy a refurb Garmin GPS with free lifetime maps for close to that price (wait for a sale at Visions.ca or elsewhere).

Dave

[Phils]

That's a good, cheap solution...Canada map on one card and the US on another. Recently, I have only tried my OSM map locally...not many POI's like Garmin map (August 2011). But, it's FREE! My GPS is the 1350.

I believe that, based on my check last summer, the cost for lifetime maps (after GPS purchase) was like $80 or so....way too pricey IMO. You can buy a refurb Garmin GPS with free lifetime maps for close to that price (wait for a sale at Visions.ca or elsewhere).

Dave

I have lifetime maps on a Nuvi that was discontinued years ago. I have probably downloaded 10 map updates with it and I like the idea that you pay once and you're pretty much always up-to-date. The only issue is that if you have a hardware failure your lifetime maps aren't transferrable.

[Skipper]

I second OSM. The file for just Canada itself has ballooned in the last few months, but I'm not sure if it's because it has more data or the address search info enabled by mkgmap. Anecdotally, there seems to be a lot more POI than before. I use it with my Garmin Dakota and have used Canadian, UK, and Korean maps with it no problem. As a bonus, there seems to be trail info on there that isn't covered by googlemaps.

That's a good, cheap solution...Canada map on one card and the US on another. Recently, I have only tried my OSM map locally...not many POI's like Garmin map (August 2011). But, it's FREE! My GPS is the 1350.

I believe that, based on my check last summer, the cost for lifetime maps (after GPS purchase) was like $80 or so....way too pricey IMO. You can buy a refurb Garmin GPS with free lifetime maps for close to that price (wait for a sale at Visions.ca or elsewhere).

Dave

[GTT1]

I think sites like this have contributed to the GPS companies giving lifetime maps. Especially for Tom Tom and Garmin

http://gpsunderground.com/forum/

[mr_raider]

Garmin allows you do downlaod partial maps only. You can omit Mexico, Hawaii, ALaska and Bermuda if you want to reduce the file size. You can also do Canada + border states only.