talking to a fellow in adelaide, he has a garmin navigator, said it was possibly due for an upgrade, didnt know how to do it, took it back to the salepeople from whom he purchased and was told that an update would set him back $300 dollars does anybody know whether this is correct, had a trip up with mine at the same time it didnt recognise a new roundabout on the way to salisbary from burton, first hiccup I have ever had in the 3 years that I have owned this one

Yep, UPDATES for both the mapping software and navigational software can be expensive. As these gadgets get older too, say 3 weeks out of the box (sorry not really) they are outdated quickly. There is around a 2 year lag to in getting info from real life onto the maps so as an example the latest update for mine which was August last year would have had details that were current in around 2005.....
The Garmins are sposed to be really top of the range and supposedly will guide you across the vast interior where no roads exist.... But the ability of these to acuratley guide you depends on the quality and CONTENT of the acual mapping software, the navigaion side being done by the GPS....
My advice (not that you wanted it but your gettin it) would be to either keep the Garmin for a toy and buy a new one for $300 WITH BETTER SOFTWARE ALL ROUND....

funny you should say that "buy a new one" because thats what this feller was going to do, does this mean all gps are basically out of date? I only use mine in the cities and it is beginning to stumble, if thats the case why buy an expensive one in the first place, nevermind a secondhand one

These things like all this modern whizz bang technology "ages" so quickly....Soon these will come free in "Blue Hills" (Cereal) packages.... This is an area where planned obsolescence has a strong marketing strategy...A bit like mobile phones, mine does everything and I only want it to make calls.... In the USA did you know you can buy mobile phones from vending machines $10us ea, use it and throw away, no provision to recharge it.....
To answer your question Dave yep even if you buy one with updates current today it will still be a cuppla years behind reality. However they do take "planned" roadworks into account when doing the mapping...

-- Edited by Basil Faulty at 15:18, 2008-08-31

The trap for young players is that retailers get stuck with obsolete models and so sell them at Bargain basement prices just to get rid of them, ALWAYS check the map dates before purchase if that is important. Some people just use these for "pose" value, or to invite the ubitquous hoons to break into their car to steal it.

G'day Basil & Dave.. When you get a chance, check out a web site called 'Shonky Maps". Apparently there are ways to up date a GPS without the extravagant cost. I have never been there, as I don't as yet have enough 5 cent cans'n bottles collected to buy one. Have placed a Fathers Day order, but don't think I have enough fingers to cross. Great to see you lovely blokes entertaining this forum.

well thanks for that griz, tell you what you go over to a mirror and say g'day from me to another "lovely bloke"

If he has a computer he can update his Garmin online at no cost.  I have several Garmin's (why is another story) and recently updated them all including an old GPS12.

I have Shonky Maps loaded in all my Garmin's as that is my basic mapping package.

bugga wish I had the old fellas adrress he could have used this info, I think he has gone out and bought himself another at great expense, I had a look at the website, htp://shonkylogic.net/shonkymaps/  looks to be all legit and very readable and very easy to download, thanks to all who suggested the site, makes me want to go out and buy a garmin secondhand and update it and flog it off at enormous profit, only kidding, it would only be a small profit, just to cover costs you understand, not sure if he has a computer, dont think he has time, he is always on the move, dont know whether he can really afford a new gps either but he is buying one just the same, shame I didnt know before, oh well cant help everyone all the time I guess a few must slip through the cracks 

Now if it's at all shonky why wasn't I told (to quote Dorrie Evans)....
Looks brilliant to me.....

I purchased a Garmin Nuvi 660 from the Garmin agent in Newcastle. I was told by the agent that when a new version of the mapping is released, go on-line and register the purchase and I will be sent a CD with the upgrade. A mate has the same model so one of us will register the purchase and both can use the same CD.

-- Edited by Captain at 21:32, 2008-09-01

 a big old welcome to you captain, at last we have rank with us lot, look I agree, that information apparently was passed to the gentleman in question as well but when he went to register or whatever it takes he was presented with the option of "buying" an update, I dont know the absolute full details, as it was passed on to me by an older feller and he was a little confused (arent we all) by modern technology, the wizzbang gadgetry that was in the little box was perhaps his first foray in to modern technology, bloody mongrel barstards,if one must update these things at (to many, certainly to him), is great cost then it turns out to be incorrect and behind the times why are the companys taking advantage of people such as him and me and you, oh one other thing that I found whilst "googling" shonkymaps, this is the same topographic map that was sprouted as the be all and end all of modern desert and outback maps, in one of our forums earlier,  it is currently being "sold" on ebay for an enormous ammount, just shows that one must keep communication and all eyes open, otherwise ones money is gone as is one old fellers that I could not help, but hopefully many more will read this and the mongrels will be brought to task by technology itself. if anyone is going to or has downloaded these maps would you please let the forum know how you got on and what the results are like. 

Captain wrote:

---

I purchased a Garmin Nuvi 660 from the Garmin agent in Newcastle. I was told by the agent that when a new version of the mapping is released, go on-line and register the purchase and I will be sent a CD with the upgrade. A mate has the same model so one of us will register the purchase and both can use the same CD.

---

Hi Captain

You should have no problem loading Shonky Maps on to the Nuvi 660.  Although I do not have a 660, I do have a Nuvi 710 and a Street Pilot 7200 and both of them run City Navigator and Shonky Maps.  When I run out of City Navigator coverage I just revert to the Shonky Maps.

 

as far as downloading the updates for the garmin is concerened, just out of curiosity I downloaded the whole lot last night even though I do not own a garmin, I only did it so as to be able to report to the forum whether or not they are (1) legit   (2) safe (3) practical, I can now report that they pass all inspections with flying colours, completly safe and very user freindly, I have a very powerfull anti virus software system and it detected absolutely nothing, so all you fellers with the garmins go right ahead, it will save you hundreds, just wish I could contact one old mate who is going to buy a new one at great expense