Downloadable map update for Garmin Mobile PC

I recently bought the Garmin Mobile PC software and receiver, and just checked the Garmin site. It stated that a map update is ready, so I started the download process. Their Download Manager is 1.92 GB and will take 24 hours to load - could this be possible?

Generally, they are quoted first for people with dial up modems (worst case). If you have broadband and the site isn't overly busy, it should be in the 2 hour range.

Terry

I was notified about the new 2010 update on 7/24. I tried to download, but received a error message from Garmin. I contacted Garmin support and they said the update would not work with Mobile PC. The correct version would be released in a few weeks (Middle of August?). I purchased the software in June, so the rep told me he would extend the 30 day restriction and the will notify me when the update is released. Nice of them to do that.

Checked the Garmin map update page today and found that Mobile PC has the lifetime update service available!. I called Support and they verified it is now available to purchase.

Now, that is interesting. I wonder if it means Garmin will not put out a new version of the program this year or in the future. Does it only apply to the version with a GPS (10x or 20x)included?

Terry

The new version (2010) is out now the tech rep said. I haven't received my notification email yet, but he said it was available. Not sure about which version, but I assume it would be for both 10x and 20x. The tech just said the lifetime subscriptions would be for Mobile PC

There are 2 versions of Mobile PC, one is software-only and the other comes with a GPS. Although I can't find the Garmin page you are discussing, I suspect it would only apply to the version that includes a GPS.

Still, if this is the direction Garmin is taking with Mobile PC, it could mean a new version of the program itself might not be forthcoming. The software version of Mobile PC is the same price or less than the cost of a map update.

Terry

I logged into my account, selected the Maps drop down list, selected Update Maps. On the next screen click on the "blue Check for Updates button), next screen connects to your device. Mine says in blue, "GPS 20x Software Version 2.60" Click on those words, it Garmin will find the Serial number of your GPS and then the next screen shows (2) choices for updates. The first is "nuMaps Lifetime" North America, the second is "nuMaps Onetime".

Choose which one you want and push "add to cart"
The onetime version has a choice of download or order on CD. Hope this helps

-Bill

That answers Terry's question in a roundabout sort of way.

In fact you are not seeing a map update for your Mobile PC. You are seeing a map update for your GPS20x which is what you have registered on your MyGarmin account.

It's not even possible to register Mobile PC on Garmin's site. Not through your MyGarmin account and not through the generic registration page. So it's not possible to use the "Update Maps" function on MyGarmin to check for updates to Mobile PC because you can't register it.

This is an issue I raised with the Garmin tech support just a week or so ago when I emailed to ask when there would be new maps for Mobile PC or a new version of Mobile PC with new maps. He said I should go to MyGarmin and register for email notification. When I told him that wasn't possible because it's not possible to register Mobile PC (why didn't he already know that???) he emailed back that he had done some sort of magic on my account and so I should get email notice.

I don't put much faith in that because he also said in the same email that I could use the check for updates feature of Mobile PC to check when it's available. .....

Ummmm, there is no Check for Updates feature in Mobile PC. DUHHH!!!

Ooops, sorry about the rant. It's not aimed at you. I'm always a little annoyed on those occasions when I discover that I know stuff about Garmin's products that their supposed tech experts don't. I'm especially annoyed when they tell me stuff that's simply not true. No, I don't think they're lying. They're just ignorant. Not properly trained and not enough good information in their tech support database about the products they're expected to support.

...ken...

???? See attached screen shots:

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Hi Ken,

I'll bet you registered that with the serial number from the GPS receiver that came with it. Garmin's registration pages have no selection for Mobile PC. Period. It appears that you can use the serial number of the receiver and the database associates it with Mobile PC if it's in the appropriate range.

But there is no way to register Mobile PC as a product directly that I can find. At least two seperate discussions with Garmin tech support have confirmed this.

By the way, if someone can find what I've missed .. a way to directly register Mobile PC as a product .. I would sincerely appreciate being pointed to the correct page and menu selections. I have the software-only version so no hardware serial number to use to register it. And the product key does not work as a substitute.

...ken...

I was told the same thing. Specifically, the upcoming 2010.20 download will work with GMPC and be freely available to those of us with issues.

On a related note, I bought the European map disc and it works just fine with GMPC. I used the latest MapSource and wrote it to an SD card (it's less than 2GB) then dragged the gmapsupp.img to the GMPC directories.

Great stuff. Just want to get that North American update.

Hi Guys,
I just found this site today. Great Site!
I have the same thing as Ken in Regina. I just bought Mobile PC software only and have no way to register it. I am still waiting for Garmin support to get back to me. Please let me know if you guys ever get this fixed. It seems very unfair that you would have to buy their laptop GPS unit to get map updates.
Thanks
njtek

Hi njtek,

It's an annoyance but it's not a really big deal in the end. What's annoying is that without registering it's difficult to determine when a map update is available.

The up side is that it's actually cheaper to buy a new copy of Mobile PC software-only version with new maps than it is to buy the new map updates seperately.

The down side is that you'll need to be careful and make sure you've got a backup of any personal data, like Favorites or saved Routes and Tracks, just in case the upgrade steps on them. But that should be standard procedure before installing any new or upgraded software. We all always do that. ..... Right???

...ken...