GPS Question, getting maps from computer to gps
 

I have the Garmin Streetpilot i5. I had e-mailed Garmin and they told me to get European Maps that I should buy the City Navigator DVD of Europe and a SD Card to download my info to. I bought the DVD, did some pre-planning on my friend's computer (I don't have a dvd in mine) and we put it all on the SD Card. When I got the GPS (I am borrowing it)I noticed there is no slot for the SD Card. I am hoping that when I get access to my friend's computer that I should be able to download the Italy Map (that's all I need this trip) straight from the computer to the GPS- can someone tell me if this is accurate? I have e-mailed Garmin also. I am hoping to alleviate my anxiety, thanks!

I think you need a microSD card, instead of an SD card. Different formats, different slots.

I think you are absolutely right. The slot that is there is much smaller. But I was advised, I believe, that I needed that if I was to need all the European Maps. I only need Italy. Should this be able to be directly downloaded into my GPS? Thanks!

From garmin.com

&quot;The StreetPilot <b>i2 or i3</b> come packaged with a DVD of highly detailed street maps and a 128 megabyte (MB) microSD card for downloading map areas.&quot;

Looks like you might be SOL.

TTT

Please explain why I am SOL? Are you saying that I will not be able to download the Italy map to the GPS and also not be able to use a micro sd card?

The i5 specs say it has a microSD slot.

buy.garmin.com/shop/store/assets/pdfs/specs/spiseries_spec.pdf

Couldn't the OP buy a large micro-SD card and download to it? I know the micro-SD I bought for my Blackberry is 1GB and was $30 or less. It has an adapter to use in something that takes the regular SD card. Assuming I am not completely misunderstanding this situation, I would think the OP could get a larger micro-SD card than the one that the Garmin came with and download anything he needs to it.

For clarification, by larger, I was referring to memory size, not physical size! I'm not that technologically stupid! :-)

The i5 does not have a chip, according to the specs. Get a 1gb &mu;SD at eCost for $10.

ecost.com/Detail.aspx?EDP=36663033

Call the Garmin tech support toll free number. They are very helpful. 800-800-1020. ((b))

Thanks all-
I was advised by Garmin to buy the Micro SD, slide it in the GPS, connect the gps to the computer then download the info.

Just remember, once you select and download your maps onto the SD card, don't attempt to download any future maps or portions of maps because it will erase your previous maps on the card.

Once your maps are downloaded onto the SD card, you can then download any and all waypoints, and it won't affect the maps.

The nice thing about having the DVD is you can zoom in to about 80 ft and mark a waypoint. That way it will get you to the center of the town vs. the outskirts if you just programmed the town name into the computer. ((b))

Entering the town name gets you to the outskirts? So you have to find the town center and mark it? I had no idea Garmin made their customers do their work for them!

p.s. RTOM. How to download maps is on page 23 of this document: http://www8.garmin.com/manuals/917_OwnersManual.pdf

<i>Entering the town name gets you to the outskirts?</i>

Yeah, you need a street and/or address.

Either you misunderstood, or I wasn't clear. This is just for entering waypoints from your computer prior to transferring the data onto your GPS.

For example, I knew I wanted to go to Asti, Italy. So I marked a waypoint at a particular Piazza from the DVD map that I wanted to go to, named it, and downloaded it onto the computer. ((b))

So, it's 2 different actions to get the maps &amp; the wayments on the micro sd? I'll be doing this tonight- I hope someone here is available if I have a problem ;)

I already have the Italy Map and the Waypoints that I wanted saved on my friend's computer, so I will just hope that it is &quot;obvious&quot; once I connect everything how to transfer the info.

I'm seriously not usually this techie dumb. I swear.

You can probably do them both at the same time. Once they are downloaded, go into your GPS to make sure they are there. You can also rename them as something you will recognize prior to download.

Hope it works out. Enjoy your trip. ((b))

I can't seem to get the routes portion into my gps, the maps and the waypoints are in though. I'm going to call Garmin.

The wait was too long on the 1-800 number, but I found in the help section this:

NOTE: If an option is grayed out, it is not available for your unit, or you have not selected that type of data in MapSource.

I'm just assuming the routes section is not available to me.

We have driven Europe pre-GPS with a paper map and it was fine. Yes, we got slightly lost one time and in the process met a wonderful family. As we go we highlight our route on the map and that in itself makes a wonderful momento of all the little towns and places along the way that you visited. Every twist, every turn and road in Europe no matter where you are offers beauty, quaintness and wonder. Enjoy.

This all sounds so familiar AP6380. My husband and I now just rent cars with the GPS. EASIER.