It Can't Get Easier
This is well near a brilliant plan for owners of Garmin GPS's. Pay one time, get up to four updates to your core GPS map software per year, for the life of your device. I've actually salaried more than the price of this subscription to update one of my GPS's. So this was a no brainer for me.
First step - go to the Garmin Website and verify that the precise model of GPS you own is listed. Don't assume your model is listed - go to the internet site and verify it is actually listed first. The list is huge, long, major long. My Nuvi 765T and 670 were both listed as compatible.
Second Step - order this "gift card" from Amazon. This is by far the most unbelievable deal equated to a buy chez Garmin. With a Prime account, no sales tax, no shipping, and you've got this lovely little credit card in around 2 days.
Third Step - Like most gift cards, you scrape off the product key cover on the back of the card.
Fourth Step - make sure you recognise your MyGarmin user name and password - if not create an account. If you've had a GPS for longer than 1 year, you must have an account.
Fifth Step - Plug your GPS into your computer with a USB cable. Go to the internet site listed on the back of the card and follow the instruction.
Now the automatic stuff happens. You log into your account, it validates the product key, and then starts the download process. First it checks your computer, then checks for your device, then checks for compatibility, and then launches a download manager. You will see a pop up and you'll have to give permissions like 10 times before the manager installs, and starts the download.
Don't be afraid of the download manager. It's simple and only works with Garmin's website. It won't trash your computer.
Now the portion to be affrighted of - my firstborn update to my Nuvi 765T is 1.92Gb. So you darn well better have a very fast internet connection (my comcast connection did that download in around 20 minutes) or you'll need to commence this up before you go to bed at night and just let it run.
Last step, once the download manager has downloaded the whole file (you may check a box that says "close when done" and "launch when done"), click on Launch on the download manager box. The file will extract to the destination folder you set up in the early steps of download. Once extracted, the update program will run. The prompts there are simple and straightforward. I'm not sure what the update speed depends on, but they warn you it may take up to 2 hours. Mine altered in around 10 minutes.
An important caveat that you can not miss. This is for ONE GPS. ONLY ONE GPS. You cannot use this same code to update other Garmin GPS's. You have to buy a second card to update more units.
The other downside at Amazon, the combo North American and Europe card is not available through Amazon at this writing. So you must go to the Garmin website for that download.
Honestly, if you buy two updates to your GPS, this card pay for itself. I in truth love the "no questions asked" quarterly updates to my GPS.
July 8, 2009 Update - type nuvi tips and tricks into your bestloved search engine. The initial hit is a resource on how to better use your Nuvi. It's a fantastic internetlocation with hundreds of tips.
December 13, 2009 update - that North American / European lifetime subscription is now available at Amazon, it is here: Garmin nüMaps Lifetime Map Update for North America & Europe [Online Map Code]. This one double requires my instructions above, becuase you buy not one thing physical at all. Amazon sends you the activation code, and no physical card. It doesn't get faster, but you have not one thing to show for your cash other than a code number.
Not something to do at the last minute
I beauteous much agree with Daniel's 5/20 review. If Amazon had 1/2 stars, I'd give this product 3 1/2 stars for ease of the process; doesn't get 4-5 stars because POI's don't include local chain stores that have been around for ages and b/c you can't transfer the update code to a new device. The procedure is easy (on a Mac running 10.4.11) but lengthy and of course I agree with everyone who says that Garmin actually ought to provide a way to transfer the update to a new device ought to yours break or get stolen. But if you get even two years' worth of updates, you're doing better than buying the updates individually. Here are a few further and added comments:
--as other said, be sure to check the Garmin internetlocation (garmin-dot-com/numapslifetime) for compatible models and caveats. Back of package says for example, that nuvi 200 and 205 series owners do not get coverage of Mexico
--"lifetime" = lifetime of your unit or lifetime of Garmin's kinship with Navteq, whichever comes first. Navteq's current agreement with Garmin lasts until 2015. You may recall that in 2007 there was a heap of doubt regarding that kinship when Garmin got into a bidding war for TeleAtlas, the other major map provider.
--there are computer requisites as well, no doubt available on Garmin's website. Back of the package says Windows XP SP2 and Mac OS X 10.4.11 minimum (+ other requirements). I would not put it past Garmin to all of a sudden alter the computer requirements - another way of shortening the lifetime of your "lifetime" product.
--Garmin says you need a high speed internet connection. Even with my high speed connection (my ISP claims 6630 kpbs at the moment) it took two hours to download the 2.7 GB file and another hour to install the update (during which Garmin recommends you not use your computer for other things)
--as with other "tech" things, read the instructions (on the back of the card). It gives you the address for the map update internetsite and reminds you that you need the scratch-off product key from the card to do the update.
--to get a sense of how the installation routine works, search on G--gle for
"map download instructions" site:[type garmin's internet site name here] and look for a pdf document called "downloading your map update" - this is the pdf file Garmin refers you to for step-by-step installation instructions
--Addendum: well, Garmin just lost their 1/2 star. I purchased a 2nd nuMaps subscription and had a frightening time downloading the update. The download manager (which helps managed dropped downloads) didn't show up and the download stalled multiple times, forcing me to restart from scratch multiple times until the download in the long run succeeded - and having my two-hour download stall halfway through the procedure multiple times made for a very discouraging and hindering night. To top it off, the aid e-mail form gives no indication that it's been sent after you click the send button (so I sent them assorted duplicate e-mails, thinking that my request hadn't gone through). The next day Garmin tech support responded and pointed me to a link in my myGarmin account maps tab that allows me to redownload the product will have to I need to.
--if you are a Mac user, I strongly commend backing up your device before installing your nuMaps (the nuvi is just a hard drive as far as the computer's concerned and you may make a backup using Disk Utility). The nuMap installer admonished me that I might lose a good deal of voices, but said I could re-download them from Garmin. Two teensy troubles the installer forgot to mention - my peculiar device is not compatible with Garmin's new web-based voice installer ("Garage") and the .vpm voice files (e.g, American English Jack) that are still available on Garmin's web site come in a Windows-only .exe file. I was competent to restore my lost voices only because I had antecedently backed up my device.
Great deal for new Garmin users
We have a 3 year old Garmin 350. We find the unit itself is very easy to use. Our problem is we used our fee update 18 months ago and it did not include much of the new road construction around us. We also found that the altering face of our city had galore new, moved and closed businesses and our Points of Interest were also out of date. An update was imminent and it was going to cost us this time. I saw on the lifetime map updates on the Garmin web site and thought I might find a bit better deal and that brought me here where one of the venders had a great deal.
If you are unsure whether an update has the new features you are looking for you may preview the elaborated US map on the Garmin buying goods site. Be careful there are lists of "supported Nuvi units" on a good deal of of the vendors internet sites that are woefully incomplete. For instance our 350 was not on the marketer list, but after a search I was capable to find a list on the Garmin buying goods website that seems to list all the Nuvi and other units. The product page has a ton of selective information but you may have to dig around a bit to find it.
What you get in the mail is basically a reward card size card with a scratch off code. My one gripe for all this is the shipping cost for this is almost unnecessary except the card is in a store theft control hard shell wrapper. If you upgrade at Garmin you will get the code without delay and accordingly no shipping so be sure to factor this in the price.
The upgrade was pretty straight forward but took me when it comes to 3 hours. The download is almost 2GB so a good internet connection is very helpful, I am gorgeous sure though you may get it on DVD for shipping cost.
Bottom line, I genuinely like the Garmin unit and the update will have paid for itself the next time I do it. It seems like a good investment to me.
