GMap 478 owners - Don't try to update to CN 2011.1...yet

[SCflyer]

I got an email today that any issues had been fixed. I now have access to all the areas in the given list and am downloading US and Canada at the moment and so far so good. The list starts with all of North American, the breaks it down to smaller areas.

I have the lifetime updates for CN North America and tried to download the latest (CN North America NT 2011.10) and the ONLY thing it would allow me to download is "Canada and border states". For the Canucks with a 478, guess you're good but for those of us south, you cannot get anything else.
It will load the entire update to mapsource but not the GPS. I called Garmin (call early and little to no wait time) and for some reason the 478s have issues with the new download system. I asked about other units and the rep doesn't know. She said the software/IT folks are aware and "working on it". She mentioned a site download fix or a DVD yet to come out. The only options you have are to...wait and use the older version until this is fixed or if you're in my situation; download what you want to/can use to a data card from mapsource and go that route. Hope I'm the only one and got the info out before somebody needs it for a trip!

[Drif10]

Thanks for the tip, I was gonna update mine this weekend. Think I'll wait.

[MichaelJ]

Mine went without a hitch. Updated it on April 10th.

[SCflyer]

Originally Posted by MichaelJ

Mine went without a hitch. Updated it on April 10th.

Glad if worked for somebody. Which area on the new download list did you pick?

[Steve W]

Originally Posted by SCflyer

Glad if worked for somebody. Which area on the new download list did you pick?

My updated the whole mapset, Canada and the US.

[MichaelJ]

Originally Posted by Steve W

My updated the whole mapset, Canada and the US.

+1

[rjudge]

Originally Posted by SCflyer

I have the lifetime updates for CN North America and >>>SNIP!<<<

Woah, wait a minute. I just called Garmin last week trying to purchase the "Lifetime" maps for my 376C and the lady said it was only for units like the Nuvi that had the maps preloaded. I didn't think the 478 was in that category. How did you get lifetime maps????? I'm getting tired of buying a $100 map every year or two for both of my GPSs.

RIck

[SCflyer]

Originally Posted by rjudge

Woah, wait a minute. I just called Garmin last week trying to purchase the "Lifetime" maps for my 376C and the lady said it was only for units like the Nuvi that had the maps preloaded. I didn't think the 478 was in that category. How did you get lifetime maps????? I'm getting tired of buying a $100 map every year or two for both of my GPSs.

RIck

Did your 376 come preloaded with City Navigator? If so, then you should be able to use the Lifetime updates. When calling Garmin about this problem the lady I spoke to said the unit doesn't have an internal memory . I thought it has to since it has the maps on it...She corrected herself later. The site info. says it does have internal memory but the maps are preloaded onto the what internal memory it does have when made and u can update what's already there, not load additional. There is no "internal memory" for extra stuff. If you want to add more maps (topo for example) you have to get a data card. I tried to find any information (receipts, purchase info etc) for the lifetime update but no joy. I don't remember if I called or ordered it online...but it works...well, most of the time.

Guess mine is the odd GPS out since the others above seemed to work ok. I tried it again, and again it would only load Canada. Maybe it's telling me something about where I need to go!

[rjudge]

Originally Posted by SCflyer

Did your 376 come preloaded with City Navigator? If so, then you should be able to use the Lifetime updates. When calling Garmin about this problem the lady I spoke to said the unit doesn't have an internal memory . I thought it has to since it has the maps on it...She corrected herself later. The site info. says it does have internal memory but the maps are preloaded onto the what internal memory it does have when made and u can update what's already there, not load additional. There is no "internal memory" for extra stuff. If you want to add more maps (topo for example) you have to get a data card. I tried to find any information (receipts, purchase info etc) for the lifetime update but no joy. I don't remember if I called or ordered it online...but it works...well, most of the time.

Guess mine is the odd GPS out since the others above seemed to work ok. I tried it again, and again it would only load Canada. Maybe it's telling me something about where I need to go!

I'll have to try and call them back and hope I get someone that'll sell me the lifetime maps. I think mine came with City Nav North America but it was on CD/DVD. So, technically, it wasn't loaded in the GPS. What a silly distinction! What the heck difference does it make whether I have to load it myself or if it was already loaded. If I could find a viable alternative to Garmin, I'd switch.

Rick

[Steve W]

Originally Posted by rjudge

Woah, wait a minute. I just called Garmin last week trying to purchase the "Lifetime" maps for my 376C and the lady said it was only for units like the Nuvi that had the maps preloaded. I didn't think the 478 was in that category. How did you get lifetime maps????? I'm getting tired of buying a $100 map every year or two for both of my GPSs.

RIck

I have the lifetime option for NA and Europe (the combined deal) for my 376c and the NA lifetime for my 478. Both are compatible with both...... If that makes any sense.

[MichaelJ]

Originally Posted by Steve W

I have ... the lifetime option for NA for my 478.

+1

[SCflyer]

Fyi

[9Dave]

Originally Posted by SCflyer

Fyi

Thanks for keeping everyone up to date.

[rjudge]

Originally Posted by Steve W

I have the lifetime option for NA and Europe (the combined deal) for my 376c and the NA lifetime for my 478. Both are compatible with both...... If that makes any sense.

I finally got Garmin to admit that the CNNA 2011 NT and lifetime maps will work on bothe my 376C and 276C units. I bought a CNNA 2011 NT and Lifetime Maps for both and they installed and unlocked with only the usual Garminoid hitches. I'm realitively happy.

I read the Lifetime Maps fine print and it scares me a little. I get maps until Garmin decides the usefull life of the units is over. In other words, until they decide to stop supporting them. I do not like the sound of that.

RJ

[Country Doc]

Just an update on this. I updated my new-to-me 478 last week, and the only thing it would, at first, let me download is "Canada and the border states", similar to the OP here.

(this is on a Mac, FYI).

I called tech support and they had no idea. Their only suggestion was that the 478 didn't have enough internal memory for the new mapset, which is ridiculous.

I kept playing around until I finally stumbled across the solution. If I DESELECTED City Nav on the GPS unit before running the MapUpdater program, then it would allow me to install the whole update without any memory issues, so it must report the GPS as not having enough available memory if the mapset is checked off, which is strange, but apparently true.

Hope this helps someone else who's updating their 478 in the future.

Merry Christmas!
dc