Upgrading my Garmin GPS (questions....)

[cruiser]

I've owned a Garmin GPs for almost two years and am thinking about upgrading it. Looking at the Garmin site, it can cost you $125 Cdn to download a new version of the map.

I stopped in at my local "The Source" and was asking the clerk if many people upgrade their GPS and he said a lot of people are finding "rogue" sites so that they can download upgrades for free.

Does anybody out there know of a site a person can look at for an upgrade. Is it worth doing the upgrade?

I live in Edmonton so I'm told that it would only show a few upgrades (such as all of the Anthony Henday). What else have you seen done when you've purchased an upgrade?

Appreciate any feedback that you may have.

thanks,
Cruiser

 

[visiting]

hmmmm...

I just purchased a lifetime download key, which I have not uploaded to my garmin yet........

Anyway, if you only driving around your own city, I wouldn't pay 125$, to upgrade, as if you get lost, it will take you 10-15 seconds to figure out where you are, but when you go travel a great deal, then knowing the roads in every new city may be usefull..... I travel all over North America, and I laugh at all the time I waisted before I had one!!!!

PS. Having said that I have not made any upgrades to my garmin for 5+ years, and I have only run into 1 minor problem, a street that was cut short due to a new power centre.... I am not 100% sure why I purchased an upgrade, but i did, and well the really hot girl there told me it works great......


Good luck finding free upgrades, let us know if you find something...

 

[cruiser]

Would like to hear from anyone else that owns a Garmin GPS and if they've gone for the upgrade or not..

Myself...90% of my travelling is within Alberta and I use it all the time....roughly say I have over 200 or so locations saved. I have taken it for out of province and to the U.S. and haven't had any issues about getting lost. The only thing is that a couple of times it would say "locating satellites" and it would take 10 minutes or so to locate them....don't know why...this happened both in Seattle and in Kelowna.

 

[Restless]

Would like to hear from anyone else that owns a Garmin GPS and if they've gone for the upgrade or not..

Myself...90% of my travelling is within Alberta and I use it all the time....roughly say I have over 200 or so locations saved. I have taken it for out of province and to the U.S. and haven't had any issues about getting lost. The only thing is that a couple of times it would say "locating satellites" and it would take 10 minutes or so to locate them....don't know why...this happened both in Seattle and in Kelowna.

I subscribed to the lifetime map upgrade option. I don't know if that was wise or not, but I did.

I update my unit every 4 months or so. I notice it gets a little more accurate with my local area each time, when I check. I remember being so lost in the fog Florida about 10 years ago that I'd have paid any price for a GPS.

When you fly to a new area it helps to set the location to that area before your unit starts locating satellites. I guess it helps the unit know where to start.

Of all the new technology I own, I love my GPS the best.

An interesting note:
Albert Einstein's prediction of time dilation has to be included in the System's calculations for your GPS to work properly.

 

[visiting]

I subscribed to the lifetime map upgrade option. I don't know if that was wise or not, but I did.

I update my unit every 4 months or so. I notice it gets a little more accurate with my local area each time, when I check. I remember being so lost in the fog Florida about 10 years ago that I'd have paid any price for a GPS.

When you fly to a new area it helps to set the location to that area before your unit starts locating satellites. I guess it helps the unit know where to start.

Of all the new technology I own, I love my GPS the best.

An interesting note:
Albert Einstein's prediction of time dilation has to be included in the System's calculations for your GPS to work properly.

I agree I love my GPS..... can't understand why anyone who does business on the road doea not have one.. Saves me time & money, gas etc etc...


Loosing the connection.....
That happens from time to time, I notice it happens a fair amount when i am in major cities will taller buildings.... but no big deal... ..

Would like to hear from anyone else that owns a Garmin GPS and if they've gone for the upgrade or not..

Myself...90% of my travelling is within Alberta and I use it all the time....roughly say I have over 200 or so locations saved. I have taken it for out of province and to the U.S. and haven't had any issues about getting lost. The only thing is that a couple of times it would say "locating satellites" and it would take 10 minutes or so to locate them....don't know why...this happened both in Seattle and in Kelowna.

 

[Ray]

When I bought mine 2 years ago, I discovered totally by accident that you're allowed 1 free map upgrade. (I was just browsing the website to see what else my unit could do.)
This last winter, I plugged in to the Garmin site, it scanned my computer (GPS unit), and gave me that free upgrade.

I was going to look into the subscription rate because I do travel a lot, and I really need to know where the nearest Starbucks is at any given time.

 

[johnperb]

Garmin GPS's are garbage, get a phone with android and use google maps

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[Ray]

Free maps.

http://www.brighthub.com/electronics/gps/articles/45353.aspx