[OSM-talk] advice for getting a newer Garmin nüvi car navigation device?

Greg Troxel gdt at ir.bbn.com
Thu Feb 14 01:06:15 UTC 2013


Andreas Reuleaux <reuleaux at web.de> writes:

> I am about to get a newer Garmin nvi model for car navigation,
> and want to use OSM maps with it.
>
> I found several web pages, which suggest that in general
> OSM maps on a nvi should not be any problem, but the models
> listed on 
>
>   http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Garmin#N.C3.BCvi_series
>
> e. g. seem all older than the models currently available in my
> local fnac store, those are:

I am not sure that anyone has found a nuvi that does not work, so far.

> * nvi 3490 LMT, 300 ‚
> * nvi 2595 LM, 200 ‚
> * nvi 2545 LM, 150 ‚
> * nvi 2445 LM, 150 ‚
> * and nvi 40, 100 ‚

I would expect that hte 3490 and 24/25 series are a slightly better bet,
in that I think they are older and thus if osm bits didn't work, we
would know that.

> Any experience with those models? Any advice for getting / or
> not getting a particular one? 

My advice is to find a friend who uses proprietary maps and has an old
receiver sitting around because buying new maps is too expensive.

The 760 is a little too slow; OSM maps are richer and thus more
stressful on the CPU/etc. than Garmin's maps.  The 885 is fast enough.

> Will the fancier features of the higher prized models be available
> to me at all, if I use OSM to Garmin converted maps
> (which are, as I understand only Garmin format 1 maps)?

If you only want to use OSM maps, then lifetime maps and traffic will
not be useful.  Also speed limit display, lane assist, junction view,
etc. will not work.  But in many places the map data shown will be much
richer than the proprietary maps (and of course it's open - I use osm on
Garmin both because it is useful and because I notice what's not mapped
yet).

You may want to join the mkgmap-dev@ list.  But basically, there are two
formats for Garmin.  One is the traditional format, and mkgmap (and
several other programs) generate .img files for it.  Then there is the
NT format, which as far as I understand is not understood outside
Garmin.

I have been successfully using OSM data on Garmin for several years,
specifically on an Etrex Vista HCx, and (hand-me-down) Nuvi 885.  I have
not gotten address search to work - that's the current work-in-progress
on mkgmap-dev, but POIs are there, and routing.  Also contour line
overlay (from non-OSM data).

My other advice is that you can put osm data on a microsd, and take it
to the store and try it.  See the mkgmap docs/wiki, but basically, once
you get the file, call it /Garmin/gmapsupp.img.   Just power down the
unit, put in the card, and power up.  menu/tools//setup/maps/map-info
should get you to a menu and you can uncheck the builtin maps.


It looks like the 40 should work:

  https://help.openstreetmap.org/questions/11460/problem-with-routing
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