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24k topo load problem on Monterra

Former Member
Former Member over 8 years ago
I can't get a garmin 24k downloaded western region map to load on my new Monterra (directly or thru base camp), I am using windows 7 and a reasonably powerful PC as of 2015. It has recognized and loaded Birdseye aerial images that I have stored on the SD card, and places them under the Worldwide Autoroute that came with the device.

Caveats: I am on 1.5mbs at my rural home, but I have 20mbs at the office. So after the first difficulties (total refusal to download), I took the device to the office and downloaded to the 32gb SD card that I bought and mounted in the Monterra.
Long story short, I had to fight with card readers to confirm that the SD card is FAT32. Properties say "generic hierarchical' for a file system - both before and after formatting.
As part of my troubleshooting, I have copied the original download to the computer, cleared and reformatted the SD card to FAT32, and then recopied the download to the SD card.
I have also copied JUST the .img file to the Monterra and tried to see if the device and/or basecamp might see it there
In basecamp, if I reboot (device and/or basecamp) I temporarily see the image file being read in the My Collection display, the progress bar starts green, turns red and then it disappears, and cant be found by basecamp.
I have never been able to see the 24k map in any form except in the windows explorer as a file taking a little over 2GB of space...it has not displayed anywhere except this momentary read with progress bar in the 'My collection' section of base camp and in the windows explorer as a 2+GB file.

So I have seen other posts about download vs. purchased SD cards vs. DC's for map data. I chose to download to my personal mounted SD card so I would have the flexibility to use the SD card to add other data. But I've not seen anyone talk about downloading to an SD card on a Monterra and having NOTHING recognize that the $99.00 download exists.

My questions:
If everything I've tried above doesn't work, does this point to a corrupted download? Does the file size 2.15 for the img file imply incomplete or corrupt? (I DO have a tiny .gma and .unl file also)
What's up with the properties (right click to properties in windows explorer to look at the SD card) saying 'generic hierarchical' vs. FAT32 despite re-format
The map manager in Basecamp says I don't have any unlocked maps found on the device, but the 'regions unlock' tab says 'map not installed, region unlock code from (many numbers and letters.gma)'

I've probably made a hellova mess by now, but I am SOOO frustrated. HELP!
  • 0 over 8 years ago
    Couple of things to check before you consider a corrupted download. First, is the .img file and the corresponding .unl and .gma files in a folder named Garmin on the card?

    If not, move them there and try again, they should now work.

    If they don't or are already in the Garmin folder download JaVaWa's Device Manager program from http://www.javawa.nl/jdm_en.html

    Run it and see what it says about the card.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    Once again I find a question by a "new" person "located" in the outback of the contiguous United States posing a subject that is currently of interest to me. Typically the OP has signed up on the day of the first post, and I take the bait to reply again.

    I thought that the word "Ultra" in relation to the SD card was in the original version I read but that word is not present now, two cups and 3 hours later. Either way, it may be that an industrial strength, slower, SD card sometimes recommended for dash cams and other video security uses may work better.
  • 0 over 8 years ago
    Garmin can use pretty much any card provided the requirements in this FAQ is met

    http://support.garmin.com/support/searchSupport/case.faces?caseId={18331ce0-4af6-11e3-f27b-000000000000}
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    JaVaWa not available for the Monterra

    Thank you SUSSAMB,

    I downloaded JaVaWa and it can't find my Monterra - then I read which devices are supported and the Monterra is not included. Rats
    Yes to the Garmin folder. The files are located correctly
    I went back to the office, cleared the card, verified it's FAT32, and started the download again. This time the image file is bigger 2.78GB. But it still won't load. Same thing in Basecamp. It shows a green loading progress bar, that then turns red to complete, and then disappears. The manager says no unlocked maps available.

    Couple of things to check before you consider a corrupted download. First, is the .img file and the corresponding .unl and .gma files in a folder named Garmin on the card?

    If not, move them there and try again, they should now work.

    If they don't or are already in the Garmin folder download JaVaWa's Device Manager program from http://www.javawa.nl/jdm_en.html

    Run it and see what it says about the card.


  • 0 over 8 years ago
    Yes, I know the Monterra isn't supported which is why I said run JaVaWa and see what it says about the card.

    I assume you have a card reader in your PC? Or perhaps an external one you could use?
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    Corrupted

    JaVaWa says corrupted. Just for grins, I moved one of the earlier downloads back onto the SD card and scanned again - also corrupted.
    Does this happen often downloading from Garmin or should I suspect the card? (32GB class 10 micro SD) After all, I've tried this 3 times now.
    As for the SD, JaVaWa says:
    Supports IMG files with custom names: Unknown
    Supports ActiveRouting maps: Unknown

    Can anyone comment as to experience with JaVaWa as far as confirming the health of the card? is "unknown" a red flag?
  • 0 over 8 years ago
    I don't believe so, just an indication that since the card isn't a device then it can't be determined. I get that on my cards too that I know work.

    Looks like you need to try the download again.
  • 0 over 8 years ago
    Garmin recommends a minimum of 8 GB card for download, so I suspect neither of both of your attempts failed to complete. You might want to give Garmin Support a call to find out the size of this download so you will know if an attempt worked. (I found old info for the DVD version that indicated it was 3.38 GB).

    On other types of electronics people have had trouble with Windows formatted sd cards. The usual recommendation is to download and use the free software SDFormatter. But I agree with SUSSAMB that the download probably failed to complete and not related to formatting of the card.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    Resolved by staring at screen

    Apparently, if you are having download problems on a 24k topo map, the way to fix it is to keep your eye on the progress bar for the entire 25 minute download period.

    I did speak with Garmin support today and she suggested that I clear the cache on my Internet Explorer Browser. She also told me that as long as the Monterra was plugged into the computer, the download would recognize the SD card even in my USB card reader. So I moved the SD card out of the monterra, and cleared the browser cache and had another failure - dialog box said download complete, but the file was not fully downloaded, only about 2GB of 3.8GB. So one more time, I reformatted the 32GB, class 10 SD card, opened a private browsing window, and tried the download not letting my eye off the progress bar or working on another program while I was bored. At about 50%, a note appeared above the progress bar saying 'Bad Gateway'. Hmmm, but it kept progressing so I let it run to completion, and somehow it finally worked. So on the 5th try, I finally have my 24k western region maps and they are behaving properly on the Monterra and in Basecamp.

    I have no idea what I just proved, but I have my map.