Baffled as to use my new Topo U.S. 24K southwest microSD

Just paid $100 for this microSD. Only instruction on using it is "see your user's manual at garmin.com." The "support" page asks for the product description or serial number. I've typed in every string of text or number on the packaging, none of which are found. There appears to be no place on the Garmin site to contact a real support person. The packaging does say "just plug into compatible device," but doesn't say if my Monterra is compatible. I've read online that I should not write to the product microSD because doing so might ruin it. So, not knowing if the Monterra will one day write something to it I'm reluctant to plug it in.

Unfortunately, I'm leaving for Zion tomorrow :-(

I should say I'm not exactly a newbie here. Been using Garmin stuff for year, and just a few days ago managed to get the 24k West installed on Windows 10 machine BaseCamp, then onto a 2Gb microsd card that works when plugged into my Monterra. But why is loading maps on Garmin devices such an ordeal?

Ed

0 alandb over 8 years ago

How would you expect it to work if you don't plug it into the Monterra? Most Garmin map products that are preinstalled on a SD card are copy protected to the SD card so they can't be copied to another source. You have to use them on the original card.

0 jag_man653 over 8 years ago

Yes, that's what I finally did, anticipating a possible loss of my $100 if it ruined it. But, it worked so I'm up and running. It remains to be seen if tomorrow, next month, or next year something I do on the Monterra will overwrite it. I notice you do say "Most." I remain disappointed in Garmin's not providing explicit instructions.

As to what I expected, I guess I was assuming the process would for the microSD media would be use pretty much like its predecessor the DVD maps. Wrong,.

0 alandb over 8 years ago

It is probably "all", not "most" Garmin preinstalled SD card maps that are copy protected. I wasn't sure, so I wrote "most". It is a shame Garmin dropped the DVD format on purchased maps. It limits the options and also prevents adding a lifetime update subscription to purchased City Navigator maps.

0 SUSSAMB over 8 years ago

I remain disappointed in Garmin's not providing explicit instructions.

As to what I expected, I guess I was assuming the process would for the microSD media would be use pretty much like its predecessor the DVD maps. Wrong,.

First, assuming things is likely to lead to failure.

Second, what explicit instructions do you require? The manual for the Monterra explains how to add a micro SD card. How much more explicit should it be?