Garmin Express and Basecamp

Former Member over 12 years ago

Since there is not a separate sub-forum for Garmin Express, I'm posting here as these issues came up during last night's Lifetime Maps Update to 2013.40 that affected Basecamp and my zumo 665.

In an email reply to another rider, Garmin Management admitted to the following unannounced change:

"With Garmin Express, the map update will not be installed to the computer if the device has sufficient internal memory for the computer. This was a decision made by Garmin to simplify the map update process. I apologize for any inconvenience. You can view the mapping on the computer using Garmin's BaseCamp program. BaseCamp can pull the mapping from the GPS device when the device is connected to the computer."

This is disastrous on 2 fronts:

1) If your device has sufficient memory, you will be forced to mount it whenever planning in BC, resulting in painfully slow map loading (each and every time), route planning and modifications, and map re-drawing. This wastes all of the processing horsepower of your pc, and for cross-country trips, it is unworkable.

2) If your device has insufficient memory, you will be allowed to download the full mapset to your pc, but since Garmin Express does not recognize any installed SD card, and because Basecamp eliminated the map transfer feature, you will only be allowed to install a subset of maps to internal storage on your device - in my case, about 1/4 of NA on a 665, even though I have a 16GB SD card. So, for my trip from Colorado to Maine via Florida this summer, I would be required to carry my laptop and actually swap out mapsets on my device 4 times along the way.

It's impossible to discern what Garmin's navigating vision might be, especially considering these latest moves, but I'm quickly coming to the conclusion I'd be just as well off to tape a brick to my handlebars.

The motorcycling community absolutely must have the ability to load the full mapset to both Basecamp and the device+SD card, or Garmin has rendered their technology platform obsolete.

0 SUSSAMB over 12 years ago

This thread might help, use MapUpdater not Express:

https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?34627-You-have-no-maps-to-reinstall-(Garmin-Express)

Incidentally you can still use Basecamp to install maps to SD cards or your Zumo/Nuvi.

Also by copying the map files to a memory stick or sd card you can use that in your PC and Basecamp will read from that, saves the need to hook up your GPS.

0 Former Member over 12 years ago

Thank you for your feedback.

BaseCamp does support map transfer via MapInstall. MapInstall does use the SD card on your device, you should definitely be able to install the full image to the SD card.

I'll forward your Garmin Express comments to the appropriate team. Oddly enough, the Desktop App group does not have anything to do with that piece of software.

0 stuartmw over 12 years ago

I agree with SUSSAMB. GarminMapUpdater allows you to install maps to your PC and/or the device. I did it yesterday.

Garmin is really screwing the pooch with their new policy "With Garmin Express, the map update will not be installed to the computer if the device has sufficient internal memory for the computer. "

If the average user wants to use Garmin Express that's fine. But they need to continue to provide the GarminMapUpdater option for those of us that do more advanced things than just updating our device(s).

0 stuartmw over 12 years ago

I'll forward your Garmin Express comments to the appropriate team.

Thanks Falagar. I really hope the Cartography team (I assume they produce GE) listens.

0 Alter_Nereus over 12 years ago

Garmin is really screwing the pooch with their new policy "With Garmin Express, the map update will not be installed to the computer if the device has sufficient internal memory for the computer. "

Never a truer word spoken. What is it with Garmin nowadays apart from being a company that for many is rapidly going downhill. They released BaseCamp way way too early - it's not yet ready for prime time and certainly not for the motorbiking community. And as for the 'Find' feature..........well nothing needs to be said really. Then we have MapUpdater which is all very well and good for those that had a Zumo in the days that this application was around or, if not, are lucky enough to happen across a forum post where it gets a mention and a link posted where they can still get it. For other, though, they are led to believe that there is no other option than using Express which, before you can blink an eye, starts the download. And who on earth is Express aimed at for goodness sake? I had to raise an eye-brow upon reading the above post by FALAGAR who says "Oddly enough, the Desktop App group does not have anything to do with that piece of software". Well you're correct - it is odd, very odd, but who is it managed by and why was it released on unsuspecting souls?
Garmin - please please please take a few steps back, get the whole team assembled, including those who make the final decisions, and get your act together. Sort out whose doing what and work as a team and, most importantly, iron out all the bugs in what software you currently have instead of releasing yet more software that nobody actually needs.

0 stuartmw over 12 years ago

And who on earth is Express aimed at for goodness sake?

As I've said "average users"--that is those that don't want maps on their PC or don't know it can be done.

This is an increasing trend across the board with software. It is not just Garmin. The attitude is that "Our users are idiots. We must install (silently or otherwise) updaters to tell them when to update their software (or in this case maps) because they're too stupid/lazy/whatever to do it themselves."

Microsoft does it.
Oracle (Java) does it.
Adobe (flash, PDF reader etc) does it.
etc.

It's the world we're now in.

PS: All these updaters phone home. From a computer security standpoint I disable/remove/kill them all because one doesn't know what data they collect and send without your knowledge. Everyone claims its "anonymous" but note they never specify what that means exactly.

0 SUSSAMB over 12 years ago

Problem is that while Express messes up and doesn't give clear help to the 'average user' Garmin will just get more and more calls to their Customer Support desks and more users will simply avoid Garmin products in the future. Not a world I want to be 'in' :mad:

0 stuartmw over 12 years ago

I am surprised by those few on this forum who would minimize the issue.

I don't know who you're referring to but I for one am not "minimizing the issue". I've made my views, on this forum, very well known. Whether Garmin takes notice is another thing entirely.

0 Alter_Nereus over 12 years ago

I am surprised by those few on this forum who would minimize the issue. Using MapInstall, MapUpdater and MapSource as work-arounds for a poorly thought-out software strategy should be absolutely unacceptable to EVERY user.....................And please don't confuse my recent visits to this forum as evidence of a new or average user..............................I've used them hard - and I don't like where I see this all going.

Agree on all points - well put, especially the part I've made bold.

0 SUSSAMB over 12 years ago

I don't know who you're referring to but I for one am not "minimizing the issue". I've made my views, on this forum, very well known. Whether Garmin takes notice is another thing entirely.

I don't think anyone is minimising the issue. What some of us (Stuart included) are trying to do is to provide help to those who ask/need it. We all wish it wasn't necessary.