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Map download size & SD card?

Former Member over 9 years ago

Last year I updated my nuvi 1350 to map version 2015.20, 49 USA states. At that time initially it came up with US & Canada & the file size was 2GB. I looked at the different regions & when I went back to update there was an option for the lower 49 states & the file size was 1.6GB and this worked.

Now I tried to update using Garmin Express & it said the 49 states map version 2016.20 needed 2.51GB and therefore would not fit & I needed a microSD of at least 2GB or to choose a region. I thought when an SD card is used the whole map was downloaded to it. If the new map won’t fit in the nuvi’s memory then how will the 2.51 GB update fit on a 2GB SD card?

I looked at the Forum FAQs.
https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?17099-FAQ-Frequently-asked-questions
“If your unit does not have enough space you will need to remove some extra files from the unit's memory. Please be aware that the map update will take place only on the internal memory of the unit, so an SD card will unfortunately not create the additional space the device will need.”

Now I’m puzzled. Will the new larger map file go onto the SD card or not?

I also tried the Garmin Map Updater and it said to install an SD card of at least 1.6GB. Using Garmin Map Updater, all the regions had smaller file sizes compared to using Garmin Express. For example Full Coverage of North America is 2.1GB using Garmin Map Updater and yet the 49 states takes up 2.51GB per Garmin Express. Why the big difference?

Which files actually get updated when you do a map update? I’m presuming folders such as Voice, Text, etc. do not get updated. If I remove some (more) of the Voices, etc., should the 1.6GB file via Garmin Map Updater fit on the nuvi 1350?

0 alandb over 9 years ago

Even if the download size is estimated to be 2.51, it is possible the map file itself is < 2 GB, depending on the region you select. Some of the support files (JCV, etc) may account for the additional download size.

That said, I would not use a 2 GB card. Get a 4 GB or 8 GB. These cards are cheap, and even if you can make it fit on 2 GB, it would be very tight and will probably be too small for future updates. My advice: bite the bullet and get a bigger card. Make sure the card is formatted as FAT32 and not NTFS.

0 Former Member over 9 years ago

I would use a 4 or 8 GB card. It's not a matter of buying an SD card because I have some. I'm just curious why the Garmin Map Updater said 1.6GB was needed vs the 2.51GB from Garmin Express. If 1.6GB fit before then 1.6GB should fit now. It might depend how much they're rounding off the numbers.

0 alandb over 9 years ago

OK, understood. Even though the reliability of Garmin Express has improved dramatically from early versions, I still don't completely trust its estimates of space requirements and analysis of what is available on computer, device and SD. My rule of thumb on available free space on any of these resources is "more is always better". If Garmin Express tells me I need 2 GB, I want 4 or more! ;)

0 Former Member over 9 years ago

I got the lower 49 states into the nuvi 1350. I read that the GPX folder contains routes, favorites, etc. However you can delete the Archive folder with no ill effects.

First I backed up the complete GPS. Then deleted all but one voice but still no room for the lower 49 states. Then deleted the GPX Archive folder which freed up 16.3MB & was then able to update to the newest lower 49 states map. I used the Garmin Map Updater program. When done there was a little over 10MB free on the Garmin. I could have left all the English voices in the GPS but no big deal because I can always add them back in if desired.

The nuvi 1350 is an older GPS that I keep in the car just in case the primary one fails. I think it's time for new GPS anyway.