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Download vs SD Card Europe map purchase?

Kirk
over 2 years ago

I live in Canada, I am planning a trip to Europe and want to purchase the City Navigator map for Europe for my nuvi 66LMT. I have read that the SD card version can not be updated, it must be repurchased. I have read that the download version can only be installed directly to my device. I can use the map in Basecamp on my Mac when the device is connected. 

Can I select parts of the downloaded map to install to my device? The last time I updated my North American map, I selected specific states and provinces so it would fit on my nuvi without adding an SD card. I think it was MapInstaller that allowed me to do this. I will only need a few countries for my travels. I suspect that the map is installed directly in full using Garmin Express.

Can I get updates for free on purchased maps since I have the LMT device, or does the LMT only apply to the pre-loaded North American map?

If the answers to my questions are no and no, then I don't see any advantage to downloading a map for purchase, except to avoid shipping delays. It seems simplest to get the SD version and simply plug it in to use it.

Thanks!

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    I went back to the Garmin website to look for more info again, and discovered that I had been looking at the US site. I went to the Canadian site, and for the SD card version, it just gives you a button to look for retailers. The retailer I checked does not sell the map I want. So I may be forced to get the download version and maybe load it on to my own SD card if I can't just load the parts I need directly onto my nuvi.

    I was able to find out that my lifetime maps only applies to the maps that came pre-loaded on my nuvi. 

    I will check with another retailer, but expect I will be getting the download version.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to Kirk

    The advantage of the card is that you can sell it on after your trip whereas the download is locked to your device.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to SUSSAMB

    I hadn't considered that. I would likely be keeping the card for future trips, but I could still use the card if I got a new GPS unit. It may be a moot point anyway, as I can't see a way to order the card and have it delivered to Canada. Download seems to be my only option.

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    I have ordered and now received the SD Micro version of the Europe map. I got it from a Canadian online retailer. 

    I was still unsure if I could use Mapinstall to install specific regions of the Europe map directly to my Nuvi. I have done this the last time I upgraded my North America map. 

    Before inserting my Europe SD micro map, I connected my Nuvi to my MacBook, and started Garmin Express. There was a new version of my North American map. I opted to install on both Mac and Garmin. Of course, not enough memory on my Nuvi to install, so it offered to install a partial map (Western N/A is what I chose). I was wondering if this type of option was available for the Europe purchased map, I still don't know the answer. 

    The partial map that was installed filled up the memory in my Nuvi. I will likely reinstall a custom selection with MapInstall for the provinces and states I want. I haven't inserted the SD micro Europe card yet,

    I think, for others with limited storage, the solution is to install on Mac/PC only with Garmin Express, then install the regions you need directly to your device. Not sure it this option will work with purchased maps. 

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to Kirk

    It won't. A separately purchased and downloaded map cannot be installed to your computer. You can only do that with the original map on your device.

    Your sd card map can of course be viewed in BaseCamp but you can't use MapInstall to alter what is on the card.