Product: Edge 830 & 1030 Plus (Purchased on 11.12.2020 in Singapore)
To be used in Singapore
I would like to explain my main activity and troubleshooting attempts for the last two days to you:
1) First attempt to use a Garmin Edge 830 (purchased at Amazon SG)
I have purchased a Garmin Edge 830 Bundle at Amazon SG. An essential part of the product is the Garmin GPS Map and navigation. I found out that the product was shipped from the US and I have received it in fine condition.
But when trying to set-up the device I have realised that only US maps are installed on it. I tried to troubleshoot it myself and I have spent hours googling for a solution. Tried Garmin Connect on my iPhone 11pro and Garmin Express on my Mac to get the missing Singapore/Asian Maps installed. But after hours of failed troubleshooting, I have contacted Garmin support and chatted online with a gentleman there, he said that Garmin Maps are always preloaded based on the place of purchase and this can't be changed.
Well, I have purchased it in Singapore (Amazon SG) and as the device was shipped out of US I assume that's why no Singapore maps but US Maps are installed. The gentleman from the support told me there is no way to get the maps installed, I have to buy it locally in Singapore from an authorized dealer to get the right product for me. So I will be shipping the Edge 830 back and hope Amazon will refund 100%.
2) Second attempt to use a Garmin Edge 1030 Plus (locally purchased)
Following the gentleman's advice, I went on Friday (11.12.) to a local bike shop in Singapore. They only had one EDGE 1030 Plus left on stock. I explained my situation to the lady there, she said that the Edge will be preloaded with local Singapore maps, so no problem... Happily, I bought the Edge 1030 Plus locally in Singapore and went home doing the installation (BTW and paid much for it just to get it resolved).
Now I had basically all maps preinstalled but NOT the Asian maps neither a Singapore map. I whatsapped the lady at the store (she was extremely helpful) and we have tried some troubleshooting over the phone until late Friday night ...
I was still not able to install local Maps (neither Asian nor Singapore).
Tried several different modes of factory reset and app deletion and paired it as follows over and over again:
1) Phone Bluetooth Remove 830 and 1030 plus
2) Go outside to a field to make sure I had GPS connectivity
3) Garmin unit factory reset setting
4) Garmin connect app installation and added device + 1030+
5) Garmin head unit starts to do a Bluetooth pairing - all completed successfully
But still no local maps - Singapore is basically shown at the lower tip of Malaysia in blue waters...
6) Install Garmin express on PC
7) Tried to update available maps - only routable Cycle map of Europe, South America, United States, Australia and New Zealand are available. Asian maps is not shown.
8) Tried to install Australia in the hope Singapore would appear - but negative)
Went to bed helpless
9) had an idea when I woke up --> as I'm using the German iPhone App store to download the connect app, I thought it might be app store related. So I started from the beginning, deleted the Connect app, changed to the Singaporean App store and downloaded the connect app again. I repeated the whole procedure again but still no Asian maps available...
3) What can I do next?
Please can any of you help me to get Singapore maps? Respectively the local Asian maps installed? Maybe someone can simply email me the map file (.img) and I can drop it in the Garmin folder after connecting to my Mac.
Please help - this is really frustrating...
I am really wondering why Garmin is pursuing such an old fashioned product strategy. I mean in the age we live in, we are used to having one device working globally with e.g. google maps seamlessly connected across devices leading to an extremely smooth user experience. To me, it feels that Garmin is still stuck in the "old" century with that policy...
#Frustrating ;-)
