How long will garmin provide lifetime map update?

My old gps is 5 years old and I'm running into addresses that it cannot
find. Otherwise, the gps still works fine.

I'm thinking of buying one of the lifetime map update gps. However, the
description of lifetime map update says the update is provided until the
end of the useful life of the device, or until garmin no longer receives
map data from its third party supplier.

Any idea how long the useful life of a new garmin gps is defined to be?

The clause "no longer receives map data from its third party supplier"
sounds a bit funny. Obviously, this can happen if garmin stops paying
the third party supplier.

Has anyone purchased an early LM model and has reached the end of the
lifetime map update? If so, how many years did it last?

 

Defined by Garmin, as per its repair policies, or by third parties able
to repair them.

And then it's defined by *you*, when you evaluate the cost of repairing
(and either swapping the battery or living with an old practically dead
battery).

Sure it can.

Don't buy ahead on a promise like that. Chances are that you'll want a
newer device anyway more quickly than you think, and that'll come with a
new map.

How often did you switch out your paper maps?

 

Pre-NT ("New Technology") devices can't get map updates to anything
except the base world map and Canada[1]. Which puts the proprietary CF and
disc-based StreetPilots, the first-generation eTrex units, and an
assortment of others of similar vintage. More or less, made in 2005 and
later is PROBABLY still eligible for updates, and my guess is that
you'll be okay with a recent model for at least another five years or
so, even if they started on a new mapping data structure with new models
released this year.

[1] Assertion based on about 10 minutes of research; may be in error.

 

The limitation of useful life is really the ability of your device to to
receive an update from the Garmin Website.
The Mapsets memory size have been growing significantly. This is not because
there is significantly more Map data,
rather because it is loaded with more points of interest (not necessarily
useful).
If the Garmin Update Website detects there is not enough memory on the
device it will not do the update.

This has already been a complaint on GPS websites because you don't have the
ability to just download
the mapset to your computer and then later select that portion of the new
mapset that will fit on your device.
I imagine this would be applcable to older non microSD card devices but I
have not tried it myself.

 

Lifetime pretty much mean the life of the device or the life of the
manufacture.

- If your GPS is still working after 10 years and Garmin is still selling
GPS and providing the MAP compatible with your 10 years old GPS then you
continue upgrading the map.

- If your GPS dies after warrantee is over and you don't want to pay for the
repair, then it also the END of it's LIFE (lifetime is over).

Example if you own an older model (StreetPilot for example) and even it's
still working great, and it it doesn't work with newer MAP then the lifetime
is finished.

 

Op 26-7-2011 5:16, H-M schreef:

your last remark is not correct. I download my lifetime update to my
nuvi and indicate in the process that I want the maps on my nuvi and my
pc. When the download and install is done to my pc I get a screen with
al lot of choices. On top is 'whole Europe'. When I select that one I
get a message that this to much for my nuvi, so I slect 'Western Europe'
and that fits perfect. In the list of possibilities are many more
smaller combinations the you can choose.
Thibaud

 

And any time Garmin wants to start selling maps again they can change the
format of the map and it no longer works in your GPS. So it doesn't matter
if you bought lifetime updates last month.

 

The same concern was expressed when Garmin first started the lifetime map
update program. They've since started including lifetime maps in many of
their products--but I'll stil stick with my StreetPilots that work with the NT
form. So far, so good.

 

The same concern was expressed when Garmin first started the lifetime map
update program. They've since started including lifetime maps in many of
their products[/QUOTE]

no, not really.

They've started offering BUNDLES of the "no extra charge for maps as
long as we decide to make them" feature with some of their products.
And the buyer pays more for those bundles.

The buyer can also opt not to buy it bundled like that, can opt to get
only the sat-nav unit itself, and pay less.

Same sat-nav both ways.

 

Carl Heinz wrote on Jul 27, 2011:

I don't know why everyone seems so worried about this. The fact is that
according to the current pricing if you buy the Lifetime subscription and get
more than one update before your gps breaks, or you lose it, or Garmin turns
nasty, or whatever - you are still paying less than buying the updates
individually.

So if you would normally get updates regularly it will probably pay you to
get the Lifetime deal unless you are extremely unlucky. Why all the angst?

 

I no longer trust Garmin as I used to. I have been a loyal Garmin customer
for about 14 or 15 years. I have owned at least 15 or so Garmin GPS receivers
in that time. I felt that they stuck it to me the last two times I called
them for service. I also noticed that if you buy accessories from them you
are overcharged.

The last few years I have been hoping for them to change their sales direction
and go back to making units that are full of navigation options and not
pictures, music, traffic, weather, bluetooth and eye candy.

I think they still make 'some' good GPS receivers but they also make 'some'
junk. Let the buyer beware.

 

Do you know of a good alternative to Garmin?

 

No, I don't think anyone is any better right now in their price range.

 

No matter how much we complain, it is still an amazing piece of equipment at
a really low price, considering what it does. I thought the Nuvi 350 was
great, but my new 2370 is even better.

 

I've come to the same conclusion - unfortunately.. I just wish that they
would stop this gradual dumbing down. It seems that routes will be the next
facility to be removed completely - far too complicated for the masses to
understand :-(

It's not just the price range either - I'd be prepared to pay a lot more for
a really advanced model with all the fancy options that the old StreetPilots
had.

 

I've come to the same conclusion - unfortunately.. I just wish that they
would stop this gradual dumbing down. It seems that routes will be the next
facility to be removed completely - far too complicated for the masses to
understand :-([/QUOTE]

No, it's a matter of "don't need it"--and if most people don't need it,
why bother to continue developing it.

You sound like an old PC guy, lamenting the "dumbing down" of the world
of modern personal computers. "Why, in MY day, we had to have an add-in
card for everything--and we had to set DIP switches! It took a week and
a half to build a computer, it had 4K of RAM and we LIKED it! And we
were going uphill both ways in three feet of snow! And when we were
DONE, all we had were 40 columns of GREEN TEXT! Why, these Wind'as
people..and don't even GET me going on Macintosh..."

 

I agree with you Mike.
I thought, when I bought my 2360, that I would be getting all the
features of my old StreetPilot plus less bulk (a pocketable unit with a
battery) plus the increased sensitivity of newer chips. Instead, I can't
transfer routes from PC to GPS, and there are functions displayed in the
menus that do nothing (optimize order in Trip Planner).

The lack of information on the Garmin web site about these features, or
lack of them, is approaching deceptive advertising.

Dave S.

 

Elmo P. Shagnasty wrote on Jul 31, 2011:

No, it's a matter of "don't need it"--and if most people don't need it,
why bother to continue developing it.

You sound like an old PC guy, lamenting the "dumbing down" of the world
of modern personal computers. "Why, in MY day, we had to have an add-in
card for everything--and we had to set DIP switches! It took a week and
a half to build a computer, it had 4K of RAM and we LIKED it! And we
were going uphill both ways in three feet of snow! And when we were
DONE, all we had were 40 columns of GREEN TEXT! Why, these Wind'as
people..and don't even GET me going on Macintosh..."[/QUOTE]

You're getting over-excited again. I *am* an old PC guy, but I think you're
misunderstanding what I'm saying. PCs (Macs included) have evolved and become
hugely more capable than their predecessors, but they haven't dumbed down -
it's just that the user interface has become better. Everything is there if
you want it, but hidden from view if you don't. If I *really* wanted green
text, I could have it right now, or I could emulate a Sinclair ZX80 if I
wanted - but I don't.

Unfortunately the same can't be said for the gps. The screen has improved a
lot, and so have the maps, and the sensitivity of the receiver *but* unlike
the PC, I can't do as much with a Nuvi as I used to with a StreetPilot. What
bugs me is that there's no good reason for this. The code is still there -
all that's needed is a decent UI that would hide the geeky bits if they're
not wanted, but allow you to use them if you do.

I'm afraid the admen have taken Garmin over and are destroying what they
don't really understand.

 

DaveS wrote on Jul 31, 2011:

Yes, well it's a case of 'caveat emptor' these days. As I said in another
post I think the admen have taken over in Garmin and as we all know deceit
and misinformation are their stock in trade (all perfectly legal of course).

 

Are you sure that you're not referring to politicians rather than ad
execs?<g>