Maps for my Garmin Nuvi 200?

I bought Subject unit a year ago but didn't attempt to download any maps
for more than 90 days. Apparently, in that period, they were free. When
I checked a few months ago, they wanted a price well beyond the price of
the unit ($125), which was discontinued about a year ago. I just did a
Google on maps for it and found a number of sites offering free maps.
Are these of any use with the 200?

 

It is doubtful that any other maps other than Garmin will work for
Garmin GPS receivers.

 

http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/OSM_Map_On_Garmin/Download

I don't download them from that site myself though. I download
raw OSM data every 2 weeks and make my own Garmin-format maps,
which I use in my 3 Garmins:

GPSmap 60CSx
GPSmap 76CSx
Nuvi 1350

John

 

OK, I go to that site and see how it might be done. I guess I go to
Provider or Routable and download something from there for the United
States. I'm interested in street maps. Do I need a map source installer?
Where do I get it? How do I make Garmin maps? There's USB port on the
back of the 200, which normally is used for power. Do I some how upload
the prepared maps through it?

 

Not unless you want to combine two or more maps into a single
composite map. When I used to do that on a Windows system, I
used this program:

http://www.img2gps.co.cc/

On Linux, I use mkgmap:

http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Mkgmap

If you come across a single image file which will do you it will
have a ".img" file name extension. Just rename that as
"gmapsupp.img" and it should work.

I'm not familiar with the Nuvi 200, but I see it takes an
optional SD data card. That's where you'll need to put your
alternative map. That map must be called

gmapsupp.img

and be located in a top-level directory/folder on the SD card.
That folder must be named

Garmin

A 1GB or 2GB SD card should have more than enough room. Anything
bigger (namely an SDHC card) mightn't work unless your Nuvi has
the latest firmware installed.

A Garmin USB cable could be used to create the folder and
upload the map to it "in situ". Alternatively, you could use a
card reader to prepare the card, and then just plug it into the
Nuvi when it's ready to go.

You may have to specifically select the OSM map in the Nuvi's
menus. On my Nuvi 1390, that's done by selecting:

Tools / Settings / Map / Info

and then ticking the OSM entry (and unticking any other entry
which shows).

John

 

I use http://garmin.na1400.info/routable.php
It builds a tailored map image for you.

 

I believe the Nuvi 200 provides an audible announcement of turn by turn
directions. If you like that feature, you may want to ensure your quest for
free maps include that capability. Garmin maps are expensive, but the
include considerable value.

 

I mounted the nuvi 200 on my machine, USB port. I see lots of folders on
it. Presumably one, two or all of these folders need to be modified.
Well, maybe one of the sites mentioned in posts above yours does this as
needed.

How would I know if a "map" contains audio.

Yes, they are a value, but don't like getting stuck for at least one
free update that I missed in the first 60 or 90 days. Further, paying
$100, say, for an update now suggests I might as well buy another unit
with more facilities.

Maybe there's an Ebay market for older (un updated) nuvi 200s?

 

In my experience with other Garmin models, the turn notifications
are a function of the GPS unit alone. As long as the maps are
routable, the GPS will give its instructions.

John

 

I would guess that I need the routable map from the site above for the
link you provided? If I look at the OSM link, it shows a number of maps
with long and lat in their names. They are img files. What do I use for
NA, and why is the long negative? -90 degrees would take me somewhere In
India. Do these maps actually show streets and roads along with
attractions?

I must be missing something about the SD cards. Is there one in the
unit? If so, how do I get it out? I've hooked up a USB cable between
this PC and the Garmin. It seems to my for safety sake I should download
the Garmin folders and files, and then upload whatever I need to the Garmin.

 

Yes, you need routable maps if you want your GPS to actively
assist you with navigation. Non-routable maps just show things,
like paper maps do.

What's "NA"?

All longitudes from Greenwich west to the international date line
are negative, just as all latitudes south of the equator are
negative.

Being east of Greenwich, India has positive longitudes.

The short answer is "yes". They show whatever OSM contributors
have added, including streets and POIs. If you want something
fixed or something else added, consider becoming an OSM
contributor yourself. See www.openstreetmap.org

Look at the "Getting Started" page of your owners' manual,
available here:

http://www.garmin.com/manuals/nuvi200_OwnersManual.pdf

I notice that it might be either a full-sized SD card, or a much
smaller micro-SD card. You'll need to check.

You need to be looking at the folders and files on the SD card,
not on the Garmin hardware itself. That should come up as a
separate drive when installed and then connected to the PC.

John

 

What are you looking for - or trying to accomplish - or what kind of map ?
are you trying to get a FREE map update
that will perform all the navigation, routing, and POI fucntions
correctly on your Garmin 200 GPS ?

What map do you already have on the "subject unit" ?

 

Apparently, this is a difference between astronomers and geographers.
Astronomy uses west long as positive. From a professional astro site:
IMPORTANT -- BEWARE OF THE LONGITUDE SIGN CONVENTION. The
longitude returned by slOBS is west-positive in accordance
with astronomical usage. However, this sign convention is
left-handed and is the opposite of the one used by geographers.
I am an astronomer.

Looking at the /Garmin/Lambertus Index of OSM files, I see maybe 50
files in subfolders and the main folder. Nothing is marked for NA or the
USA. The lat/long values on the file names are of no help. I would
expect one of them to correspond to the img file in the next paragraph.

Plugging the 200 into my usb cable, I see Diag, Help, Vehicle, Debug,
Voice, etc. folders. In the main folder there are a gmapbmap.img (6M)
and a gmapbmpa.sum (1K) file. Two others for the prom.

Mine has disappeared but thanks for the link. I'll take a look.

The only think I see that might look like a memory card is on the bottom
where the serial number bar code is located. The manual has several
reference to the card, but not a single statement on how to get at it. I
tried push on the slot, but nothing happens. It seems quite rigid. My
guess is there an internal SD and that's it. All the folders on files
are on it. See above where I name some of them.

 

See my post to John Henderson a moment ago. I'm just trying to get a
better map than the one that came with the unit. It obviously has
problems. When I was around Athens,GA last year in Oct. it was very
untrustworthy. Similarly around other places in the SE. I must say it
did a bang up job getting me to the Salt Lake airport when I was coming
down the mountains from the east into the city!

 

Try Bob Martin's suggestion of:

http://garmin.na1400.info/routable.php

A SD/microSD card won't have been supplied with the unit new. So
the slot shown in the manual is likely empty.

There won't be an internal SD card - it'll either be removable by
pushing it, or it'll be absent.

Micro-SD cards are becoming very easy to find these days, since
many cellular phones use them for music storage. Even my local
supermarket sells them.

And many micro-SD cards come with a full-size SD adaptor so the
the card will fit in a device requiring either.

John

 

I'm drawing a blank on what to do with this site. I selected NA from
the top, then USA, and the instructions that follow seem weak. It says
fill out a form. What form? Am I missing something since I'm using FFox
and not some MS browser?

Ah, there it is on the left, Build my map and fill in my e-mail. Nicely
hidden. This is almost as good as web builders who seem to build the
important controls to the far right. When one looks at the page, some
matters (buttons, menus, ...) are out of sight. Moving the horizontal
scroll bar reveals them.

OK, after writing the last several sentenes, I have a message that says
"Error: No (valid) maps selected. Please try again selecting one or more
maps. Go back." I hope I don't have to select individually all the files
for the USA. The site talks about selecting tiles. Hmmm. How? OK,I
missed the little check box above the map. Well, that didn't help.

Maybe the USA isn't really a choice? I selected Calif, and get about 10
cities listed. I have no idea how to proceed. The e-mail address box is
no longer available.

I guess I need to join the forum. Well, off to other matters for awhile.