Tips & Tricks to get the most out of your GPS. Answers to the most frequently asked questions from our customers

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Frequently Asked Questions

General

Coverage & Updating

Miscellaneous

Can I enter coordinates onto my GPS to find a location?

Faults & Support

How long will a warranty repair/replacement take?

Do you repair GPS systems?

My GPS is faulty and in warranty. Can I bring it it and get it replaced immediately?

When under warranty, do you offer replacement GPS while mine is being repaired?

Handheld GPS

Reporting Map Errors

I would like to report map errors - how do I do it?

1. I know nothing about GPS - how can I find out about it?

Garmin have produced a useful GPS Guide for Beginners, while a little dated, explains the basics behind GPS, the benefits and applications and why it is as, if not more, important than purchasing a new washing machine!

Hillwalking and climber enthusiasts may find the following two guides useful; Introduction to Geocaching and Using a Garmin GPS with Paper Land Maps.

While most people now associate GPS with car satellite navigation systems, the uses of GPS is extensive and GPS technology has been around for decades. For example, in North America, Garmin kit out 65,000 aeroplanes each year with Garmin navigation devices. GPS is used in aeronautics, marine navigation, fleet management & tracking, recreational uses include hillwalking, climbing, geocaching, golf, hunting and the construction industry make wide use of GPS in survey and measurement instrumentation. Safety applications include personal location beacons and GPS wrist watches for monitoring children.

2. How good is digital mapping for Ireland?

This is one of the most common questions we are asked.

There are two companies that are responsible for the digital mapping in most in-car sat-navs - Navteq and Tele Atlas. Navteq maps are found in Garmin and Route 66 products, Tele Atlas in TomTom and Navman. There is no doubt that, currently (June 2008), Navteq map data is superior for Ireland than Tele Atlas. Tele Atlas maps are excellent in the main population centres while there are still gaps in rural areas, particularly in the West and North of Ireland. This reflects the Tele Atlas slant towards a demographic mapping strategy rather than Navteq's geographic coverage which as a result is more complete. Each year, the difference between Navteq and Tele Atlas mapping for Ireland is becoming much less of an issue and both should be on a par in the next 12-18 months.

As of February 2008, all Garmin systems use Navteq map data from Q2, 2007 (i.e. map data that was collected by Navteq up to June 2007). This Q2, 2007 map data is, in fact, very comprehensive bearing in mind that the data is now at least 12 months old but there are a number of points to remember. Firstly, the data is from the end of the second quarter of 2007 so a number of newly opened roads will not appear on your sat-nav. Secondly, while nearly all roads have been mapped a number are not named, especially in rural areas, so you may still have difficulties navigating to specific roads. Thirdly, it is common in Ireland that roads do not have names. To aid navigation, the townland name have been used to name a number of roads in the same geographic area. Fourthly, 'points of interest' databases for Ireland are still poor in comparison to the rest of Europe. Please see our note on www.mypois.ie below.

What you have to bear in mind is that more than 90% of the time the sat-nav is a perfectly adequate device for getting you from A to B and will operate as you would expect.

3. What systems do you recommend?

Click here for a list of recommended GPS systems. Our recommendations are based on popularity, quality and customer feedback. The most popular systems we sell at present are the Garmin nuvi 760 followed by the Garmin nuvi 250 Widescreen.

4. I have just bought a Garmin Sat-Nav and your site says that it has near 100% mapping but there a number of new roads such as the Gorey bypass that are not on my sat-nav - why not?

All Garmin systems are currently based on Q2, 2007 map data from Navteq and is therefore approximately 12-18 months old.

The surveys that are carried out by the digital map suppliers, Navteq and Tele Atlas, are time-consuming and laborious and it is near impossible to ensure everything new is included in a survey. Both these companies drive the length and breadth of the country to digitise roads and capture as many features as is practical. If a new road opens in an area a day after a survey was conducted it can be another 12-18 months before it will be in a map update for a sat-nav device.

As a general guide, it is typical that the map data on your sat-nav will be at least 6 months old when you purchase it simply because of the time it takes for the GPS manufacturer to test the map data and convert it to the manufacturer's proprietary format. Also, each GPS manufacturer has their own production cycle so release dates and the map updates are different, so one GPS system may have the most up to date maps today but this will be replaced by another GPS in 3 months time and so on.

Q2, 2008 Navteq map data will be available in new Garmin models from October (Mapsource City Navigator Europe 2009) and as an map update in January 2009.

5. How do I update my Garmin GPS to the latest maps?

There is a full page on the mysatnav.ie web site dedicated to updating your Garmin device. Follow this link, how to update to Garmin Mapsource City Navigator Europe NT 2008. Garmin's instructions seem unduly complicated so we hope this accompanying explantion helps. Let us know if specific elements need clarification or further explanation.

6. Do all Garmin systems have the same map detail?

All Garmin systems use exactly the same underlying navigation software and map data. A Garmin nüvi 250 has the same level of detail for Ireland and the UK as the Garmin nüvi 760. An optional SD card of France has the same map detail that comes on the nüvi 760.

7. Are map updates free when you buy a GPS?

Map updates are not free when you purchase a GPS system except under special circumstances.

Garmin offer you a free map update if you purchased your GPS system in the 3 months prior to the release of a map update. Garmin use an online registration process and you qualify for a free map update based on the purchase date that you supply. Your 12-month manufacturer's warranty is not affected should you enter an incorrect purchase date.

8. Can I add maps to my GPS system?

Yes. All Ireland/UK based Garmin systems can accept European maps at a later date. A map of France or map of Spain, for example, will come on a microSD Card that is simply inserted into the side of the unit. As a general rule it is much more cost effective to purchase a sat-nav with European maps already preloaded rather than purchase the maps later on as much of the cost of a sat-nav system is in fact the maps rather than the hardware itself.

9. Why are there so few points of interest on our sat-nav for Ireland?

Points of interest for Ireland are still in a 'catch up' phase with other European countries. The most obvious ones such as hotels, restaurants, transportation, petrol stations, car parks and recreation are reasonably well covered - pharmacies, supermarkets, stores and so on are not really covered at all. The main reason for this is the lack of a postcode system in the Republic which requires that point of interest data is collected at time of survey. In the UK, for example, a postcode refers to approximately 8-10 addresses so in urban areas, a postcode is a very accurate means of getting to a location - so often databases of locations can be built up without the need to conduct a physical survey.

To address the lack of points of interest available for Ireland, a new website, www.mypois.ie, allows sat-nav owners customise they GPS with lots of up to date, local information such as the locations of industrial estates, pubs, hotels, pharmacies and much, much more. For many this additional data can same time, money and take the hassle out of finding places.

10. Can I enter co-ordinates onto my GPS to find a location?

The Garmin nüvi and zumo range allow you to navigate to a co-ordinate. The GPS can accept easting and northings in both minutes and seconds or as decimal degrees.

11. What are the contact details for Garmin?

Email: Garmin Product Support
Tel. : 0044 2380 662902 (Monday to Friday, 09:00-17:00)

Our experience is that telephone support provided by Garmin is in general very good and above average for the industry.

12. My sat-nav seems to have a problem receiving satellites?

If your GPS system has a problem acquiring satellites it may be due to one of the following reasons:

Indoors: GPS devices do not generally work indoors but will sometimes if near a window - a clear view of the sky is essential for normal operation.
Position in your vehicle: Always ensure that your GPS has a clear view of the sky preferably on the dashboard or fixed to the windscreen between the driver and passenger.
Flip-up GPS receivers If your GPS has a flip-up receivers ensure that it is horizontal to the sky.
Initial GPS Fix: Acquire your GPS position before starting your journey. Sat-navs find it much more difficult to acquire a GPS position when moving rapidly and often will not acquire at all.
Cold & Warm Starts: When a sat-nav has not been used for more than 6 hours or the sat-nav has travelled a considerable distance since the last GPS fix - a cold start is performed and acquisition time is longer - perhaps up to a couple of minutes. In contrast a 'warm' start should only take a matter of seconds.
Athermic windscreens: If your vehicle has an athermic windscreen (i.e. windscreens that reflect UV light) this will affect the strength of a GPS signal in your car. To test if your car has an athermic windscreen, turn your sat-nav on outside the car and once you have a GPS fix, if the signal drops significantly when you bring the sat-nav inside your car the likelihood is that your windscreen is athermic. The only solution for this is to purchase an external antenna that has a magnetic base that sits on the roof of your car. An external antenna cost approximately €35.00 and can be purchased here, GA25 MCX External Antenna.
Firmware Updates: Ensure that your sat-nav has the latest firmware updates installed on the unit. The manufacturer web sites all have areas where you can download updates for your sat-nav and instructions on how to install updates.
Return: If you have tested and carried out all the above but your sat-nav still seems to be having a problem acquiring satellites then please contact us to organise return of your system to us.

13. My sat-nav has got a fault - I think I need to send it back - what do I do?

Please see our Returns Policy for instructions on what to do next.

14. The Bluetooth on my sat-nav does not seem to be working correctly?

The most common problem we encounter with bluetooth is that either your mobile phone is not compatible with the sat-nav or the bluetooth versions on either the sat-nav or mobile phone are not up to date. For mobile phone compatibility, always check on the sat-nav manufacturer's web site that the sat-nav you are about to purchase will definitely work with your phone. On the product pages of our online store we have placed the links to the manufacturer's web site to check compatibility.

If your phone is listed as compatible but you are still encountering problems then we suggest in the first instance that you make sure that the bluetooth firmware on your sat-nav is up to date. Most firmware updates are available as free downloads from the manufacturer's web site such as www.garmin.com and include instructions on how to update your system. To ensure that your sat-nav is working optimally we recommend that you keep the bluetooth firmware on your system up to date. Updates are generally available once every couple of months.

If your mobile is compatible, the sat-nav has the latest firmware and your are still having problems then it may be necessary to update the bluetooth firmware on your mobile phone. Again, firmware updates are available as free downloads from mobile phone manufacturer web sites. You can also bring the phone back to where you purchased it and normally they will update the phone for you free of charge.

If you are still having problems, then we recommend that you get in touch with the sat-nav manufacturer directly as they will be able to identify very quickly if there is a fault with your system. We have found Garmin product support on 0044 2380 662902 very helpful in the past.

15. How long will a warranty repair/replacement take?

When goods are returned to us for repair, we arrange for the product to be sent back to the relevant manufacturer as we do not have in-house repair facilities.

This process can take between 4-6 weeks from the time we receive the goods and confirm the fault, sending of the goods to the manufacturer for repair/replacement, the goods being returned to mysatnav.ie and finally the goods being sent back to the customer.

We are more than happy to organise the repair of goods on behalf of customers, however when the returned item is under warranty more often than not we are simply acting as the 'postman' and you are more likely to have your problem resolved much more quickly if you contact the manufacturer directly. We have found that Garmin, even though based in the UK, is very responsive to customers.

16. Do you repair GPS systens?

Mysatnav.ie specialises in the sales of GPS satellite navigation and accessories over the internet to Irish consumers. The market size here does not make it economical viable for us to maintain the technical skill sets and equipment necessary to carry out repairs. We are very happy to organise repairs of sat-navs on your behalf and in most cases this involves sending the goods back to the manufacturers in the UK.

17. My sat-nav is faulty and in warranty. Can I bring it it and get it replaced immediately?

No, as a sat-nav is an electronic device which needs to be examined to confirm a manufacturing fault it is not possible to bring a suspected faulty device into our offices for immediate exchange. Please see our Returns Policy for further details.

18. When under warranty, do you offer replacement sat-nav while mine is being repaired?

No, we do not offer replacement sat-nav when your system has been returned to us under warranty. If we have a system available, we may be able to lend you a sat-nav while yours is being repaired but this is not a guaranteed service nor should it be expected.

19. Do handheld GPS support OS Irish National Grid?

All Garmin handheld GPS systems can display and accept Irish National Grid.

20. Are there topography maps available for Ireland?

Garmin do not supply topography maps for Ireland and, currently, you are not permitted to download Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSI) maps from the OSI Trail Master series to your GPS. It is possible to download freeware contour maps of Ireland from the Scottish Mountaineering Club (SMC) and while not of OSI standard are still very good. We also recommend that you take a look at the excellent Mountain Views web site, a hillwalking resource for Ireland.

21. I would like to report map errors - how do I do it?

To report errors to Navteq please click here
To report map errors to Tele Atlas please click here

Other pages of possible interest

Why choose mysatnav.ie?
Our Help Section
How to update your Garmin GPS
Our Useful Links
Our Returns Policy
What our customers think

Ireland's Sat Nav & GPS Experts