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How To Update The Maps On Your Sat-Nav

Instructions for Garmin and TomTom follow.

GARMIN

If you have just purchased your Garmin sat-nav please see Section 2 below otherwise read on.

Section 1

There are two options available to you for updating the maps on your Garmin sat-nav.

  1. Update your maps online through www.garmin.com, or
  2. Update using preloaded micro/SD cards

1.1  Update your maps online through www.garmin.com

All Garmin sat-navs can be updated through the Garmin website.  To do this you must first set up an account with Garmin using the 'myGarmin' service, then you register your Garmin sat-nav.

There are two update options available. These are

  1. nüMaps Onetime, a single-use update to refresh your sat-nav maps once, which costs €59 (as of 03/01/13)

  2. nuMaps Lifetime, four annual map updates for the life of your Garmin sat-nav which costs €89 (as of 03/01/13)

If you own a regional sat-nav, for example, the Garmin nüvi 1310 with Ireland & UK mapping, when you purchase either the nüMaps Onetime or nüMaps Lifetime this gives you full European mapping for your system.

Updating the maps on your sat-nav through 'myGarmin' is not straightforward.   It catches people out and our recommendation is that you should only use this method if you have lots of time on your hands and are confident with computers.  It is possible to corrupt your device if the process is not done correctly.  Even if your system is within warranty Garmin may charge you to rebuild your sat-nav.

A good broadband is essential. It can take several hours to download the maps to your PC/Apple Mac from the Garmin website and then up to a further two hours to transfer the map information from your computer to your sat-nav.

For those with older sat-nav models, the process is further complicated as these devices have insufficient space to hold the latest map information. In these cases, a SD/microSD memory card is required and the map information is then split between your sat-nav and the memory card.

Garmin Map Update Service from mySatNav.ie
Following many requests from customers, mySatNav.ie now offer a Garmin Map Update Service.  Details of the service can be found here, Garmin Map Update Service from mySatNav.ie.

The benefit is that we completely remove the hassle and aggravation for you - you send us in your sat-nav with old maps and 48 hours later we return it to you, updated with the latest maps.

 

1.2  Update using preloaded SD cards

All Garmin sat-navs come with either a SD or microSD card slot for additional map information.

This is by far and away the simplest way to update the maps on your device.  Your simple buy a micro/SD card and insert it into the side of your sat-nav and off you go.  The downside is that the maps are more expensive than purchasing the Garmin nüMaps Onetime from the Garmin website.

As of 03/01/13, the Ireland & UK SD card costs €43 while the Europe SD card is €103.

Also note that Europe maps now come on 4GB SD cards. Unfortunately 4GB SD cards do not work on some of the older sat-navs such as the Garmin nuvi 3xx series and 6xx series that only support SD cards up to 2GB.  If you have one of the older model sat-navs your only option is to update through the Garmin website.

 

Section 2

For those that have just purchased a new sat-nav, Garmin provide a Free 90-day Map Update Guarantee whereby you can update the maps on your sat-nav to the latest version free of charge.  The 90 days start from the date that your sat-nav first acquires a satellite fix.

The reason for this guarantee is that none of the sat-navs available in either high street shops or online stores contain the latest map information.   The reason is simple.  Map updates are released approximately once every 3 months while the manufacturing cycle from device production through distribution to stores is longer.  Typically the maps preloaded onto a sat-nav can be between 6-24 months old.  Availing of the free map update is therefore a must.

To avail of the free map update, you go to the Garmin website, set up an account for yourself under 'myGarmin' and register your device.   Once you register the sat-nav you will be advised that an update is available.

If you have a sat-nav that is preloaded with regional maps, for example, the Garmin nuvi 1310, then the map update guarantee is for that region only.  If you have an Europe wide system, then the guarantee covers full Europe maps.

Availing of the Free Map Update through 'myGarmin' is not straightforward. If you are not confident with computers, it can catch you out.  It is possible to corrupt your device if the process is not done correctly.  Even if your system is within warranty Garmin may charge you to rebuild your sat-nav.

A good broadband connection is essential It can take several hours to download the maps to your PC/Apple Mac from the Garmin website and then up to a further two hours to transfer the map information from your computer to your sat-nav.

Garmin Map Update Service from mySatNav.ie
mySatNav.ie offer a Garmin Map Update Service at time of purchase from our online store (this costs €20)and for those customer who purchased their sat-nav elsewhere.  Details of the service can be found here, Garmin Map Update Service from mySatNav.ie.

The benefit is that we completely remove the hassle and aggravation for you and we ship your new sat-nav bang up to date.

You can purchase the Garmin Map Update Service when buying your sat-nav.

 

Who should I contact if I have problems using the 'myGarmin' update service?

Either:

  1. Garmin Technical Support on 1890 930 081 (which we recommend), or
  2. submit an online query to Garmin Product Support (Garmin are slower to respond)

We cannot help because we have no access to your 'myGarmin' account information or registration details and unable to fix map-specific problems such as "Can't Unlock Maps".

 

 

TOMTOM

Garmin could probably learn a thing or two from their main competitor on how to provide a proper map update service.

Currently, all TomTom map updates are done through TomTom Home.  The free PC based software can be downloaded from here, TomTom Home Software Download.

TomTom HOME allows you to

  • - Always stay up to date
  • - Personalise your TomTom device
  • - Buy maps, content or subscribe to services
  • - Make copy of your content, just in case

It is very straightforward to use and easy to follow.