Updating old Garmin units

[Jan Horn]

Thanks Trevor. A good review of the 42. You can also see if the continuous tone under the audio section of proximity points is not ticked. The single tone option will also reduce the number of warnings. It is good practice to use the option on PoiLoader to remove the old poi before you load new ones. Although the system supposedly overwrite the data a small variation in the names will result in doubling up of data(warnings). This is a nice review of the and I would like to copy it to the Nuvi 4x Forum.

[Trevor Rennison]

Something's wrong here guys. I tried loading the POIs the 'old' way, using the same directory structure that I used to and I'm getting error messages telling me that the gpx data files are invalid. If I delete all the POIs and then reload the old ones from 2012, it loads them happily with no error messages.

I've looked at the file structures and they appear to be the same, i.e. one gpx file and one bitmap for each type of hazard. I've even opened the files in MapSource to have a look at them and they appear to be valid because I can see them in Mapsource.

Admittedly, I'm trying this on my old Nuvi 300, before I start to mess around with the new 42. Want to get it working first before I delete any data off the new 42.

For reference, the folder structure looks like this: Damn! How do I insert an image here? Can't get it to work. I'll try to email the file to you so you can see how it looks.

In the meantime, let me go read the guide again. I used to do this every month a few years ago so I don't think I'm doing anything wrong. Maybe I need a new version of POI Loader?

[Trevor Rennison]

Just done another experiment: Loaded the old data from 2012 which results in a 'poi.gpi' file in the 'poi' folder on my Nuvi. There are about 4500 poi's in that file and the gpi file size is 571kB.

If I then use POI Loader to delete the POI files on the Nuvi, the file is replaced with an empty file (same name) with a size of 0 bytes.

If I repeat this experiment, using the latest RHD files and keep clicking yes on the errors when it asks me 'do you want to continue' it eventually tells me that it's loaded 4068 POIs to my unit. When I check the file on the unit it is now 414kB in size, so it is loading something onto the unit, but why all the errors and why does it see the files as 'invalid'?

Any ideas?

[Trevor Rennison]

Just discovered that my old version of POI Loader doesn't like the new file format. That was version 253. That's why I kept getting error messages.

I downloaded the latest version (273) from the Garmin website and presto! Just successfully loaded all the latest POIs onto my old Nuvi 300.

I can see there are a few subtle differences between the two versions and also some extra options on the new version.

Now for the 42, watch this space

[Jan Horn]

Trevor the files should be around 695kb and it should tell you it downloaded 6535 files. It should not show any errors during the download. I am mailing you a pdf file with all the gpx files combined. Just unzip and download it and see what you get.

[Jan Horn]

I was typing when you latest post came through so I will hold off mailing you the file

[Trevor Rennison]

Successfully transferred the POI data to my 42. I had a look at the gpx files in Mapsource and noted that there is a fixed 60km/h camera a few kays from my house that is not listed there. I'll drive past there today and get the waypoint for you and then submit the data (after reading the guidelines, of course )

Haven't done this since around 2009 but will be nice to get back into it again and be part of the community and do my bit.

[Trevor Rennison]

Hi Jan. Yes it loaded about 6500 files and the gpi file size is 676kB.

That sounds about right then hey?

I'll keep my 42 in cruise mode, as I usually do and notify you if anything is amiss. The fixed 60k camera that I mentioned in an earlier post has been there about two years already. Maybe there aren't too many contributors in my area? Not to worry, if I find a hazard that's not in the dataset, I'll mark it and notify you via the proper channels.

There is an entry for a mobile 60km trap in that area and the proximity range overlaps that of the new fixed camera, but since the fixed camera is there I've not seen a mobile trap operating there anymore.

For interest, it's mobile cam 3748 and in the old dataset was known as MT1370.

Thanks again for all the assistance. Much appreciated. Will start working on the more fancy sounds later. For now, the bongs will do.

[Jan Horn]

Your are about 90% done. All that remains is the sound folder in the root (c:/) directory and a subdirectory for the toll voice files in that directory and for the relevant wave files to be loaded in them And to load the sox.exe file to the PoiLoader folder.

[Trevor Rennison]

What does the Program from Tiaan Strauss allow you to do? Is it to create your own POI files?

It sounds interesting and I might download it and play around with it.