Garmin GPS - Installing Europe v8 map update on a 2620

Author

Installing Europe v8 map update on a 2620

Roy Hann

2006-03-04, 5:48 pm

I have spent almost two hours trying to find a definitive answer to what I
stupidly thought was a simple question. I have a StreetPilot 2620 with the
Europe v6 maps installed on the hard drive. I just got the v8 update DVD in
the post. Can I install the updated v8 maps on the 2620s hard drive?

Needless to say I've read the (skimpy) docs that came with the DVD; I've
scoured the Garmin website and FAQs, and I've Googled with ambiguous
results.

Roy

Roy Hann

2006-03-04, 5:48 pm

"Roy Hann" <specially@processed.almost.meat> wrote in message
news:hdOdnY6n6eT7TpT
ZRVny0A@pipex.net...
> I have spent almost two hours trying to find a definitive answer to what I
> stupidly thought was a simple question. I have a StreetPilot 2620 with
the
> Europe v6 maps installed on the hard drive. I just got the v8 update DVD
in
> the post. Can I install the updated v8 maps on the 2620s hard drive?
>
> Needless to say I've read the (skimpy) docs that came with the DVD; I've
> scoured the Garmin website and FAQs, and I've Googled with ambiguous
> results.

And a supplementary question: is it possible that Garmin have sent me the
wrong DVD? It's got a MapSource logo on the cover and the 2620 doesn't
support MapSource (AFAIK). I'll be deeply unhappy if they have sent me the
wrong one because after ten minutes on hold, the phone conversation I had
with them was curt even by Garmin's usual fairly abrupt standards.
Afterwards I assumed the person I had been talking to could see my unit
information on a screen in front of him since he certainly didn't give me a
chance to tell him.

Roy

Roy Hann

2006-03-07, 5:48 pm

"Roy Hann" <specially@processed.almost.meat> wrote in message
news:- ZmdndZ7yLy3ZpTZnZ2dn
UVZ8tydnZ2d@pipex.net...
> "Roy Hann" <specially@processed.almost.meat> wrote in message
> news:hdOdnY6n6eT7TpT
ZRVny0A@pipex.net...
I[color=darkred]
> the
DVD[color=darkred]
> in
>
> And a supplementary question: is it possible that Garmin have sent me the
> wrong DVD? It's got a MapSource logo on the cover and the 2620 doesn't
> support MapSource (AFAIK). I'll be deeply unhappy if they have sent me
the
> wrong one because after ten minutes on hold, the phone conversation I had
> with them was curt even by Garmin's usual fairly abrupt standards.
> Afterwards I assumed the person I had been talking to could see my unit
> information on a screen in front of him since he certainly didn't give me
a
> chance to tell him.

OK gang, here's the definitive answer: Garmin sent me the wrong DVD. What I
needed for the 2620 was the 2620/2660-specific(!) update DVD. If it doesn't
say 2620/2660 clearly in black-and-white on the label, it's the wrong one.

Once you get the right disk you pop it in the computer, which then
automatically upgrades your Garmin USB driver (if required). You then power
up the 2620, plug in the USB cable, and follow the on-screen prompts. You
are led through the process of updating the StreetPilot software (if
required), and then obtaining an unlock code for the mapping data. (Note
that the same unlock code works for the 2620-specific update as well as the
MapSource update--which is lucky because that's what I had after my earlier
fiasco.) The mapping update then starts, and you are warned that it will
take between 1 and 2 hours. On my machine it took an hour and 43 minutes.

Finally I should mention that after an unreasonably long time on hold (over
20 minutes) waiting to talk to Garmin (being charged 8p/minute in the UK),
the person I ended up talking to was by far the most pleasant and
confident-sounding I have ever spoken to at Garmin. Not at all the
cryogenic reception I am used to with them. Too bad they didn't send the
right disk in the first place though.

Roy

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