Gps question?

Question

i got a garmin gps system from a friend a few months ago. it is an older one, from 2006, but it was won at some sort of fundraising event. but anyway, i am trying to figure out how to get it more up to date. like it doesn't have any of the new banks and stores that have opened up in my area in the last four or so years. do i have to pay for those updates? i always thought that once you bought the device, you got free updates for all that stuff. but im afraid im wrong.

so if anyone out there could answere my question, it could save me a great deal of trouble. and if these updates are not free, if someone knows what exactly i shoud purchase and how much it costs, that would be helpful as well. and is it even worth it on an older device??

thanks!

Answer 1

It takes a lot of work to update point of interest and road data.  The leading companies that collect the road data have teams of dozens of drivers on the roads.  So there is a significant cost to maintaining updated maps.  Garmin, TomTom, et al. pass on these costs to you.

Garmin has a webpage where you can enter your unit's serial number to see which map updates are available for it.  I think they give you the option to order a DVD, SD/microSD card, or download the new map data.  I suggest going with the pre-loaded SD/microSD card because you won't have to deal with running the DVD program to choose which areas you want to copy to your GPS receiver.  Basically you would just stick the card in the GPS receiver (if it has a card slot).

Garmin's prices will be high, so if you want to buy the DVD or pre-loaded memory card, write down the product name and number they recommend and do some comparison shopping.

I should note that points of interest, like banks and restaurants are the most inaccurate things on these maps.  I don't know what sources NAVTEQ and TeleAtlas (the map companies that work with Garmin and TomTom) use for points of interest.  It is quite common for a three year old restaurant not to be listed while a restaurant that went out of business six years ago is still listed.