New Garmin Montana

[Emmbeedee]

Originally Posted by johnpitts01

I'm sure the answers are in this thread somewhere. But the info seems to change daily, so I'd appreciate the latest correct setup

Brand new virgin Montana 650 - Haven't even turned it on yet.
I want to load CNNT 2013 with lifetime updates and Topo 100k maps. I have CD's for both.
The questions:
1) I believe the best setup is to load the maps to a uSD card, correct?
2) What size card should I get, and is there a specific brand / model that is fast and compatible?
3) What is the specific procedure to ensure the maps are loaded to the uSD card (and not the unit)?

I think a couple of identical 16 gig cards are the best way to go. Keep the same maps on both and if one card gets corrupted while you're on the road then just switch to the spare.

The cards don't have to be very fast but I don't think it's a bargain to buy cheap brands.

Use the most recent version of MapInstall to put the maps on the card. Just choose the right destination, ie the card and not the gps.

[atlas cached]

Originally Posted by johnpitts01

I'm sure the answers are in this thread somewhere. But the info seems to change daily, so I'd appreciate the latest correct setup

Brand new virgin Montana 650 - Haven't even turned it on yet.
I want to load CNNT 2013 with lifetime updates and Topo 100k maps. I have CD's for both.
The questions:
1) I believe the best setup is to load the maps to a uSD card, correct?
2) What size card should I get, and is there a specific brand / model that is fast and compatible?
3) What is the specific procedure to ensure the maps are loaded to the uSD card (and not the unit)?


Any other specific pointers for initial setup of the unit are much appreciated!

Thanks in advance.


John

1. Many of us prefer using the uSD card for our maps and other data because, if you have any issue with data becoming corrupted or not otherwise properly read in the field, you can simply remove the uSD card, reboot the Montana, then insert the uSD card and reboot again to re-index all of your data. This does not happen often, but it does happen.

2. I have used many brands, and have had the best reliability with SanDisk cards. Officially, the Montana accepts up to 32GB, while some users have been able to make 64GB uSD cards work. Due to map tile and total GPX limitations of the Montana, 16GB will likely be plenty for most users. Map information here.

3. The most current version of Garmin MapInstall will load all map data to your uSD card before sending to your GPSr, but data transfer through the GPSr can be very slow. If you create a \Garmin\ directory on your uSD card and insert it in a card reader, MapInstall and BaseCamp will interface with it and data transfer speeds will be better. More useful software information here.

Make sure you back up your Montana before getting carried away, just in case you need some of the original files date!

[atlas cached]

Originally Posted by kdtrull

Does the new Montana allow you to control how far out you can zoom and still see th minor roads? I hate it when they turn off the minor roads too soon.

Kdt

Experiment with adjusting [Setup | Maps | Advanced | Zoom Levels | Street Labels] and [Setup | Maps | Advanced | Zoom Levels | Land Cover] out to higher zoom levels.

[johnpitts01]

Just to be clear......
Should the uSD card be in the Montana when downloading the maps or should the card be in a slot on the computer?




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[moto-treks]

Originally Posted by johnpitts01

Just to be clear......
Should the uSD card be in the Montana when downloading the maps or should the card be in a slot on the computer?

I put the micro-SD card in the computer and download directly to the card as it's much faster than using the USB cable.

[Albie]

Originally Posted by johnpitts01

Just to be clear......
Should the uSD card be in the Montana when downloading the maps or should the card be in a slot on the computer?




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I install to the HD then copy to my SD card using an internal card reader in my laptop. Seems to be the quickest way for me.

[johnpitts01]

Forgive my ignorance...

I am coming from the 276-478 world where the CN maps were linked to a specific unit. It was necessary to buy a seperate copy of CN for each GPOS unit.

You are telling me I can download the CN maps to multiple uSD Cards?????

John

[atlas cached]

Originally Posted by johnpitts01

Forgive my ignorance...

I am coming from the 276-478 world where the CN maps were linked to a specific unit. It was necessary to buy a seperate copy of CN for each GPOS unit.

You are telling me I can download the CN maps to multiple uSD Cards?????

John

No. CN will be locked to ONE device.

You will have to have that device plugged in when you send the maps.

[Emmbeedee]

Originally Posted by atlas cached

No. CN will be locked to ONE device.

You will have to have that device plugged in when you send the maps.

But he can copy what he ends up with on his uSD card to a second (or multiple cards), and keep that to work in the same device the map is locked to...

[johnpitts01]

Maybe I'm being a bit dense.... but I am confused.

If I understand correctly I must have the Montana connected to my computer.
I an insert a uSD card in the slot on my computer (not the Montana).
I can then download the maps to the uSD card.

Really?????

If the maps are locked to one unit it seems to me it would be necessary for the card to be in the unit to work.


Just sayin....

Originally Posted by Emmbeedee

But he can copy what he ends up with on his uSD card to a second (or multiple cards), and keep that to work in the same device the map is locked to...

[Emmbeedee]

Originally Posted by johnpitts01

Maybe I'm being a bit dense.... but I am confused.

If I understand correctly I must have the Montana connected to my computer.
I an insert a uSD card in the slot on my computer (not the Montana).
I can then download the maps to the uSD card.

Really?????

If the maps are locked to one unit it seems to me it would be necessary for the card to be in the unit to work.


Just sayin....

If you have the gps connected to the computer when you activate the map it will bind itself to the Montana. But if you have a uSD card in the gps, you can choose to send the maps to that with MapInstall, though it might take 1/2 an hour for MapInstall to build the mapset, and send it to the usb connected gps.

It used to take a very long time for map transfers to happen back when we used the 60/76CSx models because they were on USB1, a very slow version, but the faster usb port on the Montana cuts the time down a lot.

You can also speed this up a bit more by putting the uSD card into the computer but I don't think it's worth worrying about. Just start the transfer, then go for a walk or coffee...

[TravellingStrom]

Well I am back on track :)

After 14 days the faulty unit was replaced and although I had to cross a border and a river and use a cranky slow bus that broke down, I now have my THIRD 650t.

Hopefully this one will last longer than the other 2 and not get confused either :)

Cheers from Chiang Rai Thailand on my way back to my broken down bike in Laos




Cheers
TravellingStrom
Sent by arcane magic
using Tapatalk

[DRTBYK]

Originally Posted by johnpitts01

. . . .
Really?????

If the maps are locked to one unit it seems to me it would be necessary for the card to be in the unit to work.


Just sayin....

When MapInstall compiles your maps it also creates the unlock "key" for that map (a GMA file) from the unlock code that is stored on your computer for a specific GPS unit. That key is linked to two things; 1) your Montana's unique ID (not the S/N) and 2) the Map Version (CNNA 2013.30). When MapInstall transfers the Map it also transfers the GMA file. So, now on your µSD Card you have those two files: IMG (map) and GMA (unlock key). Only YOUR Montana can open the Map using the GMA file data. If you put that Card into another GPS the maps would not unlock.

Now, you didn't really want to know all of that did you.

Cheers,

[Emoto]

Originally Posted by Emmbeedee

No, the gps does not really control that. It's a property that's built into the map.

But if you have a map like the OSM ones which allow road detail out to the 5km zoom level, then you can see lots of detail when zoomed out.

This??? http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/O...armin/Download

Pardon the semi-off-topic question but how well do these work compared to maps from Garmin?

[johnpitts01]

Yes, I did need that information. It all makes sense to me now.
Without that explanation I was quite confused.

Again, just to be sure I have it correct, please confirm that I have (2) choices, A and B

A
Install the uSD card in the Montana
Connect the Montana to the laptop
Create a directory on the uSD card named /Garmin
Insert the CN CD in the laptop
Download the CN maps to the uSD card in the Montana to the /Garmin directory.
To load the maps to a second uSD card, disconnect the Montana, swap uSD card 1 with uSD card 2, connect the Montana to the laptop again and download the maps to uSD card 2.



B
Insert the uSD card in the slot on the laptop
Connect the Montana
Create a directory on the uSD card named /Garmin
Insert the CN CD in the laptop
Download the CN maps to the uSD card to the /Garmin directory.
To load the maps to a second uSD card, swap uSD card 1 with uSD card 2 on the laptop and repeat.


Sorry to be such a PITA with the questions, but I want to be sure to get this right from the get-go.

If detailed instructions are available anywhere just give me a link or point me to w website / thread.


Thanks for all your help.


John

Originally Posted by DRTBYK

When MapInstall compiles your maps it also creates the unlock "key" for that map (a GMA file) from the unlock code that is stored on your computer for a specific GPS unit. That key is linked to two things; 1) your Montana's unique ID (not the S/N) and 2) the Map Version (CNNA 2013.30). When MapInstall transfers the Map it also transfers the GMA file. So, now on your µSD Card you have those two files: IMG (map) and GMA (unlock key). Only YOUR Montana can open the Map using the GMA file data. If you put that Card into another GPS the maps would not unlock.

Now, you didn't really want to know all of that did you.

Cheers,