Garmin i3- how do I put a map of Dubai onto it?

[oodoom]

Hi folks

Ive got an i3 with the UK/Ireland basemap - Im moving to Dubai in a month or so and want to know if I can put a map of the UAE onto the unit.

I rang Garmin UK and they told me that I could load their Middle East map onto a 2GB MicroSD card and use that. However the Middle East map disc costs over £400! Which is ridiculous. The whole point of me taking my current SatNav to Dubai is to keep costs down.

So, are there cheaper/free maps of the UAE available which will work on my i3? And if so how do I get them onto the unit?

Im totally new to all this so treat me gently!

Cheers

Adam

[PaulB2005]

The maps are expensive for Garmin to buy in the first place, however i feel £400 is a bit excessive when you can get the whole of Europe for £40!!

Can you check that price?

[Jamas]

[oodoom]

Hi Jamas

Thanks for the links - Ive downloaded them but am totally new to mapping software so if you could give me step-by-step guide on how to actually use these programs to get the map onto my i3?

Ive tried using Mapset but when I tell it which folder to look in it doesnt see the .img file I got from the mapcenter link. Ive also tried to use Mapsource but it wants to open a .gdb file which I dont have!

Thanks again

Adam

[Jamas]

[James503]

FWIW I've visited Dubai this week and followed the instructions above to load a map to take with me on my bike's Zumo 400.

Well worth while if you're visiting. Although the free map isn't that navigable, it's excellent for placing things and if you leave tracks displayed on the unit you can find your way back to the hotel from the far side of town.

They're still very much building Dubai, so roads appear and disappear overnight, and we've rapidly got used to the taxi charging off in the opposite direction to our destination due to road closures. And unless you get lifetime updates, I'd be tempted to say it's a bit pointless paying for a map of the place, it's changing so quickly. But perhaps someone living there will disagree.

Garmoan's been excellent to help the taxi drivers (mostly expats themselves, and some can't read) get to the destination - especially back to the hotel. So what started off as a bit of a lark was actually some use.

Hope this is of help,

James

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