New User! VistaC mapping queries

the_chefer · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 08, 2005 Posts: 9

Hi :D
I'm a complete novice at GPS (at the moment!) I bought a Vista C basically to see what all the fuss was about. I bought it from an American Website so I assume I have an American Basemap (On the startup screen it mentions an American Basemap) Although I can see major routes in the UK??!!) I would like to use the Vista C whilst on my bike and in my car so ideally need a detailed road map (Street level detail I think is the terminolgy). I've looked on the Garmin website - and maps aren't cheap so I thought id ask so Im confident in what Im getting. A couple of questions are:
1. Is it the European City Select I require enable me to see local streets whilst in the car or on my bike?

2. I presume becasue of the memory in a Vista C (24mb I think) I couldn't have the whole of the UK on the Vista at one time - just regions. Is this correct? It is fine as I can just upload the regions im going to be in, in advance.

3. Do I have to use Garmin maps on the device or are there any cheaper alternatives I can use?

I suppose the main question is No. 1 as I dont really want to spend nearly 200 pounds on something I dont want!

Thanks very much for your help and sorry for the basic question

Skippy

Answers:

1. Yes, this gives detailed street level maps and Sat Nav style turn by turn directions for most of most of Western Europe. Most countries are 100% covered, including the UK where I presume you are! Some countries don't have 100% street level coverage (ie Ireland), check Garmin's website for details if this is vital to you.

2. Exactly right. You can get pretty much all of London within the M25 into 16 Meg. If you tell us where you are then I can give you an idea of how big the maps are. The maps don't have to be joined up, you can load Manchester and Munich if you want. How much of a problem you see this as depends on how many miles you are covering.

3. Yes, you pretty much have to use Garmin maps.

The maps ARE expensive. There are a couple of other fairly radical options you could consider:

Flog your VistaC on eBay and buy:

A StreetPilot i3 for about £180 (UK maps only, Voice prompts when routing, Speed Camera Alerts, not waterproof for outdoors use and lacks many functions of the VistaC)

A Quest for about £300 (Full EU maps, waterproof, full outdoors functionality, 18 hour battery life, 243 Meg memory, Voice prompts - no speed camera alerts)

Neither of these have a barometric altimeter and electronic compass like the VistaC though.

If you don't mind having two GPS units then you can buy a Quest which comes with City Select and get the maps unlocked for use on the VistaC too.

Hope that helps!
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Gone fishing!

the_chefer · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 08, 2005 Posts: 9

Great, thanks for your reply! Thats cleared alot up. I did have a look at the Quest but I decided the Vista C was a more 'all-round' unit. I guess I'll have to buy the City Select of Garmin. This is turning into an expensive toy!
Thanks again

missing_user · Joined: Aug 30, 2008 Posts: -7

missing_user · Joined: Aug 30, 2008 Posts: -7

BernieK · Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2005 8:59 pm Post subject:

the_chefer · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 08, 2005 Posts: 9

I'm back...
Bought myself a Garmin Quest (Its christmas isn't it??! :D ). I still much prefer the Etrex - its much more rugged so it'll do for the all round unit I want to use it for! I've now got City Select (which ive been playing with a bit on the PC before attempting to copy maps to the Etrex). I only really want to use local maps (mainly on my bike but occasionaly in the car) so the limted memory is fine. I'm manageing to bundle my way through so far but im sure i'll be back once i've got maps on the device!!...
Thanks for your help!

the_chefer · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 08, 2005 Posts: 9

Oh deah

what have I done. I've finished playing with CIty Select and thought id have a go with some data on my Etrex. I created 3 waypoints one route (between 2 of the waypoints) and selected one mapping section (1.54Mb) I sent all this to the Etrex and I now get a message saying "Can't unlock Maps"?? Any idea what could cause this? My maps are unlocked on the PC at least?

Tim Buxton · Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 6:14 pm Post subject:

You will need to go online to get your second unlock code from Garmin. Have a look here.
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Tim

the_chefer · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 08, 2005 Posts: 9

Thanks for the quick reply - I dont have a customer number for my Etrex since I bought it from America on Ebay??

Tim Buxton · Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 6:22 pm Post subject:

Did you get one with the Quest? I think that's the one you need.
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Tim

the_chefer · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 08, 2005 Posts: 9

Not that I can see - just the 25 digit code - Im re-checking all the documentation now

Tim Buxton · Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 6:36 pm Post subject:

According to the site it's on the same piece of yellow paper which holds the 25 digit unlock code for the Quest.
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Tim

the_chefer · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 08, 2005 Posts: 9

My Code is on a sticker on the back of the owners manual ( i bought this off ebay too!). I really dont understand how this licensing works!! I need an Unlocking code for not only the PC but for the device too?? Or is my PC just not unlocked correctly??

Tim Buxton · Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 7:12 pm Post subject:

Can you transfer maps to the Quest? Any old valid unlock code will allow you to view the extra map detail on a PC; only the correct unlock code will allow you to transfer maps to a valid device.
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Tim

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