Warning for nuvi Users loading POIs

MaFt · Last edited by MaFt on Fri Mar 02, 2007 10:08 pm; edited 1 time in total

The Garmin nuvi seems to have a problem in the software when attempting to load more than 257 categories of custom POIs.

If you load more than 257 categories of POI then this will result in the nuvi locking when loading the map. At this point the nuvi will not go any further.

To recover the nuvi to a workable system again you will need to contact Garmin Technical Support on Free Phone 0808 2380000 and they will send you some software, via email, and some instructions.

These instructions need to be amended slightly in that once you have reset the software you need to disconnect the USB cable and after seting your language etc it will ask if you want to update the firmware - say NO to this and then you can connect to the nuvi through the USB lead again.

Once you can 'see' the nuvi drive you need to go to the Garmin/Poi folder and delete the poi.gpi file from in there.

Once the file is removed you can disconnect the USB and when the nuvi reboots you can update the Firmware.

MaFt · Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 10:07 pm Post subject:

can i also point out that when the poi's were first officially released that both myself and mikealder tested our nuvi's with all the categories and had no problems.

mike today found the folder on his pc with the original files he downloaded and there were 257 categories... how's that for luck?! that's why neither of us had had any issues with our nuvi's because at the time of release there were not enough to cause the problems. within a week or two there were obviously more categories and that's when issues started...

it hasn't been until garmin provided some software to be able to fully reset the nuvi that we have been able to look further into this as until now no one has been able to recover the unit without sending it off to garmin...

MaFt

Mr_Big · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jul 29, 2006 Posts: 5

Fantastic news MaFt, my 310D was sent off to Garmin for repair after I installed too many POI's and they lost it. So Halfords let me upgrade to a 660 and pay the difference.
Now I can start and install some POI's and feel more confident that I wont wreck this unit.
Thanks

Louie7 · Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 2:01 am Post subject:

I do not load the POI file directly onto my Nuvi, but onto a SD Card.

Download the POI file from your PC to a SD Card, with the folder structure the same as on the Nuvi i.e. Garmin/POI. Copy the POI file into the POI folder. If you do not follow the Nuvi folder structure, the Nuvi will not recognise your POI file.

Insert the SD Card into the Nuvi's card slot. The first time you power up the Nuvi after inserting the SD Card, it will ask you if you wish to copy the POI file to the Nuvi, answer NO. The Nuvi will now read the POI file from the SD Card each time you switch it on.

If you have a problem with the POI file you can simply switch off the Nuvi, remove the SD Card. Power on the Nuvi and it should operate without any problem.

I also copy my MP3 files into a MP3 folder on the SD Card for the same reasons.

philpugh · Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 2:45 am Post subject:

MaFt

257 is a very strange number!

Are you saying that 257 works and any more doesn't?

I could understand 512 working ( 8 bit byte = 512 'choices'). Perhaps the most significant bit isn't used ( which would give 256 working values). If the 0th value is not to be used then 257th category = 1000000 which could be a special case.

When you have 257 categories can you see the 257th category (1000000) and the first (000000)?
_________________
Phil

MaFt · Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 10:53 am Post subject:

with 257 categories you can see ALL of them. with 258 the nuvi won't load.

it's a strange arbitrary number... just like the i3's limit of 85 - why 85?! why not 100? having said that i had 84 on my i3 last night and it wouldn't boot so maybe it's best to stick to 250 for nuvi and 80 for i3 just in case the arbitrary limit decides to change on its own free will...!

MaFt

GJF · Frequent Visitor Joined: Feb 08, 2007 Posts: 894

Phew - i'm just filling up the folder, nearly blew it, Embarassed

glad i found this in time, :D I think i will stick to Louie7 suggestion and use the SD card. 8)
_________________
TomTom Go 60
Garmin Nüvi 660, Firmware v4.90
Drive-Smart GPS with Loader v1.4.16
HTC Advantage X7500 MS 6.1 Tchart Speed Sentry
Satmap Active 10, Software v1.16
Fuzion 32 HUD Bluetooth GPS receiver

dougproctor · Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 4:54 pm Post subject:

Thanks MaFt for that, at least we now know. Why have Garmin said nothing though, I wonder?

PhilHornby

PhilHornby

MaFt

ColinG · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 12:05 am Post subject: POI Overload - nuvi 360

Good advice received with thanks. I had to send my Nuvi 360 back to Garmin following an attempt by me to download (with hindsight) too many POI categories, and the machine locked up.
I did this the night before we were going away so I had to go out and buy a new model - the 660. Garmin sent back a brand new 360 with all latest software - so no complaints and my son wasn't complaining either!
I did decide though not to download any more POI's onto the new 660 or 360 as I knew it was something to do with the last action which had caused the problem, although I did not know exactly what.
I'll just stick to the basics from now on.
Thanks again
_________________
TomTom 740 Go Live

cdoc83 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jun 29, 2005 Posts: 2

The number given does not work.

Kevdb

I may be being stupid but when you refer to no more than 257 categories of POIs do you mean gpi files like Banks, Petrol etc or do you mean csv files like Nat West, HSBC, Esso, Shell etc.

Thanks and again, sorry if I'm being thick but its better to be safe than sorry Exclamation

petepda · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 10, 2007 Posts: 36

Just to re-iterate a post i just put on the end of another thread, i just got my 360T today and straight out of the box it exhibited the lock-up problem: "Loading Maps..." then hangs. I hadn't even connected it to the PC to start loading any data onto it - indeed i haven't even got an SD card as yet.

	PocketGPS
	Web