Garmin StreetPilot i3

rf · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 08, 2005 Posts: 2

I think you would need to buy mapsource for the US, and a transflash card, but you would have to check with Garmin, as they may not be allowing updates from CD/DVD on these units sold in Europe.
Also, note that to update the mapping, you apparently have to buy the mapsource product, as you cannot update tha UK/Ireland mapping on the supplied card (again, you would have to double and tripe check this with Garmin as different people are getting different answers)...

I now hear that Garmin are telling two different stories - one that you can back up the original card, the other that you can't. I would not risk it, as they'll probably charge £100 for mapsource to get it back on if you screw it up.

Apparently in Europe, they will only be selling transflash cards for the 8 different regions, and Gramin told me to buy a c320 if I wanted European mapping on disc... very helpful...

zogman · Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 1:11 pm Post subject:

just looked on the garmin site and the usa version i3 specs say that you can load maps from the supplied dvd onto the 128mb transflash card.so i assume that any garmin mapping software can be loaded onto a spare transflash card and then used in the i3.....(uk transflash cards are apparently 256mb according to maplins)..

coinshooters · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 07, 2005 Posts: 15

wondered if you were running on batteries when it crashed, apparently requires at least 2300 Mnh, for 6hrs use according to the instructions,

RichardCr · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 06, 2005 Posts: 27

When I queried Maplin as to why you couldn't use the i3 to navigate to a Eurpoean destination using major roads they said,

"Unfortunately there has been an oversight by the suppliers when they have shipped the goods to us. The correct mapping software has not been included.

We are currently awaiting the CD to arrive in the very near future and will ship a copy to all I3 purchasers who are missing the item as soon as possible."

Garmin said they didn't think you could back up the Transflash card but if I get a CD who cares.

Mine has crashed once.

blackrat62 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 08, 2005 Posts: 47

This is odd - I spoke at some length with Maplin and then Garmin at their behest (because Maplin weren't sure what the position is).

Garmin tell me that the base map is on the i3 BUT you cannot route plan on it - they say that it just shows you where you are on the major roads when you are actually in that European country - the full mapping is UK/Ireland only.

This doesn't seem right as it lists some addresses when you search France (for example) but does not Paris or Tolouse if you try and find a city - it seems to be a partial map.

They did tell me that the detailed maps will be available in a couple of months on a transflash card. They said that it would be about £70 per country!! Apparently you cannot upload the maps to your existing transflash card.

Don't know if you will be able to copy a transflash card with a map on as a 'backup'?

Mine has locked once in the 3 times I have used it - I was travelling under a moderate tree canopy and executing a turn at the time. The safety camera download works great though.

It seems that the story varies depending on who you speak to at Garmin - anyone from Garmin read this and able to give a 'formal' answer?

markyboy1 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 08, 2005 Posts: 12

interested to read this thread regarding the new Garmin i3, it seems unusual that this product appears to be under sole distribution of Maplin. I wondered whether anyone new if this was a permanent arrangement.

Early indications on this thread appear mixed about its performance, the crashing seems a worrying trend! Does anyone know whether additional points of interest can be added? I realise the useful speed camera database can and has been but was wondering about the magnitude of others such as comes standard with the Tom TOm Go.

One final point for those who have already experienced the unit, is it large enough? The size specification would seem to indicate that it may be difficult to see on such a small screen?
Mark

attic · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 08, 2005 Posts: 30

I got mine a couple of days ago.

I uploaded the camera POIs, and I have also uploaded other from TOMTOM site - Tescos, B&Q, Petrol Stations, Underground etc. If you use the TomTom ones, you need to use their little bit of software to convert from the TomTom file type. I found the easiest way is to convert to the ASC file that it does by default, then go into Excel and do DATA / TEXT TO COLUMNS and choose DELIMITED by commas. This will convert to 3 columns and uploads fine when you save as a csv file. Delete all the header gumff at the top before you upload.

You can also upload the accompanying bitmap (same file name).

You need to have all POI files in the one directory and upload them all at the same time, otherwise the latest one you upload overwrites all the others.

A 'problem' I found is that you cannot display the POI bitmaps on the navigation screen. If you select it in the "go to" screen and view map, they are all there, but you will not see it on the navigation screen. According to Garmin "because the consensus is that the POI's clog up the screen". To me, that is rubbish - I'd rather see the little petrol icon or whatever so I know its there. Whats the point of a POI if you cant see it...

The exception to this is speed camera. It seems that if you are going below the set speed, you dont see them. But if you are above it, the icon of the camera appears - which is quite good, I think, but I would rather see it all the time...

Mine crashed once so far - but I was fiddling with it at the time...

attic · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 08, 2005 Posts: 30

Has anyone tried hardwiring into the car, rather than through the cigarette socket?

I'm not sure how easy it is - the plug looks like it is transforming from 12V to 5V, so you probably cant just go straight into a live wire in the car??

Jaz666 · Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 8:16 am Post subject: Re: garmin i3

attic · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 08, 2005 Posts: 30

Here is a response from GARMIN helpdesk re the hanging and the DVD mapping:

EggZenBeanz · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 09, 2005 Posts: 3

Backing up the transflash cards:

This can be done via a sd card reader and a sd card/ transflash adapter. Use the adapter to view the cards contents through my computer.

zogman · Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 4:59 pm Post subject:

EggZenBeanz...have you backed up the city select on the transflash? if so can you load different maps onto a virgin transflash card and then use it on the i3....

Minidish · Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2005 3:55 pm Post subject: Backing up transflash card

I managed to back up the i3 transflash card onto harddrive, I checked the properties of card noted the name and found it was formatted with FAT32 so I then formatted a spare 256mb card, named it same as original then copied contents onto spare card then fitted spare card into i3 but it's not having it Sad

just tells me to load maps using software provided.

p.s ordered the new card with adapter yesterday received it this morning total cost £19.80 from PicStop

swampmonster · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 11, 2005 Posts: 10

Got my i3 last week (Fist Sat Nav I've ever bought or used) and I used it to do a 170 mile trip. It hung three times near the end of the journey. This hanging was on very minor roads and appeared to happen close to junctions or turns. It was running off the cigar lighter adapter, so in response to the previous poster - it's not a power problem.
I have uploaded the Camera positions which appear pretty accurate but not totally so. I don't appear to be able to receive any audible warning on approaching them. Anybody else have this problem or know a work around??
On the 170 mile trip it also sent me on some very minor roads and although we got there in the end it was pretty hairy, single track roads etc. My normal route of sticking to major roads although longer in distance was definately much safer and quicker.
One other point is the voice doesn't seem to make much sense - here are some typical voice guides:
Having turned left from minor road to major road - "Drive"
On the road in which the destination is "Drive Destination"
.5 mile from roundabout " Drive Enter"
Close to roundabout "Enter 3rd Exit"
It appears to me that it can't say the word "roundabout" or "to".
I would be interested to know if anybody else has these problems.
Software version is 2.30 by the way.
For the poster who was concerned about the size, don't be. Although it's small the screen is very clear and with the option to either dash mount or windscreen mount you can easily find a suitable position for it.

Skippy · Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2005 11:44 pm Post subject:

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