Garmin GPS Software

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Velenoso

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Hi there,

I bought a Garmin Streetpilot C320 in the US last week while I was over there. I get back to Johannesburg and realise that it does not have software for South Africa. I spoke to someone at a store that sells them and they say they can load the software for me for R 1,200.

I find this unacceptable as I paid money for the thing and now I have to pay more money for maps. Does anyone know where I could download the maps for JHB?

I've found a torrent which I will be trying this evening.

Thanks in advance.
 
Its locked to your unit id...so downloading maps is not going to help you.
 
You will have to buy Garmap or (think there are other mapping software).
You will see on the box or somewhere it says USA base maps.

Don’t know what you’re so upset about these companies that make the mapping software has to make a living as well.

Btw: Garmap is overpriced in my opinion.
 
Last edited:
I have never done a price comparison, Garmap was recommended to me so I bought it.
Didn’t pay that much thought.

R1200 is just a bit to much and when updated get released you have to pay like R700 to upgrade. (Not sure what the exact price is)
 
Yeah, if you want to use that unit here, you''l have to buy the SA maps, there's no getting around it. The map software is locked to the device's hardware ID. That's why it is NOT cheaper to buy GPS's overseas.

Garmap is a bit more expensive than most iirc
 
It seems that on their website they have an 'unlock' feature. They want to charge $ 120 for the South African maps. Bit better than R 1,200. I guess I'll just buy it.
 
Velenoso said:
It seems that on their website they have an 'unlock' feature. They want to charge $ 120 for the South African maps. Bit better than R 1,200. I guess I'll just buy it.
Click to expand...

Before you do that! What web site are you referring to? Garmin.com?
If so I don’t think those maps can compete with the SA Garmaps...
 
I have no idea how good that software is. You should wait and see if someone responds that bought that one.
The important thing with auto routing software is it has to be up to date. 5 year old maps won’t help you much and you will most probably get lots... :p

Rather spend a bit more now and get the good stuff, if you buy cheap you may be forced to buy another product in a years time.
 
Being a Garmin agent, I am clearly going to be Pro Garmin

Unfortunately, for not buying the unit through correct channels, you have to now buy the maps. If you say purchased the unit through me, the latest maps would have been included.

Sorry dude
 
The GPS hardware will always give you a position - which is what you paid for I suppose. If you want to relate that to a map and get auto-directions - you get what you pay extra for - kind of like a pc and software/operating system. The Garmap software is very good but expensive I agree. Once you are on the software train - the upgrades are sometimes no too expensive - have just upgraded to SA Streetmaps V1.5 for about R300 and it now includes the Topographic info of SA. You also get other nice software from Garmin (MapSource and nRoute) that makes routeplanning very nice. It also interacts with Google Earth so you can 'fly' your route before and after.

Apparently there are other SA maps available for a lot cheaper but have no experience as to quality.
 
I have two reasons why I would not buy a Garmin GPS receiver:
Price of the software is quite steep. Upgrades are around R1K (every two years).
You cannot load new maps on the device without replacing the old ones. No good for off-road driving.

There are quite a few advantages to the receivers, but they are listed on their website :)

I must admit that I have not found another suitable receiver, but I am sure there will be usable open source mapping software available in the near future, which should give some flexibility.
 
DiabloJ said:
Being a Garmin agent, I am clearly going to be Pro Garmin

Unfortunately, for not buying the unit through correct channels, you have to now buy the maps. If you say purchased the unit through me, the latest maps would have been included.

Sorry dude
Click to expand...

Well I spend half my time in the US anyway, which is the reason I bought a portable GPS system to be able to use everywhere. I just wasn't too familiar with how GPS worked and I just assumed that it came with maps for every country.
 
VanZan said:
The GPS hardware will always give you a position - which is what you paid for I suppose. If you want to relate that to a map and get auto-directions - you get what you pay extra for - kind of like a pc and software/operating system. The Garmap software is very good but expensive I agree. Once you are on the software train - the upgrades are sometimes no too expensive - have just upgraded to SA Streetmaps V1.5 .
Click to expand...

If you like 4x4, quad biking, hiking or cycling then look at these
maps from Tracks4Africa, these are a community based network
of interesting points of interests ie ATM, fuel, shops, low level,
roads - tar, gravel or offroad, bridge crossings.

I bought the lot for Africa at R630 from
4x4megaworld or you can buy the country or region for R50 that interests you Tracks4Africa layer is also available for free
on Google Earth just select in the bottom left corner

Supports Garmin GPS another reason to go for Garmin
 
Price of the software is quite steep. Upgrades are around R1K (every two years).



Rubbish
 
Diablo, I have a m5 or something (which is like a GPS with Pocket PC 2002), I dont know what version my SA maps are. Around how much does it cost to upgrade to the newest SA maps?
 
supersunbird said:
Diablo, I have a m5 or something (which is like a GPS with Pocket PC 2002), I dont know what version my SA maps are. Around how much does it cost to upgrade to the newest SA maps?
Click to expand...

http://www.garmap.co.za/Info_SNA15.asp
PRICING
No previous versions of SA Streetmaps R2166
South Africa Streetmaps Version 1, 2 or 3 R741
South Africa Streetmaps Version 4 R228
Southern Africa Streetmaps Version 1 FREE
 
Why do these items cost so much more in South Africa? It puzzles me :confused:
I wish I could get the equivalent of what I bought in the US earlier this year. A GPS & full USA maps-set (which I am licensed to install on my Laptop and Desktop). It works BRILLIANTLY! Can plot from any city to any city and track&save any trip. It can do all sorts of stuff with it. The price $60 (or was that $69), whatever (less than R500.) That was for both the GPS (which does the latest standards) AND the maps! Generally available at Best Buys or Circuit City. In typical USA true-to-form - 2008 version. (One just has to smile about who can always bring out the earliest next-year-release today in the US.)
 
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