If you have a Garmin GPS (NAVxx or other with lifetime maps) you can use Garmin Express to down load a map update to both the Garmin and the Basecamp. Often you can find a very cheap GPS used with lifetime maps.

 

I have a Nav V..I updated the maps, downloaded it to Basecamp...must have missed something. I'll try again.

 

It's a two step process to get the new maps on both the nav unit and your computer - meaning you have to install them on both. It's a bit confusing. Hook up your Nav V and take a look at Garmin Express - you should be able to download the maps to your computer as well.

 

You can do it in one step but it's not intuitive--in Garmin Express you have to click on the tiny "options" link when you get ready to install and select "install to both device and computer" rather than the default which is to only install to the device. That's so dumb but it's been that way for years and Garmin hasn't corrected it.

 

Use this instead, it is fantastic and way more advanced and easier to use than base camp. I believe annual fee of around $60. I've been using it for a year now and it highlights the old tech of basecamp being the equivalent of a 2000 PC. I've used it for several riding routes (up to 305 miles) and one long distance trip (multi state).

Your route is stored online and you can connect almost any navi device and push it to your device via USB. Check it out.

The largest verified route archive thanks to MyRoute-app RouteXperts

Get free permanent access to the largest car- and motorroutearchive in the world.

www.myrouteapp.com

 

Or if you want to stick with free Basecamp click on "Details" in Garmin Express, where you will find the option to download the map to your computer as well as your Nav

 

Thanks ....I will get that done today.

 

The last three Garmin units I have owned, including the NAV V and NAV VI, have lifetime updates free. How old is your unit ??

 

No lifetime maps for the Nav V or Nav VI here in New Zealand. However I use one of my other cheaper Garmin devices that does have the LTM and then unlock the map and copy it over to the Nav VI. Also use a free version of the NZ map as well but that does not have the speed limit stuff in it.

 

Thanks everyone.....maps are downloaded...planned and transferred my first trip to the GPS...time to order a sim card. Down to less than 100mb in storage. Doesn't look like the trip take up that much room but a map update may not take.

 

You really don't need the extra memory card. You are talking about Nav V, right? Connect it to your computer, and assuming that you use Windows, access the GPS with File Explorer. First thing that you want to de is copy everything you see, down to all the sub-directories, to your computer hard-drive. This is your backup. Now access the files on the GPS and delete everything that you know for sure that you don;t need. Files such as the manuals, especially all the ones in other languages. By the time that you are done, you will have more than enough room for the updates. I have had mine for several years now, and had gone through every single updates (maps and software), and still have plenty of room left.

 

Maps get bigger and bigger each year, I finally had to a microSD card to my Nav V.

 

Pad, I did that with my Nav V but still not enough room to completely load North America. Garmin Express loaded it to the sd card. It still works fine.

 

I must have been much more aggressive in my deleting!! I had deleted pretty much everything, especially ones that are clearly indicated as data of some sorts for different languages. All of the manuals are gone from the device. Heck, who refers to the manual from there anyway. BTW, the suggestion for back-up serves dual purpose, the second of which is that if you happen to delete a data file that Nav V needs by mistake, then you will be able to restore it. I still have the Nav V and updated it again about a month ago. No issues.

Quite frankly, I don't know why I bothered to make that post. MicroSD card, especially since the slowest one is fine, is so cheap nowadays!

 

I'll give that a try PadG and let all know if it works for me.

 

It should work John!

 

I've got all the US on my Nav V so PadG is right.

 

That's exactly what I do all the time.