Concours 1400 (C14) FAQ > GPS Stuff

Getting started with a GPS from Garmin

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VirginiaJim:
I wanted this post to be for 'beginners' in the GPS world.  It's my first time owning one and I've been resisting from the beginning (I will not submit!).  I've decided to get one as I'm starting to get discombobulated in cities.  Another reason is to find points of interest (restaurants and gas stations for the most part).

http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=4468.0

I've just bought a 1490LMT.  It's got lifetime updates for traffic and maps.  I've decided on that one because it's bluetooth and it  has the larger 5 inch screen (my eyes need all the help they can get and if it talks to me all the better).  Also decided not to get the MC version as I didn't want to pay all the extra money for waterproofing and such.  This will be used in all my vehicles except my truck.  The truck only goes to the dump and to town on special occasions so I don't need any routing assistance for it.

I registered it at the Garmin site http://www.garmin.com .  I'm supposed to get 10% off on accessories by doing that.  They want the typical information.  Nothing out of the ordinary there.

Impressions:  It is a large screen and I like it so far.  All it says is Garmin for now with a picture of a PC connected to the unit.  Waiting on the updated map to load.  My goodness, it takes a long time for that.  The file must be freakin huge!  It's downloading at 9Mbps/sec and still going.  Ok, that's done and my embedded map was 2012.10.  I'm now updating to .20 .  I've updated the sw from the website and now I've had to disconnect and restart.  It's updating again so the first update may have been firmware/sw.  This update is slow.  Must be because it's huge.  Looks like Garmin updates the entire map and not just in pieces.  I tried to figure out how to back it up first but gave up.  Maybe someone can help in that respect.  BTW, I'm running a Windows 7 64 bit PC.  The software appears to be working fine with that level.

While I'm waiting on the map update, I've decided to see what came with the unit.  I've got this one strange looking power cord that must be the traffic updater connection.  One USB cable for attachment to the PC.  Took me a bit to figure where to plug it as it was on the rear of the unit itself.  I was looking to plug it into one of the sides....silly me.  The standard mounting is window suction cup.  That method of attachment is going out of style as it leaves a tell tale mark on the windshield that thieves use to determine if you have a unit stashed inside the vehicle.  I'm going to use the attachment that fits in a cupholder for now.  I may order the beanbag later but we'll see how this goes.  Will also need to get a mount for the bike but as I've got a pinched nerve that makes riding more than a mile impossible I'm going to hold off on that.

I'm going to step away for a bit as the update process is taking some time to complete.  Ok, it's done successfully.  Took about an hour all told.

Went outside and tried to see if it knew where I was......it didn't.  It thought I was in Chicago.  OMG, I've spent money on a lemon!  I decided to take it for a ride and see if it figured out anything.  It's cloudy and rainy today and I do have a copious amount of leaved trees surrounding me.  If this is the problem and it only works on sunny days......in the desert?

Went out and drove a few miles and just as I was getting ready to turn into my subdivision it came up and showed exactly where I was.  The antenna indicator went from two reds to all green.  I guess it just took time to figure out where it was.

Unintended Consequences:

All bluetooth phones are not created equal.  My older bluetooth enabled phone will not pair to this GPS, tarnation!  Garmin does have a list of compatible phones for their units.  Which begs the question, what type of bluetooth does this unit have?  I can't find out from Garmin.  Maybe I should look at the box....nothing there.  I'll need to sort this out as I would like to use it for hands free.  It will also not talk to my SMH10 unfortunately, either.  Here's a good website to look at for compatibility http://gadgetguide.bluetooth.com/  .  Wished I had seen it earlier.  Time to get a phone I guess.

According to the SMH10 website, it will only pair with TomTom rider2, Zumo220, Zumo550, Zumo660,  and Zumo665

COGnosticat0r:
Good thread VJ, it should help some to quicken a learning curve.  It took over an hour for me to update the maps, and there is a tricky step to make sure it updates both GPS and computer at the same time.  On the second screen of the update, on the left side near the bottom is a button, can't remember what it says, but you need to click that, then click on update gps and computer.  Why it defaults to the gps only, well who knows

By updating to 2012.20 you will lose over half of the junction views that was on the 2012.10 so here is my thread on restoring even more junction views.  On my trip to Colonial Williamsburg from Savannah this past weekend the junction view worked on each junction I took. Sweeet  ;)

Here is a link to that post:

http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=4451.msg51292#msg51292

VirginiaJim:
Too late to check the box to update the PC and the device.  I've got it checked now, though.  It's the Settings button on the lower left. 

Thanks for adding that link.  Now for a silly question.....what's a junction view?

MrPepsi:
I have the exact same model in my Mustang and that is not a traffic adapter cable. This thing gets its traffic info from the Satellites. However traffic info on this thing doesn't come through as much as I'd like it to living in the bay area.

VirginiaJim:
According to the box, I have one super duper Lifetime Traffic receiver/vehicle power cable so I'm summing that should be it.

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