Using a UK-bought Garmin in Oz

[p38arover]

When in the UK, I bought a Garmin Nuvi 42 as it was cheaper than renting a GPS with the car for 2 weeks (at 16 quid a day for the GPS).

I've brought it home as it's better than my Navig8r. I wanted to load Garmin's Australian maps onto it but the cost of maps is a tad high - more than the GPS cost to buy in the first place!

However, a search on the Whirlpool forum let me to the page Free worldwide Garmin maps from OpenStreetMap (http://garmin.openstreetmap.nl/) and a further search of the 'net took me to a page on the GPS Underground forum (I was already a member).

I downloaded the Oz maps, and installed them according to the following information: nüvi 30/40/40LM/50/50LM - Page 4 (http://gpsunderground.com/forum/garmin-models-listing/12145-n%C3%BCvi-30-40-40lm-50-50lm-4.html)

It appears to work so I have a UK GPS wih Oz (and UK-Ireland) maps! I'll do a driving test with it tomorrow.

[101RRS]

Buy the knock off Garmin Topo maps off ebay for $20 on sd card and tell the GPS to use those maps - turn by turn is the same as the normal maps but there is also topo information.

Garry

[p38arover]

I did search on that but there were a few warnings on Whirlpool that the new Garmins are locked in such a way that it doesn't work.

[101RRS]

I cannot speak for your Garmin but it works fine on my relatively new Nuvi 1450LMT though if I have the standard maps and the topo maps selected at the same time I do get conflicts - but if either is individually selected they work fine.

Cheers

Garry

[Bigbjorn]

I bought a Tom Tom from a Best Buy in Los Angeles for slightly less than 2/3 what the discount shops in Oz wanted. Got Oz/NZ maps added for US$45. Two years updates included. As Ron says, cheaper than hiring one to go with the Rent-a-car. Nowadays all the renters have one built in OEM.

[p38arover]

Nowadays all the renters have one built in OEM.

Not in this brand new Ford Focus.

[p38arover]

I cannot speak for your Garmin but it works fine on my relatively new Nuvi 1450LMT though if I have the standard maps and the topo maps selected at the same time I do get conflicts - but if either is individually selected they work fine.

Got a supplier name? I looked at a few but a recommended seller is always preferred.

[101RRS]

The Ebay seller was ozonsell (http://myworld.ebay.com.au/ozonsell/) but he has none listed at the moment.

You could try this seller - has a higher rating than my seller had Australia NZ Topo Maps Micro SD Card Garmin Latest Maps V4 GPS | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Australia-NZ-Topo-Maps-Micro-SD-Card-Garmin-LATEST-MAPS-V4-GPS-/121435536107?pt=AU_Electronics_GPS&hash=item1c461f3aeb)

[p38arover]

Thanks Garry. I'll ask as he excludes some Nuvi models which are often combined with the 42 in GPS descriptions.

[p38arover]

I tried the free maps today and they worked together with turn-by-turn instructions. However, some of the streets are not known and were just called "Road". When I checked in the address search, the street names aren't there.

I've ordered the maps from one of your eBay sellers.

[Bigbjorn]

Not in this brand new Ford Focus.

I was thinking of US renters. Long time since I rented a car in UK. Do they still want to charge extra for auto transmission?

[p38arover]

Long time since I rented a car in UK. Do they still want to charge extra for auto transmission?

Yes. And they, like Oz, charge like wounded bulls for vehicle damage.

Fortunately, I can drive a manual and we weren't doing any real city driving.

However, I kept forgetting to change up to 6th gear. The car was so quiet, I'd not hear the revs but I'd see the tacho and then remember. I'm not used to manuals with more than 4 forward speeds.

I don't know about vehicle reliability, but I'd recommend a Focus just based on driving it.

[101RRS]

I've ordered the maps from one of your eBay sellers.

They are not my ebay sellers :). I hope they work for you - a lot cheaper than buying the standard maps for the Garmin.

Garry

[p38arover]

I bought a $20 SD card with the Oz maps and they seem to be working fine.

[CraigE]

Hi Ron,
I bought a GPS Magellan I think a few years back that was French based. Downloaded the English manual and just had to change the setting to the Australian or Southern Hemisphere settings - geodatic setting from memory and did not even need to get specific maps for it. However it was an older type gps so not sure if it applies to yours.
Cheers
Craig

[Tombie]

I bought a $20 SD card with the Oz maps and they seem to be working fine.

Should break on you soon Ron... :wasntme:

[101RRS]

Ron, the main issue for you will be updates for the maps. Just not cost effective to do updates but maybe just buy the next iteration of the SD card you have when they start appearing on ebay.

Garry