Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.
We want to thank all of our members for their participation and input over the years, and we want to especially thank those that have acted as Moderators for us during our amazing journey living and traveling in our RV and growing the RV-Dreams Family. We will be forever proud to have been founders of this Forum and to have been supported by such a wonderful community. Thank you all!!
Does anyone update their GPS periodically, or do you just buy a new GPS? I just checked and I can get an update for cities in the lower 48, but with the caveat that due to increased file size the maps might not "fit" on my device. I bought the Garmin a bit less than 1-1/2 yrs ago, and as far as I can tell it still works fairly well for me. Like most GPS systems though, it can give some weird directions sometimes, but I'm not sure a new one or updated maps would correct that.
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gypsy97 www.gypsy97.blogspot.com 2004 Hitchhiker II 2002 Ford F-350, diesel, dually Fulltimer as of 12/01/2008!
Got updates for the factory one in my Ford. Really pricey. One that came with the truck was a 2005 version and one I bought in July09 was a 2007 version.
We have two Garmins and purchased the update through Garmin two years into the deal. A one time update is an expensive buy - I want to say $70 something, but for %20 more you get unlimited updates, even as often as five times a year.
Many routes do not change, but in and around large cities, new, and sometimes confusing, interchanges are added. For these it truly helps.
Your Oyster Bud
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Ethel & Charles Henry, Itasca Horizon DP/Honda Element Toad Traveling with our furry-snouted, four-legged children.
"Each of us must take part in making this a better world for all people."
How did you find out about the free update? Are you on a mailing list or did you just happen upon it accidentally? I think this would be an excellent option for many of us if we knew where to check. It would be great if we could get an email notification. I opted out of all the marketing emails when I registered my Garmin. Maybe I shouldn't have.
I just happened to find it on the Garmin website a few months ago. You had to enter your GPS model info & then it told you if you could get a free update. Might be worthwhile to check their website every now & then, to see if they're offering free updates again.
I just happened to find it on the Garmin website a few months ago. You had to enter your GPS model info & then it told you if you could get a free update. Might be worthwhile to check their website every now & then, to see if they're offering free updates again.
Cindy T
Thanks for the info! I went to the garmin website and registered our GPS and found out they had a free firmware update for our model. Unfortunately the map update wasn't free so it didn't get downloaded.
It took me a while to find the free update feature, and I will have to check the number on my unit to see if I qualify. They seem to emphasize the "60 days", so I wonder if you can only qualify for a free update if you have bought and used your GPS system within the last 60 days, or if you merely had to use it within 60 days after purchase. I bought my Nuvi 205W in about Oct 2008, so I'm doubtful they would give me a free update.
Gypsy
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gypsy97 www.gypsy97.blogspot.com 2004 Hitchhiker II 2002 Ford F-350, diesel, dually Fulltimer as of 12/01/2008!
Based on the posts here, it seems like lifetime updates are about 100 dollars. I consider that a steal! When you think about it, buying any type of a good quality map for an area that has more than just roads is going to cost you at least 10 bucks a pop. If you travel all over the country, that can add up. I guess you can also mapquest everything but thats like looking at the world through a straw, too cumbersome when used for that purpose. GPS with everything that it has to offer, I would think unlimited updates for that price is quite a bargain.