[mtnbiktn]

I read that the Garmin Nuvi 660 will receive updates in June or July.
If you buy a new one right now, what updates will the "newer" one get and how can you tell if the one you might buy today is the updated one or not?

 

[LMJD]

If you're talking about software updates, they happen periodically on many of their models. They're free, the update is downloaded from your computer. If you go to the Garmin site and go to the right section, it states exactly what the upgrade consists of. Sometime it's a good improvement, sometimes not worth the time. The last one pertaining to one of my units had to do with some software errors regarding London or wherever streets which I could'nt care less about.

 

[flobee3]

I think you that you are talking about the NAVTEQ update. That update is the one that I think you have to pay for. That is the new map set that comes out after 2-3 years. It is suppose to have new roads and resturants ..... I would wait till they come out and purchase a older one maybe you can get it on Sale, then update it later. If u don't live in a growing city IMHO save you clams. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[mtnbiktn]

arizona the new map set is what I was getting at. How can I look at the box and tell if it has the new maps or not? If you buy a older model and upgrade the map set, chances are it will not have the new sirf chip which from all reports makes a tremendous difference in the sensitivity.

 

[LMJD]

No I wasn't, but by the post above, Mntbkr was. The latest upgrade is MapSource City Navigator v8.
[ QUOTE ]
That update is the one that I think you have to pay for.

[/ QUOTE ]
Sometimes it's free depending on when you bought your GPS versus when the latest version of City Nav came out.

 

[mtnbiktn]

LMJD good pictures!!!. I will call Garmin today now that I know what to ask.

 

[LMJD]

Thank you. Sometimes there's a long wait to get through, sometimes not. They explain whether the upgrade is free or not on their site, but it's a little hard to understand. If you buy a GPS, and MapSource was upgraded BEFORE you bought it and your new one has the old MapSource version, then the new one is free. It even applied to the used StreetPilot I bought on Ebay after I registered myself as the new owner.

 

[flobee3]

Good Luck mtnbitn. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[flobee3]

Also try going here for FYI www.gpsmagazine.com and look under reviews.

 

[mtnbiktn]

Ok here is the low down directly from Garmin. Software updates are free. Map updates ARE NOT free. If you buy a unit today and the new maps come out tomorrow, cough up $70 for the new set of maps. They told me to turn the unit on in the store before I buy it and see if it has the latest version installed. The current version is called ntv8 with the newest version called 2008 and allready in some stores.

 

[flobee3]

Good to know. I saw a 660 at sams club for 599.00. i'd wait for the sales to go on for the 4th.

 

[mtnbiktn]

Supposedly the battery will work for a short time in the box.

Turn it on and wait for the main page to load.

Click on the picture of a wrench and wait for that page.

Click on the "map" button and wait for that page.

Click on the "map info" button and look at the version.

 

[LMJD]

[ QUOTE ]
If you buy a unit today and the new maps come out tomorrow, cough up $70 for the new set of maps.

[/ QUOTE ]
Yes, but if you buy a unit and it DOES NOT have the latest version then the update is free if the update came out BEFORE (not after) you bought the unit and yours doesn't have the latest.

 

[mtnbiktn]

The person on the phone could have been wrong, but they said the software updates is free, but the map update is not free. I even gave the example of buying one with the ntv8 now and the new 2008 came out next week, can I update the map set for free. He said no. It cost 69.00 or so. He said that is the reason they stop sending them out for a few weeks for the retailer can clear out the old version then start sending the new version. If the new map set was free, I wouldn't be concerned about buying a new unit with the ntv8 because I could update for free, but he said that is not the case.