Unlock codes? Highway robbery?

[Trekkin and Birdin]

I bought my own Garmin, and in trying to buy unlock codes for our City Navigator to get turn by turn on it, I discover it will cost me $99!!!!!!

I don’t think the original program even cost me that much. Might just buy a second CD instead.

Does this seem really out of line?

[hogrod]

Garmin changed their unlock policy which used to suck and made it even worse. before you were able to unlock two units per software purchase, now you only get one unlock. The only plus I see is they lowered the price of the software by around $20.

I sent in a unit for repair and forgot to ask to a new unlock for the new unit. I then had to spend another 30minutes on the phone to get an unlock code for the replacement unit.

you might be better off buying the newer software anyway, depending on when you originally purchased the software you have you might not have the newest version.
I was using City Navigator NT 2008, and switched to city navigator 2009NT and was pleasantly surprised at all the new water data the maps have(lakes, rivers, streams). I used to switch between topo and street maps to have decent maps for hiking, but having more water info I find i am doing this much less.

[hogrod]

I have heard if you buy the maps on the pre-programed data cards that they don’t have any unlocks, though I’ve never tested this myself. The only disadvantage is you can’t use the maps on your PC, but if you upgrade your gps or need o send it in for repairs you don’t have to deal with the whole unlocking scheme.

[Lostby7]

Ya that whole unlock crap is Garmins biggest flaw IMO. I was looking into buying a Colorado and they told me I’d need to buy another set of maps for it and the set I had was only two months old (but it was unlocked to my GPS60Cx). Adding another $100 to the purchase price of the Colorado was a deal buster.

[SammyClaws]

@hogrod wrote:

I have heard if you buy the maps on the pre-programed data cards that they don’t have any unlocks, though I’ve never tested this myself. The only disadvantage is you can’t use the maps on your PC, but if you upgrade your gps or need o send it in for repairs you don’t have to deal with the whole unlocking scheme.

You are absolutley correct, we have CN2008 on an SD card and have switched it between 4 different units. The down side is you cannot upgrade it, and you dont get the maps on your PC. Since I use Google Earth it really didnt matter, we figured that the streets dont change all the much and was worth it to us for the portablility of the maps.

[Team Deejay]

I believe you can relock your maps from the old GPS and then unlock again them to a new GPS. The only downside to that is, of course, you won’t have the maps in the old GPS! Note that this is exactly the same functionality (albeit less convenient) as the microSD cards, which can be moved between GPS units.

[K0rpl]

Unlocking the Garmin Maps is a bit of a PITA. There is no way to unlock more than one unit without having to buy the software, or a “Unlock Code” again. I had a Garming Ique 3600, and sent it in for repair, and they had to send me another unit, and also another new Unlock code, as it is tied to the Serial Number of the Device……..

Only the “Routeable” Maps have Unlock Codes, and as previously state, prior to June of 2007, You were able to unlock two units with one

There are ways around this though……

If you need any assistance, send me a message.

[hogrod]

@K0rpl wrote:

Only the “Routeable” Maps have Unlock Codes

There are ways around this though……

If you need any assistance, send me a message.

Blue charts also has the unlock procedure, as do some of the topo mapsets for other country’s.

I also found a program that unlocks all installed mapsets on your PC, then you can install on as many devices as your want just like the unlocked map products.
I am in no way promoting software piracy, but if one knows where to look there are options available.

[PCFrog]

@hogrod wrote:

@K0rpl wrote:

Only the “Routeable” Maps have Unlock Codes

There are ways around this though……

If you need any assistance, send me a message.

Blue charts also has the unlock procedure, as do some of the topo mapsets for other country’s.

I also found a program that unlocks all installed mapsets on your PC, then you can install on as many devices as your want just like the unlocked map products.
I am in no way promoting software piracy, but if one knows where to look there are options available.

Bad company policy is what leads to actions like that. Granted it does not make it right.

[TyeDyeSkyGuy]

It sure would be nice if Garmin had a web-site that let us pay a one time access fee. After that we could download new maps whenever and to whichever GPS we wanted. I understand it may not be as profitable at the start, but in the long run it may bring in more customers.

[DCexplorer]

Yes, I find it especially galling that even if you buy a BRAND-NEW Garmin you are not entitled to free map updates. If it has last year’s maps, get out your credit card…

[K0rpl]

Yep. Thats is very true Greg. The will gladly send you a Updade DVD (FREE OF CHARGE) However, you install it on your computer, and then when you go to send to the Unit, it asks you to put in the New Upgrade Unlock Code. Once you do this, you are locked into having to buy the new unlock code. You can’t just Un-install the “Upgrade” and continue on using your old (paid) software. You have to Un-install it in windows, and then go into your registry with an editor, and change a few setttings unless you do a full format, and re-install of windows..

Gotta love it…

[Trekkin and Birdin]

We decided that I’ll get the topo software for mine. Most of the time, we’re caching together, and if one of us is traveling, as I was this past weekend, that one gets the autorouting. So many times we’ve wished we had topo maps. This gives us the best of both worlds.

[DCexplorer]

Which brings up the age-old question about highway maps and topo maps, why can’t users easily upload new road information (such as Hwy. 57 from Green Bay to Sturgeon Bay) park trail maps and other points of interest to Garmin so others can download current detailed trail information? Grrr… I like Garmin hardware, but their software, lack of timely updates, and the way they treat customers can be frustrating…

[LDove]

I guess I just lucked out recently. My “old” Garmin 76csx which was three years old quit after extended use 😳 and I loved that unit so much that I bought a new one. Well of course the program did not recognize it and so my maps were all locked again. When I called Garmin (I had to wait on hold for close to 40 minutes!) 🙄 they were very helpful after I told them I had bought another one of their products and they gave me a new unlock code FOR FREE!

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