hi guys,

i am thinking of changing my 60CSx and I have already bough one 62s which I did not like after 3 months and sold it right away (many problems, especially with the software and sound)

now, i am considering to buy a montana while i am in the usa. although i have read all the treads on hubb and some other reviews from the web, i have some more questions regarding to montana.

1- I would like to use it on the motorbike and in the car. i have noticed that montana hasn't got any speaker and it has to be connected to a speaker. is it right? can anyone give me some more info about its turn by turn voice? where do i have to connect it in the car? (dont tell me aux of the car stereo)

2- what about on the bike? do i have to put some speakers to the bike (silly!!)?

3- does the original montana mount has any speaker or has it just got the speaker connection?

4- any garmin or oem mount for the motorbike which also has a power/audio connection?

5- how about the software? the software of the 62s was really crap. freezes frequently and garmin did not give many support. also it has this reset odometer problem and low voice.

i am quite happy with my old 60CSx. however, it is slow and take ages to connect to the satellite when it is cold. 62 had better connection, but again the software was crap.

any info appreciated.

__________________
ozhan u.
website under construction

hope this helps

fantastic info betrand. thanks a lot!

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ozhan u.
website under construction

I had a play with a Montana running the OS Discoverer maps and its brill so am going to take the plunge a buy a copy. Question on the best format...

I understand that an SD card can be used in any compatible device - good; And that in order to view the maps on my PC I need basecamp (got) and I think I need to have the GPS unit attached too. But, can I copy the map files off the card supplied as back up onto my PC and onto another spare SD card in case I lose the one supplied? edit.... their is conflicting guidance on the garmin site. In the requirements tab on the Montana page it says the map on an SD card is unlocked to a specific device; on the FAQ page "which format is right for me" it says the following about SD card supplied maps "These maps do not need to be unlocked to your device which allows you to move the card to multiple units if desired". Does anyone know which it actually is?

second edit: just spotted the following sentence on the garmin site on the requirements tab if the montana page: Maps on microSD/SD cards cannot be copied or viewed on a computer. I still need to clarify the first point about viewing maps on the PC and if the card can be moved between devices - I have emailed garmin about this.

If I buy as a download I understand that the maps are unlocked to a specific device and I have to copy the files to the device or an SD card. Can I make more than one copy as back up, eg one card for use the device and another in a safe place as spare/backup if I lose the first copy.

I think I have read in this thread that the Montana will accept big SD card - 16Gb+. I also think that I can copy several maps on the same card as long as they have different names. I select the maps I want enabled on the device, but if they are the same area it causes unpredictable results.

Is it better to have all maps on one big SD card or several smaller SD cards with a separate maps on each (and backups/spares of each in my safe place).

I have also got my powered mount up and running now wired to a Hella plug/socket. What has anyone else done with the masses of spare wires supplied - all the serial connectors and the extra length.

I just picked up a Montana, very excited. I'm sure I will have lots of questions!

Garmin maps supplied on SD cards are locked to the card. You can make as many copies as you want, but they somehow put a key on the SD card and it will not work on any other card. If you want to view the map on the PC you must buy the d/l version. You can put it wherever you want, but it will only show in MS/BC and your GPS.

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Cheers,
Peter.

Europe to NZ 2006-10

Looking to buy the Garmin Montana 600 from a US store as so far they have been much cheaper then what the UK can offer. Has anyone had any issues with regards to having to pay UK customs and excise some kind of import duty?

You can "Activate" just the map you are using. Deactivate and then activate another... Setup, Map, Select Map. Shows you what maps are known (unit & SDcard) and which are act/deact.

Cheers,
John

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Nostradamus Ate My Hamster

Have just spoken to HMRC Customs & Excise.

Basically if you want to buy the Montana from the US you will have to pay an additional 3.7% Import Duty and 20% VAT which is calculated on the total cost of the GPS, shipping and insurance. The HMRC C&E Product classification code for this is: 8526912099

Suddenly it is not such a good deal!!!

In addition, there might also be a Royal Mail/Parcelforce 'handling fee'.

[quote]:
If duty and/or tax is payable, Royal Mail/Parcelforce will pay this to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) on your behalf, and charge a handling fee to cover:

• operating the postal customs depot
• handling the package for customs examination
• opening, repacking and resealing the package if required
• paying the charges to HMRC on your behalf.

source: HM Revenue & Customs: Goods posted from outside the EU: tax payments, queries or refunds


.

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Right Way Round ...

As per the other reply the Montana has no speaker and the speaker is part of the car mount.

It works however I have found it very hard to hear the directions over the top of road noise in my Landcruiser Prado.

Maybe I've missed something but there doen't appear to be anyway to increase the volume that I have found so far.

Once the unit has powered up and it's in the mount, press the power button quickly. You will hear one beep. Use the slider to adjust the volume.

RTFM

Cheers,
John

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Nostradamus Ate My Hamster

[QUOTE=Keith1954;364830]In addition, there might also be a Royal Mail/Parcelforce 'handling fee'.

Ended up buying from a UK supplier in the end, just got it delivered this morning

I guess if you know someone in the US who can buy it on your behalf and post as a non commercial package you can get around it!

Hi all

Austin posted above a very good question. Now, I am literate with computers, but am finding conflicting information.

I have not bought one yet(still have my old map76s), but am seriously considering a 650t, but I have a bit of a doubt about usability.

I really want to be able to use my software(including the maps that I have bought). That means, I want to be able to use my computer to plan my routes, add geocaches and other POIs that I have collected from elsewhere and then upload to the device.

From what I can see, UNLESS I get the CD/DVD then I canNOT use my computer to plan my routes, but they don't sell the maps in that format except Worldmap!!! ? But this is the only format that allows map updates, all the other formats require a brand new purchase, I think that stinks!!!

But then I see something about the Basecamp software, once again, it seems you cannot actually do any planning, just view it, what is the use of that or am I getting confused here, it sure feels like it. And once again, with both downloads and SD cards, no updates are available, only a repurchase, it sounds like downright thievery that you cannot get a cheaper update when that is all you need.

One of the other alternatives to the Montana is to buy the Zumo660, but it will also have the map update problem

Another alternative is to either refurbish my TomTomRider2(or buy on ebay) and at least be able to get updates regularly, on the downside of this though is coverage, nothing for Asia.

Any hints or help is appreciated, before I fork out for an expensive gadget, my trip is not for a few months, so I have some time.

Cheers
TS

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www.travellingstrom.com

Hi

Basecamp will do everything that Mapsource does, so you can use it to manage poi's, geocaches and also plan routes.

To use the maps on you device it has to be plugged in via usb or if the maps are on SD that should be inserted to your computer. Then you can use then in the same way as you do in mapsource. Any installed on your computer you can also use in the same way. (i.e. the drop down menu)

Edit...

The updates are only available on DVD/CD copies of citynavigator. The best route to this is to buy on old version of the maps for example city navigator from amazon cheap, them purchase the lifetime updates from Garmin. I don't think updates are available for all maps thou.

Hope that answers your questions?

Dan