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Navigation - Maps, Compass, GPS How to find your way - traditional map, compass and road signs, or GPS and more
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
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Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia




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  #91  
Old 26 Jan 2012
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Buying the Montana from the US

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?
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  #92  
Old 26 Jan 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Austin View Post
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.
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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  #93  
Old 27 Jan 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by danny_fitz View Post
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?
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!!!
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  #94  
Old 27 Jan 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by danny_fitz View Post
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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  #95  
Old 27 Jan 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ozhanu View Post
hi guys,


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)
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.
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  #96  
Old 27 Jan 2012
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Originally Posted by TheWarden View Post
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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  #97  
Old 28 Jan 2012
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[QUOTE=Keith1954;364830]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


.
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!
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  #98  
Old 29 Jan 2012
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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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Last edited by TravellingStrom; 29 Jan 2012 at 06:20. Reason: spellink
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  #99  
Old 30 Jan 2012
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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
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  #100  
Old 30 Jan 2012
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I'm still figuring out the Montana which I just picked up, and have three questions:

1) I don't see anything on the device or in the manual about playing mp3s on it, so I guess I'm out of luck? My zumo 550 worked really well with audio directions and music.

2) It seems like there are lots of customization options--does anyone have any recommendations for good set-ups for adventure travel?

3) I'm checking out the Birdseye satellite imagery for use on the Montana in places like Mongolia, etc. looks kind of cool, but I'm wondering how practical it really is, and whether it generally works OK?
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  #101  
Old 30 Jan 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by danward79 View Post
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
Hi and thanks, that makes me feel better, so I just need to replace mapsource with basecamp

A shame about the updates, but I guess I only need the European maps for this summer, and after that when I return to Oz, maybe I can sort out the city navigator thing. I have an option for the new maps for 40GBP, on top of the montana cost which will come with European topo

Cheers
TS
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  #102  
Old 31 Jan 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by danward79 View Post
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)
Dan
YAY! ..

It works! Made even better as BaseCamp is absolutely free (legally) to download .. although the downloading process did take a while (96.2 MB).

Connected my Zumo 660 - with recently purchased maps on a microSD/SD card in the device's internal slot - to my laptop PC, and after a while all the new mapping software (on the 660's microSD card) showed up on the BaseCamp programme .. all totally interactive. Excellent.

I'm very pleased. Thanks for this useful info Dan ..

Cheers

KEITH
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  #103  
Old 2 Feb 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Redboots View Post
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
Cheers, sometimes looking in the manual realy does help lol
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  #104  
Old 15 Feb 2012
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Hi, anyone with a Montana finding that the compas goes off by about 45 degrees when in the vehicle mount? My mount means the gps is almost vertical.

When I hold the gps 3inches from the mount, the compass is correct....

Other that, it's awesome!
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  #105  
Old 15 Feb 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mervifwdc View Post
Hi, anyone with a Montana finding that the compas goes off by about 45 degrees when in the vehicle mount? My mount means the gps is almost vertical.

When I hold the gps 3inches from the mount, the compass is correct....

Other that, it's awesome!
Sounds to me that you may have a current running through your mount creating a magnetic field. check any electric cables that may be attached to it.
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