Glenn W

I'm afraid none of Garmins commercial map products support custom edits. The best you can do is report the missing road to NavTech, and it may get included on later updates. However, it usually takes a long time.

I've installed an older, autorouting version of Metroguide and Topo 2008 (neither are locked products) to the SD cards in my girlfriend's C550 and in my Nuvi 660. The older Metroguide works decently in that it will show roads and the autorouting functions normally. However, although the POI database is searchable and the "Find City" feature works, the "Find Address" and "Find Iintersection" features do not work. Searches that require manual entry of the state name do not work as none of the state names are recognized. Topo 2008 works with no glitches. Custom POI files can be transfered using the POI Loader and caches can be transfered using the Garmin Communicator through the geocaching.com website. Track logs and routes are definately not supported.

Did you update the unit's firmware using Webupdater? That is usually the first step in resolving a problem. Also be sure you loaded CityNav 2008 and not CityNav NT 2008 (which is incompatible with the old Vista).

Make sure you did not attempt to load more than 2,025 total map segments. 2GB of topo maps could easily exceed this hard limit. The result would be a mapset that is full of holes.

The best buy I've found is a reburbished Nuvi 660. Circuit city has them for $250 with free shipping. Just ordered one. http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/productDeta...p;om_keycode=92

Have you tried reinstalling the firmware using Webupdater?

Try a hard reset. Press Page, Enter (down on joystick), Find, and Power at the same time. User data will be lost, but you may get a working unit.

Just reload the maps you want to keep on the 60CSx without the locked maps. The old mapset will be erased in the process.

By comparing the accuracy of my 60CSx (under ideal conditions) against a professionally surveyed point , I found it to be only 2 feet off the surveyed coordinates. This despite the +/- 15 feet estimated accuracy the unit was reporting. Others have reported that the 60CS is more optimistic in estimating its accuracy than the 60CSx. In reality the accuracy of the two units are very close, but the CSx will hold the signal better under challenging conditions (e.g., trees and canyons).

All maps (street and topo) must be loaded to a single .img file at the same time. You cannot add maps incrementally. Also, there are limits of 2GB (even if you have a bigger card) or 2,025 map segments, whichever comes first. Note that the fastest way to transfer maps is to use a USB 2.0 card reader. The 60CSx supports only USB 1.1 which is much slower.

Most Garmin handhelds have a hard reset procedure. I'm not sure what the Vista's procedure is, but I think it's PAGE+ENTER+POWERON (try searching fourm if that doesn't work). Note that all user data and setting are lost during this procedure.

For this you need a receiver with an electronic compass (e.g., 60CSx or Vista HCX). Non-compassed receivers (including most car navigators) rely on movement in a straight line to calculate the direction you are facing.

I agree that the map rendering looks better; but I also agree that the screen redraws are far too slow on all but top-end systems. I also don't like that the new version won't start unless I uninstall the custom topo maps I created. Lately, Garmin has been badly slipping. First they took away the second unlock code on CityNav. Next, they released the HCX series with malfunctioning odometers. Then, they released the Colorado series with too many bugs to list, and no touch screen. To add insult to injury, they then pissed off many Colorado owners by releasing the Oregon series shortly thereafter with the missing touch screen. Now they release a Mapsource product that only top-of-the-line computers can use. What's next? GW

Sorry, I did mean the Legend HCx is similiar to the 60Cx

The etrex line and the 60 series offer virtually the same features with the primary differences being the form factor, chips, and antennas. 60Cx = [EDIT] Legend HCX (these do not include a compass or barometric altimeter) 60CSx = Vista HCX (these include a compass and barometric altimeter) The primary differences are: The 60 series have buttons on front (easier for car navigation); the etrex series have a click stick on the side (allows smaller form which is better for backpacking). The 60 series use the SirfStar III chip with a quad helix antenna, whereas the etrex use a MediaTek chip with a patch antenna. In theory, both setups should perform equally well, but the MediaTek chips have bugs that are still being worked out. The SirfStar III has been on the market longer and has benefitted from more product development. My personal preference is for the tried and true 60CSx; the used prices will probably be similiar to the used Vista. GW

The following are instructions for a CORSA handheld compass which uses a fluxgate sensor similiar to the Garmin. It recommends turning your body in circles but stresses that the size of the circles makes no difference. "Holding your Corsa Digital Compass level, slowly turn around in complete two circles and then press ENT. Each circleshould take a minimum of four seconds. The compass heading should be displayed. You have calibrated your compass. Enjoy! NOTE: The size of the circles or the direction the Corsa Digital Compass is pointing when beginning or ending the circles does not matter. The circles do not have to be perfect circles. The most important factors during calibration are that the Corsa Digital Compass is held level, more than one and a half circles are made, and is completed in less than 2 minutes."

Cobra bowed out of the consumer GPS market (see link). You probably would get only limited customer support, firmware upgrades, and map updates. You might consider the Garmin C550 which is currently selling as low as $200 online. http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/topic.a...archTerms=cobra

Are you sure you didn't omit some leters after the name (e.g., C, CX, or HCx)? The eTrex Venture (no letters followig name) does not have the ability to upload maps of any kind. The x units (expandable memory) can use the latest version of CityNavigator (NT or non-NT). The non-x mapping units work better with Metroguide (with Metrogold to enable autorouting).

Sorry, it really does not support auto routing; only the 24K scale National Parks topo maps support this feature.

City Nav v8 included a free second unlock code with the purchase price; later versions did not. Call Garmin's customer supprot to redeem the second unlock code.

If you haven't already, try reinstalling the USB drivers on the laptop with fresh drivers downloaded from Garmin (see link). http://www8.garmin.com/support/agree.jsp?id=591

With the loss of CitySelect, you can choose between CityNavigator or MetroGuide. CN is not a good choice for the 60C because the map segments are quite large and the 60C has very limited memory. Your best bet would be to get the latest version of MetroGuide, which uses small map segments (similiar to the old CitySelect), but blocks the autorouting feature. Then install the third-party Metrogold application (only costs $6) to restore the autorouting feature. This will give you the functional equivalent of having CitySelect with updated maps and POIs. Link to MetroGold: http://www.geodude.nl/community/content/view/13/28/

The Garmin StreetPilot C550 is so easy to use, Avis and Budget Rentals use it as their optional GPS navigation systems. My girlfriend and I have both used C550s for over a year now with good results. The C340 is even simpler and cheaper, but you loose (1) the MP3 player, (2) the buletooth speaker phone, (3) the traffic monitor, (4) the high-sensitivity receiver, and (5) the brighter screen. In my opinion, features 1 and 2 are pure fluff; but features 3, 4, and 5 are worth the extra price.

MetroGold has a nominal fee ($6 USD) and is reportedly easy to use. MetroWhizz is free, but is harder to use and is more limited. Download at the following link: http://www.geodude.nl/community/content/view/13/28/ Good luck

One possibility City Nav v8 for North America gives the user an option to transfer maps to a receiver without including routing data (i.e., to save memory); I do not know if CN Europe has this option. Is it possible the "include route calculation data" box wasn't checked when you uploaded the maps to your e-Trex? Of course, if street routing behaves normally when you are navigating to an address entered directly into the receiver, you must have transfered the routing data. EDIT: Never mind. I see that you are running Metroguide, not City Nav as per your first post. As stated above, later versions of MetroGuide do not support autorouting on the receiver without first hacking the software with MetroWhizz or Metrogold.