New Garmin Zumo XT

OK, official Firmware 6.1 has been rolled out, issue of not routing on 3rd party maps is fixed... (other gripes however not...)
Garmin has obviously purposely locked-out routing function for their Topo Maps, visualization of tracks on the XT is now also rotten...
And a big issue:
the feature [install map update also on computer] in GarminExpress has been disabled...
means you must connect your XT and wait endlessly for BaseCamp to suckle the map over, each time you intend your comfy PC based route plotting...
The last would annoy the fool outta me! :mad:
Especially since I run the Garmin mapping program on more then one machine, duplicating the latest full mapset license/installation to each with the JaVaWa GMTK application...
 
While I have not bought a new Garmin in a few years, I have purchased a couple of their top-shelf offerings over the last couple decades, and in my experience Garmin has degraded their customer service in that time. I still have 7 different ones, not counting the one that was stolen.
Early on, I could pick up the phone and speak to an American Garmin employee with a question, who either knew the answer immediately, or followed up with my solution very quickly.
What is as bad, or worse, is the "dumbing down" of many current-gen Garmin units. The GPSMap series were top of the line (in their day) and allowed virtually any feature imaginable, for motorcyclists, up to and including multi-day trips with route planning, simple file interchangeability between pc and GPS, tracking features, and much else. Most consumer-grade units today have far simpler, but less flexible interfaces and functionality.
Now it seems, even their "lifetime maps" are only available for a very few, very short years.
And as for Basecamp, many have discussed and cussed that new convoluted mapping software, while a few have realized that's what is offered now, and made the long, messy and dangerous slog up the side of the mountain to learn it and it's shortcomings.
So much for progress...
 
@Sadlsor
couldn't agree more, guess why I'm still running my ancient Quest-I... the thingy is just too dumb to screw anything up during the ride... :cool:

But:
the MFGs (claim to) just follow "user demands" in this...
All the "great features" like [scenic route], [curvy route] or [round route] the folks just expect to be entertained with... :rolleyes:
The embedding of the cell phone with ability to make and receive calls is their highest demand... those blabbing on the phone while riding are probably the same fellas who are pro mandatory airbag-vests though...
 
ST1100Y said:
@Sadlsor
couldn't agree more, guess why I'm still running my ancient Quest-I... the thingy is just too dumb to screw anything up during the ride... :cool:

But:
the MFGs (claim to) just follow "user demands" in this...
All the "great features" like [scenic route], [curvy route] or [round route] the folks just expect to be entertained with... :rolleyes:
The embedding of the cell phone with ability to make and receive calls is their highest demand... those blabbing on the phone while riding are probably the same fellas who are pro mandatory airbag-vests though...
Click to expand...

ST1100Y said:
Alright, you asked for it ;)

This is what I get when I translated!
Brian

hope this helps...
Click to expand...
Alright, you asked for it;)
After the new 5.90 firmware caused problems on the Zumo XT, OSM maps no longer work, topo maps no longer work (routing-related) I was looking for something. Here are the instructions on how to install any firmware version on the Zumo XT.

WATCH OUT !!! I do not take any responsibility, it is possible to make the device "unusable".

1. Create a backup - the Garmin is virgin after importing
Get firmware that you want to install. One possibility is e.g. to get the file from the Garmin Express directory: C: \ ProgramData \ Garmin \ CoreService \ Downloads \ PrimaryFirmware. For the 2.90 firmware this would be -> C: \ ProgramData \ Garmin \ CoreService \ Downloads \ PrimaryFirmware \ PrimaryFirmware_PrimaryFirmware.006-B3484-00.2.90 \ gsup \ 006-B3484-00 \ 2.90
2. Put the firmware file on an SD card in \ Garmin and insert the SD card into the Zumo XT
3. Firmware name must be B348400.update
4. Switch off the Zumo XT (switch off correctly!)
5. Switch on Zumo
6. As the first message comes, press the power button two three times in a row. A boot menu appears -> I also needed several attempts. If you have it two or three times, you can do it in your sleep.
Power button to move through the menu, press the power button longer to select.
7. A03 Recover from Software Failure
8. In the next menu B02 -> Update from SD Card
9. Update process starts - takes less than 5 minutes
10. The device starts automatically and greets you with the software selection.
Voila the device is exactly on the version that you put in the folder


Another variant that works very reliably for me to get into the boot loader:
Turn off
Then press the power switch for a good second,
release it, press it again and keep it pressed!
When the logo appears, let go and immediately click again afterwards

Then you may not need the update file at all, simply select "Rollback Software" in the second menu instead of Recover from Software

I wish you success !
 
ST1100Y said:
The embedding of the cell phone with ability to make and receive calls is their highest demand... those blabbing on the phone while riding are probably the same fellas who are pro mandatory airbag-vests though...
Click to expand...
The bias and hate is strong in this one.

Well it would seem that Garmin isn't interested in embedding the cellphone with navigation ability (cellphones by nature should be able to make and receive calls and that should be the highest demand whether or not we're "blabbing" on the phone while riding).

Garmin had excellent navigation software for phones that they removed from the market. It got better and better along with mapping software that constantly improved. Probably dropped because it cut into their sales of dedicated GPS receivers and took resources away from developing poorer and poorer software.
 
ST Gui said:
The bias and hate is strong in this one.
Click to expand...
LOL! :rofl1:
You should see the numbers of close calls I had with riders on their phone while in motion... crazy!!! :mad:

GryST said:
Does the XT has a red light cameras warning?
Click to expand...
pssst!... dang! They might hear you and actually put such crap in their future products, boosting people's ignorance even further... :rolleyes:
 
GryST said:
Does the XT has a red light cameras warning?
Click to expand...

I think even for my old zumo 550, you can get a POI database for speed and red light cameras. Not needed in my case because my Uniden radar detector has them. I don't see much value in red light cam warnings. You've got to have a death wish to be running red lights, they don't hide them either. Of much more value to my mind are speed camera warnings. These are the ones they are sneaky about and I do occasionally speed whereas I never run red lights (maybe once or twice in my life by mistake).
 
Sadlsor said:
IF folks are taking the time to report them.
Click to expand...
No doubt they pull over to enter that data or have their co-pilot do it. (Maybe they can send it handsfree via Siri or equivalent.) Driving/riding as though they can't afford to get a ticket would work well in that situation.
 
GryST said:
I had radar detectors in my cars before, but they created too much fake alarms, and also not useful if a cop is turns it off and on.
Click to expand...

Yeah, instant on can still nab you, but if you're not the only one on the road you can often sense the LEO using instant on against traffic ahead of you. With regard to false alarms, it's gotten really bad with the blind spot warning systems and adaptive cruise control on all the new cars these days. Fortunately most of that trash is on K band and most agencies primarily use Ka band, so you can just shut K band off on older detectors. Newer ones (just in the last few years) have digital processing and fantastically improved filtering to help limit falsing.
 
Getting this to upgrade from my old Zumo 550. I will probably try to transfer a lot of my saved locations from my 550 if it is possible with out inputting by hand, does anyone know for sure?
Also it looks like the power is an older style USB port.
It has lifetime maps from what I understand but doesn't call it that in the name.
Also on sale now at $100 off ---- so good time to upgrade for me.
 
ST-Traveler said:
Getting this to upgrade from my old Zumo 550. I will probably try to transfer a lot of my saved locations from my 550 if it is possible with out inputting by hand, does anyone know for sure?
Also it looks like the power is an older style USB port.
It has lifetime maps from what I understand but doesn't call it that in the name.
Also on sale now at $100 off ---- so good time to upgrade for me.
Click to expand...

Connect to Basecamp, copy the points into new folders/lists.
Then copy them out to your new device. ( I assume that is an XT?) in a similar manner.

If not, then you can export anything selected as a gpx fike, which can be accepted / read by other devices.
 
With the latest version of Garmin Express on my Mac, I was able to update the firmware and maps on my Garmin Zumo XT. I was able to also update the maps on my Mac.
 
jfheath said:
What version is that please ?
Click to expand...
I am fairly sure it is the latest version of Garmin Express for the Mac as I keep up with updates. Let you know later this week when I get home. The map update was North America NT 2021.02
 
Cross-read on the German board again...
Seems that FW 6.1 is faulty as well... some report that BaseCamp crashes once XT is connected... [download/install maps on PC] on GarminExpress is again disabled... some weird routing issues occur when out in the field... tracks aren't displayed properly on the device...
The tenor is that most step back to FW 2.9, the last known working version...
The problem is that a forcible firmware update is happening when connecting the XT on GarminExpress... so you have to backup/safe your old FW version first, otherwise you won't be able to restore/downgrade after a map update...
 
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