Gps Problem

[helix]

I have a Garmin nuvi 200w GPS which I bought in the UK.

I have the unit here with me in Thailand.

I cannot get any GPS maps for Thailand.

Garmin in Bangkok want 7000 bhat to unlock it which is more

than I paid for it in the first place.

Anybody had a similar problem or any suggestions

on how to solve this.

If it involves using a computer and internet please keep it simple

as I am not computer literate.

Thank you.

[think_too_mut]

I have a Garmin nuvi 200w GPS which I bought in the UK.

I have the unit here with me in Thailand.

I cannot get any GPS maps for Thailand.

Garmin in Bangkok want 7000 bhat to unlock it which is more

than I paid for it in the first place.

Anybody had a similar problem or any suggestions

on how to solve this.

If it involves using a computer and internet please keep it simple

as I am not computer literate.

Thank you.

I've got Garmin 900 bought in Japan (I am in Japan now). Bought Garmin as it was the only one that has English commands (menus) and voice.

Touch: Tools-Settings-Map

Then, there will be a tab at the bottom "Map Info".

That will show you which maps are installed. I have only Japan Map.

Looks like you need someone to either unlock it or install a map for Thailand.

[think_too_mut]

Your post has intrigued me.

I just connected my Nuvi 900 to my PC, went to the Garmin's web site, registered my account and my device (by serial number) and what we have there: "Buy Maps".

South East Asia Maps: 149US$, for the registered owner.

So, 7000B to do it for you comes with about 50$ markup.

Remember, the device itself is probably worth not much more than 20US$ (iPod classic with 60GB hard disk is about 30US$). The rest is their real business.

Edited April 4, 2009 by think_too_mut

[helix]

Your post has intrigued me.

I just connected my Nuvi 900 to my PC, went to the Garmin's web site, registered my account and my device (by serial number) and what we have there: "Buy Maps".

South East Asia Maps: 149US$, for the registered owner.

So, 7000B to do it for you comes with about 50$ markup.

Remember, the device itself is probably worth not much more than 20US$ (iPod classic with 60GB hard disk is about 30US$). The rest is their real business.

Thanks for the reply,

All Garmin are made in Taiwan.

So they will not cost a great deal in the first place.

According to Garmin the Thai map on a SD card is now

discontinued.

Perhaps they think that Europe and North America are the only places that matter.

Our fault for not living there.

There is a big list of discontinued maps

[jackspratt]

helix have sent you a pm. There are some cheap solutions.

[Sojourner]

ESRI, not Garmin, is the provider of the GPS maps here in Thailand. They control the market so they get whatever price they want. They are under the control of the Thai government so you get whatever the army wants you to have. Garmin as well as any other GPS manufacture must go to ESRI for maps of Thailand. Yes, as previously mentioned there are some blackmarket maps out there but no annual updates and no guarantee of accuracy.

[Zpete]

ESRI, not Garmin, is the provider of the GPS maps here in Thailand. They control the market so they get whatever price they want. They are under the control of the Thai government so you get whatever the army wants you to have. Garmin as well as any other GPS manufacture must go to ESRI for maps of Thailand. Yes, as previously mentioned there are some blackmarket maps out there but no annual updates and no guarantee of accuracy.

You think Thai military will give you an accurate detailed map.

Dream on.

[think_too_mut]

ESRI, not Garmin, is the provider of the GPS maps here in Thailand. They control the market so they get whatever price they want. They are under the control of the Thai government so you get whatever the army wants you to have. Garmin as well as any other GPS manufacture must go to ESRI for maps of Thailand. Yes, as previously mentioned there are some blackmarket maps out there but no annual updates and no guarantee of accuracy.

You think Thai military will give you an accurate detailed map.

Dream on.

Thailand is not North Korea.

If a map is not detailed, what is it worth? Why would Thai Military scramble, say, maps of Bangkok, Pattaya and the highways? Google earth is above them, they complained but I can still see the planes at Khorat's military base.

Any map, scrambled or not, would not prevent a "foot on the ground" terrorist from sneaking around military installations and gathering what they want.

Just 2 hours ago I took my family for hanami yasumi (watching sakura cherry blossom, now lit at night) and my GPS was so detailed, it even took me through 1 car narrow streets. So detailed I needed to stop it and navigate myself.

[Sojourner]

Yes, the Thai army did not allow roads near the sensative border areas to be on the ESRI maps. That may have changed, however just try buying the topo maps of the various amphurs that border Burma at the book stores that carry such maps. No luck.

[helix]

I had an e mail from Garmin HQ in Taiwan saying there was a map

and to contact ESRI in Bkk.

My wife called them and was told there is an up to date map of

76 provinces for 1100 Bhat

Not bad I thought.

Only snag they will download it.

I will wait until I go to Bkk and visit them in person because I know

there will be some problem if it is downloaded.

Another thing I discovered is a video on You Tube created by

the Garmin blog team.

I have tried to include the URL in this post but it will not allow me to do so.

It says you can load Google maps to your GPS.

So I tried it.

Everything worked until I clicked the send button.

There is only 1 option on the screen, E mail.

No Gps button.

A friend in the UK tried it and he has 4 options.

Oh well, all part of the experience of the Kingdom.

[Bpraim1]

Garmin SEA map is discontinued, as they have changed from ESRI map to Tele Atlas, as there provider.

I have an ESRI and Garmin Tele Atlas map.

ESRI is just a little bit better in the very very small roads and POI base.

I paid $25 on ebay for a Thai map. works good.

You should be happy with 7000bt many had to pay the old price of 11000bt.

I have found no problems with detail, so show me some legs for your conspiracy theories.

Helix,

There are many plug n play maps for Thai, Amazon , Ebay,.......

Just put them in your sd slot and drive.

[FRM-BKK]

For those interested, GPS society's web-site is offering an updated (issued April 2009) map for Thailand.

In my opinion very much needed.

Here is the link: http://www.gpssociety.com/_En/Default_En.aspx

Look for the event button and follow: Map TSM V.9.0

If you own a Garmin Nuvi unit, bought in Thailand and it is under one year old, you can get a free upgrade to this new map.

If your unit is over one year old, the cost is 1,100 THB.

I guess that any Garmin units bought outside Thailand will have to purchase this upgraded map.

The web-site offers various methods to acquire the upgrade.

Frm-Bkk

[Claude06france]

I have a Garmin nuvi 200w GPS which I bought in the UK.

I have the unit here with me in Thailand.

I cannot get any GPS maps for Thailand.

Garmin in Bangkok want 7000 bhat to unlock it which is more

than I paid for it in the first place.

Anybody had a similar problem or any suggestions

on how to solve this.

If it involves using a computer and internet please keep it simple

as I am not computer literate.

Thank you.

[Claude06france]

I have a nuvi 200 bought in France and could get the thailand map. Working fine ! you can contact me : [email protected] - I live in Bang Saen, 40 km from PATTAYA

[billd766]

There was another thread running on this last year.

I have a Nuvi 265 in New Zealand and I found this place and tried them.

It is very good.

I have no connection with them at all other than as a customer.

I have posted the url but if the mods delete it you can send message and I will give you the url.

http://rotweilermaps.com/index.cfm

It works for me.

[Cromarty]

don't use the rotweiler maps, they are old, stitched together free maps and old garmin maps. They are not updated and they have effectively ripped them off. If ESRI is only 1100, definitely go for them.