Customer Reviews

Garmin City Navigator North America NT (microSD Card)

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The maps are very detailed and they contain a plethora of POI's (Points of Interest). On very important point though any buyer should be aware of.

You can't download the maps contained on this Micro SD card to your Mapsource Software, which pretty much makes the Mapsource software useless.

I contacted Garmin and the very friendly customer service rep. said that the Micro SD cards maps can't be downloaded off the card on to your PC. She recommended (as I would) that if you want to be able to view the maps on your PC and use the PC to map routes, edit waypoints etc. buy the DVD's not the Micro SD. They are the same price.

Bottom-line. If you want to just pop the card in your GPS device and use it then this item is probably the way to go. If you want to do more, especially with your PC, then get the DVD instead. I wish I had known this before I ordered non returnable software.

After reading all of the bad reviews of the software version I decided to order the pre-programmed micro SD card instead. What a great deal (I paid only $103.00)! For that I got all of the maps pre-loaded on a 2GB SanDisk Micro SD card with no headaches or problems. It works like a charm. The only drawback is that you cannot move the maps and waypoints to your MapPoint software. For me it is well worth it.

I updated my Garmin Nuvi which had a 2008 NA map using the SD card version, no problems loading. However, I was disappointed to find this map has marginal updates. My home address in a subdivision that is 5+ years old is still not available on the map. Mapquest, Google, even Tomtom all have my street address but not Garmin.Likewise, points of interest that have been around 1 to 2 years were not always found. Again, I checked a 2010 Tomtom GPS and it had the hotels, restaurants I was looking for. With the price of GPS' dropping fast and Garmins lack of most current updates, I probably avoid buying updates from Garmin again.

My Garmin Etrex Vista was great for geocaching but the base map that was provided was next to useless. This card put the whole USA and it's roads into my GPS and improved its function 100%. I have a MacIntosh computer that isn't exactly friendly with Garmin GPS's so this solved the problem by allowing me to by-pass my computer and install the system very easily. Easy to use, accurate and worth the money to get the most out of your compatible GPS Garmin units.

This is a mini SD card with an SD card adapter. I've had no problems finding any road from firebreaks to interstates. Works great to turn the Garmin Colorado 400t Handheld GPS Unit with US Topographic Preloaded Maps into an automobile navigation unit as well.

Map works perfectly in my Garmin 705 and in the Oregon.
Maps are accurate.
Usual Packaged GPS map problem - doesn't always give the most direct route (noticeable especially when you know the best route), but always gets you where you want to go.

If you've used the previous versions/year's updates (V8 and NT) then you'll know how to use this on your GPS - It's easy to install and works great on the Oregon. The Automotive (Zoom) Mode is especially nice as it emulates the screens of Garmins like the Nuvi. With the Oregon, you can switch between profiles (ie. Automotive and Geocaching) to get you close to a Cache and then off-road to the destination.

The only drawback that I see, is that it is based on a 2Gb card when the unit will reportedly handle without issue a 4Gb card. So, you do get a little limited for photo storage or if you're on a long trip/hike and take a LOT of photos (with the Oregon 550T) you might be better served by switching out the Map card for a larger MicroSD.

Anyway it works and if you have multiple GPS units, you can move it from one to the other without unlock codes and so on...So that is nice, now that the GREEDY BUZZARDS at NavTeQ only allow one unlock code per map set.

This micro SD card by Garmin really expands the capabilities of my Vista Hcx. I've used it on trips to Canada as well as the Northeast and Southwest United States, and it's been almost infallible. The street maps were up to date, even with recent street name changes. The alerts for turns could come a little sooner--if the speed limit is 45 or higher, sometimes the alert sounds when you should already be in the turning lane. Overall, though, a really good and useful product.

Using this product probably could not be more simple, all you really have to do is plug it in. After doing so I was finding Geocaches faster than before and was confident to travel places unknown afore. Not only does this card unlock new details on top of the basemap but many more features I had no idea my Garmin Colorado could do. Bought it from Amazon because they are trusted and only a few bucks off the best price I found on the net. If you have a Colorado I highly recommend this product. I didn't give 5 stars because the maps certainly are not flawless but come close I suppose. My one negative; and this is being very selective shall we say, is because a couple days ago coming back from a hike I called up the nearest gas station and the map was 0.15 mile off.

I own several Garmin GPS receivers and use them for different purposes. I have a Colorado 400T which I use for geocaching and hiking, a nuvi 500 which I use when biking and walking in different cities (a favorite way for me to explore urban areas) and a nuvi 750 for automotive navigation. Each GPS came with it's own map limitations: the Colorado has topographical maps but not the city-level maps that I am accustomed to on my other Garmins; my 500 only has the lower 48 states and on a recent birdwatching and geocaching trip to Alaska I needed to use this GPS in our largest state; my 750's map has become dated and did not include some important highway changes in my area as well as the HUGE changes in Points of Interests that have occurred in the last couple of years.

I had a couple of options in order to keep all of my units up to date a fully functioning. Downloads are both expensive and bothersome so I opted for this little card. It is actually a micro SD with a SD adapter so it works for all of my units (the nuvi 500 for instance uses the micro while the 750 uses the standard SD).

I think that it is important to realize that all databases, even a recently published one, will contain errors. GPS manufacturers are dependent on third party data which might have some info that is dated even when new. However, I have been pleased with the updated points-of-interest and maps on this little card. I have found it to be easy to use and pleasantly affordable compared to some of the other options.