GARMIN 010-10816-00 City Navigator North America NT Reviews

• A decent deal and works well

  
  By AWVLM8QR0BWGW on 2007-08-30
  I don't normally write product reviews, but I feel like this product has been over harshly criticized. While the price is high, I think it is reasonable for what you get. I can't get an ADC map of my county for less than $20, so a complete, routable map of the entire US (and Canada) for this price is a good deal. You'll also get discounts on future upgrades which I don't get with paper maps.
  
  The installation process was fairly easy. It forced me to install an update immediately after installing, before allowing me to unlock. I had to manually find and download the update rather than the software doing that for me, but it wasn't too bad.
  
  The unlocking process was flawless. I had to create a myGarmin account, then plug my GPS in using the USB connection. I entered my code that came in the package when prompted and the maps were unlocked for the device. If you have the USB connection you don't need to enter the UID of the device or anything as others have suggested.
  
  Once the maps were unlocked for the GPSr, I selected all the regions and transfered them to a 2GB microSD card I put into my 60Csx. The transfer took about 2 hours but I was transferring about 1.1GB of maps over USB2 so it sounds about right. So in about 3 hours (15 minutes of actual work) I had the product installed, updated, unlocked, and transferred to the device.
  
  I haven't had much time to use the maps on the road, but the product delivers what is promised. If you aren't comfortable with the price, you might want to avoid a GPSr all together and go for paper maps. For me, not having to buy a $20 map for every city I travel to makes it more than worth it.
  
  

• Unmet possibilities

  
  By A355LBHNUBWGX6 on 2007-04-05
  For such an expensive piece of software there is more potential here than usable product. City Navigator does have included most roads that I'm interested in but has a really hard time with whether they are paved or not. Also most of the roads in my neck of the woods have numbers on the signs designating what you're driving on. City Navigator uses names for the most part. Since they like named roads so much you'd think that one could use their "FIND" function to look up a famous road. Well, you'd be wrong. Try the Blue Ridge Pkw. or the Great River Road and see what happens. What City Navigator does it does fairly well, it just doesn't do nearly enough.
  
  I waited until most pundits seemed in agreement that GPS was a well established product and then bought the "best" map for my hardware. I, maybe, should have waited
  
  

• Installation problems?

  
  By A2JYOE9OH5NU1J on 2007-11-28
  I don't know why some persons have problems to install it, just insert the DVD in your computer, follow the instructions on the screen and you are done.
  You receive a bunch of data and information, you will need 2GB Micro SD card in order to have the complete DVD in your GPS (the complete info is about 1001.1 MB plus your track and waipoints...)
  
  Note: The Garmin 60 CSX only accepts 2GB in the same card, don't pretend to buy a 4 GB card in order to store all the maps of your computer in the same card, instead of that, prior your trip, select the regions you will need.
  
  

• Garmin City Navigator v. 8

  
  By A336XZLNII3044 on 2007-05-12
  I bought this updated version of the Mapsource software to use with my GPS (because that's all it supports). Still retails for quite a bit more than it's competitors so what can you do? The Graphics are the same as v.7 with no additional/different icons and the geocaching features that worked before I installed it, no longer work. (with the logging the find and putting it into the calendar) same as before. So over all it's the same old same old. I would be using something else if it worked with my GPS.
  
  

• Double billing on Mapsource by Garmin/Don't upgrade

  
  By AXBPTX7MKEP7K on 2007-10-11
  I've used Mapsource with two Garmin GPS units for years. It is disappointingly lacking as far as being up to date. Now Garmin has changed it's upgrade process. Due to "security reasons", they now charge a $75 fee for EACH Garmin unit's unlock code. For me, that is $150 per upgrade. I have called Garmin to ask about this change in policy and have gotten no good answer for the price change, for me a 100% increase! They obviously do not trust their customers, and therefore penalize those who purchase more than one product from them. I see this as price gouging, but more than that, it shows that they expect their customers to cheat and give the maps away, which would be impossible as one needs an unlock code for each machine. $75 for each unlock code is unreasonable at best. No more upgrades for me. Time to look into the competition. I hope someone else will come out with a competitive product that puts these folks out of business.
  
  
• Worth it
  By A2TMF4GX80JEG7 on 2007-10-18
  This is the correct, and most recent, version. I have a eTrex Legend HCx and with these maps, the GPSr is now infinetly more useful.
  
  Installation was a snap, once I found the 8-digit coupon code (it is between the cardboard in the plastic clamshell). Just followed direction and it went right in. At the end of the installation a dialog did come up saying that there was an update, but there didn't actually seem to be an update.
  
  Downloading the maps to my GPSr was a breeze, once I figured out how to select the maps I wanted to install (I only wanted the West US right now).
  
  I would give this a 5, but the price it real high. Amazon has this a lot cheaper that Garmin, but still this software is expensive.
  
  
• Getting the key is difficult
  By A2VQI6CS733D21 on 2007-04-13
  Good prodct, good naviagation. Just as you expect it from Garmin.
  Complete North America fits on a 1 gig SD card.
  But getting the key to pair it to your Navigation System is difficult.
  You will need to create a account at Garmin to register. that makes one star less from the perfect rating.
  
  
• waste of time
  By ATDOHP36LF6GZ on 2007-04-28
  The software will not install. I started the installation process but it directed me to the website for an update. the update just hangs. I have emailed customer support but have not heard back from them.
  
  I wish I bought the Magellan unit
  
  
• nice and easy
  By A33UZDO4KB4S0H on 2007-01-30
  This product was easy to load onto my computer, took about 10 minutes to master the functions (takes longer to print out the manual if you decide to) It's a pleasure to use on the GPS 60CSx. The geocaching feature for easy loading is alot of fun. An excellent product!
  
  
• Save headaches and cash,buy older mapsouce versions
  By A18BZRJTVJ1SYH on 2007-05-19
  This is the most difficult confusing software I have ever installed.there
  unlock wizard will take you to hell and back with coupon codes,then 25 digit code from garmin,then they ask to input your 8 digit serial numbers from you software and GPS when they are 9 and 10 digit numbers and they tell you if you make a mistake,no refunds,basicly tough luck.if all goes well,you will be given a product key then you must find a regitration code and on and on and on. bottom line is the maps are outdated so save your money,get the exact same features,same maps for half the cost.go buy a older version of map source requiring no unlock codes which installs easy and best yet,city navigator only works on one GPS,older verions work all day on lots of GPS's
  
  
• Very disappointed in Garmin's overpriced software
  By A1JON1G6KVLFS4 on 2007-07-11
  Like another reviewer, I bought this software even after seeing the negative reviews because it is all my model will support. Unlocking the maps was a lengthy and cumbersome process, but I did get it up and running after about 10 - 15 minutes. After playing around for about a half hour I was able to map out a rudimentary route for a training ride on my bicycle. I consider myself pretty computer literate, and I felt that this was a reasonable amount of time for a learning curve. The details of the map were spot-on for the most part, but there is a fairly well-traveled road that was not on the Mapsource map that would have provided a more direct route. For some reason, this same stretch of road doesn't appear on my paper map, either, so there must be some weird idiosyncrasy with this particular roadway so I can't entirely fault Mapsource. My biggest problem with the software (after the high price!) is that it stopped functioning after two days. When I try to open Mapsource I get an error message telling me to re-install the software. After several attempts at uninstalling and reinstalling I still get the same error. I tried the Web Update Wizard which was of no help. And answers on Garmin's website are pretty non-existent for the most part. I tried calling support during the hours listed on their site only to be told by a machine that the hours for support are actually two hours less than posted. I hope to be able to resolve this with Garmin (or get a refund from Amazon), but after spending $139 I am pretty disgusted with the whole thing and wish I had bought another brand of GPS.
  
  **Update**
  
  I was finally able to get my software reinstalled after another attempt. I also did get an e-mail from Garmin telling me that I should try reinstalling the software...
  
  On a positive note, I just bought another GPS to use strictly on my bicycle, and I was able to get another unlock code free of charge for my second unit.
  
  I still have issue with the software, so I still only rate it one star. On recent bike rides I came across two different road closures that the software tried to route me through. I know that Mapsource can't be responsible for knowing every road's condition, but these sections of road have been closed for YEARS due to flooding in 2004. And I did check for updates, but none were available.
  
  And the software tends to crash frequently, particularly when I'm mapping out a long route with lots of points on it, so I've taken to saving my work very often. This could also be a Windows compatibility issue, though.
  
  
• Do NOT buy this CD
  By A3J9U40W6QNIAJ on 2007-09-17
  This CD is out dated. It is not supported by Garmin. You will NOT be able to get an unlock code to use it. It should not be available for purchase anymore.
  
  
• Excellent Software
  By A1EC9C9KXHJCZ9 on 2007-12-07
  The software installed easily on my computer and I was able to unlock the maps with no problems. There was a Mapsource update available and it downloaded and installed without a hitch. An update is available for City Navigator North America NT. Due to the date of purchase I had for the full version, Garmin is sending the update DVD at no charge and is waiving the standard $75 update fee. This is the exact same thing Garmin did when an update was released shortly after I purchased the City Select v6 software and a v7 update was released shortly after. All of this was taken care of quickly and without any hassle.
  
  The amount of time it took to download the maps to my GPS unit was much faster than the download time required when I was using the City Select v7 software. The City Select v7 software was non-NT and took up about 1.8 GB of space resulting in a download time of a little over 2.5 hours. The City Navigator North America NT maps are just under 1 GB and the download only lasted about 1.5 hours.
  
  I am completely satisfied with City Navigator North America NT. The main areas where I travel have been updated and are much more current than my previous City Select v7 software.
  
  
• Dreadfully disappointed
  By A1U5WAWSCQLKEW on 2008-06-24
  Several fundamental problems have brought me to giving this program one star.
  
  First off, the install went smoothly but Garmin's piracy prevention strategy really sucks *AND* blows. The worst I have ever seen in any major software product in many years. A big headache and very intrusive about demanding lots of personal information before it will let you complete the install and unlock the program. An active Internet connection is mandatory during the install process. This point alone may lead me to never buy another Garmin mapping software product. You can feed it some bogus information but do so at your own risk, since your access to customer service will be based on that personal data, which immediately gets saved on Garmin's corporate servers. And if you don't give them a valid email address, you can't complete the install. Delorme is a MUCH friendlier company in all of these regards.
  
  Anyway, I purchased this product based on the belief that it would export map files to my Obscenely expensive Garmin Rino 530 GPS+GMRS radio. I read everything I could find on the Garmin web site about which mapping programs were "compatible" with the Rino 530. I now know that there are degrees of "compatibility" that would have been nice to know about in advance! I can import/export waypoints and tracks but not maps! ARGH!!! Money wasted!!! And you don't find this out until you have registered and unlocked the product and locked it to the electronic serial number of your GPS!!! A warning about limited compatibility would have been very nice.
  
  Thirdly, now that I have City Navigator NT installed on my PC, I see that it is a rather pathetic, limited, error-riddled mapping program with old mapping data that is a complete joke when compared to Delorme Street Atlas USA. The difference in quality is so striking that the comparison that comes to mind is the sibling contrast in the movie "Twins." Delorme lets you use all kinds of GPS's with their programs without any absurd ESN locking although map export files are limited to Delorme GPS's and PDA GPS programs. I do wish Delorme had a lot more waypoint/track/route import/export file format support.
  
  In conclusion I wish that I had not wasted money on this program and further, I am beginning to feel the same way about my Rino 530.
  
  Buyer beware
  
  
  
• Don't Buy Garmin
  By A31KB2SSDS8Q2E on 2007-12-26
  I bought a Garmin GPSmap 76CSx for bicycle touring, along with the MetroGuide USA map navigation software for building routes -- but the GPSmap wouldn't follow the routes I created using the MetroGuide software (among other things, it wanted me to bicycle across the Hudson River on water). When I spoke with Garmin, they told me that I needed City Navigator and not MetroGuide, so I bought City Navigator.
  
  It doesn't work any better than the MetroGuide did. On a recent trip, after carefully laying out a route on local roads in City Navigator and downloading it to the GPS, the GPS ignored the route I had downloaded and tried to get me ride a bike on Interstate 95.
  
  
• The customer is always wrong
  By A1GSVX4SNFOP3B on 2008-05-23
  The software is OK, but not great. Other reviews mention its limitations and shortcomings. The main problem is that the unlock process is complex and has draconian restrictions. You don't get an unlock code with the product. Instead you get a certificate with an 8 digit code. Then submit this 8 digit code, in combination with a serial number for a GPS unit, to Garmin in order to obtain a 25 digit unlock key. Finally you enter the 25 digit unlock key. (Got all that?) Since you can't use the maps on a PC unless you also enter the serial number for a portable device, you can't buy this software just for PC use.
  
  Garmin makes good products and I've been a longtime customer. Between work and home I own 7 of their units. But I'm losing my loyalty to them because they're constantly nickel-and-diming us for updates and making us jump through crazy hoops. Avoid this product unless you REALLY need the updated maps (which are not truly up-to-date, as others have mentioned). Instead try finding the old MetroGuide, which was much more user friendly.
  
  Being a software developer myself I can sympathize with Garmin's concern for piracy. But they need to weigh that against the burden they are putting on honest users. I regret buying this product and will start looking at other vendors for my home and business GPS applications.
  
  
• Too much personal information requested to unlock!!
  By ASNRWEMEN5K43 on 2008-04-05
  I guess other people don't mind being forced to register before being allowed to use a product. I don't think even Microsoft does that. I got so frustrated trying to get the software unlocked that I felt like throwing the thing away and just taking a loss. As the other guy wrote, it's clear when there isn't much competition.
  
  I found the instructions vague. All Garmin had to do was provide an unlock key with the product and ask for it to be entered, like everyone else does. Instead, they forced me to register, and hinted very strongly that I provide an email address if I wanted my unlock code. They provided an 8 digit code in order for me to apply for my 25 digit code. I couldn't see the whole setup as anything but a process to squeeze me into registering and providing and address, email addy, and full name. I spelled my name in a way that I'll know what junk mail comes from Garmin. So, we'll see if they lied about selling the info or not.
  
  If I can find a GPS unit as functional as Garmin, I'll try them out for any future buys. I don't like being forced to jump through hoops after a company already has my money, but won't deliver the promised product until I do so. I guess it doesn't bother some people to have their info constantly circulating about.
  
  
• Obsolete product sold - Buyers beware
  By A3R7276W51F9FT on 2008-06-22
  I ordered this product from Amazon last week and received it today. While trying to install this on my PC, I found out from the message on the screen that this product is in fact City Navigator 2008 (why is Garmin hiding this fact in the product description) and after installation I was told to upgrade this product since this product is out-of-date (was released in May of 2007). (City Navigator NT 2009 Upgrade has been available for quite some time now.) Clicking the link led me to 'enter the product s/n' and after entering my Etrex Vista Hcx's serial number I got the message 'No updates available for this.' Now I am banging my head against the CD case. This version should be missing quite a lot on newer construction in my area leading me astray. Literally!
  
  Is this because Garmin is shipping its old inventory to dealers hoping that some customers won't mind using the older version or will naively pay another 60 dollars for the upgrade or is Amazon selling some old inventory - I don't know at this point.
  
  Product is described as 010-10816-00 but I could not find that on the CD cover. Instead I found 007-00156-04 Rev. A and 171-00074-04 on the cover.
  
  I have sent out an email to Garmin but am fully braced for unpleasant customer experience, even in the potential best case scenario of Garmin sending me the 2009 version. Why it couldn't do it to start with and why is it hiding the version name (2008) from its product description?
  
  Moreover, there was an 8-digit coupon code which I had to enter to unlock the map on my PC. Luckily there was no 25-digit code some other customers had to get. One interesting part was that I was told to select maps before unlocking. I was thinking of selecting only the states where i plan to travel to save space on my 2GB microSD, but luckily I happened to read the small print which said that this unlock feature will work once only. As I understand, say I selected California only and unlocked it, next time I will be able to access California only, being blocked from all other states even though I have paid for the entire map. Why would they do so? I am puzzled. Greed and/or incompetency? I selected all maps. Shouldn't that be the only choice?
  
  
• Installed fine but updates would be nice
  By AXZKCPUQSBJCS on 2007-08-25
  The software installed on my PC and tranferred to my Garmin eTrex Legend Cx easily. However, some local businesses that are more than a year or two old are not listed. Would be nice to have an online update functionality.
  
  
• But whatcha going to do
  By A3LZKIR1IR78MT on 2007-10-12
  if it is the only product that works with your Garmin GPS. It took awhile for me to load it onto a 2gig micro SD card (that I got through Amazon) but that was expected. And, I felt that I had to jump through more hoops than necessary to install it but the job got done and I am happy with it.
  
  It is not a bad product but it needs updated. When I registered it with with Garmin, they said they were sending me an update disk but it has yet to arrived.
  
  I will look closely at the other GPS brands such as Tom Tom or Magellan for the next GPS I buy. I ain't happy with Garmin service and won't order directly from them anymore if I can help it.
  
  Amazon has done just great on delivery of stuff I ordered from them so I guess I am spoiled.
  
  
• excellent
  By A2PWM8ZKTS1TUI on 2007-03-09
  great coverage of entire north america map system on one unlock code. very happy.
  
  
• Planning Purpose
  By AATFNL3Z64XA7 on 2007-08-23
  I am using the product to plan my vacation in Georgia and northern Florida. Up to now, I am positively surprised about the comfort and details (POI) the software offers.
  
  The installation of the maps and the mapsource software and the registration was not so difficult as described by many people before.
  
  After my vacation I will rate the product once more and than with the real valuable stars....
  
  
• Great Maps, High Price
  By A1CQUK1L95SYGN on 2008-02-13
  I received a Garmin eTrex Legend HCx GPS for Christmas (for my Geocaching habit), and I wanted to be able to use it for directions when I travel. For the price of the GPS and this map software, I could have bought a nice TomTom 720 GPS. The Garmin software doesn't seem to allow me to edit for roads that have been closed, but the TomTom does. The most frustrating thing about the software is that Garmin locks it to a single GPS unit. If I upgrade to a newer GPS (or if it breaks), I can't move my $120 maps to it. Grrr.
  
  
• Over priced and still missing 10 year old data
  By A2WWNCU4KG5S0B on 2008-03-21
  This item is very expensive and only allows use on one(1) gps unit! I bought this to go with my Rino's and was very disappointed in the fact that I had to spend another $100+ to get maps, then to find out that it only works and 1 GPS and I had to spend another $100+ to get the second one installed was not fun.
  Once installed it doesn't have basic streets in my area that have been around for over 10 years! All in all I wish I could get a refund.
  
  
• what you might expect
  By A3E1YIRTY328PS on 2008-03-22
  Yep, it maps that work with the Garmin just as expected. I was a little surprised about all of the hoops that are necessary to jump through to get the thing "unlocked" but it worked as it was supposed to.
  
  Another surprise is that you can use it only on one of your Garmin GPSs. You might think that if you buy multiple Garmin GPSs that you might not have to buy multiple map updates (one for each GPS)...not the case.
  
  Otherwise an ok product.
  
  
• very glad to have it
  By A3SZUH6IAMO7QC on 2007-03-25
  Depends what you expect but I am happy because I got what I want .
  
  
  good and easy to use
  
  
• Same maps as Metro Guide with auto route
  By ABL50FXD02Z1N on 2007-08-20
  I finally got all the codes, the registrations and the attempts to get support completed only to find I have paid for Mapsource MetroGuide with autorouting called MapSource City Navigator. Come on Garmin, as techo savy as you are, get a map developer to compliment your hardware.
  
  
• Does what it should
  By A1ZVFCPHCWFV71 on 2008-02-25
  I've seen some gripes about this product. To me is seems easy to use. Unlocking was fairly smooth. After that I was able to load the entire US map on a 2GB SD card (it takes a bit over 1GB so there's plenty of room left). After that I can find just about anything I need nearby from my eTrex Legend HCx.
  
  
• Stopped working
  By A1BM6WPHYVN7GQ on 2008-05-20
  For the first couple days it was fine, then after this I keep getting error codes even when it's just sitting there. My computer easily meets the system requirements and everything else behaves just fine.
  Called Garmin and after a lengthy wait was told they couldn't answer the question I'd have to take time off from work and call from home from where the computer is.
  As it's software I can't return it even though it no longer works. The Garmin tech rep did admit they are having some difficulty with the software. The people were quite nice but bottom line, I don't have the time or skill to make it work.
  I'd say unless you have lots of free time to tinker and enjoy this kind of thing your better off with a map.
  
  
• Bad Customer Service from Garmin & Amazon on This Item
  By A2BOJNS8K3JQLH on 2008-06-23
  If you want the latest version (2009 available since May elsewhere) buyer beware on this product. Amazon doesn't state the version so I contacted them today to ask. A simple question, right? Wrong. Happily I got through to somebody quickly at Amazon (India, of course) and the unhelpful lady said I would have to contact the manufacturer for that information. I pointed out that since Amazon was the seller, Amazon should know and so inform the customer. Besides, I had already tried to contact Garmin to ask if they knew what Amazon was selling (and what the upgrade policy was) and gave up after being on hold for 30 minutes. Pathetic, isn't it. Worse than Dell. Both companies in error here, and obviously not customer centric.
  
  

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