Navigon FreshMaps Map Update Service Reviews

• Update not available until July 2008

  
  By A23IPUJQEDYCRU on 2008-05-09
  I purchased the Navigon 2100 FreshMaps Update Service in late April '08. According to the Navigon Website this three year update would be available at that time. Since then Navigon has put off the map updates until July '08. They have offered a free temporary program version/map update to everyone at this time - but that's not the point. I paid for a service in April that won't be available until July. Navigon has my money and I'm left holding an empty bag.
  
  Don't purchase this product at this time. Wait until at least July. Who know - Navigon may extend the "official" release of the FreshMaps update again.
  
  

• FreshMaps...4Q an easy install compared to a difficult and frustrating installation for update 3Q

  
  By AUX9KZUUB3YCE on 2008-08-22
  Addendem Nov. 5/08
  
  I just downloaded and installed the 4th quarter Navigon freshmaps (4Q).
  The download was done through Navigon Fresh, with my SD card in a SD reader; the download took 2-3 hours but went smoothly and the installation proceded without any problem.
  When I checked my 'current map' on my Navigon GPS it indicated my maps were the newest '4Q'.
  
  Conclusion: this download and installation of the latest Freshmaps (4Q) was easy and without any problems; much better than my experience with freshmaps for the first freshmap update (3Q)...so whatever the problem that caused my difficulties with the first freshmap update (3Q) seems to have been rectified. (see original review below)
  
  
  
  Original review of 'Freshmaps' dated Aug 22/08
  
  This review deals with my problems installing FreshMaps onto my Navigon 2120 GPS. I make no comments as to how the updates worked once finally installed. (I will try to comment, at a later date, on the functionality of the product once I've had time to assess it)
  
  I purchased the Navigon FreshMaps card, and activated the service through the Navigon website by typing in the access code found on the card. So far no problem.
  
  I then attempted to download the FreshMaps that were now available from a program I'd previously downloaded, called 'Navigon Fresh'. BTW, I believe all downloads from Navigon are now done via the 'Navigon Fresh' program. Having it on my computer would enable me to do the following very useful things...
  1.) update software.
  2.) download FreshMaps and
  3.) Make Backups of the my GPS Navigon SD card on my computer.
  
  I connected my GPS to my computer via the correct USB cable and pressed the down load link. A message appears stating there was no MN (My Navigon) software on my SD card. I checked my SD card...there was a MN file on the card...what's up???
  
  Next I tried connecting the SD card to my computer via a SD reader. Eureka, success! When I pressed download FreshMaps it responded, but when it came time to actually download the software, it tells me the Navigon SD card is full and I'll have to delete something from it to make room. Apparently the 'new' software doesn't overwrite the 'old' software. So I start deleting some files from my Navigon SD card (making a backup first), but I still got the 'not enough space on the SD' message every time.
  
  Getting a larger, 4 GB SD card for example, was not an option, as no one makes anything larger than 2GB card for regular SD. There is a 4GB SDHC card (Scan Disc High Capacity) but this would not function in my Navigon GPS (I know, I tried).
  
  So I decided to go out and buy another 2GB SD card (more $$ spent!!). I inserted it into the reader, pressed download, and I got the message 'no MN software' on the SD card...WOW, stymied again!! So as a last resort I copied a 'MN' file from my backed-up copy onto the new blank SD card and...it worked! Finally after all the snafus, I was able to begin the download of the NEW FreshMaps I'd purchased. And even then, this download took 4-5 hours on a DSL connection! BUT, I got it downloaded, installed and my GPS is now working with the latest maps.
  
  Conclusion:
  I guess what is SO annoying is the lack of download/installation instructions with this product. There was no hint as to any unusual installation procedures on the FreshMaps package or the Navigon website. What should have been a seamless, easy download/installation, wasn't; it turned out to be an exercise in frustration. I was lucky, if I hadn't thought to copy the 'MN file' onto the new blank SD card this update would never have downloaded and worked.
  
  You know, maybe I missed something obvious in the download procedure or I didn't see something, a 'it's right in front of you' moment...but I don't think so. I hope my trials and tribulations with this product will help someone else. This very well may be an excellent set of updated maps, but if you can't download/install them a little easier than this, it's hardly worth the effort.
  
  For the inconvenience and the lack of the barest of info regarding downloading and installation procedures... 1 Star
  
  
  R.Nicholson
  
  
  

• Navigon rocks

  
  By AO88IEHYA7TYU on 2008-05-19
  While the next map update with this service is not scheduled until July 08 there is a free software update that includes a map update available already on their website. I really like how the product handles and the convenience of the map update.
  
  

• RATE WHAT?

  
  By A39LURXOLLYJWR on 2008-07-28
  HOW CAN YOU RATE AN ITEM THAT ISN'T OUT YET, PURCHASED THE PRODUCT ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT ITS NOT OUT YET "COMMING JULY OF 07" WELL IT'S JULY
  28th AND STILL NO PRODUCT----- NAVIGON SAYS "WE LET YOU KNOW WHEN READY?????
  
  

• Navigon Fresh Maps Map Update Service

  
  By A1ZL87BI3GD9WB on 2008-08-29
  The product was delivered in due time. I was not in a hurry and when it was sent through the postal service you just need to be patient. The product worked as promised and was much more reasonable on price than any where else I found. Just be sure to look good at the code needed to start the system because they are not very clear sometimes and the only problem I experienced was entering the proper code to get the update.
  
  
• Good Investment
  By A1K3OLLSFCQDLM on 2008-09-19
  I have an old Garmin GPS and updates are $80/year so Navigon's price is an excellent bargain compared with what others want. The update went find without problems. The only complaint I have is the same one I have for the Garmin updates. It seems to take an average of 2 years for changes to get to a GPS (both companies use the same source Navteq). If you go to an online service that uses Navteq, you will see pretty fresh information so I think it's the process of getting the data to the GPS manufacturer and then formatting and testing the data.
  
  
• Still behind in updating data
  By A25RMH96UMI842 on 2008-09-15
  Better than not having any updates available but still lacking in important new roads. Maybe in other parts of the country Navtec is current but in the Austin, TX and its surrounding communities, the newest Navigon update falls woefully short of my expectations. Toll roads and new roads that have been in place for nearly two years and in some cases over three years still do not show up on the newest release. The product is still valuable for finding established addresses but falls short when looking for the fastest or shortest route due to the roads that have yet to be included. Still love my Navigon and still think the upgrading subscription is a good buy. Just dissappointed it is not more up to date.
  
  
• Navigon Freshmaps Update
  By A3LO1ZN0S2P5Q8 on 2008-09-21
  My Navigon 7100 is invaluable to me as I travel quite extensively throughout the U.S. By taking it with me, and either using it in my personal vehicle or in a rental when having to fly, this unit with the updated Freshmaps gets me there 98% of the time. I have noticed that it does get confused occasionally and I have to make an adjustment to let it " recalculate route ". By being patient when this happens, it works out. No more gas station stops asking directions. I am amazed at how well this unit works. I will take 98% accurate anytime over getting lost at all, espeacially at two in the morning in a strange city.
  
  B.Taylor -- Michigan
  
  
• Navigon FreshMaps Map Update Service
  By A2QA2KVSNYW2H0 on 2008-10-11
  I love my Navigon 7100 GPS. I have had it for about 9 months now and it has performed well. I purchased the FreshMaps Map Update service to keep current. I found the instruction somewhat confusing. Also the code number that had to be entered from the package was so small I had to use two magnifying glasses to read the darn thing. Give us older folks a break! The packaging was plenty big enough.
  
  It took several attempts to get the Navigon Fresh program to install correctly. When I did get the program to install, and checked for updates it found none. I have just returned from a trip to VA, PA, and New Jersey. During this trip, there were several exit ramp instruction that were incorrect. The most notable one was my own exit here in NC. When getting off, the GPS advised turning right. If I had made a right turn it would have taken me in the opposite direction I should have traveled. It still has the old exit, which was replaced over two years ago. Yet the program said there were no available updates.
  
  Navigon really needs to get their act together and get more current maps. Most of the errors were due to new interchange ramps and re-routing of the traffic flow.
  
  I am going to do another (or should I say another attempt) update and see if any of these errors have been corrected. If they have not, I could not recommend purchasing this update mapping service.Navigon 7100 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator
  
  
• good for price
  By A1FJWDIYZL7ND7 on 2008-10-15
  It seems like it will be a good deal. Price I believe is high but for 3 years worth of updates it should be worth it. Download is easy from website but takes a long time. I haven't had a chance to see if the update changed any roads or points of interest yet.
  
  

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