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  1. #1
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    Default Nuvi 250 - Maximum size of internal memory

    All,
    My Garmin nuvi 250 seems to have an internal memory < 2Gbytes.
    I am affraid to need more space memory to add more maps.
    I guess I can add an external SD card and put my new maps on this SD card.
    2 questions :
    1. But is there no another solution ?
    2. Is it not possible to increase internal memory ?
    Thanks.

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  3. #2
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    Yes, it is possible. But you need to reprogram a bigger garmin flash chip and solder it on the place of the old one. (there should be two I think on the PCB) IMHO quite a risky thing.

  4. #3
    Senior Member Strephon Alkhalikoi's Avatar
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    Unless you have a soldering station with an extremely fine tip, a magnifying lens, and the right chip, there are no other solutions except a SD card and no way to increase internal memory. Circuit boards, with their extremely fine parts, are not put together by hand, but by machine, either using a wave soldering process or a baking process. Attempting to replace the chip by hand can very easily lead to a permanently non-functional unit due to solder bridges or cold solder joints that are too small to easily see.


    From personal experience with a 200W and its memory constraints, I believe I am familiar with what you are trying to avoid. You don't want to split the map between internal and external memory. I understand that, but Garmin expects to see a gmapprom.img or gmapsupp.img in the internal memory, which makes it difficult. A solution, and one I haven't implemented as of yet, is this.
    1. Take your home state or province and using MapInstall create a map of just that state or province. This map is what sits in internal memory and can stay there, untouched, until the unit dies.
    2. Purchase a 4GB SD card and run MapInstall a second time, transferring all of North America to the SD card. If your computer has a card reader, use that instead of the nüvi. The transfer will be faster since you're using a USB 2 connection instead of USB 1.1.
    On the next update, 2012.30, simply run MapInstall to transfer the maps to the SD card once again, then shut off the maps in internal memory, which should not be upgraded. You should then be able to function with just the maps on the SD card.
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  5. #4
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    Default

    thanks for the answer.
    If I want to add external SD card, is there a maximum size ? 4GB ?

  6. #5
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    In fact, it seems that Europe 2012 IMG is bigger than the internal memory available on my nuvi 250.
    That s the reason of my question...

  7. #6
    Senior Member Strephon Alkhalikoi's Avatar
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    Garmin recommends 4GB, but I believe the maximum is 16GB, since the slot is SDHC compliant.

    I don't use pre-prepared map images, mostly because I have access to the Mapsource mapset via my 1300LM's map updates, but also because of my 200W only having 1GB of memory internally. I use a 2GB SD for the rest of the map image on the 200W, and it has about 1.4GB left for future expansion. The continent may change the size of the recommended SD card, but the process is still going to be pretty much the same as I described. The only thing different is that instead of running MapInstall the second time to generate the map image on the SD card, you drop the map image onto the SD card.

    Personally, it's more gratifying to build the map image yourself, which is why I'm glad that Noeman is trying to get away from pre-prepared map images.
    Last edited by Strephon Alkhalikoi; 6th August 2011 at 05:28 PM.
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  8. #7
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    Smile

    Don't think desoldering a flash chip on nuvi 2xx PCB is hard. Here you can see that topic:
    Code:
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    Yeah, buying an SD card and putting the map on it is easier but not so fun

  9. #8
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    I bought a 4GB just 3hours ago, works fine.
    And easier that desoldering .
    Reading posts, I am affraid I won't succeed to build tracks/routes with Mapsource and use it on my NUVI 250.
    Even with alternative/older firmware.
    Can you please confirm guys ?

  10. #9
    Senior Member Strephon Alkhalikoi's Avatar
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    The 250 doesn't support tracks or routes.
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  11. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Strephon Alkhalikoi View Post
    The 250 doesn't support tracks or routes.
    Mine works perfectly recording\playback\viewing of tracks.
    A Google search for "Service mode firmware for nuvi 200 / 250 / 270 (native english) to add HIDDEN TRACKLOG on SD card!" might just help.
    Another little known fact - the nuvi 250 can also output GPS data via USB for real time navigation using Garmin nRoute, Mobile PC, OziExplorer etc.

 

 

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