Thread: Kenwood DNX9980HD vs Nuvi 2595LM map data

Afaik you're correct and the later Kenwoods use the same additional files as 2xx5/3490 etc. I think the split screen JCV will work, just try it. Maybe you should look at this thread in case it applies to your unit too: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ].

Where and how did you buy the LM map subscription? If it's a download from Garmin I don't think it's refundable. You said 'card' though, so if you bought a gift card from Garmin you may be able to return it within 14 days for a full refund. Amazon is pretty good about refunds too.

As to buying another 2nd hand Garmin unit to use the LM subscription with, it must be a unit sold originally with NA mapping as OEM, that is a localised US/MX/CA unit. Because you've already got the 2595 to lift files from i'd just be looking to sell off the LM sub you bought if you haven't already invalidated it by trying to load it to the Kenwood and/or can't get a refund.

Assuming the Kenwood does in fact use ASR'2' files as does your 2595, and not ASR'1' as used by 2x60/3790, there are two likely reasons for Voice Command not to work. One is an incomplete map, you need to have either all NA or at least all US & CA with not even one single tile missing or it won't function. The other reason is a missing language-related SRD file, e.g. to use Jack or Jill TTS for ASR you need en_US.srd or for British it's en_GB.srd or Australian en_AU.srd. See this thread: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]. Please note that with nuvi devices, the SRD file must remain on the unit in .System/ASR folder and won't function if placed on the card with the other map-related ASR/SRX files and that may be the same with the Kenwood.

Nice you found out that it is ASR1 files used by that model series. Probably won't hurt to leave the ASR2 files in there, but for absolute safety I'd remove them, you can always change them over later if you upgrade the unit. To revise what i said about SRD in that case, it would therefore use the earlier language files e.g English_Australian.srd and not en_AU.srd.

However, i'd advise you to definitely remove the unused JCV file as there could be clashes and you may get a blank screen instead of a junction view or worse the unit may freeze temporarily. Earlier full-screen only nuvis can in fact use the split-screen jcv files, they just display 'stretched-out' looking and a bit washed out due to the reduced ppi from the lower screen size of 234*212 compared to 480*270. Perhaps your Kenwood can use them too like that. The split has slightly more views than the large full but is a full 333 - 334 MiB smaller so if space is a problem it's worthwhile to use. In your case better to stick with the large full-screen only i think, although it would be interesting to know if the split does work like in the nuvis.

A final word on DEM and 3D buildings. To use DEM a unit must be truly 3D capable. '3D' buildings are in fact not true 3D but are displayed in a similar way to how a flat perspective drawing appears on paper, which is in fact 2D. As it's constantly changing as the map screen updates in cities it does use up a fair amount of the unit's resources. If you find map re-draw slow or choppy, removing gmap3d.img often solves the problem.

Well done, and thanks for reporting back. The info you've supplied will be valuable for others.

PS: From what i've read the Agree nag can only be disabled on built-in car nav units by a firmware hack, same as is required with entering most info on the move. My Denso gps based McIntosh unit in my Subaru drove me crazy but i've exhausted all avenues to bypass those things without seriously risking bricking the unit. I now mostly use a 3597 anyway and ignore the built-in sat nav which is near useless anyway. The McIntosh is a great stereo though which makes it all the more sadder that it's been teamed with such a sucky navigator .....

Neil,

I haven't noticed any issues using the SD-CARD with the extra files but will heed your advice and move them out of \GARMIN and into a 'special' folder I'll call "\EXTRAFILES" or the like. That way I won't have to figure out which-computer-and-what-folder I put them in in case I need them again in the future.

I've been searching for some kind of an "AGREE" bypass for a long time and haven't found any leads on solving that pickle anywhere. On the Kenwood units the "AGREE" screen doesn't go away on it's own in a few seconds and *requires* a button-press every time you fire the car up! I've even thought about using the steering wheel interface connection, which is like a remote-control receiver interface, and programming my own microcontroller to wait a few seconds after turning the ignition on and then send the commands for "NAV" (pause) "ENTER" just because I *hate* being forced to doing it myself so much! It's my #1 peeve with the unit...

Doing other things on the Kenwood are pretty easy to bypass while driving because Kenwood has a single wire connection for your parking brake which tells it your "stopped" (ie: parking brake is on = stopped, right?). But all that's needed is for that wire to be tied to a full-time ground wire and it thinks it's always "stopped". It amuses me that there's always dozens of sellers on eBay & Amazon for "Kenwood Bypass Relays" that allow you to "play DVDs & operate the GPS while driving", which, in the end, do exactly that -- they just ground the parking brake wire.

The 9980HD has a 7" screen with an 800x480 resolution so I think that using the split-screen JCV file would be noticeably aberrant, but I'll give it a try and report back what I find.

And earlier you ask about the "Lifetime Maps" card I bought. I bought it from Amazon but didn't get around to opening it for a month or so; then I scratched the "secret code" cover strip off the back of it when I tried to get the Kenwood registered to no avail. It's still a valid card -- just would be hard to convince anyone on eBay or the like because the 'cover strip' has already been scratched off, so I guess I'll have to hang onto it myself and find a use for it down the road...

Thanks again Neil for your most kind assistance and direction.

I wouldn't be too concerned about the JCV and ASR2 files because they're both map-related anyway and change with each version. Therefore they won't work with any version except 2015.10 and new ones will always be made available. But yes, if you want just put them in an SD folder that can't be recognised by the unit. An interesting exception to folder naming is POI which can be named anything and the *.gpi files will still be seen by nuvi units, in fact those files can even be put individually in the root of the unit or sd and still be used. Similarly MP3 files with capable units.

I wish it was that easy to disable the 'on move' lock out in Denso/DVO Dayton units. In them it's controlled by the firmware and linked to the speed registered by the vehicle GPS signal. It doesn't lock out the functions until it senses that the speed is a few kph at least to allow for minor fluctuations in the signal. It also doesn't auto-agree after a short time and will stay on the agree screen forever, not allowing even use of the radio, dvd etc at all even if stopped until the crucial screen press on 'AGREE'. I hate that goddam screen. They even made it mostly blue so to me it's like the pc blue screen of death!

The 800*480 screen nuvi 3790 with early firmware used the full screen 480*270 JCV file same as the 480*272 screen 7x5/1xxx series and the resolution was acceptable. However, that's a 4.3 inch screen less than half of your KW's so the resolution in ppi is already less than half that of a nuvi 3xxx displaying the same picture size image. The 234*212 images will look very pale and washed out on a 7" 800*480 screen for sure.

Amazon has a good history for refunds, so if it's a 2015.10 card even if you've removed the code cover [but not activated it] maybe it's still possible. I know of a person in UK recently who was able to get a refund from Amazon there on a EU LM card purchased mistakenly for a Russian localised nuvi [you can't add another LM region to a nuvi with different OEM mapping data]. He had also scratched the code cover off. Worth a try if it's for the current map.