Voice Name & Language Byte

**Channelman** · 10th July 2011, 08:08 PM

I'm struggling with trying to make a voice name appear in my Garmin Nuvi 270 (NonTTS Device)

I've read the thread which includes a post by turboccc which states.....
The voice name is in the language ID byte inside the non-TTS VPM file. Renaming the VPM will not make the voice appear as that name. Instead, the language ID byte inside the VPM will tell the GPS what name should appear in the Voice menu.

I've also looked at the Language Byte (18 or hex 12) which determines the different languages.

I've tried changing the Language Byte of say Cartman to 01 which then makes it appear in the voice
menu on the Nuvi as "Deutsch".

Since turboccc says that the name is also determined by this byte, how does the Nuvi recognise
(AND DISPLAY) the name of voices downloaded from the Garmin website?

The info does NOT appear to be in the vpm file and I can only assume that there is some lookup table on the
Nuvi, which I am unable to find.

The Language Bytes I've checked are as follows:

00 -English-American
0E -English-British
01 -Deutsch
03 -Italiano
05 -Svenska
8C -Dr Nightmare
0E -Yeti
and even more significantly
2F -A vpm file which I made using Garmin's Voice Studio of my own voice AND my own name.
This appears on the Nuvi with my name and voice.

Where does the Displayed Name come from in the Nuvi?

**catymag** · 17th July 2011, 11:43 PM

thread moved to the main index

turboccc · 18th July 2011, 12:15 AM

@channelman,

Luckily for you, I have another program that allows you to add some missing voice. Try RGNVoiceEditor. Latest version seems to be v109. Find it here:

Code:

Please Login or Register to see the links

Fineprints:
1- It modifies RGN firmware only, but you could use RGN_Tool to convert it back to GCD (Remember that GCD firware will not update if same version as current GPS version)
2- It should work correctly with voices like Aussie English and some others. For foreign languages, it is possible that all voice prompts will be mixed up.
3- You should not have to convert VPM voice to Taiwan voice (button in RGNVoiceEditor) unless you have a TWN firmware. The patch changes the order of some navigation prompts.
4- Replace TTS with TTS and non-TTS by non-TTS voices.
5- No worry if the program shows only the first 15 voices.

Let me know which fw and gps model you are using.

*** Use at your own risk! Although I think it is pretty safe now! ***

Edit:

Note that I have never seen a non-TTS Australian_English. Only TTS Karen and Lee.

**Channelman** · 18th July 2011, 03:09 PM

Thanks for that turbo.....but I'm not sure how I can use it....perhaps I missed something.
My Untouched Original GUPDATE.GCD can be seen at [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
I've tried substituting a couple of voices...converting back to GCD and comparing with the original.

Dansk (Hex06) to Eng-British (Hex0E/Dec14)
and
Svenska (Hex05) to Eng-Australian-Lee (Hex10/Dec16)

The first one duplicates the text Eng-British entry in the R.E.C. list both with R.E.C.0.1.4.
and the second one replaces text Svenska with English-Aust-Lee but there is no R.E.C.X.X.X.
which, to me, means that I still can't use Eng-Aussie.

If I am a language missing (say Flemish Hex20) then I only have to give the Language Byte (Hex20)
to any of my Voices and 'Flemish' appears in the display list, so I'm not sure what the program does for me.

My SW is 5.00 and my Nuvi is a 270

turboccc · 19th July 2011, 12:41 AM

Sorry about my stupid question. Sometimes I help too many people and forgot I already have their info...

1- RGNVoiceEditor only displays the first 15 voices. Someday. I have to fix this... In the meantime, you should not add twice the same voice. No gain by having twice the same voice.

2- Yes, you could simply change the language ID byte to one of the voice that you do not use. Instead, RGNVoiceEditor allows you to "simply" replace a voice you do not use by the one you want to use. At least, you get the right voice name.

3- TTS voices do not have RECXXX voice ID, but there is a lang_ID byte inside the VPM. Obviously, it matches the language ID in the firmware. When you added Eng-Aust-Lee, you replaces a non-TTS voice by a TTS voice which explains there is no RECXXX id.

Some more fineprints:

a) I never really tested this program.
b) I never replaced a TTS voice by a non-TTS voice or vice-versa.
c) I never replaced a very foreign language by a not-so-foreign language. It will not break anything, but nagigation prompts may be confused.
d) Some have reported that replacing a TTS voice makes the navigation prompts confused
e) Some reported that non-TTS voice replacement also makes confused navigation prompts. Note from me: This should not happen except again with foreign firmware (not foreign voice). To solve this problem with the TWN firmware, I also make a patch to convert some non-TTS voice to work with the TWN firmware.

f) I still think there is a use for RGNVoiceEditor, but I have yet to find it... LOL!

Turbo

**Channelman** · 19th July 2011, 11:37 AM

I wasn't saying that the RGNVoiceEditor was no use.......
I've read why you wrote it......for modifying the voices after flashing with Taiwan firmware.

Incidentally, do you know where the byte is which holds the "Maximum Speed"?
I turned my on during a flight once over the Atlantic and got it up to 455 mph.
When I was late for something, I used to show people this saying that "I tried
my best to get there on time".

I've lost this now with my various updates and can't find it in my backup.

EDIT:
Also, I've had another reply from Garmin......

Thank you for contacting Garmin Europe.
I have now booked the device in for you under warranty; please can you send the device on its own to:

RMA XXXXXXX (I've removed the number)
Garmin Europe Ltd
Liberty House
Hounsdown Business Park
Southampton
SO40 9LR.

Please could you ensure the RMA number is the first line of the address and send it by recorded post. Once we receive your device, you will receive a replacement with another 12 month warranty within 10 working days, any subscriptions will be transferred over to the replacement and this will be sent by courier so it will need to be signed for.

I still can't believe it.......a replacement in 10 days with a 12 month warranty!!!
It looks too good to refuse.

turboccc · 19th July 2011, 01:44 PM

I agree. Maybe you should take it, but you may get a refurbished 270. They may have a few in stock. So, no gain in the end.

About RGNVoiceEditor: no worry, you didn't say so. I did!

So far, I did not not have any proof someone could use it to gain something useful.

**Channelman** · 19th July 2011, 02:59 PM

Even a refurbished 270 (battery NOT 4 years old plus a 12 month warranty) for free sounds OK.
I'm just putting things back to how they were when I first bought it....old maps, voices, vehicles,
then I'll have to 'screw it up' again.

**Channelman** · 21st July 2011, 09:56 AM

I put all the old maps etc back in the 270 with the intention of 'screwing it up' when it was back to
original condition but I managed to screw it up (easily done by me) by accidentally booting up with a
GUPDATE.GCD set as version 5.00 instead of 500.
It now shows GARMIN.....blank screen.....GARMIN......blank screen and won't switch off and
the USB connection is not recognised by the PCB.

So, it's gone back to Garmin...........I'll let you know what I get back in '10 working days'

**Paul2** · 22nd July 2011, 07:28 AM

Great post guys enjoying it.
Warranty, Garmin Aus recently replaced my unit 1390 cause sound kept dropping out on start up I later found out it was a software issue that they should have known about, it was 5 updates behind. The new one did the same till I updated it. But It was free and sounds as it does above.
Languages, have to be similiar to the one you are replacing to work properly I recently visited the states and even though American is close to Australian common problems were Pronounciation such as in Aus take the one hundred and 5 in USA take the 105. As well as rds, cres, st we have circuits (Cr) Avenues (Av) when I run American voice in Aus it will say Cr or Av Instead of circiuts or avenues theres a few other differences I noticed aswell. When I did mess with voices they jumbled the order of things Thats why most voices say to replace American. Simple solution in Aus is if you like the Male voice then replace the Female or vice versa but my gps only has Female voice for American. My Wife hates it.
Any help wanted with Aussie files drop me a line and I will do my best to help

Paul

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