We have a built in GPS system in our 13RS. We hate it. It's a Tom Tom based system. It uses a SD card, which stores the maps, just like our Garmin does. Has anyone replaced the Tom Tom maps with another map, by replacing the SD card? Is it possible?

I know about --><-- that much about Tomtom GPS units, but I do know a bit about general, marine, hand-held and auto GPS unitsMost of the time, all that is held in the memory is the data for the maps, not the software that runs the GPS, processes and displays the data, etc, etc, etc.I suspect the only way to get a Garmin going, is have a dash/window/etc Garmin GPS.Personally, with the length time I tend to own vehicles, getting an "built in" GPS would be something I would avoid. Electronics is long obsolete by the time I go to replace a vehicle.

I have the same problem with my Subaru, a really kludgy nav system. It is hopeless so I just use out Garmin for other than casual stuff. I compared the Garmin with the one in the Subaru and the map source is the same the difference is the algorithms speed or response and additional things like lane assist POI etc.

I have a Magellan GPS with lifetime updates/road alerts etc. Only problem I have is it needs to be kept plugged into 12v as battery memory has a, well, short memory. On the other hand my 2011 BMW528i has a very pricey Nav system which requires an equally pricey software update every year, if you think you need it. It is more sophisticated and adaptable but for our RV trips the Cheapie Magellan(Maggie) does the job. I wonder if the OP has one or more free downloads to update the software??AL

I have a Samsung galaxy tablet (thru Verizon) with "navigator" installed. I bought a cradle for it so when I slip the tablet in I can adjust it, see it while driving. When I leave the van I take it with me, I activate an ap that remembers where I am parked. When walking I use it to navigate me to where I want to go and gets me back to the van. I do have a brand new, unused TomTom stored just in case the tablet fails for some reason.

I'm pretty sure with a TomTom system you will have to use TomTom map data. Even where different vendors buy data from the same mapping companies, formats aren't necessarily the same. Also, TomTom routing systems wil use preference information that is likely specific to TomTom, and this comes with the map data. Routing preferences is why you can get a route calculation and answer in a few seconds, that would take all of NSA's computers hundreds of years if the software really was trying all the possible routes to get the best answer. Been there, done that, on much simpler linear programming problems than the whole U.S. road and highway network. Each supplier of routing software, GPS, online, installable, has their own routing cheats tied to their own version of the network, both treated as trade secrets.

GPS system | Good Sam Community

12 Replies

Shadow_Catcher
Explorer
Nov 03, 2013
I have the same problem with my Subaru, a really kludgy nav system. It is hopeless so I just use out Garmin for other than casual stuff. I compared the Garmin with the one in the Subaru and the map source is the same the difference is the algorithms speed or response and additional things like lane assist POI etc.
n7bsn
Explorer
Nov 03, 2013
I know about --><-- that much about Tomtom GPS units, but I do know a bit about general, marine, hand-held and auto GPS units

Most of the time, all that is held in the memory is the data for the maps, not the software that runs the GPS, processes and displays the data, etc, etc, etc.

I suspect the only way to get a Garmin going, is have a dash/window/etc Garmin GPS.

Personally, with the length time I tend to own vehicles, getting an "built in" GPS would be something I would avoid. Electronics is long obsolete by the time I go to replace a vehicle.

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GPS system

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