Re: Getting Fed Up With MapSource Unlock

On Thu, 13 Apr 2006 17:21:36 -0400, Joe S. vigorously opined:


"Stephen Brown" <geocacher@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:pan.2006.04.13.18.35.36.578003@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hey, folks! I recently sold a Garmin GPSmap 76CS and Vista C to purchase
a new GPSmap 76CSx.

I have North American City Select (v6) licensed to both units, but now
that I do not own them anymore, I want to get the licensing transferred
over to the new gps. Garmin, however, won't cooperate with me,
essentially saying I'm "stuck with the unlock codes for the other two
units for life."

I've received email and phone support to no avail. I was given the reason
that Garmin has to pay a fee to NAVTEQ each time an unlock code is
generated.

If anyone has found a legal work-around for this issue, I'd appreciate
hearing it.

Please do not respond buy telling me to buy another unlock code. I've
already purchased two, City Select is being discontinued, and I'm waiting
for City Navigator 8 to come out, anyway, so if I by anything new, I'll
wait for that.

Thanks in advance,
Respectfully,
Stephen

Hmmmm. Tell me more about the unlock codes.

I purchased a GPS MAP 76Cx a couple of days ago -- VERY pleased with it.

I ordered the MapSource National Parks East because I need the 1:24,000
topos of the Great Smokies. I plan to load the Smokies topos onto the SD
chip in the GPS unit. Are you telling me there is an unlock code that will
allow me to upload the maps only to this one unit? What happens if I want
to put one of the topos onto my Etrex Legend?

Thanks.

Hi, Joe.

I am not familiar with how mapsource unlock works for the national park
series of maps.

My problem is specific to North American City Select, versions 5/6. I
purchased NACS a couple of years ago, and still have it. NACS is licensed
for two units, in my case, a GPSmap 76CS and a Vista C.

I've recently sold these units.

Garmin tells me that the unlock codes for NACS are specific to both units,
I'm assuming through the Unit I.D. which can be found through the
MapSource program under the menu sequence: Utilities, Get Unit ID. (If the
unit is connected, you will get your specific gpsr's Unit I.D. string.)
I'm also informed that these unlock codes are not transferable to a new
unit, and that is the crux of my complaint.

I am also assuming, for lack of better knowledge, that the unlock codes
are generated from this Unit I.D. String and some type of Software I.D.
string on NACS, as well. Together, these allow you to upload the NACS
maps to your particular unit. However, there is no consideration given
for people who sell their units, then buy new ones. Garmin expects
everyone to purchase additional unlock codes, a practice I find ethically
and morally reprehensible as a business practice.

This, when it seems perfectly feasible for a bench technician--with
authority to do so--to simply reassign the hardware/software code
combination to the new unit without having to purchase new data from an
outside vendor every time a new code sequence is generated.

I wouldn't want my company to be locked into that type of agreement,
anyway. It's anathema for the customer and tedious for the
manufacturer/vendor, so I don't know why anyone would even want to use
that model.



Now, to be fair: I'm not trying to overtly-flame Garmin, NAVTEQ, or
anyone else for that matter. I believe I'm correct and right in my
thinking, no more, no less. I'm a consumer. I know what 'common sense'
implies, whether the subject matter is gps receivers, mapping software, or
shoes.

All I want is to be able to use my current software without having to
"re-buy" the unlock code that makes it work. I've already bought it. I
should not have to 'buy' it a second time.

Thanks for your reply,
Stephen
.

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