Just got the message displayed on my Kenwood 7100 that my nav maps are more than 1 year old.

Currently running City Navigator North America NT 2008.

There is a 2009 version avail for sale, at $99.99 (https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?...923#versionTab).

So, 2 questions:

1) Does anyone know how much different the 2009 version is from the 2008?

2) If there's a compelling reason to upgrade to 2009, is there a cheaper alternative than paying $99? I checked Ebay but didn't see anything listed there.

TIA.

 

^^ I wouldn’t worry too much about updating unless you are seeing missing data. There are many changes made daily to the map database to handle new roads and make corrections. The 2009 update is already obsolete.

Check here…
http://www.navteq.com/
… to discover differences in the new maps.

Or, simply contact NAVTEQ support for a list of specific changes (it’s done by city).

--Spike

 

Thx. So far I haven't run into any bad or missing data on the 2008 maps. Just can't decide if it's worth the peace of mind to spend $100 for the update... which as you say is out of date as soon as it's published.

Most of my driving is in SoCal, which I would assume has more changes than more rural areas.

 

In addition to map updates, you should also check for software applications updates. Garmin has issued a software update for the Kenwood KNA G510 (which is the hideaway GPS black box, but also the internal GPS in most modern Garmin units) dated January 26, 2009.

You can read information about the update and download this at:

http://www8.garmin.com/support/blosp.jsp

You should check with Kenwood Support before installing the update to insure it is compatible with your device.

--Spike