Garmin zumo 550 GPS A Riders Review

[ironbrad]

Zumo 550 Help?

I've sent email to the Garmin help, but they warn 5-7 days for a response.

I created a nice route with waypoints and saved it on my PC using Mapsource. When I go to download it to the Zumo, the only "What To Send" box I can check is "Maps"...the download Routes and Waypoints (etc) are grey'd out so I can't select them? I tried downloading the Map, but nothing shows up on the Garmin. I manually transferred the .GDB file from the PC onto the Garmin drive, but nothing shows up on the Zumo when I go to Routes.

Any ideas or I just sit and wait on Garmin?

Thanks,
Brad

[chief]

Originally Posted by ironbrad

Zumo 550 Help?

I've sent email to the Garmin help, but they warn 5-7 days for a response.

I created a nice route with waypoints and saved it on my PC using Mapsource. When I go to download it to the Zumo, the only "What To Send" box I can check is "Maps"...the download Routes and Waypoints (etc) are grey'd out so I can't select them? I tried downloading the Map, but nothing shows up on the Garmin. I manually transferred the .GDB file from the PC onto the Garmin drive, but nothing shows up on the Zumo when I go to Routes.

Any ideas or I just sit and wait on Garmin?

Thanks,
Brad

Update mapsource and the new .GPX file storage will be added to the software. all should be fine after that.

[ironbrad]

Originally Posted by chief

Update mapsource and the new .GPX file storage will be added to the software. all should be fine after that.

Thank you soo much! That fixed me right up

I updated the unit software when I got it a week ago, but I failed to update the mapsource software.

Again, THANK YOU Ken!

Brad

[TBird]

Originally Posted by Law Dawg

Sounds like a nice set up Kenny. Anyone here got input on one without all the bells and whistles? I don't need teeth of any color (don't want to talk on a phone when riding...ride to get away from all that), MP3 players (Judy is going to buy me a Nano 4.0 for the magic 55 in April), or XYZ radios, just a GPS. Is there a Zumo Jr for us technotard caveman types?

If you're going to use the Zumo in your car the bluetooth is great! I'm told the the mic on the car phone cradle sounds pretty good. In CA we're going to have to go hands free by next year. The Zumo fulfills that purpose.

My only complaint is that Mapsource is still only a Windows app and I work on an Apple.

[SUNNY]

Sounds like a great unit , but how do you listen to the directions from the zumo does it come with a bluetooth headset like the tom tom rider and does it have an external speaker for the in the car use

[lhoriman]

Does this thing have an intercom feature builtin too?

If my passenger and I both have bluetooth headsets, is there any way we can communicate with not only the device but each other too?

The holy grail would be a system that does:

* GPS with voice output and control
* Intercom between rider and passenger
* Bike-to-bike communications with GMRS
* Voice control of cellphone
* MP3 player that can be heard by both rider and passenger
* All via wireless bluetooth headsets in helmets
* Even better if the speaker part is in-ear, doubling as earplugs

How much of this pie-in-the-sky dream does the Zuma satisfy?

Thanks,
Jeff

[chief]

Originally Posted by SUNNY

Sounds like a great unit , but how do you listen to the directions from the zumo does it come with a bluetooth headset like the tom tom rider and does it have an external speaker for the in the car use

The zumo has a stereo audio output on the MC mount and also is bluetooth enabled. The auto mount has a built in speaker as well as a stereo audio output. The headset is not included but there are some very nice kits out there to chose from. Autocom, Scala, Nolan to name a few and the Autocom being a multi use intercom unit ain't gunna hurt

[Scarman]

The Zumo does have bluetooth support, but it will not function as an intercom plus the bluetooth audio is mono only. With bluetooth helmets starting to emerge and a MP3 player built into the GPS, how did they miss that one.

The mic built into the car mount seems to work just fine, but the speaker is less than adequate. I resolved that issue by running the audio out into the aux port of my stereo. It makes for a very functional hands free set for my cell phone and I love how I have full access to my phone's contact list via the Zumo. It also provides full support for voice dialing if you phone supports that feature. Garmin really nailed the cell phone integration.

Using my Autocom Pro 7 Sport I have:
* GPS with voice announcements including street names.
* Intercom between rider and passenger
* Bike-to-bike communications with whatever radio I choose.
* Voice dialing of cellphone
* MP3 player that can be heard by both rider and passenger
* But... for now I'm using the standard Autocom cable to my helmet with the ER6i earbuds

I'm not big on having a cell phone on the bike, but I must say with the cell phone interface accessible via the Zumo it's very usable if your phone support voice dialing. Personally I added the cell phone interface simply because I could and not because I need it.

[Bandit66]

Originally Posted by Jester

Just a question for you computer savvy types, what is the easiest (read also cheapest) way to convert MP4A files to MP3 so I can load them on the Zumo?

Not quite a hijack, so let's say that for what I understand, mp4 is a branded, protected format. If you bought the music (isn't mp4a a video format?), it looks like the easiest way is to save the sound track as .wav with that tune-thing online program, burn a CD with it, then rip it with any tool you want as an mp3. Should be covered by fair use since you actually bought the right to listen to the music. The media should not matter.
[insert useless rant about drm, oss, sending pizza to your local bands, etc.]

[Bandit66]

Can we get a sample of Jill's voice?