Garmin GPS

Garmin

Got yourself a new Garmin or maybe you just want to put some custom POIs in your old unit? Read on and see if we can make heads or tails on how to get this done.

Recommended that you get at least a 2 GB card but 16 GB would be best. The reason for the larger card would that when you decide to update your maps on your Garmin and there is not enough room on your units hard drive than it will download some of your maps onto your SD card if available. If this happens than make sure that you don't overwrite or format your SD card because it will delete your maps that you need for the unit.


MicroSD

This picture on the left is a picture of a MicroSD card and the slot that it will fit into on your Garmin. Depending on the model of your Garmin this slot may be on the side or bottom of your unit. The size is about 3/8 of inch by 1/2 inch. Be very careful when installing or removing this card because the slot is spring loaded and if you push it in and the card fails to lock in place it may spring out and go flying to who knows where.

This picture is of a MicroSD card and the adapter that you use to add files to your MicroSD card. You insert the MicroSD card in to the Slot on the adapter and than insert this in to your PC or laptop. Always keep your adapter to use if you need to update or add files to the MicroSD card. Very few card readers has MicroSD card slots to read directly from the MicroSD card to your PC or laptop.

SD Card

The picture on the right is of a SD card that is in older models of Garmin's. These are easier to handle because they are a larger card. These cards are about 7/8 inches by 1 1/4 inches. As with the newer model the SD card slot may be on the side or bottom depending on the model of your unit. So now that you have identified what type of SD card you have you can buy one at your local electronics store or online. A class 10 is the best SD card class for using in a Garmin.

Custom POIs

Why would you want to put Custom POIs in your Garmin? Instead of poking in addresses or coordinates of a location that you are delivering to or visiting it is easier to have Custom POIs in your unit and this way you can search by name or ID on your Custom POIs and it will route you to that location. On the custom POI page there are files of Walmart stores, DC's, and Vendor's that Walmart drivers use to find locations all over the country. In those files are over 5,000 stores, 150 DCs, and 35,000 vendors for Walmart drivers.

Now you may be asking why are they called "Custom GPI files". GPI is the type of file that a Garmin will read from the SD cards. I will explain later but you have to use a excel spreadsheet and save it as a CSV file and then convert that into a GPI file and save to your SD card for your Garmin to read. Not as hard as it sounds but will explain later.

Saving GPI files to your SD card.

Now to get your GPI files on to your SD card or MicroSD card to use in your Garmin.

  • First thing to do is to make sure that your Garmin is charged up.

  • Make sure that you have the correct SD card for your Garmin.

  • If the card is a new card than make sure that it is empty of all files by putting it in your PC or laptop. This will also make sure that you have a card that is free of defects.

    • If you have a MicroSD card you will use the adapter card that came with your card to use in your PC or Laptops card reader. The adapter is a full size SD card with a slot to place your MicroSD in.

    • Find the card reader on your PC or Laptop and put the SD card in the slot.

    • You may now have window pop up on the lower side of your computer that will ask what action you want to take with this card.

      • If you select this window another window will pop up and give you choices to do with this card. Select view files on this card.

    • If this window does not pop up or you ignore that window you can go to "file Explorer" on your task bar to see your card information.

PC Computer

PC computer

You may have a multiple card writer on you PC, as in the picture, or just a single SD card slot. Notice that it is marked "SD" slot. The card will only go in one way so if it doesn't go in than flip over.

Laptop Computer

Laptop

On your laptop you will have single SD card slot either on the left or right side or possibly in the front. The card will only go in one way so if it doesn't go in than flip over.

File Explorer

This is the "file explorer" on the bottom of your screen on you PC or laptop.

File Explorer Window

Here is the file explorer window where you will see the location of you SD card on your computer. It could have a drive letter of "D" but it depends on how many drives you have installed on your computer.

You can see that it shows as this SD card as "This folder is empty."

Downloading files to the card.

Now that we have the cards ready you can download files to the card.

  • Go to Custom GPI files page and download the file or files that you need.

    • "Stores" has all of the Walmart stores for the US. Search on your Garmin Custom POIs by store number.

    • "Vendors" has all of the Vendor location where Walmart driver will pick up in the US. Search on your Garmin Custom POIs by vendor number.

    • "DCs" has all of the Distribution Centers for the US. Search on your Garmin Custom POIs by DC number.

  • Select the file that you want to download to your SD card.

  • It will then open up a new tab and you will "No Preview Available".

  • Select the "Download" button.

A new window will pop up to download the file you selected.

  • Make sure to select the SD drive on the left side of the window.

  • Make sure that the file name you selected is the file you are downloading.

  • Make sure it shows as a "GPI File.gpi

  • Select the "Save" button to download to your SD card on your computer.

Download Pop Up window.

"File Explorer" showing that your file did download to your SD card.


After downloading the file check your "File Explorer" to check to make sure that the file you selected did download and the correct file downloaded to your SD card.

If you want to download more GPI files than do the same for the next file to download.

Now that you have downloaded all of the files you need it is time to put the card in to your Garmin to see it works.

Using the card in your Garmin.

When you put your new card in your Garmin you may get a window that pops up that ask you if want to install this data onto your Garmin's hard drive. Select the "Do not ask again" box and then select "NO".

The reason to NOT download this data onto your unit is because if you do and than update your card and insert it back into your Garmin it will only read the data on your unit's hard drive and not the card. So always say NO.

You are now done loading Custom POI on your Garmin. Depending on the model of Garmin you have you will have a "Custom POI" button on your Garmin to select which Custom POI you want to use.

Now in all models you have to select "Where To" and than look around for the Custom POI button.

  • On a Dezl 570 or 580 model go to "Where To" and then scroll down to the bottom to find "Add Shortcuts".

  • In Add Shortcuts find the Custom POI buttom and select it and that will move it to the first screen after you press 'Where To'.

  • More than likely it will be at the bottom of that screen and to move to the top or first row hold down on the button for a few second and you will see it change or move a little than drag it to the top row for easy access. Any issues email me at twade.net@outlook.com and I will try to answer your questions.