eTrex 22x, 32x (Gen 1) Firmware Update 2.60

[GPSrChive]

Garmin published eTrex x2x (Gen 1) Firmware version 2.60 on September 25, 2020:

Changes made from version 2.50 to 2.60:

• Updated text translations.

• Disabled automotive routing on OSM maps.

Please report your observations about this firmware release, good or bad, here!

[987]

• Updated text translations.
• Disabled automotive routing on OSM maps.

Disable automotive routing on their own OSM maps (topo active) or all OSM based maps?
If all OSM maps, that is very unfortunate that i cannot choose what to use my maps to.

[GPSrChive]

Hopefully just for thier TopoActive mapping. Will have to do some testing to find out.

[987]

Hi.
Did anyone notice if osm based maps are still routable (by car) if routing is enabled in the map?

[GPSrChive]

No automotive routing with OSM mapping.

[987]

Thanks for checking, this was sad news.
I was looking forward to a new etrex 32x device since it is much smaller and lighter than a GPSMAP, onto which i could load self made OSM based maps with car routing capability. Lost sale for Garmin in this case.

[ConiKost]

No automotive routing with OSM mapping.

Now I am being really afraid. Does that mean, that they want to disable OSM automotive routing also on all other GPSr devices too?
For example, on latest firmware 5.9 for Zumo XT, it also doesn't work anymore.

That would be a major drawback.

[GPSrChive]

This does appear to be their new policy.

I doubt it will result in more users buying their City Navigator maps (which is what this is really all about) than users who simply stop purchasing and using their products.

The official reason given for this development was "they are not able to verify all OSM routing information as correct and accurate", which is really just a marketing smokescreen for wanting to sell more City Navigator maps.

A very poor marketing decision by Garmin, that is certain.

[ConiKost]

This does appear to be their new policy.

I doubt it will result in more users buying their City Navigator maps (which is what this is really all about) than users who simply stop purchasing and using their products.

The official reason given for this development was "they are not able to verify all OSM routing information as correct and accurate", which is really just a marketing smokescreen for wanting to sell more City Navigator maps.

A very poor marketing decision by Garmin, that is certain.

Oh dear. That's just catastrophic So it's quite possible, that they will disable them also on Montana 700 series.
The official reason is just embarrassing. I mean, everyone, who install OSM, will know, that that means.
Especially, I am thinking of my 276Cx, which doesn't have any preinstalled maps, this would force me to buy CN.

[987]

City navigator seems to be based on here maps, overall very good maps.
The main thing with OSM is that one gets much more flexibility.
A lot of Garmin users buy the devices because the unit offers a formidable and open platform.
Compare a PC with Windows. Once you have that, you can run almost any type of program you want, some you pay for, some you can have for free.
It's really sad if Garmin goes this way. Does anyone remember the hardware and operating system Sun?

Even with paid for maps, it is very evident that they do not guarantee you anything. They always have disclaimer saying that one should always follow the traffic rules first. On some older devices it even said that a GPS can never replace common sense.

Garmin, in case you read, please do let people make their choices! Don't disable automotive routing on any OSM map.