Newbie to GPS, Zumo 550 on the way

[HaulinAshe]

I've never owned a GPS before. Zumo 550 due to be delivered by the nice man in the blue&white truck this Friday.

Anyone have a short list of "leg-up" suggestions that might help me avoid all the "oh, that's what they meant" epiphanies?

Or should I just charge the darn thing and sit around in my underwear playing with it? (The GPS you pervs!)

I use MS Streets & Trips for route planning. Does that website conversion thingy really work? Should I learn to do that first?

See, I told you it's my first!

 

[Barabus]

Try the Zumo 550 forum

Clicky

 

[Lake Powell]

Overall the zumo is very nice!

I made a bracket to hold the unit to the upper triple clamp but could have probably purchased one just as easily.

I got the XM antenna and have the service to listen while riding. I also got a 4GB SD card and have it about half full from my friends music collection.

One issue, the zumo will only play mp3 formatted music from the SD card, much of my music was imported to Itunes and is under a AAC type format that is not compatiple.

The other issue is that with regular ear bugs and my helmet, the music volume is not loud enough, despite being at 100%.

I have ordered a head set and mic set specifically intended for the zumo, a mic to take advantage of the bluetooth, and will let you know how it goes.

I'm kind of fearing the volume will not be load enough and have ordered an amplifier as well.

30 years of flying airplanes, I've lost a little hearing.

 

[user 3870]

I haven't had any luck converting a MS Streets route to a MapSource route. I always end up with just one way point. Maybe I am doing something wrong.

 

[Jim15288]

I haven't had any luck converting a MS Streets route to a MapSource route. I always end up with just one way point. Maybe I am doing something wrong.

The conversion is not a problem is you use the POI converter found here (Clicky) It is a great little utility that will save much time and effort and works with TomTom, Garmin etc. In addition to the Zumo forum (Clicky), you may also enjoy POI Factory (Clicky) for many points of interest that can be used on your new Zumo. Enjoy

 

[Leghorn]

Jeff, my 550 may arrive on the same day! As another complete newbie, I will follow this topic chain with keen interest. Thanks for posting the question!

 

[HaulinAshe]

Thank you all for the wonderful suggestions. The new bookmarks are in and the SD card is being loaded.

 

[Knifemaker]

.....The other issue is that with regular ear bugs and my helmet, the music volume is not loud enough, despite being at 100%...

When you say regular ear bugs, you mean like the ones you get with an IPOD?, you should try out a set of the smaller in the ear type headsets that also mute outside noise like the Etyomic ? ER6i's. Even with bad hearing I can hear the XM quite well at 80%.

I found these and the Scala Rider headset to do the job well.

KM

 

[Coyote]

Your 550 came with a car mount. I suggest you use in your car to get used to it. It's pretty fun to use and safer in cage. I know I would have been really distracted doing an intro on my bike. :blink:

BTW .... Haven't mounted it on the bike yet, so I'll be watching this thread also. B)

 

[Lake Powell]

.....The other issue is that with regular ear bugs and my helmet, the music volume is not loud enough, despite being at 100%...

When you say regular ear bugs, you mean like the ones you get with an IPOD?, you should try out a set of the smaller in the ear type headsets that also mute outside noise like the Etyomic ? ER6i's. Even with bad hearing I can hear the XM quite well at 80%.

I found these and the Scala Rider headset to do the job well.

KM

Ya, I was using the ones that came with my Ipod and also tried some made by Sony that worked a little better, but still not load enough to be heard well above 60 or so mph. I've never heard of the Etyomic but will look it up.

I have a EdSets unit on it's way (made just for the zumo) that has a mic as well for the bluetooth and I'm hoping that will up the volume. I also have a small amp coming for it as well that has a remote volume control, so I'm hoping it will all go together well.

Thanks for the info KM!

 

[Knifemaker]

[ I've never heard of the Etyomic but will look it up.

https://tinyurl.com/yno7xh

KM

 

[S76]

The Zumo comes with Mapsource for your PC. A hellish program to me, but I have no prior experience either. If you know Maps and Streets I'm told it's not too bad. The Mapsource program it comes with won't connect to the Zumo to up or download routes until you first get the latest Mapsource web update from their site. Then it will work. I thought that odd. The Zumo software is now at 3.20 and you will need to get that also through Web Updater, supplied with the Zumo.

I just added Nav Traffic to the XM subscritpion for $3. My area is not covered, but, Nav Traffic comes with a weather service to give instant weather were you are or any city in the US. You get today's, 5 day forcast, and a doppler image. Great for long distant travel.

You can Blue Tooth to most phones, hear MP3, XM, Audio Books etc. Great to while away the hours on LD rides. At the end of the day just request nearby hotels. You get a list with phone numbers, and with one touch call to check rates and availability, and then navigate to them. I thought that was very good. Of course it also has all the normal PIO's, gas, hotel, resturant etc. The fuel gage function is not to necessary, but if you set it up to coincide with your bikes mileage it will prompt you at a certain amount of miles and with a touch of the screen route you to the nearest gas station. Awesome. I wired mine to switched power. But if you turn the key on to get in the glove box and then off again it will leave the Zumo running. On a normal shut down it will turn itself off in 30 seconds. If you are interfacing with a Autocom intercom you need a special cable if you want the phone to work. The cable is made of unobtainium and cost $83.

Oh yeah, it navigates too.

I mounted mine on the steering stem with the new nut and ball obtained from ????? Good location, does not interfear with a tank bag or the instruments and is symetrical on the bike. A big deal to me.

I think it is an awesome piece of equipment, but have no experience with any other GPS so take it for what it's worth.

Have fun but be advised it is a major distraction while driving.

 

[HIGHLANDER]

The other issue is that with regular ear bugs and my helmet, the music volume is not loud enough, despite being at 100%.
I

You do know there is two volume controls on the Zumo ? One is in the meno, the other a hard button on the left side of the unit .

 

[daddysbike]

I love my Zumo, its also my first GPS. I use the short techmount to mount on steering head stem (replaces nut). When your riding and look at it, its right below tach/speed and looks great!

Also make sure to upgrade your mapsource or you computer won't be able to communicate to Zumo via usb. To do so:

Go to www.garmin.com

select "support"

select "updates & downloads"

select "mapping programs"

select "mapsource"

this will upgrade you to version 6.12.2 which will allow it to send stuff to the Zumo.

(note you're not upgrading City Navigator NT, but the software on you computer that runs the DVD map).

good luck

 

[FJR_pig]

I love my Zumo, its also my first GPS. I use the short techmount to mount on steering head stem (replaces nut). When your riding and look at it, its right below tach/speed and looks great!

Got a pic? I am GPS-less and was thinking of taking the plunge prior to the ride to P.C. This Zumo seems to be pretty popular all of a sudden.

 

[FJR Gary]

Got a pic? I am GPS-less and was thinking of taking the plunge prior to the ride to P.C. This Zumo seems to be pretty popular all of a sudden.

Here's a pic of my Street Pilot 2720 mounted on a TechMount stem stand. It is the 3.5" stem. They also have a model with a 1.5" stem

 

[tstaff]

Spunkmyer's Zumo on Techmount

post # 10

 

[Bike Effects]

Got a pic? I am GPS-less and was thinking of taking the plunge prior to the ride to P.C. This Zumo seems to be pretty popular all of a sudden.

Here's a pic of my Street Pilot 2720 mounted on a TechMount stem stand. It is the 3.5" stem. They also have a model with a 1.5" stem

TechMounts at SportbikeEffects

Don't forget about the forum discount. See link below. Oh, one more thing, the stem lengths on the TechMount are now 3.5" or 2.0". The lengthened the short one a little and made it more stout.