Anyone had success loading a custom POI file to Kenwood Navi

[murcod]

Has anyone tried or succeeded in loading a custom POI file onto the Kenwood navi head unit? Mine's an Aussie spec DNX7360BT, but I'd imagine the US spec head unit would be much the same.

The manual explains a brief "how to"- load them onto an SD card using the Garmin POI loader software http://www.garmin.com/us/maps/poiloader . The POI loader software just seems to convert the files into the Garmin .gpi format. Put this file into a folder titled POI using the file structure Garmin/POI on the SD card and it's supposed to load. Mine starts going through the load process, but then returns an error. The files I'm loading are already in the .gpi format so I haven't been using the POI loader software (it refuses to recognise the already converted files and only works with .gpx or .csv files - from memory??)

PS: The reason I'm attempting to do this is to load speed/ "safety" camera locations onto the GPS software. So it gives warnings when coming up to them. It should be something that was standard with the GPS software, but apparently it wasn't.

[murcod]

Here's a bit more I just found from the Garmin site:
http://www.garmin.com/us/maps/poiloader ... oi_sources

Custom POI Sources

With the help of Garmin's free POI Loader software, you can upload additional, custom points of interest (POI) to your compatible Garmin device*. Below are links to several free and subscription-based services on the Internet that provide these custom POIs.

Garmin’s POI loader converts GPX and CSV files to a proprietary Garmin format (GPI), which is compatible with your Garmin device. Many of the custom POI sources listed below provide points of interest saved in the above file formats or offer POIs that can be converted to POI Loader formats. Please contact the companies below for further information on how to use their POIs with your Garmin unit.

Question: Can I add POIs to my Kenwood device?

Answer:Points of Interest (POIs) are already included in the maps on your Kenwood device, but additional POIs can also be installed using a program called POI Loader. You may install custom POIs you've made yourself or collections you've downloaded from a website or received from another user. To use custom POIs with a Kenwood device, you will need either an SD Card or a USB stick.

Download, install, and run the free POI Loader program at http://www.garmin.com/poiloader
Select Garmin device
Select the SD card or USB stick from the drop-down list
The SD card will need to be inserted into a card reader or a built-in SD card slot
Click Next
Select Install new custom POI's onto your device
Click Next
Select the folder that contains the POI data using the Browse button
Name the folder POI
Confirm the units of measurement and whether you want to use Express or Manual mode
Click Next

The files will then be installed to the SD card or USB flash drive.

To install the custom POIs from the SD card or flash drive to your Kenwood device:

Ensure that the Kenwood device is on one of the navigation screens
Insert the SD card or USB stick into the Kenwood device
Touch Yes to confirm that you want to copy the POIs to the Kenwood device
Touch OK when notified that the installation is complete

The custom POIs will now be installed to the Kenwood device.
Last modified on: 05/08/2012

I might retry it tomorrow noting this part Ensure that the Kenwood device is on one of the navigation screens - although it did go to the following step and attempted copying them after selecting "Yes".

A pdf guide (UK based, but info still relevant) http://www.kenwood-electronics.co.uk/We ... 3-3-11.pdf

[~tc~]

I just bought the updated maps on a micro SD from Garmin.

[krell]

Can I add POIs to my 2013 nav.

[murcod]

I just bought the updated maps on a micro SD from Garmin.

Have they got safety camera / speed camera sites included with warnings? That's what I'm trying to add.

(In Australia you can get an add on pack http://www.garmin.com/au/extras/garmin-safety-cameras/ )

I've found the GPS side of things very lacking in features compared to something like Sygic on my phone.

[murcod]

Can I add POIs to my 2013 nav.

I'm assuming that is the newer style head unit (unbranded) - not a Kenwood?

If it's running Garmin software - and I think they do - then yes. Does it have a removable memory card like the Kenwood?

[murcod]

Okay, adding them via the SD card with the head unit in the GPS screen "Where to"/ "View Map" apparently worked. I say apparently, because I haven't been for a drive and viewing the map (where I know there are traffic light safety cameras) didn't show anything up.

But the head unit indicated I had successfully copied the POI data to the internal memory.....

[SamirD]

One of the things that makes a huge difference when sdcards/usb flash drives are involved is the type and size of the card/drive. My recommendation would be to use a card/drive <2gb formatted to FAT16. This eliminates any FAT32 issues.

[murcod]

One of the Kenwood procedures says to make sure you use FAT32. That's what I've been using and works in mine.

[SamirD]

One of the Kenwood procedures says to make sure you use FAT32. That's what I've been using and works in mine.

Interesting that they specify that. It's probably because they don't want you using NTFS or some sort of *nix partition. I'm sure FAT16 would work fine too.