Buying the Montana from the US
 

Looking to buy the Garmin Montana 600 from a US store as so far they have been much cheaper then what the UK can offer. Has anyone had any issues with regards to having to pay UK customs and excise some kind of import duty?

You can "Activate" just the map you are using. Deactivate and then activate another... Setup, Map, Select Map. Shows you what maps are known (unit & SDcard) and which are act/deact.

Cheers,
John

Have just spoken to HMRC Customs & Excise.

Basically if you want to buy the Montana from the US you will have to pay an additional 3.7% Import Duty and 20% VAT which is calculated on the total cost of the GPS, shipping and insurance. The HMRC C&E Product classification code for this is: 8526912099

Suddenly it is not such a good deal!!!:(

In addition, there might also be a Royal Mail/Parcelforce 'handling fee'.

[quote]:
If duty and/or tax is payable, Royal Mail/Parcelforce will pay this to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) on your behalf, and charge a handling fee to cover:

• operating the postal customs depot
• handling the package for customs examination
• opening, repacking and resealing the package if required
• paying the charges to HMRC on your behalf.

source: HM Revenue & Customs: Goods posted from outside the EU: tax payments, queries or refunds


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As per the other reply the Montana has no speaker and the speaker is part of the car mount.

It works however I have found it very hard to hear the directions over the top of road noise in my Landcruiser Prado.

Maybe I've missed something but there doen't appear to be anyway to increase the volume that I have found so far.

Once the unit has powered up and it's in the mount, press the power button quickly. You will hear one beep. Use the slider to adjust the volume.

RTFM :whistling:

Cheers,
John

[QUOTE=Keith1954;364830]In addition, there might also be a Royal Mail/Parcelforce 'handling fee'.

Ended up buying from a UK supplier in the end, just got it delivered this morning:thumbup1:

I guess if you know someone in the US who can buy it on your behalf and post as a non commercial package you can get around it!

Hi all

Austin posted above a very good question. Now, I am literate with computers, but am finding conflicting information.

I have not bought one yet(still have my old map76s), but am seriously considering a 650t, but I have a bit of a doubt about usability.

I really want to be able to use my software(including the maps that I have bought). That means, I want to be able to use my computer to plan my routes, add geocaches and other POIs that I have collected from elsewhere and then upload to the device.

From what I can see, UNLESS I get the CD/DVD then I canNOT use my computer to plan my routes, but they don't sell the maps in that format except Worldmap!!! ? But this is the only format that allows map updates, all the other formats require a brand new purchase, I think that stinks!!!

But then I see something about the Basecamp software, once again, it seems you cannot actually do any planning, just view it, what is the use of that or am I getting confused here, it sure feels like it. And once again, with both downloads and SD cards, no updates are available, only a repurchase, it sounds like downright thievery that you cannot get a cheaper update when that is all you need.

One of the other alternatives to the Montana is to buy the Zumo660, but it will also have the map update problem

Another alternative is to either refurbish my TomTomRider2(or buy on ebay) and at least be able to get updates regularly, on the downside of this though is coverage, nothing for Asia.

Any hints or help is appreciated, before I fork out for an expensive gadget, my trip is not for a few months, so I have some time.

Cheers
TS

Hi

Basecamp will do everything that Mapsource does, so you can use it to manage poi's, geocaches and also plan routes.

To use the maps on you device it has to be plugged in via usb or if the maps are on SD that should be inserted to your computer. Then you can use then in the same way as you do in mapsource. Any installed on your computer you can also use in the same way. (i.e. the drop down menu)

Edit...

The updates are only available on DVD/CD copies of citynavigator. The best route to this is to buy on old version of the maps for example city navigator from amazon cheap, them purchase the lifetime updates from Garmin. I don't think updates are available for all maps thou.

Hope that answers your questions?

Dan

I'm still figuring out the Montana which I just picked up, and have three questions:

1) I don't see anything on the device or in the manual about playing mp3s on it, so I guess I'm out of luck? My zumo 550 worked really well with audio directions and music.

2) It seems like there are lots of customization options--does anyone have any recommendations for good set-ups for adventure travel?

3) I'm checking out the Birdseye satellite imagery for use on the Montana in places like Mongolia, etc. looks kind of cool, but I'm wondering how practical it really is, and whether it generally works OK?

Hi and thanks, that makes me feel better, so I just need to replace mapsource with basecamp :)

A shame about the updates, but I guess I only need the European maps for this summer, and after that when I return to Oz, maybe I can sort out the city navigator thing. I have an option for the new maps for 40GBP, on top of the montana cost which will come with European topo

Cheers
TS

YAY! .. :clap:

It works! Made even better as BaseCamp is absolutely free (legally) to download .. although the downloading process did take a while (96.2 MB).

Connected my Zumo 660 - with recently purchased maps on a microSD/SD card in the device's internal slot - to my laptop PC, and after a while all the new mapping software (on the 660's microSD card) showed up on the BaseCamp programme .. all totally interactive. Excellent.

I'm very pleased. Thanks for this useful info Dan .. :thumbup1:

Cheers

KEITH

Cheers, sometimes looking in the manual realy does help lol

Hi, anyone with a Montana finding that the compas goes off by about 45 degrees when in the vehicle mount? My mount means the gps is almost vertical.

When I hold the gps 3inches from the mount, the compass is correct....

Other that, it's awesome!

Sounds to me that you may have a current running through your mount creating a magnetic field. check any electric cables that may be attached to it.