I will summarize my experience buying a
Garmin Etrex 32x GPS with HWID 3445 a week ago.
This model seems an evolution of the Etrex 30 and the Etrex 30x but with 8 GB of internal memory.
I want to mention that I have an Etrex 20 patched. I also have a Forerunner 250 and a Fenix 3 without patching and I have some experience in the field although I am not a specialist.
Another curious fact is that the 32x version is 50 euros cheaper than the old 30x that only has 4 GB of internal memory instead of 8 GB. Why?
The first thing that caught my attention is that it only supports tracks in the internal memory and not on the SD card. This aspect was confirmed by
Garmin.
What seemed strange to me is that it deletes the tracks from the SD card without requesting permission: they disappear. This can be a problem because if you load a corrupt track in the internal memory it may be that the GPS is disabled and you cannot access via USB to erase it. Should we take it to the technical service?
In theory, GPS should open CITY NAVIGATOR NT maps (not NTU) by patching them because it has MSV: Weak:
Model: eTrex 22x / 32x | HWID: 3445 | SWVS: 250 | MAP: Yes | GMA: Yes | MSV: Weak | GVS: ---.
Indeed, open those maps but their size cannot exceed 200 Mb. The same happens with free topographic maps. Occasionally, it loads larger free NT or topographic maps (400 Mb) but I don't know in what circumstances.
I always mean using the external SD card to install such maps.
The installation procedure has been with MAPINSTALL 4.0.4 (not with the latest version because it gave problems, like BaseCamp. I use v 4.6.2) in a virtual GPS (pendrive) and then copy the map image to the SD (I could have done it directly to the SD I guess).
Patch the device by copying the .gcd file on this page to the
Garmin folder of the internal memory:
It seemed that the firmware was updated, loaded and updated but, to my surprise, it returned to the original firmware. I deduce this because the GPS still did not open NTU or JNX maps and kept showing version 2.50 in “About”.
I also tested the firmware of this other forum only for JNX maps:
Copy the .gcd file back to the
Garmin folder of the unit but this time I don't even load it and I think the gps deleted it too.
I have not continued investigating because in this forum:
Firmware Kopierschutz in allen neuen
Garmin Geräten und Karten ab Markteinführung in 2014 Auf allen Geräten seit Markteinführung Januar 2014 laufen keine aktuellen unlocked und/oder keine unicode Karten (auch keine Unicode OSM Karten) und keine original unlocked Cyclops Blitzer mehr. Eine...
www.digital-eliteboard.com
He said the units as of 2019 had the firmware encrypted and could not be patched. Although in theory the Etrex 32x should be able to be an improvement of the Etrex 30x.
Maybe it would have worked using WebUpdater, or by copying the maps into the internal GPS memory as was the case with the tracks, but then what is the SD card for?
My theory is that
Garmin has modified the firmware of the new units, which is why he sells them cheaper because he hopes to recover his money with the mapping.
I am mainly interested in JNX maps because I make my own maps and that format greatly facilitates their use in
Garmin.
I don't understand why
Garmin wants to charge for using that format. It would be as if Microsoft charged for using devices formatted in NTFS and not in FAT32 (I know it's not the same, it's just an example).
I would appreciate any information from a recent buyer of an Etrex 32x regarding its patching and installation of JNX maps or City Navigator NT / NTU
For now, I find it more interesting to use a smartphone with the ORUXMAPS APK (free on its website). It allows many map formats and download them online too.
regards
Hallo nochmal:
Ich möchte meine neuen Erfahrungen kommentieren. Ich hatte die Gelegenheit, einen Etrex 30x und einen Etrex 32x zu patchen, und ich hatte kein Problem. Ich habe die Original-Firmware von Perrys Seite heruntergeladen und die beiden Programme angewendet, um JNX (UNIVERSAL FIRMWARE PACHER 380) und City Navigator NTU (IMGPATCHER 220, neueste Version Januar 2020) auf die heruntergeladene Firmware zu entsperren, unabhängig von der Reihenfolge, und alles hat funktioniert perfekt. NT-Karten müssen kein GPS entsperren, nur die Karte mit GIMGUNLOCK v.0.04.
Ich glaube, mein erstes Etrex 32x-Gerät war defekt.
Ich bin auch zu dem Schluss gekommen, dass der Etrex 32x mit einem 8-GB-internen Speicher voller
Garmin-Karten keine neuen großen Karten verarbeiten kann. Wenn Sie Ihre eigenen Karten hinzufügen möchten, müssen Sie einige von
Garmin entfernen. Ich habe auch überprüft, dass die Karten problemlos gelöscht und neu installiert werden können oder die Karten auf die microSD übertragen werden können.
Hello again:
I want to comment on my new experiences. I have had the opportunity to patch an Etrex 30x and an Etrex 32x and I have not had any problem. I downloaded the original firmware from Perry's page and applied the two programs to unlock the JNX (UNIVERSAL FIRMWARE PACHER 380) and the City Navigator NTU (IMGPATCHER 220 latest version January 2020) to the downloaded firmware, no matter the order, and everything worked perfectly. NT Maps do not need to unlock GPS, only the map with GIMGUNLOCK v.0.04.
I believe my first Etrex 32x unit was defective.
I have also concluded that the Etrex 32x having an 8 Gb internal memory full of
Garmin maps cannot handle new large maps. If you want to add your own maps you have to remove some of
Garmin. I have also verified that the maps can be deleted and reinstalled without problem or the maps can be transferred to the microSD.