Garmin Camper890 not recognised by Mac computer

[Tonybvi]

I have been struggling to download my custom poi files onto my new Garmin Camper890 satnav from my iMac. It seems that, as per Garmin support, because the satnav is an Android device it will not be recognised by the Mac, although it does connect to Garmin Express. This means that when I try to use Garmin poi loader to transfer the files the Camper is not offered as an option for transferring the data to!
I have installed Android File Transfer software on the Mac but as far as I can work out this simply enables me to open and view the files already on the Camper890 but doesn’t allow me to transfer files to the Camper.
So not only is this a warning to those with Macs who are thinking of getting a new Garmin satnav but an appeal for help from anybody who has succeeded in transferring poi data from their Mac to a new Android Garmin - how did you do it please? I reckon my only option after waiting for Garmin support to get back to me is to buy a cheap Windows pc so I can use the much loved Garmin poiloader software which worked perfectly on the Mac for my old 760 satnav.

 

[Nabsim]

I have been struggling to download my custom poi files onto my new Garmin Camper890 satnav from my iMac. It seems that, as per Garmin support, because the satnav is an Android device it will not be recognised by the Mac, although it does connect to Garmin Express. This means that when I try to use Garmin poi loader to transfer the files the Camper is not offered as an option for transferring the data to!
I have installed Android File Transfer software on the Mac but as far as I can work out this simply enables me to open and view the files already on the Camper890 but doesn’t allow me to transfer files to the Camper.
So not only is this a warning to those with Macs who are thinking of getting a new Garmin satnav but an appeal for help from anybody who has succeeded in transferring poi data from their Mac to a new Android Garmin - how did you do it please? I reckon my only option after waiting for Garmin support to get back to me is to buy a cheap Windows pc so I can use the much loved Garmin poiloader software which worked perfectly on the Mac for my old 760 satnav.

My Aguri sat Nav runs on Android and I am almost sure I connected that through my MacBook at some point. I know I have recently though as I just connect satnav to wifi and do any updates that way. Does the Garmin let you use wifi?

 

[trevskoda]

Satnavs are the same on linux, you have to run them through a program called wine, very very slow, I now just use maps me on my phone if I get lost.

 

[Tonybvi]

My Aguri sat Nav runs on Android and I am almost sure I connected that through my MacBook at some point. I know I have recently though as I just connect satnav to wifi and do any updates that way. Does the Garmin let you use wifi?

Yes it does all the standard updates automatically via wifi straight from Garmin but I’m not sure if it can be used to transfer my own poi’s (eg Wildcamping), or if it does I haven’t worked out how to do it yet!!

 

[Nabsim]

Yes it does all the standard updates automatically via wifi straight from Garmin but I’m not sure if it can be used to transfer my own poi’s (eg Wildcamping), or if it does I haven’t worked out how to do it yet!!

I put them on the Aguri, that’s probably the time I connected to the MacBook. I seem to think I downloaded the poi file onto the Mac then drag and dropped. Once on the device I could add/open the file to install. It’s a few years ago so a bit hazy but I found out how in the poi faq bits

 

[Nabsim]

I suppose you could open a web browser from the sat Nav then log in to here and download directly as well

 

[DTF]

Ia this of any help.

Automotive Device Compatibility with Garmin Mac Applications on macOS | Camper 890 | Garmin Support

Garmin Support Center United Kingdom is where you will find answers to frequently asked questions and resources to help with all of your Garmin products.

support.garmin.com

It seems to suggest that you must ensure that garmin express or any other garmin application is not running for the poi loader to see the satnav.

 

[Tonybvi]

Ia this of any help.

Automotive Device Compatibility with Garmin Mac Applications on macOS | Camper 890 | Garmin Support

Garmin Support Center United Kingdom is where you will find answers to frequently asked questions and resources to help with all of your Garmin products.

support.garmin.com

It seems to suggest that you must ensure that garmin express or any other garmin application is not running for the poi loader to see the satnav.

I’d already come across that on the Garmin support site (pity I didn’t see it before I bought the 890!) so I closed all other applications but it still doesn’t see the Garmin. The problem is that the sat nav is not recognised by the Mac even when all other applications are closed. Thus when I open the poi loader although I can identify the source files on the Mac the next step only sees the Mac as a device to export to.

 

[Tonybvi]

I suppose you could open a web browser from the sat Nav then log in to here and download directly as well

Trouble is my custom poi file contains far more poi’s than just the Wildcamping ones, so yes I could try it to get WC spots downloaded but I still need to find a way to get all my own poi’s transferred!

 

[Nabsim]

Trouble is my custom poi file contains far more poi’s than just the Wildcamping ones, so yes I could try it to get WC spots downloaded but I still need to find a way to get all my own poi’s transferred!

On mine it gave a separate set for the WC poi set, think it showed as a subset, the Aguri comes loaded with lots of different poi sets and it didn’t over write anything else.

 

[Wooie1958]

I`m sorry i can`t be of any help with this Tony, i know absolutely nothing about MAC / Apple computers and phones

I`ll watch this thread with interest though and i`m sure you`ll post the correct procedure ( if you find one ) because other members will benefit from it

P.S.

Have you un-installed and re-installed the latest Garmin POI Loader for MAC from the garmin.com website ?

Garmin: POI Loader for Mac Updates & Downloads

POI Loader for Mac Updates & Downloads

www8.garmin.com

 

[Tonybvi]

On mine it gave a separate set for the WC poi set, think it showed as a subset, the Aguri comes loaded with lots of different poi sets and it didn’t over write anything else.

The issue is that as far as I understand the ONLY way to upload any custom poi’s to a Garmin device is to use their Garmin POI loader application which processes the files and uploads a file called poi.gpi to the device. I have this application on my Mac and can easily locate my custom poi file which it requires. The next step in the application is to choose where you want the files uploaded to. With my old 760 the Mac recognised the satnav and listed it as an external drive so you simply selected this drive and the files were processed and transferred. Because the Mac does not recognise a Garmin Android device, confirmed by Garmin support, there is no option to select the external drive for uploading files!

 

[Tonybvi]

I`m sorry i can`t be of any help with this Tony, i know absolutely nothing about MAC / Apple computers and phones

I`ll watch this thread with interest though and i`m sure you`ll post the correct procedure ( if you find one ) because other members will benefit from it

P.S.

Have you un-installed and re-installed the latest Garmin POI Loader for MAC from the garmin.com website ?

Garmin: POI Loader for Mac Updates & Downloads

POI Loader for Mac Updates & Downloads

www8.garmin.com

Thanks for your suggestion Graham. However Garmin have confirmed that a Mac will not recognise an Android device (in my case 890) so that the Garmin POI loader, which I have completely uninstalled then reinstalled, will not recognise the satnav as a destination drive for the files!
I am waiting for Garmin support to get back to me (via email because I haven’t the time to spend hours on the phone with them!) to tell me how to transfer the files but as you know they are notoriously slow in responding.
Once or if I find a way of doing it I’ll report back. However I feel the urge to buy the cheapest windows (10 or above) laptop I can find. My fault for being Mac based I suppose.

 

[xsilvergs]

I have been struggling to download my custom poi files onto my new Garmin Camper890 satnav from my iMac. It seems that, as per Garmin support, because the satnav is an Android device it will not be recognised by the Mac, although it does connect to Garmin Express. This means that when I try to use Garmin poi loader to transfer the files the Camper is not offered as an option for transferring the data to!
I have installed Android File Transfer software on the Mac but as far as I can work out this simply enables me to open and view the files already on the Camper890 but doesn’t allow me to transfer files to the Camper.
So not only is this a warning to those with Macs who are thinking of getting a new Garmin satnav but an appeal for help from anybody who has succeeded in transferring poi data from their Mac to a new Android Garmin - how did you do it please? I reckon my only option after waiting for Garmin support to get back to me is to buy a cheap Windows pc so I can use the much loved Garmin poiloader software which worked perfectly on the Mac for my old 760 satnav.

I see there is a POI loader in the Google Play Store (do you have an Android phone)?

 

[Nabsim]

The issue is that as far as I understand the ONLY way to upload any custom poi’s to a Garmin device is to use their Garmin POI loader application which processes the files and uploads a file called poi.gpi to the device. I have this application on my Mac and can easily locate my custom poi file which it requires. The next step in the application is to choose where you want the files uploaded to. With my old 760 the Mac recognised the satnav and listed it as an external drive so you simply selected this drive and the files were processed and transferred. Because the Mac does not recognise a Garmin Android device, confirmed by Garmin support, there is no option to select the external drive for uploading files!

Yes I think I originally just drag/dropped the file. Weird Garmin have moved away from what they had excluding Mac users. Hope you get a timely response and get sorted

 

[Tonybvi]

I see there is a POI loader in the Google Play Store (do you have an Android phone)?

Unfortunately no Android kit at all here, for our sins we are 100% Apple based! That is until I have to buy a cheap laptop just to download onto Garmin - unless their support can change their view and work out a way to download from Mac (some hope!)

 

[xsilvergs]

Unfortunately no Android kit at all here, for our sins we are 100% Apple based! That is until I have to buy a cheap laptop just to download onto Garmin - unless their support can change their view and work out a way to download from Mac (some hope!)

No Android, that's a pity!

When the Garmin is connected to the Mac does it not go it not go into file transfer mode making the POI folder visible? Having never used a Mac and only ever having one iPad in our household I'm no expert, just trying to gain knowledge.

 

[Tonybvi]

Unfortunately not - see attached screenshot from Garmin below. So you can access the Garmin internal files using the Android File Transfer app on the iMac and simply view or copy/paste the Garmin files to the Mac (but why would you want to) but because the Mac does not recognise the sat nav as an attached drive, and Garmin POI loader requires a source destination which the Mac can’t see, then you cannot use POI loader. I expect with trial and error I could simply transfer the custom poi files to the sat nav but they will not be in the correct format! POI loader processes all the custom poi files (eg .csv .bmp) into a .gpi format required for Garmin. So unless Garmin POI loader can see the sat nav, which it can’t from a Mac, the files cannot be transferred!!

 

[Tonybvi]

Got so carried away I forgot to attach the screenshot to my post#18 above!

 

[sinner]

Put on a stick, go visit a friend with windows pc... boom job done ;-)