TourGuide Help
GPI files
Garmin uses a file with a .GPI extension for custom Points of Interest (POIs) on their GPS receivers. POIs can include museums, historical sites, restaurants, hotels, post offices, emergency services, entertainment, plus much more, and are represented by small icons on the maps displayed on your unit. Most Garmin automobile devices come pre-loaded with maps and large numbers of these POIs.
Garmin has also included the ability to create a special type of POI called a Garmin TourGuide™. This site was created for the community to create and share these special POIs. The TourGuide files on this site include a waypoint with an associated MP3 file (sometimes with an embedded picture as well). They are also set up with a proximity alert so the file will start to play when you are near the POI. Garmin TourGuide POIs are currently compatible with the nüvi™, zūmo™, and the StreetPilot® c550, 2730, 2820, 7200 and 7500.
This site contains TourGuide files in the .GPI file format with relevant audio included, many times from experts and local people. These files cover historical monuments, famous places, and many more areas of interest from all over the world.
Download and Save
First download a TourGuide .gpi file from the Share Files page HERE or create a Custom Tour HERE. Save the file to your computer.
Next you need to save the .gpi file to your Garmin/POI/ folder on your GPS receiver.
1) Attach your Garmin receiver, usually via USB or a Garmin serial cable. Your receiver should show a drive on your computer with a single Garmin folder in it. (NOTE: You may have to enable USB mode for some GPS devices)
Inside the Garmin folder you should see a POI folder. This folder may already contain a poi.gpi file.
2) Copy your recently downloaded file to the POI folder. The new POI file does NOT have to be named poi.gpi to work. IF YOU REPLACE YOUR EXISTING POI.GPI FILE ANY OTHER CUSTOM POIs ON YOUR DEVICE COULD BE ERASED!
Test Your TourGuide File
Once you have downloaded your gpi file and saved it to your GPS device go HERE for more instructions on testing your TourGuide file.
Let us know your experience and tips you may have for using these TourGuide files. Go to our forums HERE.
Directional control of POI triggers?
This is probably asking a lot from a new technology, but I'm wondering if there's any way for a POI trigger to detect the direction from which the user is approaching the POI? It would be useful, for example, for an audio file to refer to a POI as being on "the left side" of the road if it were appropriate, i.e. traveling in one direction, or "the right side" if approaching from the opposite direction.
I'm guessing that this isn't feasible at this point?
Jim
Great question!
I've actually seen this as a question for speed cameras or red light cameras where a camera only existed in one direction. Unfortunately the speed and proximity alerts in Garmin Devices are set based on omnidirectional distance (coming from any angle) or a set speed from any direction and there isn't a way to set an alert based on directional approach.
The device should be able to support this given it's ability to determine direction of travel, however I believe the limitation is currently with POI software limitations not so much on the hardware platform.
There is a way to do
There is a way to do directional triggers. All you have to do is limit the proximity distance and place the location on one side of the road so that the tourguide will only start playing when traveling in a certain lane. This is easier to do when traveling on a larger divided highway, but could work on a smaller road as well.
Traveling VIA motorcycle?
I'm wanting to input to my Zumo 550 all the motorcycle shops for my trip west from Chicago how do I get them on POI?
POI Playback -testing
Hi, Can anyone help me please.
I have just bought a NUVI 350. I have loaded POI's into it. I can see them in there when i go to "My Locations">"Custom POi's. They wont play though.
I get a message saying "No matches Found" when i touch the individual POI.
If anyone can give me advice i would appreciate it....Thanks.
totaltravelshop@optusnet.com.au
P.S i am in Australia and of course my NUvi is a USA and Europe GPS...This shouldnt matter for playback and testing should it????
The simplest test is to hit
The simplest test is to hit the speaker icon when you are in custom POIs folder and click on a certain TourGuide files. If it isn't working I would connect your nuvi to the computer to see what is in your garmin/poi folder. If the TourGuide file is there (ie prague.gpi) then you delete it and save new one from your computer. Something might have been screwed up when you installed it. Once you save it there again try again in the custom POI folder and select the file.
Does it not work for all your custom POIs, just the TourGuide files or just some of the TourGuide files? Might help to trouble shoot the issue.
It should play when you click on the speaker icon no matter where you are located (Australia or Prague or wherever).
CD information needed
I wondered if you got my question regarding the CD and what was on it. I'm not a genius with my new lap top and am learning so I assume I am not doing something to pick up the info recorded. I would like to make use of the info when possible. I drive a bus and a charter bus that goes everywhere so the GPS will come in handy.
Making Custom Tourguide files
I have read every thing on this site about greating a custom tourguide file but cann't find the one that shows in detail how to make file.
The video on making a file using tourguide, that uses the premade tours shows good detail on making a file.
Why isn't a video like that aviable to create a custom tourguide file in detail using my poi's ?
question?
I am planning a trip from Columbus, GA to Rochester, NY. Is there a way to program my Garmin so that I can avoid cities such as Cincinnati, Ohio?
playback of gpi
Hello,
I have a 200W and have installed a POI, first on an SD card and then in a X:/garmin/poi folder I created in the 200W's memory. The same POI shows up twice under extras/custom POIs and I can simulate navigation to it. However, I hear no sound/music and see no picture when arriving. Also, I do not see a speaker icon when accessing the POI. Is it that the 200W does not do sounds or is it me?
Thanks