Guest [Login] McAfee Secure sites help keep you safe from identity theft, credit card fraud, spyware, spam, viruses and online scams

SnowRanger and GPS Smartphones

This technical document only serves customers who ALREADY OWN Garmin Mobile XT as it is no longer available for purchase from Garmin.

SnowRanger on GPS phone

SnowRanger GPS ski resort trail (piste) maps can now be loaded onto GPS-enabled smartphones from Samsung, Nokia, Motorola, Palm, HTC and a host of others that run the Windows Mobile, Symbian or Palm* operating systems.

This software effectively turns your phone into a fully functional Garmin navigator (including detailed street maps), with no monthly service fees, and offers features such as real-time traffic avoidance and nearby gas prices. SnowRanger maps then load into XT much like they do on a Garmin nüvi.

Our new turn-by-turn directions feature is supported and you can even record your activities during the day and upload the resulting track to our Snow Days stats and tracks service!

* Windows Mobile and Symbian support has been widely tested. PalmOS support is being currently tested. Garmin Mobile XT is not available for the Apple iPhone. SnowRanger is not compatible with the Blackberry version of Mobile XT.

Installing SnowRanger North America or Europe with Garmin Mobile XT

  1. Install Garmin Mobile XT on your phone. Follow Garmin's instructions to install XT, and ensure that it is working with your GPS as a street navigator before proceeding to the next step.
  2. Find your Unit ID or Unlock ESN
    SnowRanger on GPS phone Go the main menu in Mobile XT and choose Settings on Menu button.
    SnowRanger on GPS phone Select About (may need to page down)
    SnowRanger on GPS phone Note down the Unlock ESN or Unit ID shown.
  3. Purchase a SnowRanger Europe or North America for Garmin set.
    Choose the set you wish to buy, then Buy Now. Select the instant download version for Garmin GPS and complete your purchase.
  4. Download your Maps.
    Go to your My Page. Your purchase will appear in My Downloadable Resorts & Maps.
    • Click on Download.
    • On the next page (SnowRanger for Garmin Download), click the link I have Garmin Mobile XT at the bottom of the page.
    • The SnowRanger for Garmin Download page is shown again.
    • Enter your ESN or Unit ID.
    • Download your maps.
  5. Copy the SnowRanger map file to the XT memory card
    You will need to do able to access the XT memory card from your PC. Either insert it into a card reader, or connect your phone to the PC so that the phone and the memory card appear as drive letters (for example F:). Consult your phone's manual if necessary. Then:
    • The download we create for you is a ZIP file containing two files called GMAPSUP2.IMG and GMAPSUP2.UNL
    • Open the ZIP, select the two files, right-click on them, and choose Copy
    • Right-click on My Computer or Computer and choose Explore
    • Find the "removable drive" that corresponds to your memory card and double-click on it, then double-click on the Garmin folder to open it.
    • With the mouse somewhere in the right hand side showing the files in the Garmin folder, right-click and choose Paste
    • If your computer warns you that you about to overwrite an existing file say no and contact us for assistance. You must not overwrite any existing files on this memory card.
    • This should have copied the two files to the Garmin folder on your XT memory card.
  6. Confirm SnowRanger is loaded on phone.
    SnowRanger on GPS phone Go the main menu in Mobile XT and choose Tools on Menu button.
    SnowRanger on GPS phone Select Manage My Data
    SnowRanger on GPS phone Select Map Sets
    SnowRanger on GPS phone Press MapSource

    Your SnowRanger map set should be listed. If it is not, please review the above steps carefully to check that you followed them precisely.
    SnowRanger on GPS phone The SnowRanger item should have a check (tick) in the box next to it, indicating that it should be shown. However, XT's own street maps (usually City Navigator) may hide SnowRanger or make the maps confusing. You may wish to remove the check in the box next to City Navigator when you do not need the street maps.
  7. View the maps before you travel (optional, but recommended)
    SnowRanger on GPS phone When you are on or near the resort area, searches are easy and obvious. You can do searches before you travel though, just by changing the location you search "from".
    From the main Mobile XT choose Where To to get this screen, and press the Near button.
    SnowRanger on GPS phone Press Near Other
    SnowRanger on GPS phone Select Spell City
    SnowRanger on GPS phone Enter the name of a major city within 100mi/150km of your map area. For example: Denver, Reno, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Boston, Grenoble, Innsbruck, Torino or Geneva.
    SnowRanger on GPS phone After typing enough characters you should automatically be shown the matching city.
    SnowRanger on GPS phone Select the city. You will be taken back to the main Where To page but the heading should now show that you are searching near to your city.

    Go down to the Recreation category.
    SnowRanger on GPS phone Choose Skiing Center/Resort
    SnowRanger on GPS phone SnowRanger resorts in your set should be shown.

    Select one of them.
    SnowRanger on GPS phone Do not press Go! since you want to view the map for this resort.

    Instead, press Menu then select View on Map.
    SnowRanger on GPS phone Explore the SnowRanger map!
    SnowRanger on GPS phone Instead of doing this Where To search, you also can browse the map manually by choosing Browse Map on the Tools page.


Once you are at or near the mountains, using the maps is, of course, as simple as starting XT on your phone, and, if necessary, turning off the City Navigator maps.

 
Mountain Dynamics Inc. is not affiliated with some of the ski resorts mentioned herein.
SnowRanger and SnowRanger Uplink are trademarks of Mountain Dynamics Inc.
Trusted SSL Certificate