Garmin Nuvi 200 Track Hack

Wednesday, March 19th, 2008 at 10:30 pm by Marc Forrest

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After having the Garmin Nuvi 200 for a while now, I have come across a really handy feature. The feature allows you track your routes on your Garmin Nuvi 200. This is a hidden feature, so it is still relatively unknown.

YOU NEED TO ENSURE YOU HAVE FIRMWARE VERSION 3.40 OTHERWISE THIS WON’T WORK. To check what firmware version you have, do the following: Menu->Settings->System->About. Here it will show you the version number. If the version number is not 3.40 this will not work. If you need to roll back to version 3.40 to enable track logs, download the firmware HERE

To get to the track feature on the Garmin Nuvi 200, do the following:

Select a destination you want to drive to.
On your view map screen, press the Arrival time button in the bottom left corner
This will bring you to the Speedometer Screen. Once in this scree, press and hold the screen for 8-10 seconds over the speedometer.
This will bring you into the Garmin Diagnostic Menu. DO NOT change anything here. Click the Next button at the bottom.
At the next screen, you will see the “Logging Control” screen. Press “START RECORDING” to start recording your track
Once you have completed the trip, press the STOP button on the main map screen.
Connect your Garmin Nuvi 200 up to your computer via a USB cable.
Go to the Garmin Nuvi 200 drive, and browse to the X:\Garmin\Logs (Where X:\ is the disk drive of the Garmin)
Go into the latest created folder, and download the gps.bin file.
Download Nutrak from this site. Extract the contents of the zip file to a folder on your Computer
Go to the command prompt (Start-> Run-> “cmd”) and go to the folder where you extracted Nutrak.
In the command prompt type “nutrak.exe gps.bin”. This will create a .gpx file.
Open Google Earth
In Google Earth, click File, Open and browse to the .gpx file that was created.
You will now be able to see where you have driven in the track you have created.

This is an example of a track I created.

If you would like anymore info go to this GpsPasSionForums post, and there is some more info on this great feature

Tags: hack, nuvi

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1,393 Comments

Roberto on March 23rd, 2008, 1:06 am

I just bought a Nuvi 200 (fw 3.80). I just follow the instructions, but the firmware doesn’t downgrade. The GUPDATE.GCD file is transfer, bus the gps doesn’t do anything with it. In current version, it stil reporting 3.80.

What could be wrong?.

Roberto

Marc Forrest on March 24th, 2008, 2:04 pm

Hi Roberto,
Try and put the 3.40 exe in a new folder on your PC, and then try and install it again. Worked first time on mine.
Cheers
Marc

relin on March 25th, 2008, 3:02 pm

Hi…Its a excellent work, I have tried with my nuvi, and now I become addicted, anywhere I go, I record my track (sorry with my english)

Craig on April 16th, 2008, 9:46 am

I though ‘all’ satnavs could record journeys, how naive of me. The reason I bought mine was two fold.
1. Driving.
2. Photo tagging.

I was somewhat disappointed when I found out it could not record journeys. I’ve downgraded the firmware and all is good now. I’m going to write to Garmin and ask them to make it a feature, silly that they don’t.

Thanks for the great info here.

Craig.

Theo N on May 14th, 2008, 8:44 pm

Hi guys, Will this work with the Nuvi200W ? – The firmware versions are different to the Nuvi200…

Blake on June 26th, 2008, 6:23 am

Marc,

Instructions for the Garmin Nuvi 200 firmware version 4.10

map/arrival-time/speedometer (several seconds)
Brings up diagnostics
Click NEXT 4 times – brings up “Message Banners”
click down arrow to start the recorder

Not sure how to stop the recorder

The up arrow seems to do a firmware something or other

alex angeles on July 7th, 2008, 5:23 am

is there a mac version for this track hack??

thanks a lot

Paul on July 12th, 2008, 2:17 pm

Hy,

I have a garmin nuvi 250W with FIRMWARE VERSION 3.40 .
I press and hold the speedometer for 8-10 seconds.
Then i come in Garmin Diagnostic Menu.
Then i press next but i can NOT come in the “Logging Control” screen.
What could be wrong?.

(sorry with my english)

Paul.

carlos perez on August 2nd, 2008, 3:51 am

I have a nuvi 200 with 4.10 firmware, how can i down gradeit to the 3.4? so i can use the record feature , please help
thanks

carlos

warren on August 7th, 2008, 3:34 pm

thankyou for the update

Laurence on September 5th, 2008, 10:03 am

I have a nuvi 200 with 4.10 firmware, how can i down gradeit to the 3.4? so i can use the record feature , please help
thanks

carlos

- follow the instructions in Blake’s post. Thanks Blake!

alexandre on September 18th, 2008, 4:19 pm

MARC FORREST

What could be wrong?.

Alexandre
brazil

alexandre on September 19th, 2008, 9:32 pm

i bougth a new gps model nuvi 200, and i need do downgrade of fw 3.4, because this a new model and it came with fw 4.0. So, what i have to do to get make downgrade by fm 3.4. Can i have some help please. thanks

alexandre on September 19th, 2008, 9:32 pm

my msn, for someone help me
alexandre_g_dias@hotmail.com
i’m brazilian.
Thanks

THI on November 14th, 2008, 3:57 pm

I have went into the diagnostics setup without any software changes. Work 100%

Dave on November 17th, 2008, 2:51 pm

Garmin Nuvi 200’s now coming out with a more user friendly (My opinion) interface. Additional feature like “Where am I” displays current coordinates including elevation. How can I upgrade my interface to the new look? Is this even possible without having to purchase a new one? Thanks for the updates – I found this site very useful.

Troy on December 25th, 2008, 7:45 pm

Marc,

Instructions for the Garmin Nuvi 200 firmware version 4.10

map/arrival-time/speedometer (several seconds)
Brings up diagnostics
Click NEXT 4 times – brings up “Message Banners”
click down arrow to start the recorder

Not sure how to stop the recorder

The up arrow seems to do a firmware something or other

This works but don’t know how to stop it. Anyone know?

corey bryant on April 14th, 2009, 6:15 am

i turn mine off to stop the recorder.. 4.something… im curious about the last post on the where am i thing on the new nuvis. i just bought mine and i dont think it has that gui…

david on April 20th, 2009, 4:45 am

With firmward 4.10, it is just COINCIDENCE that pressing Next brings up the (defunct) message banner “A new log is now recording”. No logging actually starts.

AC on May 21st, 2009, 3:40 pm