Just done a full map update. Success
Its fundamentally similar to updating the Garmin, but there is more data so downloading maps on line to the stick then uploading them to the car takes a bit longer.
To reassure those who may be a bit nervous here is what happened to a not particularly tech savvy baby boomer. Stop reading now if you're confident
I formatted a 32 gb fat 32 stick . I then inadvertently inserted the stick into the charging only socket on the car, not the data one
When I tried to download the' map download portal site ' file from the car to the stick it did not ,as you might expect, inform me there was no USB stick, but said it had exported it successfully. But the stick was empty .
When I realised my mistake it downloaded the link file to the stick which ,when inserted in a computer, takes you to the 'official' Honda download site - administered by 'Here'. It then required you to enter the car Chassis number' and map version date. I had expected the site to already know this from the link file. You also have to download and install the 'Here ' updater on your computer. Probably only for the first time you update ,much like you do with Garmin Express.
My car was registered in September 2024. The installed map version was dated 2023.06.28 . The site said I would get maps dated 2024.09.26 . In fact I got maps dated 2024.12.18 .
A couple of slight anomalies. The site said you get 5 years free updates from date of registration (or for a fee after that) But my expiry date, was 23.10.2029 . Which suggests that if you try to update maps immediately on purchase the car may not yet be registered with 'Here' for its free updates. The instructions say 22 gb free space required. Site said the update needed over 23 gb,.
As with the Garmin downloading maps to the stick can take well over an hour depending on your internet speed. The car display says uploading from stick to car takes 40 minutes. It actually took 44 minutes.
Quite a bit longer than the same stage on Garmin.
