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Garmin Data Cards

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Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/29/2006 : 09:30:12

Has anyone had experience with the Garmin Data cards? I see they come in a various of sizes from 16,32,128 and up to a 512. Of course I know the higher the number the more data they hold. But that is the question, how much data do they hold? For example what can you fit on a 16 or 32?

I see the Blue Chart mapping software comes in two formats, CD and preprogrammed data cards. Any preferences which is better, pro's/con's ?

1997 250 TR WK (sold)
1984 O'Day 28 (sold)
1979 SISU 22
Bath, NC.

Edited by - on

atgep
Master Marine Consultant

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1009 Posts

Response Posted - 04/29/2006 : 12:04:45

Beware of the Garmin cartography. The cd allows you to license the area you buy to ONE gps unit. I am not sure of the card capacities. If you buy the card, it will have the whole area you purchased on it. I am not sure if Garmin has to unlock the data card to your particular unit or if it will work on any compatable gps. I found the Garmin policy a little too strict for me. I figure, if you buy something it is your property and you should be able to use it as you see fit.

I still give the Lowrance Chip 2 thumbs up. The charts have been extremely accurate and cover the whole US for $80 or so. I bet You could upgrade by selling your unit on ebay and not be too far out of pocket.

Just my 2 cents.

Tom.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 04/29/2006 : 12:07:36

Tom,
are you looking to get a new Garmin?

We purchased the 192C GPSMAP last year, the primary reason for the selection was the maps that were onboard from the Factory, seems like the entire USA coastline is built in plus the Bahamas!
That saved potentially dozens of boat units!

We really like the unit too!

I have a question related to it so I'm posting that elsewhere.

Paul

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/29/2006 : 13:16:10

I have a 128 MB and a 256 MB card, and use the latter for street maps. Garmin told me that you can fit a Bluechart region on a 32 MB card. I have no opinion on the pre-loaded cards versus the CD--I presume you can transfer maps and charts in either direction between your PC and the GPS, so either way you should be able to have the charts in both places.

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 04/29/2006 : 18:47:04

TomG,
I have a lowrance 68C already mounted onboard. The base map is pretty good except there's no depth readings on the base map and you can't upgrade the 68C. I'd like to see how deep the water is in front of me before I get to it. (like the sandbar on the cumberland Island trip

)
I see that Garmin limits you to a region. I think I'll get the Gulf Region first, since the next trip is the BEER cruise. (by the way 71 boats so far)

Paul,
I won the 276C Plus at West Marine as a door prize. I think its a trick though, I think they gave me the 276 knowing I would need to buy the software

Dave,
That's what I need to know, since I have to spend more for a card I wanted to get the right size for my needs and had no idea how much data you could store on one of them. I'm looking to use this for the boat and the truck, I plan to get the Select City software too since I travel for my job quite a bit. I need to know how big of a card to get that will hold the southeast on (NC,SC,GA,TN,FL,AL).

Thanks shipmates

Edited by - Tom Potter on 04/29/2006 18:48:27

Waterboy
Navigator

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USA
204 Posts

Response Posted - 04/30/2006 : 12:12:34

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by atgep
 The cd allows you to license the area you buy to ONE gps unit.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

If this is true, they've changed their licensing since I bought my eTrex and 276C almost two years ago. I was able to load and register my blue chart maps on both these units with one license.

Regarding memory capacity, I think my chip is a 64, perhaps a 128, and it holds ... it holds a LOT. The trouble I have with a single chip is not its capacity, rather only one type of data can be stored. This means that to switch from street maps to nautical charts to topos I need to redownload the data to the unit from the laptop. I rather have multiple smaller chips than one huge one.

my 2 clams - Greg
C250 Sabrosa #48
Klamath Falls, OR

PS - buying a preprogrammed data card is handy if you do not have a laptop, but note they are read/write, not read only. This means the data you've purchased CAN be erased if you're not careful.

Edited by - Waterboy on 04/30/2006 12:14:15

Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 04/30/2006 : 21:32:34

Garmin licenses your chart or maps to be used on no more than two GPS units that are both used by one single person. You cannot use it on a second unit for someone else. The 276c Plus I purchased came with unlock codes for City Select Street maps of all the United States and I had to pick a BlueCharts region to unlock. The region I chose was Key West, FL to just North of Atamaha Sound, GA.

I can upload both types, charts and maps, and switch between them on the fly. That is, I can maintain my position and still change modes. When you upload charts & maps it deletes the existing charts & maps in the unit. But you can upload (& download) waypoints, routes and tracks cumulativly. When I recently helped move a Beneateau 373 to Charleston I unlocked the charts for the Atlantic Coast with detailed charts up to George Town, SC. I just looked and I now have 213 detailed charts which uses 18.2mb. This encludes the near Bahamas Islands and also tide stations for all FL & the Caribbean.

I just selected all the CitySelect street maps for US and it came to 1571.3 megs.

Don't buy the preloaded chips. Once you delete the chip you cannot reload it if I understand correctly. Buy the blank chips. You can load and delete them all you want with the area you will be using. Also, you are allowed to make one back-up copy of your CD that has all your charts (locked and unlocked) on it. You will also want to back-up your unlock codes. And Garmin also maintains your account on their web site. The charts only unlock on the GPS unit. You can veiw the charts all you want on any computer that you load MapSource onto. It is the utility that runs the uploads and saves your tracks, routes, waypoints, etc. The 276C also does a mariners log for me either manually or automatic at 1/2 hr, 1 hr, 2 hr, or 4 hr intervals. I won't even get into the trip computer part.

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 05/01/2006 : 19:23:24

Thanks Ben, I just picked up a 128 chip on e-bay. I didn't get any software with the unit, just a base map. Looking for a gulf coast Blue chart now.

Couple questions;
Can you load both City select and Bluechart on the same chip?
Did you get the depth finder module when you got your unit and if so, how's it work for you?

Good luck in the MUG race.

Edited by - on

Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 05/01/2006 : 19:33:31

I have no trouble loading both City Select street maps and BlueCharts on the same chip. Press and hold [page/mode] button and you can toggle between the two. Actually there are [automotive], [powerboat], [sailboat (has a customizable timer for starts)], and [off road] modes.

Best way to learn is put it in GPS simulator mode and start pushing buttons.

I still have a Gift Card from Christmas that I plan to use for the fish-finder transducer.

Looks like the weather will not hold good until the race as usual.

Edited by - on

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