Older Garmin plotters used MapSource for updates to map data. When you bought MapSource you got chart data to amplify the base map installed on the unit from the factory. You could do route planning, etc, on your PC and then transfer data to the unit. My older 130, 160, 1nd 168 units on the two boats (plus the hand held GPS) all used MapSource, and I think you could install the charts, once unlocked, on 3 devices.
MapSource is no longer supported for older units like my 130, 160, 1nd 168. The last charts available are circa 2008. My new Garmin plotter sounders all came standard with Blue Chart chart data installed for the US, Canada, and the Bahamas. There is an upgrade available called Blue Chart G2 which does thing like routing for you (you put in draft and mast height for your boat and it routes you around shoals on the chart and away from overhead obstructions) and lets you display a 3-D sonar image looking ahead of the boat. G2 charts are extra cost, but the regular Blue Chart information is included – no more base maps to upgrade in order to have charts. You get free updates for the chart information for one year. Homeport is the software that works with the Blue Charts for route planning on a PC, and also for putting Active Captain information into the plotter. Marek is correct that you need to put the SD card into the plotter first, which puts the plotter information on the SD card. But nothing has to be on the PC in my experience. I just put the formatted SD card into the PC and went to the Garmin website when I updated charts before going to the Chesapeake last summer. The Garmin website put the new chart data and a software update for the plotter onto the SD card. Then put the SD card into the slot on the plotter and it all uploads automatically. I was impressed at how painless it was. Rick Brass From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Marek Dziedzic Sent: Monday, January 20, 2014 11:02 AM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Subject: Re: Stus-List Chartplotter Question For Garmin devices you can use also the MapSource (or BaseCamp). You can create waypoints, routes and tracks and move them to the plotter using an SD (or MicroSD card). It is important to make sure that the card is first inserted into the chart plotter (the device would put its identifier on the card) so that when you are using the s/w on your PC, you can identify the destination of the data transferred. MapSource is no cost download; however, it won’t install (usually) if you don’t have a Garmin product installed on your PC. How to solve that issue is too long a story to include it here, but as some on this list can attest, it is doable. Marek ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Sun, 19 Jan 2014 09:40:47 -0500 From: Rick Brass <rickbr...@earthlink.net> To: "cnc-list@cnc-list.com" <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Subject: Re: Stus-List Chartplotters Question Message-ID: <632f899c-fef9-4ad1-883d-8219fdb7f...@earthlink.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" That is exactly how the Garmin plotters on my boats work, the Garmin software is called Homeport, and cost something like $20. Set up routes on the pc, copy to an SD card, and put the SD card into the plotter. You can also uploadActive Captain to the plotter the same way, and this makes the crowd sourced info on hazards, marinas, fuel prices, etc come up on the plotter display. Rick brass
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