aquiring maps for a Garmin 176C

[bob johnson]

anyone have one of these units , that is buying new maps lately?

this unit now has what was once a blank Garmin Data Card. I bought it used, but it seemd to have everything in the box and bags as if it wasnt used. There was a garmin bluewater cd for the Americas V6.

that all of south america and north america!!

i took it out on L I Sound last week and it shows the islands around, but not much detail or water depths.

i want to install a detailed map of my areas. I notice Bluewater G2 maps are going for $400 in some cases!!!

what is the best way to install the maps i want?

do they sell a SD Garmin chip with the maps?
can i download the maps( my wired connctor is an old 9 pin connector....like used for plugging in an old monitor...NOT a USB connector!!

my connecor has no place to plug that style connector in right now.

or do I buy a CD and try to download from my computer...????

I put a call into garmin, but never got through..in the mean time Id thought id ask here.


before I lay out some cash, id like to leanr as much as i can about all the possibilities

thanks in advance


bob

 

[dingbat]

Re: aquiring maps for a Garmin 176C

I have an old copy of Bluewater CD V4.2 and it has everything on it.

Are you sure you adjusted the "level of detail" on the machine properly? You want it on "more" or "most", depending on waht you want to see.

 

[bob johnson]

Re: aquiring maps for a Garmin 176C

I am sure of very little...that machine has so many setting it will make your head spin...

I zoomed and the island was blocky in shape..as if the "pixtles" for the lack of a better word.....were too large

Ill look for setting.....

I am not 100% sure that cd is loaded onto the SDdata card..

I have all kinds of problems when i go to the Garmen site.....

how can I tell what is loaded in the unit, by look at the unit itself???

I went to a MAP page, but there is no listing to choose from


bob



thanks

bob

 

[dingbat]

Re: aquiring maps for a Garmin 176C

Sounds like your using base map or your map chip is blank.

Try this:
Go to Map page (manual pg. 42)
Setup maps
Detail
Check to make sure you are using the chip.

 

[bob johnson]

Re: aquiring maps for a Garmin 176C

Sounds like your using base map or your map chip is blank.

Try this:
Go to Map page (manual pg. 42)
Setup maps
Detail
Check to make sure you are using the chip.

so when someone loads their "AMERICAS V6" cd, they arent installing it on the garmin sd data card???( looks proprietary, because it doesnt fir into any of the 6 or 7 sd-mini card slots on my compouter)

unless there was a way to install the maps from a computer using that cable with the 9 pin connector.


bob

 

[dingbat]

Re: aquiring maps for a Garmin 176C

You can make a PC interface cable. I bought a second power/ data cable and spliced a 9 pin serial connector and a 12v power supply on the end. This allsow you to connect the GPS directly to the PC via the serial port. You can then download directly from the CD

One other thing, if you use the CD you will need to have the unlock code for the area you to use. You get one region unlocked for free with when you register the CD with Garmin. If you don't have the unlock code, you will have to pay to unlock that area.

Your CD is now obsolete. If you don't have the unlock codes, you might be better off buying a new CD instead.

 

[bob johnson]

Re: aquiring maps for a Garmin 176C

You can make a PC interface cable. I bought a second power/ data cable and spliced a 9 pin serial connector and a 12v power supply on the end. This allsow you to connect the GPS directly to the PC via the serial port. You can then download directly from the CD

One other thing, if you use the CD you will need to have the unlock code for the area you to use. You get one region unlocked for free with when you register the CD with Garmin. If you don't have the unlock code, you will have to pay to unlock that area.

Your CD is now obsolete. If you don't have the unlock codes, you might be better off buying a new CD instead.

you added a 9 pin connector??

mine already has a 9 pin connector....but unless i pull the monitor cable out, i dont have a place on my computer to plug in a 9 pin connector..everything is USB, i think i have 8 usb ports!!!

I have read about the unlock codes.. the guy who sold me the unit says it has the cheasapeake bay charts in it...
I d like to have the northeast in it for my use.

I paid $100 for this unit.

it works great but doesnt have the detail for naviagting around obstuctions like I want( like i can already get from my Droid phone!!)

It looks like if i buy a bluewater chart its either about $200 or $400 depending on if its g2 or not.

can i buy a new unit today for $400 or less or am I better off dropping the $400 into maps for this unit.

I dont like to use my cell for naviagtion, because of battery life!! plus i like as big a screen as i can afford!!!!

will navionics charts work with my unit??

i see them on closeout all the time


thanks for the help

bob