Garmin Chart update / PC Plotting

[lakelandterrier]

Two questions,

1) what's the best way to get UK chart updates for a Garmin 556 - do you have to download them from the Garmin ewbiste ont a general / specific SD card to then put into the plotter to update? My unit is now 2 years old so and update might be wise.

2) Is the a programme that replicates garmin chartplotter on a PC - i'd like to be able to plot routes at home, especially for planned trips then upload them, instead of faffing about on the water doing it?

Cheers

LT

[willk]

Originally Posted by lakelandterrier

2) Is the a programme that replicates garmin chartplotter on a PC - i'd like to be able to plot routes at home, especially for planned trips then upload them, instead of faffing about on the water doing it?

Linky

[martini]

I can recommend Garmin Homeport, once you get to know your way around it, it is good. But you will need a chart sd card to go with it.

Re updates, do you want to update the chartplotter software or the Blue chart cartography?

Here's a link to the software update page. Download to a PC, unzip the file using the Garmin updater app, copy to an sd card then stick it in your plotter. If you click on the 556 on the linked page you will see the version history, you should make a note of your current software version (tells you on the start up screen) on the plotter and see what new functions etc you gain. Well worth doing.

Re Bluechart updates, I could well be wrong but I think they're only available to the US market. If you want more up to date charts you'll need to buy a G2 vision card, not worth doing IMO