Garmin GPSMAP 298

[DGR]

I've got the above unit - but it's lost the ability to find satellites - deciding that it's the 15th Feb 2012 whenever it powers up. Apparently it's quite a common problem - the solution is to update the firmware - but in their infinite wisdom, Garmin's USB card reader isn't suppported beyond Win XP/Vista.......

I've found an old XP machine I can use, but as the BlueCharts are on my only memory card and the BlueChart software is now on an 'incompatible' Win7 64-bit system - if I wipe the card to upgrade the software, I can't put the charts back on it...

So - would there be any chance that anyone has an old Garmin memory card lying around that they'd be prepared to lend me for a couple of days? I'd post it straight back after the update... Grateful for any help!!

[Pikey Dave]

What memory card is it? is it bog standard SD or special Garmin type? If its normal sd/cf type, then any card should do for updating the firmware.

[DGR]

It's a Garmin specific one (long and thin) - the GPSMAP 298 was from before Garmin started to use standard cards - so you have to use the Garmin card reader to programme it, which isn't supported any more...

The only blank cards I can find are really expensive - and I'm slightly worried that I'll go through all of this just to find that the unit is actually broken anyway!!

[DM]

PM your address, Dylan.

Should be able to sort you out.

[DGR]

Hi Dave,

PM sent!!

Cheers,

D...

[DGR]

Thanks DM - all sorted now, and the RIB knows where it is at last!!

D...

[DGR]

Ooops... I did something weird then...

[jyasaki]

Unit doesn't take a serial data cable?

jky

[DGR]

I've never needed (or been able) to try that, as the unit is permanently fixed to the RIB, and the software is on my home PC - and the two are never close enough for that to work - which is why I had the card reader originally.

It was only when the (newer) PC wouldn't recognise the Garmin Card Reader that I realised that I had a problem......

Anyway - all sorted now - and hope that it doesn't need a firmware upgrade again in the near future!!

[9D280]

Yeah, I have kept my my old Win XP PC lurking in the attic for moments such as these......

It sees the light of day a lot more often than I thought it ever would!

[DGR]

Not such a happy ending as it turns out.

GPS updated, all works fine, sent DM's card back in the post - and it looks like some light fingered s**t at the Post Office has helped themselves to it - delivering DM an empty envelope.

?!

It's just a bit crap when you have to send stuff registered post just to stop the Post Office themselves from nicking your stuff...

Note to self - NEVER send anything more valuable than a greetings card via the Post Office ever again.

[R18628]

Having issues with my plotter, wont find satellites. Have had several emails with Garmin tech support and they have posted out a data card with V3.40 s/w on it, I'm currently on V2.90. Plugged card into unit and selected update software option. The unit starts the process saying its "scanning for marine devices" and progress bar increases from 0 to about 20%. It then jumps to 100% and says s/w will be updated in 5 seconds. The unit then goes to the "welcome" screen and stays there for >5mins.
My question is, once the s/w has been read from the card should the unit reboot within a reasonable length of time? Does it need to see satellites to finish the install? Any comments appreciated. Dave

[PeterM]

just leave it until it goes back to behaving after the 100% bit - have done mine and it took a good while to install...( imagine its a really really really really really slow PC)