reading waypoints and routes from a garmin data card.

roycruse · 08 December 2005, 20:06

I have a garmin 178C chartplotter - i have plotted a load of way points and a route and then copied these to a garmin data card.

I have a garmi9n data card programmer which i purchased from ebay which comes with a driver disc and some updates for mapsource.

Ive installed the drive3rs and everything is fine but the card does not get assigned a drive letter when its inserted (i assume this is correct as most garmin stuff is proprietary).

The question is where can i get some software that will allow me to read the saved way points from my card so that i can print them or save them etc...

DJL · 08 December 2005, 20:38

The card reader doesn't get assigned a drive letter. You have to use their MapSource software to download the waypoints etc.. There might be a third party piece of software to download from the card but I’ve never looked.

You could always request a MapSource update CD from Garmin. They are free and it would enable you to download the tracks/waypoints. You just wouldn't be able to unlock any charts.

email upgradeoffer.europe@garmin.com with your address and they will send you a CD

Shaggy · 08 December 2005, 22:29

Hi Roy
You can down load Mapsoruce from

http://www.garmin.com/support/downlo...ils.jsp?id=209

Shaggy

Hugh Jardon · 08 December 2005, 22:31

roy

i am going to order a 178c as well, what do you reckon to it and what did you purchase from ebay and from whom and is it good so i may order one as well

roycruse · 08 December 2005, 22:35

Hi Roy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaggy

You can down load Mapsoruce from

http://www.garmin.com/support/downlo...ils.jsp?id=209

Shaggy

Unfortunately that download is only an upgrade

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garmin

WARNING: This software will not work unless you already own a MapSource product

I was hoping they did a little free tool for doing things like editing routes and way points etc...

looks like i'm going to have to buy a bloody map just to use my card programmer - bloody ridiculous.

unless any one else has any suggestions

roycruse · 08 December 2005, 23:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh Jardon

roy

i am going to order a 178c as well, what do you reckon to it and what did you purchase from ebay and from whom and is it good so i may order one as well

I purchased mine with the rib - blimey Chris - have you lost that email i sent you already - you know the one showed you everything i got with my rib and how much it cost - i obviously paid over the odds for it to have it all fitted and plumbed in.

cheapest place unless you want to buy from the states is http://www.jgtech.co.uk/shop13.htm who have it inc VAT and next day delivery for £579

The unit is superb - in fact i cant imagine what more you could want and it doesn't take up a vast amount of console space - i personally prefer them flush mounted rather than on the gimball.

Hugh Jardon · 09 December 2005, 00:24

hi roy

i can get the garmin 178c with external ariel and twin transducers for 450 inc vat in the uk, cool eh

no still got your list but i wanted to know what gadget you got from ebay

cheers matey

roycruse · 09 December 2005, 00:42

If by gadget on ebay you are refering to these

They are a garmin data card and programmer. I bought them as i decided i was going to buy my next maps on cd rather than pre programmed data card like i did last time.

I was hopping though i could find a piece of software that would allow me to read and write waypoints and routes to / from the card. without having to buy over over £150 worth of maps.

Hugh Jardon · 09 December 2005, 00:58

if given the choice would you say it is better to buy the map and card and thingy reader rather than a map already on the card?

any advantages or disadvantages either way?

roycruse · 09 December 2005, 01:06

i would say now after buying the pre programmed card - that it is better to buy the cd and a card reader - it may work out more expensive but i believe you can do all your route planning from your pc and then download to the card and take out to the boat.

with the pre programmed card - it is much cheaper - but you have to sit in your boat to do all the route planning - not much fun this time of year.

Hugh Jardon · 09 December 2005, 01:22

roy you are a star

that is exactly what i was wanting to do and was going to post a thread to see if anyone had a view, you have answered my questions in one go

i will call garmin tomorrow and discuss this with them to make sure i have it all sussed

cheers and take care

Quote:

Originally Posted by roycruse

i would say now after buying the pre programmed card - that it is better to buy the cd and a card reader - it may work out more expensive but i believe you can do all your route planning from your pc and then download to the card and take out to the boat.

with the pre programmed card - it is much cheaper - but you have to sit in your boat to do all the route planning - not much fun this time of year.

steve b · 09 December 2005, 13:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh Jardon

hi roy

i can get the garmin 178c with external ariel and twin transducers for 450 inc vat in the uk, cool eh

no still got your list but i wanted to know what gadget you got from ebay

cheers matey

where did you get the 178c from please

steve

Hugh Jardon · 09 December 2005, 15:04

i have it priced up with a few £000 other bits i am buying but if you are serious about wanting one then drop me a pm and i will check tomorrow if he is happy to sell others at that very keen price or if it needs to be just slightly more

Shaggy · 09 December 2005, 18:05

Hi
Ive got one of these, allows you to power the GPS and transfer way points etc. from the PC serial port.

http://shop.garmin.com/accessory.jsp...0%2D10276%2D01

Roy are you sure you have to pay for Map Source? I thought you only need to pay for Blue Chart.. although I cant really remember, have you tried installing that link I sent you, im sure its the complete program.

Shaggy

roycruse · 09 December 2005, 18:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaggy

Hi
Ive got one of these, allows you to power the GPS and transfer way points etc. from the PC serial port.

http://shop.garmin.com/accessory.jsp...0%2D10276%2D01

Roy are you sure you have to pay for Map Source? I thought you only need to pay for Blue Chart.. although I cant really remember, have you tried installing that link I sent you, im sure its the complete program.

Shaggy

Yes Ive tried downloading from the link - it throws a fit saying i have no mapsource software when i try to install it.

Also your cable is not much use either - one if the disadvantages of flush mounting you instruments - well actually the only disadvantage.

You would still need map source any way - to talk to the gps unit.

Ah well ill just have to buy a copy soon - its just a real shame - the reason i went for map on a pre programed chip as they did the whole of cornwall on a single map (north and south coast) - to cover the same area with mapsource on CD i will need to unlock two areas costing hundreds of pounds

Shaggy · 09 December 2005, 19:17

I was poking around on the net while back and found this, didnt really spend that much time reading, might help to create and transfer the way points?

http://www.easygps.com/

Shaggy

roycruse · 09 December 2005, 19:45

keep thge suggestions comming - but alas easy gps only talks directly to gps over serial

Shaggy · 09 December 2005, 19:47

Im in Ireland at the mo when I get back ill check my copy of mapsource, if you can install it without a key ill burn a copy for you.

Shaggy

Hugh Jardon · 09 December 2005, 19:56

roy et al

roy knows this already but....

you can take your 178 home you can program it there in the warm, need powersupply

however if you want to program via the pc you need the following

blue chart map 130quid
16mb card 30quid
usb programmer for card that connects to pc 55quid
relevant driver
software which is trip and waypoint mgr...costs 20quid

Erin · 09 December 2005, 20:32

Yep, all you need is the little programme called mapsource. With this you can copy waypoints and routes to and from a usb card reader. You won't be able to see the maps themselves on screen unless you have the Bluechart CD rather than a pre-programmed data card. The Bluechart CD has to be loaded onto the PC before it can be downloaded onto the garmin data card. It needs an unlock code before it'll work on the PC and an unlock code that corresponds with the GPS unit before it'll work on the GPS. This doesn't affect the transfer of waypoints etc but does mean that you can't pirate the maps themselves.

Keith