Garmin Navionics Sub'd Charts

I use Garmin express to download the basic chart and put it on one SD card. That way you don't need to transfer the basic chart via Active Captain. I then designate a second SD card as the Active Captain card and all updates, raster charts, satellite imagery, and hi rez shading end up on that card. The latest Garmin software update allows compatible plotters and the USB external card reader to support much larger SD cards. I currently use 2 256GB SD cards (they are cheap). Once you have done the initial download via Active Captain, updates are much faster. You don't have to update multiple MFDs as the information on the SD cards will be shared among networked displays. I have the entire state of Florida and the Bahamas downloaded to my iPhone with all the extras and it takes up 473mb. With 256gb of storage, I have used only a small fraction of the available storage space. I don't concern myself with what remains after a year because I renew the subscription. $129.00 per year is chump change in the scheme of running a boat.
 
BlueYonder said:
I use Garmin express to download the basic chart and put it on one SD card. That way you don't need to transfer the basic chart via Active Captain. I then designate a second SD card as the Active Captain card and all updates, raster charts, satellite imagery, and hi rez shading end up on that card. The latest Garmin software update allows compatible plotters and the USB external card reader to support much larger SD cards. I currently use 2 256GB SD cards (they are cheap). Once you have done the initial download via Active Captain, updates are much faster. You don't have to update multiple MFDs as the information on the SD cards will be shared among networked displays. I have the entire state of Florida and the Bahamas downloaded to my iPhone with all the extras and it takes up 473mb. With 256gb of storage, I have used only a small fraction of the available storage space. I don't concern myself with what remains after a year because I renew the subscription. $129.00 per year is chump change in the scheme of running a boat.
Click to expand...

I use Android devices, perhaps Apple plays better with Garmin then Android. But tech support did acknowledge that AC is a work in progress and they do get a fair amount of complaint's regarding the app.

I am not concerned with the cost either, it's more about the time required to do the updates and get the initial download setup and working. It's ridiculous that you can't download everything through express and MUST use your phone.
 
Skybolt said:
So the package I sub'd too was Navionics+ Vision+ and there isn't any sat photos in the down load of the chart package. It seems they are in the updates that are mandatory through Active Captain. I tried to update today and after 3hrs of transferring,failing and re-trying I gave up. Calling Garmin for an SD card. I was able to download the 18gb through Express, but no sat photos ... Can't confirm this but it looks like sat photos are also part of the extended features.

Never again, Active Captain really sucks to update through, not to mention it only allows two devices to have it active which makes no sense what so ever.
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The two devices max is a pain but you can log out of one phone or ipad and log back in to another device to get around it.
 
rlynch03 said:
The two devices max is a pain but you can log out of one phone or ipad and log back in to another device to get around it.
Click to expand...

Yep, Thanks. But I guess my point is having to download and then transfer everything is a real PITA/Time consuming effort. It takes a lot of time for the transfer(s) and especially to the MFD, that is an unruly amount of time, usually in the terms of hours.

I guess I just want to bitch about why they would force you to do this, not the sub, I can live with that, but the extensive downloading and transferring. And not supporting the one thing that always works, Express. Raymarine gets to use the Garmin owned Navionics app which does all of that and more in half the time of the AC app.
 
Skybolt said:
Yep, Thanks. But I guess my point is having to download and then transfer everything is a real PITA/Time consuming effort. It takes a lot of time for the transfer(s) and especially to the MFD, that is an unruly amount of time, usually in the terms of hours.

I guess I just want to bitch about why they would force you to do this, not the sub, I can live with that, but the extensive downloading and transferring. And not supporting the one thing that always works, Express. Raymarine gets to use the Garmin owned Navionics app which does all of that and more in half the time of the AC app.
Click to expand...
I wanted to have Express ready for the season but was getting a message to the effect "we can't contact the servers right now" error. I tried a couple of different devices and got the same result. Then tried a simple uninstall/new install and got the same. I looked deep into Garmin support and found uninstall instructions. I use Macs and a clean uninstall is usually just a matter of sending the app icon to the trash. I had to delve deep into systems files to take out Express. After I did that and re-installed Express seems to be working properly.
Posting this to bitch but also in case another member has a similar Express problem.
 
I purchased the subscription on Friday and downloaded the chart to a 32gb SD card using Express. It now says that chart updates are available but tells me there are no charts registered to my account when trying to do the update. I tried adding the chart but then I get an error saying that the chart is invalid...

This is the first time I've used Express and will see what AC does this weekend.
 
quality time said:
I purchased the subscription on Friday and downloaded the chart to a 32gb SD card using Express. It now says that chart updates are available but tells me there are no charts registered to my account when trying to do the update. I tried adding the chart but then I get an error saying that the chart is invalid...

This is the first time I've used Express and will see what AC does this weekend.
Click to expand...
I think you need to make sure your account is aligned before AC will work. You should be able to see the exact same lists of devices and charts in both Express and AC. It may be worth a call to Garmin support to get them to sort out how your account looks on the back end.
 
I just ordered the physical card and got the discount. 100 bucks for the card, and subscription. (US South) At that, it's still double what it is on a personal device. With Axiom, you can stream the iphone/andriod screen to the plotter, but at a series, it won't work. I am looking into miracasting to a HDMI to video converter, but of course you have have to do all of your actions on the casting device. Might be good for a run where you are just looking, and it's raining or big water.
 
alnav said:
I think you need to make sure your account is aligned before AC will work. You should be able to see the exact same lists of devices and charts in both Express and AC. It may be worth a call to Garmin support to get them to sort out how your account looks on the back end.
Click to expand...
I can see the chart and all of my devices in AC and Express. I sent an email to support earlier today and will see how they respond.
 
Are they going to mess up updating the hardware also?
I liked how garmin updates everything on the networks (NMEA 2000 and GMN) with one download.
I'm sure they are working to help us with that also.
My equanimity is pinging loudly.
 
quality time said:
I purchased the subscription on Friday and downloaded the chart to a 32gb SD card using Express. It now says that chart updates are available but tells me there are no charts registered to my account when trying to do the update. I tried adding the chart but then I get an error saying that the chart is invalid...

This is the first time I've used Express and will see what AC does this weekend.
Click to expand...

It doesn't make sense to use express for the sub'd charts. I had to re-download through AC and also do all of the updates as well. My phone is still on the boat updating the system. After 19min, it was 9% not to mention the community updates for sonar and validating it does. I am going back to the boat after work in hopes it will be done updating and can verify that all of the features are there.
 
The hardware updates can be downloaded via Garmin's website and installed manually or you can use the Active Captain app. Active Captain downloads the update to the Active Captain card and then runs the update. The process once the update starts is the same. All hardware on your network will be updated if necessary.
 
ttmott said:
Are they going to mess up updating the hardware also?
I liked how garmin updates everything on the networks (NMEA 2000 and GMN) with one download.
I'm sure they are working to help us with that also.
My equanimity is pinging loudly.
Click to expand...

The updates actually worked for me yesterday through AC. As shocked as I was, but it wouldn't just do the chart updates without the system update, it forced that to happen, but it did let me select later to install them.
 
BlueYonder said:
The hardware updates can be downloaded via Garmin's website and installed manually or you can use the Active Captain app. Active Captain downloads the update to the Active Captain card and then runs the update. The process once the update starts is the same. All hardware on your network will be updated if necessary.
Click to expand...

It's easier to use Express for the hardware updates and not involve the Active captain card. That still seems to work just fine. It's only the sub'd charts that must use AC to update and install.
 
370Dancer said:
I just ordered the physical card and got the discount. 100 bucks for the card, and subscription. (US South) At that, it's still double what it is on a personal device. With Axiom, you can stream the iphone/andriod screen to the plotter, but at a series, it won't work. I am looking into miracasting to a HDMI to video converter, but of course you have have to do all of your actions on the casting device. Might be good for a run where you are just looking, and it's raining or big water.
Click to expand...

That card will not have the AC updates. Meaning the extended features, it is the same as the Express download. Or at least what I was told this morning by Garmin tech support.
 
Skybolt said:
That card will not have the AC updates. Meaning the extended features, it is the same as the Express download. Or at least what I was told this morning by Garmin tech support.
Click to expand...
old school, short runs around Florida. Don't need no stinking features........:cool:
 
Well over 6gb of updates/downloads 3hrs updating the MFDs later and everything is there. Raster charts/Sat photos/detailed relief with sonar imagery.

I will post pics of the differences when I can get some.
 
Garmin quarterly software update dropped this week. According to the update announcement, Navionics+ chart incremental updates can now be performed in the background from a chart card. A good thing. But, seems to me that Garmin tech support should have been able to convey that to @Skybolt since he was asking about it I think just the other day.
 
I'm still a little confused here. I purchased the Navionics+ subscription and downloaded the chart to an SD card. So now I put the card into my reader (the old style not the new USB reader) and then I can perform the incremental chart updates via Active Captain?

Or do I do like @Skybolt and download everything via Active Captain and my phone?
 
quality time said:
I'm still a little confused here. I purchased the Navionics+ subscription and downloaded the chart to an SD card. So now I put the card into my reader (the old style not the new USB reader) and then I can perform the incremental chart updates via Active Captain?

Or do I do like @Skybolt and download everything via Active Captain and my phone?
Click to expand...

From what I was explained, you need to download everything from AC on your phone. You can still use express to DL to a card, but and according to tech support the additional downloads will not effect what's on the card.

That said, I have two 32gb cards, one has the express 18gb chart download on it and the other is for AC and re-downloaded over 6gb of data. Took all afternoon Saturday to get this going.

After all of the downloading and what not, the charts did have all of the expected features that the express download alone did not have. Sat photo's, sonar imagery etc.
 
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