Can you use a Garmin chart card with Mapsource?

BogMonster · 30 November 2010, 00:05

I received my Falklands chart card today and it works well, concerns about the small screen size seem unfounded and actually the detail on the 640x480 556 screen is pretty good and peering at the harbour from a distance, the oil rig support vessels were parked exactly where my AIS receiver says they ought to be so that all works as well

Which got me thinking ... installed on my old laptop I have a copy of the Garmin Mapsource software which I got included free with my old eTrex GPS - I've used it a bit with that to manage the waypoints etc.

So - is there any way of using the SD card from the 556 with the PC running Mapsource and viewing the charts on there or is the card not readable by a PC based system? I've got a card reader already. The Mapsource software has a thing for "unlock codes" but not really sure if that is the same thing or not. I don't really need it (translation: I'm not going to spend any more money) but if I can use it, I might fiddle with it a bit on the PC as it's easier to look at charts on screen than on the plotter.

Ta

BogMonster · 30 November 2010, 00:27

OK I lied when I said no more money - $29.99 buys something called Homeport which appears to do what I want, currently downloading so fingers crossed

Erin · 30 November 2010, 08:56

I think you've worked this out for yourself, but you now have to use Homeport with the newer systems. You can however copy your SD card onto the PC, but if like me you have the proprietary Garmin data card, you have to have the special card reader, and there is no way of copying that data to the PC. Which is a bit of a pain if your chart card is on the boat and you're at home.

I think it was to overcome all the piracy problems with the old unlock code system which could be hacked.

BogMonster · 30 November 2010, 13:07

Yep all worked out, ta

It works fine running the chart card from the SD card reader but I can't seem to get it to recognise the chart data copied onto the PC hard drive - any ideas?

martini · 30 November 2010, 13:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by BogMonster

I can't seem to get it to recognise the chart data copied onto the PC hard drive - any ideas?

I don't think it will, they'd rather you went out and spent another small fortune on a new map card.

As Erin says, PITA you can only read from the card, not copy. So you either go back and forth with the card between home and boat or buy 2 cards

Erin · 30 November 2010, 13:22

I was under the impression that you could copy the SD card data to your pc. Something to do with an option available by right clicking the SD card in the left hand pane and selecting copy.

Channel Ribs · 30 November 2010, 13:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by martini

... they'd rather you went out and spent another small fortune on a new map card.

Oi! I will have you know he got a proper bargain.

BogMonster · 30 November 2010, 15:13

The option to copy is there - but greyed out.

However a spare memory stick can look remarkably like an SD card

BogMonster · 31 December 2010, 09:03

Another question now I've got the basics working.

I'd like to be able to connect my land-based eTrex (basic yellow version) to the Homeport software and use it to manage waypoints etc but it does not seem possible? anybody know any different?

I can still use Mapsource but it would be nice to have the accurate coastline on Homeport if nothing else - the base map on Mapsource is crap.

Am I missing something or is it just not possible? I have the eTrex USB lead but the software doesn't seem to support direct connection to GPS only via an SD reader?

bingomike · 03 January 2011, 22:38

Did you manage to make a 'backup' copy of your card?

Mike

Quote:

Originally Posted by BogMonster

The option to copy is there - but greyed out.

However a spare memory stick can look remarkably like an SD card

alt · 04 January 2011, 02:31

See here how to obtain Mapsource for free, legally...

http://www.corribcharts.com/on_a_pc.html

BogMonster · 16 January 2011, 21:33

OK I now have another question but as it is sort of related I will continue in this thread.

One of the issues with the Falklands charts is that they do not show any minor settlement names (i.e. farmhouses etc) and this is useful info to have on the chart.

I have used Mapsource to manually enter waypoints into a database with the placename, symbol and lat/long obtained from a mixture of waypoints on my eTrex and info from Google Earth (which is surprisingly accurate) and successfully imported these waypoints into Homeport so they display on the PC version ... BUT ... can I save this data to the original supplied chart card or will this bugger up the card?

There is loads of space on the original card but as I only have the one copy (I made a spare copy but it won't work in the GPS) I'm not sure if I can do this or if I should try and save them onto another blank SD card, then import them into the Garmin 556 from that. If I do this, will the waypoints still be there when I then put the chart card back in?

Sorry may be a thickie question but the card is too expensive to screw up and I am not sure which way to do it.

Channel Ribs · 17 January 2011, 06:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by BogMonster

I should try and save them onto another blank SD card, then import them into the Garmin 556 from that. If I do this, will the waypoints still be there when I then put the chart card back in?

Yep

Once the waypoints have been imported to the plotter they will stay put.

BogMonster · 17 January 2011, 08:47

Great, ta

I thought maybe the waypoints were only held on the card but I guess it also has internal memory. I'll have to finish knocking up the master list of all settlements around the islands and get them on there.

Thanks

Erin · 17 January 2011, 13:13

I think if you put them on a spare card and pop the card in the plotter you then get an option to 'manage card'. You can then import your new waypoints and have the choice of replacing existing waypoints on teh GPS or adding to the existing ones. Choose the latter and you should be fine.