Garmin Users - You Might Want to Hold on the Latest S/W Updates

ttmott

ttmott

PhD in OCD
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Apr 3, 2012
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Space Coast Florida
Boat Info
2006 52 Sedan Bridge
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Cummins QSM11
This isn't good at all.
So my dock neighbor did the May update on his Garmin system. My system is much like his (86xx MFD's, Fantom Radar, Reactor 40 Autopilot, etc).
The Autopilot display for the MFD's has changed and much of the information is gone (next way point, and other important information we use). But worse yet the "Resume Course" button is gone. So let's say you are following a route and needed to deviate to steer around something; happens all of the time right? So you press the standby button, steer around, then press the resume course button and the boat reacquires the route. It's all right there on the display in front of you or a couple of clicks on the remote. But no, now you need to step back into the menus and reacquire the route from there or on the GMI 20 autopilot display get in the menu and reacquire. Three steps on the MFD and two on the GMI.

My dock neighbor called Garmin and squawked the issue but seems on deaf ears.
Consider holding on this latest - I am.
 
It's unfortunate for sure. But they destroyed routes a long time ago when they separated way-points from routes. Now they removed auto-pilot functionality. This is what happens when inexperienced people get put in charge of designing things. No idea how things are supposed to work.
 
How would you like to deal with that while flying your airplane? As your workload increases as you near your final destination airport, you suddenly have to start clicking away to re-acquire a route. Garmin is a huge supplier of glass cockpits. Maybe changes are better thought out and regulated in the aviation industry.
 
I have never updates any of our systems over the years. I have always heard people that do run into real issues. We don't have the most high tech systems, but they work as they should. We boat on the East coast and things don't change that much.
 
I think I did my last update last year. I have everything the way I like it now. Unlike cell phones I'm assuming I can carry on with my current firmware versions without anyone trying to force an upgrade :)
 
SKybolt said:
It's unfortunate for sure. But they destroyed routes a long time ago when they separated way-points from routes. Now they removed auto-pilot functionality. This is what happens when inexperienced people get put in charge of designing things. No idea how things are supposed to work.
Click to expand...
This is what happens when basic tech gets patented by a company. Best thing to do is ditch garmin. Don’t support a company that is holding back the industry we rely on
 
Curious
ttmott said:
This isn't good at all.
So my dock neighbor did the May update on his Garmin system. My system is much like his (86xx MFD's, Fantom Radar, Reactor 40 Autopilot, etc).
The Autopilot display for the MFD's has changed and much of the information is gone (next way point, and other important information we use). But worse yet the "Resume Course" button is gone. So let's say you are following a route and needed to deviate to steer around something; happens all of the time right? So you press the standby button, steer around, then press the resume course button and the boat reacquires the route. It's all right there on the display in front of you or a couple of clicks on the remote. But no, now you need to step back into the menus and reacquire the route from there or on the GMI 20 autopilot display get in the menu and reacquire. Three steps on the MFD and two on the GMI.

My dock neighbor called Garmin and squawked the issue but seems on deaf ears.
Consider holding on this latest - I am.
Click to expand...
Curious as to why the change. Seems garmin always aimed to simplify the functions you use most. Having just installed the auto pilot and shadow drive I never used that menu. Usually if I engage the shadow drive it prompts me to re-engage after I release the wheel. Also searched their site and only see an April update no reference to a May update.
 
jmauld said:
This is what happens when basic tech gets patented by a company. Best thing to do is ditch garmin. Don’t support a company that is holding back the industry we rely on
Click to expand...

Never going to happen. They all have issues and this is no different. They will correct this at some point.

The 1243 is @31.10 and the 8612 is @31.20 but are the same changes as listed here.
Changes made from version 30.40 to 31.10:
  • Added support for sending and replying with custom messages via a connected inReach device.
  • Added Mercury logo and active indicators to the Mercury features on the toolbar switcher.
  • Added an overlay bar for controlling Mercury autopilot, including Autoheading and Route Following (requires Mercury SmartCraft Connect gateway).
  • Added new commands for Garmin Voice Control feature to the Traditional, ClearVu, SideVu, Split Zoom, and Split Frequency pages: Sonar Range Increase/Decrease, Sonar Gain Increase/Decrease, Sonar Range Auto, Sonar Gain Auto.
  • Added new commands for Garmin Voice Control feature: Radar MotionScope On/Off.
  • Integrated Fusion speed vs. volume settings into chartplotter Media page, to allow media volume to dynamically adjust based on the vessel's speed.
  • Added support for saving only the user data within a specified area boundary to a card.
  • Updated the autopilot display with improved visuals and user experience.
  • Corrected the initial sonar frequency after power-up to be the same as the last one used.
  • Fixed an issue where the speed data overlay would not show in some cases on Panoptix and LiveScope pages.
  • Improved visibility of radar overlay heading line.
  • Corrected the calculation for the bearing digital data field.
  • Other improvements and bug fixes.
I think this update was centered around the GHC 50, their new 5" Autopilot display.

@ttmott Tom, don't you just hit the stby button to resume course? I still have the RM AP so I don't know.
 
SKybolt said:
Never going to happen. They all have issues and this is no different. They will correct this at some point.

The 1243 is @31.10 and the 8612 is @31.20 but are the same changes as listed here.
Changes made from version 30.40 to 31.10:
  • Added support for sending and replying with custom messages via a connected inReach device.
  • Added Mercury logo and active indicators to the Mercury features on the toolbar switcher.
  • Added an overlay bar for controlling Mercury autopilot, including Autoheading and Route Following (requires Mercury SmartCraft Connect gateway).
  • Added new commands for Garmin Voice Control feature to the Traditional, ClearVu, SideVu, Split Zoom, and Split Frequency pages: Sonar Range Increase/Decrease, Sonar Gain Increase/Decrease, Sonar Range Auto, Sonar Gain Auto.
  • Added new commands for Garmin Voice Control feature: Radar MotionScope On/Off.
  • Integrated Fusion speed vs. volume settings into chartplotter Media page, to allow media volume to dynamically adjust based on the vessel's speed.
  • Added support for saving only the user data within a specified area boundary to a card.
  • Updated the autopilot display with improved visuals and user experience.
  • Corrected the initial sonar frequency after power-up to be the same as the last one used.
  • Fixed an issue where the speed data overlay would not show in some cases on Panoptix and LiveScope pages.
  • Improved visibility of radar overlay heading line.
  • Corrected the calculation for the bearing digital data field.
  • Other improvements and bug fixes.
I think this update was centered around the GHC 50, their new 5" Autopilot display.

@ttmott Tom, don't you just hit the stby button to resume course? I still have the RM AP so I don't know.
Click to expand...
If you press the Standby button when following a route it suspends the route and a resume route button appears. If you press the little red button in the upper left corner it cancels the route and a message comes up to confirm saving or deleting the route if not already in your route list. If you press the standby button again it goes into heading hold mode.
 
Irie308 said:
Curious

Curious as to why the change. Seems garmin always aimed to simplify the functions you use most. Having just installed the auto pilot and shadow drive I never used that menu. Usually if I engage the shadow drive it prompts me to re-engage after I release the wheel. Also searched their site and only see an April update no reference to a May update.
Click to expand...
A couple of clarifications - the shadow drive is an instrument that senses steering wheel movement and temporarily suspends a route or heading hold. The shadow drive is always active when in heading hold or following a route.
It appears you are engaging Heading Hold which has nothing to do with the shadow drive.
 
If I’m following a route and I touch the wheel it puts me in head holding. It then prompts me to re-engage the route then takes me back to my route once I select engage.
 
Irie308 said:
If I’m following a route and I touch the wheel it puts me in head holding. It then prompts me to re-engage the route then takes me back to my route once I select engage.
Click to expand...
Yes that is correct. The idea is you can manually steer the boat when following a route or in heading hold.
BTW you can adjust the Shadow Drive sensitivity. I have mine set so it takes a dedicated movement of the wheel to override the autopilot.
 
I just have a 74 sv and love it . No need for anything bigger
 
Majority of the time I pick a point on the chart plotter and use the GOTO function for autopilot.

Standby - requires me to then (going from memory) Menu-> Resume navigation.

Does this impact the GOTO as well as route?
 
FootballFan said:
Majority of the time I pick a point on the chart plotter and use the GOTO function for autopilot.

Standby - requires me to then (going from memory) Menu-> Resume navigation.

Does this impact the GOTO as well as route?
Click to expand...
It probably does, in that, you still have to step through the quagmire to re-engage. I usually do the auto guidance, look at the Hazards, edit the proposed route as required, then engage the autopilot. For something simple like point to point the GOTO works also. But if you have to suspend the route then re-engage it is stepping through the menus.
 
ttmott said:
It probably does, in that, you still have to step through the quagmire to re-engage. I usually do the auto guidance, look at the Hazards, edit the proposed route as required, then engage the autopilot. For something simple like point to point the GOTO works also.
Click to expand...

These days it seems like we just run up and down the coast. Conditions often determine how close we are running to shore versus how far out. When the crab pots are present, we tend to drift 6-8 miles out. If the wind is blowing we can find smoother water closer in. Water is shallow in the gulf, but most of the trip south out of Clearwater we can run 1-2 miles off shore and stay in 20ft of water. Except for the ship channel coming out Tampa Bay, have to go out to get around it.

That makes it simple to point where I want to go that day and hit the button.
 
Took a look at the software update detail pages- change was actually made in the January 23 update. https://www8.garmin.com/marine/PDF/MarineSoftwareUpdate/2023/January2023.pdf

There is a "Follow Route" button on the main autopilot screen:
upload_2023-5-24_10-52-3.png

I wonder if that button (which I think is rather new) would provide the functionality you are looking for?
 
I spent some time playing with the updated interfaces today. As I thought, the text "Follow Route" button which used to appear on the autopilot screen has been replaced with an icon. Here is the A/P screen after going to standby while following a route:
AP after Stby.jpeg

Pressing the icon will cause the A/P to resume whether it's following a track, auto guidance path or route.
BTW, the same functionality exists on the Autopilot bar which can be placed on a screen such as the nav chart, obviating the need to bring up the dedicated screen, which I don't think I've ever felt the need to do:
AP Data Bar.jpeg

I have an autopilot remote and have programmed one of the keys for "Resume Route". I've got that remote in hand or close by at all times underway and its my primary interface with the autopilot.
Another BTW, a new software update dropped on 7 July. I didn't install that one and it looks like there aren't any dramatic changes, at least in features I can use.
 
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