Garmin 540s map update

M

mygirl

New Member
May 20, 2012
85
Nassau County, LI New York
Boat Info
2007 270 AJ
Engines
320 Bravo III
Purchased the unit in 2008 and I will be updating software this weekend. But this update does not update the maps. Does anyone know if there is a map update? If so where do I find and install? Does it cost anything? Any help is always appreciated. :smt001
 
Garmin has great customer service. Just give them a quick call to find out and get directions to the install if they do.
 
On my 498 purchased on 2007 chart updates are only available through new data cards. You may be eligible for one free upgrade but after that you would need to purchase the updated cards.
 
Spoke to Garmina nod here's the deal. Free update on the software ofnthenunit. I needed an sd card and downloaded. Maps are another story. $ 90 for a map update. Same drill with an sd card but the updated maps sd card must stay in the sd slot on unit. In other words if you have a g2 vision card you will need to swap out depending on what's important to you at the time of your trip. Is it updated maps or g2 vision. Also, $130 to update vision card. 1 free map map update applies to only folks who purchased their unit within the last 6 months.
Safe boatingbandnthanks for your help
 
mygirl said:
Spoke to Garmina nod here's the deal. Free update on the software ofnthenunit. I needed an sd card and downloaded. Maps are another story. $ 90 for a map update. Same drill with an sd card but the updated maps sd card must stay in the sd slot on unit. In other words if you have a g2 vision card you will need to swap out depending on what's important to you at the time of your trip. Is it updated maps or g2 vision. Also, $130 to update vision card. 1 free map map update applies to only folks who purchased their unit within the last 6 months.
Safe boatingbandnthanks for your help
Click to expand...

I would say to register your unit on the mygarmin site using your head unit's serial number and then see if it tells you that you have a free map update coming. I bought my unit over 2 years ago and the website gave me a free base maps update in April (it was a glitch... but hey!). To get the basemap update you need a separate SD card (not your current one, or your vision card if you have it). You can find an inexpensive SD card via sales listed at local retailers on techbargains.com or at your local Wallyworld. After doing the basemap upgrade, I then called garmin and told them that I had intended to update my vision charts not the basemaps, and mistakenly used my free update for the basemaps. They said that I was not entitled to the base map update, but hey... you got it so enjoy it!. If I were you, I'd spend the money to update the vision charts chip and skip the basemap upgrade (UNLESS....) you get it for free and you use the homeport software. If that's the case you can keep your base map updated chip at home to plan your routes, and leave the vision chip in the boat (so you dont forget to bring it back). You can save the updated routes to the new basemap chip, upload the routes into the head unit from that chip, and then put your vision charts chip back in. I have already done this, so I know it works.

One thing to note... to update your vision charts, you have to have the vision charts chip in your computer. The updates to the vision charts download onto that chip. DO NOT accidently download the updates to your basemap to the vision charts chip... or your vision charts are GONE! (the map content filenames saved to the chips are all the same...)

I did go ahead and update the vision charts, and there was definitely new info on them for my area.

Happy to answer any process questions if you have them.

James
 
Last edited:
Ok...so I downloaded the software update to an sd card (8gb). Took card to GPS unit. Inserted it. Turned on unit went to user data. Pushed transfer data from card then I get prompted to 'insert card'?? I take card out and reinsert. Still says insert card? Can anyone offer help?
thx
 
Did you download the update file directly to the card, or to your computer and then run the file to extract the update and automatically copy the update to the card?
 
I'm not sure if this is true on the 540, but on other units the "transfer data" menu item is for moving routes, tracks and waypoints. The is a specific selection for update.
 
The last two responses are spot on. You have to download the file to your computer and then use the extract utility to put the files onto the SD card. Next turn the GPS on and use the prompts to get you to the home screen. Now insert the SD card and the unit will ask you if you want to update the software. "Transfer data" is for saving data such as way points.
 
Hey folks. Thanks for the comments. I was able to finally get it. Seems das if the 540s does not like sd cards over 2 gb. Took your advice and got it!
Thanks again!
 
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