Garmin Mapsource PrePlanning on PC

[SearayPaul]

Comsnark

Formating the SD card is very important. Formating the card creates a new folder that is dedicated to the 540. In this new folder is all of the information that is needed to recognize the 540 saves etc. That is the limit of my knowledtge of why. With all of your questions you might want to call Garmin. Garmin tech support is always very helpful and friendly.

 

[comsnark]

OK. .. now you are all causing me heartburn

I will rehook up a battery next weekend. . .If I can get the $*#& hatch open by hand without the hydraulics (My mechanic is stronger than I am). Although. . the back of my mind is thinking that I did the format thing when trying to make this work in the spring. I will let you know how this works next week.

Am I the only one out there with a 500 series GPS?

 

[Nehalennia]

.....well I was thinking of buying the 545s.....but I will be watching this thread closely to see if it's what I want or not.

 

[RonF]

Ron, my 2210 is similar. I would like to upgrade the OS too. Do you have to use the data card to transfer the new operating system to the unit, or can it be done by a direct serial cable connect to the chartplotter?

Update, I have been looking at the download page. It looks like a data card is required.

Dave,

I asked the guy why I could not just upload from the PC to the GPS via the serial cable. He said something like the amount of data is too much for the serial interface. Sounded fishy to me, but I did want a card for eventually backing up waypoints. So what is the cable for, anyway?

The card, reader, and driver disk arrived today. Later I'll try to load the software updates to the card. To be continued......

 

[RonF]

The card, reader, and driver disk arrived today. Later I'll try to load the software updates to the card. To be continued......

Sorry to hyjack this thread from the guys with 545s and SD cards, but here's what just happened with the programmer/reader and special card. I think I got the update loaded on the card, but won't know for sure until I put it into the 3206 this weekend.

I hate it when there's no documentation with software & hardware. I thought this device was supposed to look like an additional USB drive, but it does not. First, the USB driver installation CD requested me to connect the GPS to the PC using the USB cable. Huh? I am connecting a card reader, not a GPS. So I plugged in the reader and inserted the card, then clicked "next" a few more times until a screen says that the driver was installed, and to continue with the setup. The setup command tells me that there is no GPS connected, and that the setup cannot be completed. So I started looking around in My Computer for evidence that the device is there with another drive letter. NO. Phooey. Finally I navigated through Control Panel to Device Manager, and found a GARMIN device folder with the Data Card Programmer in it, and Properties said the device is working properly.

Then I opened the folder that had the previously downloaded operating system update, and I fired off the .exe file. It presented a list box which only had the card programmer as an output device, so I selected it. Then a series of status screens passed by, indicating that it was writing out to the card, and it finished in a minute or so. I still can't access the card to see if anything is there, so the next step is to pop it into the GPS on the boat.

Anyway, if the thing is working properly, then I suppose the Mapsource planning program must also recognize the Card Programmer as a device to write-out new waypoints & routes.

Later.

 

[Nehalennia]

hope it works. Wish it gave you more confident feedback. Keep us posted.

 

[Dave M.]

Dave,

I asked the guy why I could not just upload from the PC to the GPS via the serial cable. He said something like the amount of data is too much for the serial interface. Sounded fishy to me, but I did want a card for eventually backing up waypoints. So what is the cable for, anyway?

I don't yet have a serial cable for mine, but may have shortly. I am in the process of trying to make one. I also downloaded and unzipped the upgrade file. It looks there might be about 4 MB of data that would need to be transferred to the chartplotter. The serial port normally runs at 4800 bps, and it would take about 2 hours to transfer that amount of data. So he is probably right about it being too much for that interface.

I think the serial interface to a computer allows you to upload and download waypoints, routes, and tracks. Maybe it also allows you to load a map into the chartplotter from a CD, but I don't know if it does, or if you have to use a card.

 

[Dave M.]

I hate it when there's no documentation with software & hardware. I thought this device was supposed to look like an additional USB drive, but it does not. First, the USB driver installation CD requested me to connect the GPS to the PC using the USB cable. Huh? ...

.....well I was thinking of buying the 545s.....but I will be watching this thread closely to see if it's what I want or not.

My opinion of the manual that came with my 2210 is that it is almost worthless. It does have an index that lets you look things up, but then it just tells you the same thing you would see on the screen. For example, I tried to look up the serial port speeds that the Garmin supports for my previous post. I could not find it in the manual, and I don't think it is in there. The unit just has a normal the high speed setting, without telling you what they are. I ASSUME that the normal speed is 4800 bps, that is generic NMEA 183. I also assume the high speed it 38400 bps, as that is what AIS receivers output, and the unit can get AIS data if properly configured.

Todd, the reason I bought Garmin was only because it had better mapping for my local area. I liked the Raymarine operation and display better. That was two years ago though. You might also want to put the Garmin and Raymarine manuals side by side for any units you are comparing, or check them out on line.

 

[RonF]

Then I opened the folder that had the previously downloaded operating system update, and I fired off the .exe file. It presented a list box which only had the card programmer as an output device, so I selected it. Then a series of status screens passed by, indicating that it was writing out to the card, and it finished in a minute or so. I still can't access the card to see if anything is there, so the next step is to pop it into the GPS on the boat.

SUCCESS.

I turned on the GPS and let it boot-up. Then I inserted the card. The GPS recognized the software update and prompted me to confirm. A few status screens passed by, indicating that it was working, and then done. So I went from version 2.60 to 3.10, and now I know how to do it.

 

[chuck1]

Glad it worked, Have you tried to move routes between the PC and the GPS unit yet?

 

[RonF]

Glad it worked, Have you tried to move routes between the PC and the GPS unit yet?

No, Chuck1, I don't have the Mapsource software on the PC yet. That will probably happen some time next year, since we're planning to retire and go farther and stay longer.

 

[Nehalennia]

Comsnark

Formating the SD card is very important. Formating the card creates a new folder that is dedicated to the 540. In this new folder is all of the information that is needed to recognize the 540 saves etc. That is the limit of my knowledtge of why. With all of your questions you might want to call Garmin. Garmin tech support is always very helpful and friendly.

From Garmin's Website on the 545s Manual:

http://www8.garmin.com/manuals/1541_OwnersManual.pdf

look on Page 5
"If using a new, blank SD card to transfer Waypoints from Mapsource, insert in your GPSMAP 400/500 series unit before copying the files from your PC. This Prepares the card"

 

[comsnark]

Ah. Just saw the latest replies (4 weeks later).

Well. . .I am pretty sure I did this before. . .but I also have the early firmware for the unit. And now that the batteries are out of the boat, I won't be powering up the GPS till spring. I could disconnect the power cable from the boat and hook it up to the battery directly -> But I sweated too much installing the darn thing last spring to contemplate unhooking a perfectly functional unit. And I am way too cheap to buy a second ower adaptor (for $23 whole dollars!)

 

[Csalt]

I may have a little input on this topic...I have a 535s and mapsource software with the fishing hotspots cd.
I have planned routes and entered waypoints in mapsource on the PC and saved them to the sd card and had the 535 pick them up when I installed the card.
I know I had to initialize the sd card in the 535 first...it puts a garmin.xml file on it for the mapsource software to recognize it when you save your routes.
One thing I don't like is I can only power up the unit in the boat and like most people it's covered till spring.
I do like the unit and it has guided me well on some longer trips.

 

[capz]

Routes and waypoints transfer to the 545s no problem. I hit a snag setting it up but it works.
I initially updated the unit software to version 3.00. Assuming that initialized and formatted the card, I then tried to transfer data from Mapsource to the card. Didn't work. I got a "could not find path specified" error when clicking "send to device". Even though the software recognized the SD card as the 545s device. To fix this I simply had to create a waypoint on the unit and save it to the card. This creates a USER DATA folder on the card. Then you can transfer from the pc to the card. So a properly formatted card will have two folders. The GARMIN device folder and USER DATA.
The only difference using an SD card instead of a USB connection to the device is whenever you send a route or set of waypoints, it automatically overwrites what's on the card. So you can't save one route, open another then add it. It will erase the first one. What I did was consolidate all my waypoints and routes onto one file, then transferred everything at once. I just know someone will add things one at a time, then bring it to the boat to find there's only one route on the card. Now you can't blame me!

 

[chuck1]

Thanks for the update. Nice to know you can still do it on the newer Garmin systems.

 

[comsnark]

Well. . . just got the boat powered up yesterday and in the water today.

After getting everything squared away (and varnishing. . and painting a ceiling. .and. . and. . .and. . ) I got around to "playing" with my 545s.

The advice in this thread worked!!

First key to success: Have the right directories on the SD card. For me, this happened by loading in a software update. I think it ALSO will happen automatically by downloading data from the unit to the card. I do not believe a format step occurs.

Second key to success: Yes indeed. . you need to treat the card as a "device". You get data into mapsource by "uploading from a device". Previously, I was trying to open the file directly, which does not do the trick.

So, I successfully uploaded ALL of last seaons tracks and waypoints. Excellent. I also downloaded a few waypoints into the 545s. Excellent.

Honestly, I am so pumped up I almost fired up the engines and went for a ride. But I am very tired, and have a full day tomorrow. I will be down on sleep as it is. . . .