Mapping cards / SD cards

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fasttoys7619

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Sep 25, 2011
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Hello , can anyone tell me if garmin mapping cards will work on other brands ? specificaly on a lowrance unit ? and if any card ,,, hot maps, Navionics , ect.... can they be copied ? thanks for any answers
 
Very much doubt it. The contents are likely proprietary to Garmin.
 
No, as Jacob said they are proprietary for Garmin.
 
As for copying....you can copy the files off the card but I don't think it will work if you can copy those file to a blank card. I'm pretty sure the card itself has protection that can't be copied over.
 
Nope have to have garmin unit/software
 
ok thanks for the replys , a friend has a few cards ,Navionics and garmins ,I was hopeing to try and save some money by copying his cards for my use , its just hard to fork out about $500. bucks for the cards I want , but he said he would loan them to me depending on time and region I go too , thanks agian
 
quote_icon.png
Originally Posted by Tonka BoaterAs for copying....you can copy the files off the card but I don't think it will work if you can copy those file to a blank card. I'm pretty sure the card itself has protection that can't be copied over.


so what you are saying , you cant copy over the info( which I DO NOT want) , but a cards info can be copied to another card , thus creating a identical card (which is what I want) ??
 
I have the lowrance HDS lake insight , I believe I already have most of that info(Inland Lakes) on my unit already, what I am after is the platinum card with 3D for the western Great Lakes and also for South West Florida , I think the mapping and info is already great on my HDS , but I do like the satalite overlay imagery and 3D , also the marina , currents, tidal info on the Platinums , its not priority , friend said he would loan them to me , but would be nice to have cards of my own , the great lakes /Western lakes Platinum runs about $350-$380. pricey , gotta love how they split the states up , they have you by the balls ,I live in northern Illinois, alot of boating in both Wis and Illinois , but the Wis/Ill border is two different regions for these cards
 
I can say with some degree of certainty that you CANNOT share Garmin Map cards between units.

My boat took an indirect lightening flash last summer that blew out my Garmin 3006c chartplotter. After contacting Garmin I found that they would repair/replace the unit for a flat fee of $310.00 utilizing a refurbished model if mine was beyond repair. I figured that this was an acceptable way to get back to where I was considering the bath I took from the insurance company.

Being a relative novice with these devices I also figured that I could just "swap" the map card into the new unit and be on my way. BBZZZZZTTTT!!!! Wrong answer!! Apparently when you purchase the maps from Garmin they set-up an account of sorts and let you upload the maps into 2 devices. This 3006c was in the boat when I purchased it and the PO gave me discs with the maps and the "unlock codes".
These codes ,as it turns out , are unit specific. Each map requires a 25 digit alpha-numeric unlock code that will only be recognized by the unit it was generated for. To get my new unit to work (and I have yet to test it due to winterization) I had to contact Garmin. They first traced the returned units S/N and then the Refurbished units S/N to see that the maps would still be only utilized by 2 units understanding that they determined the original to be DOA. They then had to contact the PO ,whom they generated the original map codes for, to get a verbal that I had legally acquired the original Garmin unit the codes were created for.

Once he gave his blessing ( Although when I texted him he told me he would thank them for locating his stolen unit and to send the FBI. Funny Guy!) Garmin then had to generate a New 25 digit code for each map that I have to enter into the maps that I have uploaded onto my computer from the disc's I had originally received from the PO. Once this is completed (I have to unlock over 20 maps at a retail value of over $1000.00) I have to upload the info into my SD card and plug it into my Refurbished Garmin 3006c.

So the moral of the story here is: Just buy what you need and you will avoid a bunch of headaches and disappointment!!

Good Luck!
 
tdschafer said:
I can say with some degree of certainty that you CANNOT share Garmin Map cards between units.

My boat took an indirect lightening flash last summer that blew out my Garmin 3006c chartplotter. After contacting Garmin I found that they would repair/replace the unit for a flat fee of $310.00 utilizing a refurbished model if mine was beyond repair. I figured that this was an acceptable way to get back to where I was considering the bath I took from the insurance company.

Being a relative novice with these devices I also figured that I could just "swap" the map card into the new unit and be on my way. BBZZZZZTTTT!!!! Wrong answer!! Apparently when you purchase the maps from Garmin they set-up an account of sorts and let you upload the maps into 2 devices. This 3006c was in the boat when I purchased it and the PO gave me discs with the maps and the "unlock codes".
These codes ,as it turns out , are unit specific. Each map requires a 25 digit alpha-numeric unlock code that will only be recognized by the unit it was generated for. To get my new unit to work (and I have yet to test it due to winterization) I had to contact Garmin. They first traced the returned units S/N and then the Refurbished units S/N to see that the maps would still be only utilized by 2 units understanding that they determined the original to be DOA. They then had to contact the PO ,whom they generated the original map codes for, to get a verbal that I had legally acquired the original Garmin unit the codes were created for.

Once he gave his blessing ( Although when I texted him he told me he would thank them for locating his stolen unit and to send the FBI. Funny Guy!) Garmin then had to generate a New 25 digit code for each map that I have to enter into the maps that I have uploaded onto my computer from the disc's I had originally received from the PO. Once this is completed (I have to unlock over 20 maps at a retail value of over $1000.00) I have to upload the info into my SD card and plug it into my Refurbished Garmin 3006c.

So the moral of the story here is: Just buy what you need and you will avoid a bunch of headaches and disappointment!!

Good Luck!
Click to expand...

HOLY CRAP !!! that is a ****ty story , all for mapping cards , what a PITA I got agitated just reading it , I may just buy what i need ,lol
 
fasttoys7619 said:
quote_icon.png
Originally Posted by Tonka BoaterAs for copying....you can copy the files off the card but I don't think it will work if you can copy those file to a blank card. I'm pretty sure the card itself has protection that can't be copied over.


so what you are saying , you cant copy over the info( which I DO NOT want) , but a cards info can be copied to another card , thus creating a identical card (which is what I want) ??
Click to expand...

A Garmin user can copy the data on their Garmin card onto whatever media they want to keep a back-up copy of the data on hand. This media will not work in ANY device as it is tied to the actual SD card from Garmin. This is to restore the data on the original Garmin card should it become corrupted.

MM
 
MonacoMike said:
A Garmin user can copy the data on their Garmin card onto whatever media they want to keep a back-up copy of the data on hand. This media will not work in ANY device as it is tied to the actual SD card from Garmin. This is to restore the data on the original Garmin card should it become corrupted.

MM
Click to expand...


Correct
 
I'm not sure what you mean Mike/Tonka.
Are you talking about the maps that the PO made onto a disc for me? That is definitely a copy as I believe some of the maps were bought online & downloaded.
Again I am a real novice with this stuff.

The way it was explained to me is once you have loaded the maps on the card, they stay there. When I download the new information it is really just additional unlock codes that will be added to the card. It was explained to me that the card will maintain the maps and old codes and only add the new codes that will allow it to be used by my new unit. I thought I was going to have to un-install the old codes but I was told -No! Does that mean that if I purchase another set of maps that I can add the codes to this card and share it between multiple units?

I think that I have 2 slots on my unit but, I am not sure what it is for. Maybe if I plot some trips at home? I will really have to play with this thing some more to understand it.
 
tdschafer said:
I can say with some degree of certainty that you CANNOT share Garmin Map cards between units.

My boat took an indirect lightening flash last summer that blew out my Garmin 3006c chartplotter. After contacting Garmin I found that they would repair/replace the unit for a flat fee of $310.00 utilizing a refurbished model if mine was beyond repair. I figured that this was an acceptable way to get back to where I was considering the bath I took from the insurance company.

Being a relative novice with these devices I also figured that I could just "swap" the map card into the new unit and be on my way. BBZZZZZTTTT!!!! Wrong answer!! Apparently when you purchase the maps from Garmin they set-up an account of sorts and let you upload the maps into 2 devices. This 3006c was in the boat when I purchased it and the PO gave me discs with the maps and the "unlock codes".
These codes ,as it turns out , are unit specific. Each map requires a 25 digit alpha-numeric unlock code that will only be recognized by the unit it was generated for. To get my new unit to work (and I have yet to test it due to winterization) I had to contact Garmin. They first traced the returned units S/N and then the Refurbished units S/N to see that the maps would still be only utilized by 2 units understanding that they determined the original to be DOA. They then had to contact the PO ,whom they generated the original map codes for, to get a verbal that I had legally acquired the original Garmin unit the codes were created for.

Once he gave his blessing ( Although when I texted him he told me he would thank them for locating his stolen unit and to send the FBI. Funny Guy!) Garmin then had to generate a New 25 digit code for each map that I have to enter into the maps that I have uploaded onto my computer from the disc's I had originally received from the PO. Once this is completed (I have to unlock over 20 maps at a retail value of over $1000.00) I have to upload the info into my SD card and plug it into my Refurbished Garmin 3006c.

So the moral of the story here is: Just buy what you need and you will avoid a bunch of headaches and disappointment!!

Good Luck!
Click to expand...

fasttoys7619 said:
HOLY CRAP !!! that is a ****ty story , all for mapping cards , what a PITA I got agitated just reading it , I may just buy what i need ,lol
Click to expand...

I agree, ARGH!!!

Todd, that is why you want to make a backup data copy BEFORE you insert it into the Garmin unit, so you have a "virgin" copy that can be written back on the original SD disc without unit info on it. It should then work fine in the new unit. So to recap this as I understand it: if you make a copy of the original Garmin SD disc before any insertion in a unit you could use it in your unit for a week or two, then clear the original Garmin disc and reload the copied software and it would load into your buddies unit. Then you could do that all over to "reset" the card back to original and give it to another buddy as many times as you wish because you are reloading the original Garmin card with clean software. This will not work on any other SD disc as the internal synchronization software from Garmin will not work on a disc with a different serial number. This is what I understood from the research I did.

MM
 
tdschafer said:
I'm not sure what you mean Mike/Tonka.
Are you talking about the maps that the PO made onto a disc for me? That is definitely a copy as I believe some of the maps were bought online & downloaded.
Again I am a real novice with this stuff.

The way it was explained to me is once you have loaded the maps on the card, they stay there. When I download the new information it is really just additional unlock codes that will be added to the card. It was explained to me that the card will maintain the maps and old codes and only add the new codes that will allow it to be used by my new unit. I thought I was going to have to un-install the old codes but I was told -No! Does that mean that if I purchase another set of maps that I can add the codes to this card and share it between multiple units?

I think that I have 2 slots on my unit but, I am not sure what it is for. Maybe if I plot some trips at home? I will really have to play with this thing some more to understand it.
Click to expand...

Todd, These issues may warrant their own thread, as I'm far from an expert.
 
MonacoMike said:
I agree, ARGH!!!

Todd, that is why you want to make a backup data copy BEFORE you insert it into the Garmin unit, so you have a "virgin" copy that can be written back on the original SD disc without unit info on it. It should then work fine in the new unit. So to recap this as I understand it: if you make a copy of the original Garmin SD disc before any insertion in a unit you could use it in your unit for a week or two, then clear the original Garmin disc and reload the copied software and it would load into your buddies unit. Then you could do that all over to "reset" the card back to original and give it to another buddy as many times as you wish because you are reloading the original Garmin card with clean software. This will not work on any other SD disc as the internal synchronization software from Garmin will not work on a disc with a different serial number. This is what I understood from the research I did.

MM
Click to expand...

Mike,
So, if there are "NO" unlock codes on the sd card it will work in any Garmin unit or am I wrong here? If this is so, what happens after a couple of weeks? Does it lock out after that? I can see why my new unit read the other codes and said "No Way Jose'"!
I didn't have that option because my software was already purchased and processed by the PO. He installed the second copy allowed on his handheld unit. I don't think he cares because he just buys the latest and greatest every other year or so.
I can't believe that Garmin would allow you to just swap the software from one unit to another without the proprietary codes. I thought that it would just not read anything and tell you that it requires the correct "mating" code.
 
MonacoMike said:
Todd, These issues may warrant their own thread, as I'm far from an expert.
Click to expand...

tdschafer said:
Mike,
So, if there are "NO" unlock codes on the sd card it will work in any Garmin unit or am I wrong here? If this is so, what happens after a couple of weeks? Does it lock out after that? .
Click to expand...

When Garmin ships the chip it should work in any Garmin it is intended for, so if you copy the chip before it goes in a unit it will be a "virgin" so if you put "virgin" files back on the chip it should work in any unit as if it was new. I think once the chip and software are put in the unit that is when the unlock codes are put into the software. Maybe the chip has some way to feep track of it??? But I did not hear of it in my research.

MM
 
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