Confused

[AlexB]

Hi,
This is my first posting and of course I am looking for help. I have a Lowrance chartplotter (3500c) and would love to be able to install routes into it here at home as I prepare for the summer season ahead. But I haven't the slightest idea how to go about it - is there anyone out there with the info. and knowledge I need. I am led to believe that I can remove the card from the plotter and set up my desired route on the computer at home before replacing the card back into the plotter. I haven't a clue where to start as I have been given so many different stories on how I should go about it, and every one more confusing than the one before. Do I need to purchase special software to allow me to do this? If so, what is it and how do I go about it??

Alexr

 

[alan_d]

Welcome to the forum.

As far as I understand it, you will not be able to use your computer to programme routes etc. unless you buy Lowrance's (expensive) card reader - an ordinary one will not do.

I have an extra power lead for my Lowrance 5300, so I just bring it home, run it off a 12 volt power pack and play about with it to my heart's content.

Nigel "Refueler" on this forum knows all about Lowrance plotters and with luck you will get a reply from him.

PS You will be more likely to get helpful responses here if the title of your post gives a clue to the content, so Confused About Lowrance Plotter rather than Someone Please Help, for example.

 

[Richard10002]

I have an extra power lead for my Lowrance 5300, so I just bring it home, run it off a 12 volt power pack and play about with it to my heart's content.

I have an extra lead aswell, and am able to power the plotter from a power pack, (Halfords?). However, I have my extra lead connected at the chart table, so I can use it at the helm, or down below.

 

[timbartlett]

IIRC, the 3500 uses an SD/MMC card, identical to those in many digital cameras, in which case you probably already have a reader built into your computer.
But you will probably need dedicated software, because most PCs don't come preloaded with navigation software!
Why not look on the Lowrance website? Lowrance are very good at providing downloadable manuals, even for discontinued products -- and product-specific information from the horse's mouth is likely to be accurate!

 

[BGW]

Do not put a Navionics SD card chart in a standard SD card reader - For one the charts are encrypted, so there will be nothing you can do with the data. and secondly there are many people who have trashed their cards doing so.
Navionics sell a chart planning software and card reader as a package but it's not the best bit of software in the world, and the basic cheaper one will not let you navigate (say on a laptop).
Fugawi also sell the SD chart reader with their software which can be used as a full blown navigation system.
As a bonus, once the chart is loaded, you can remove it and carry on navigating as a backup in the saloon/cabin, and put the card into your plotter at the helm.

 

[Phideaux]

Do not put a Navionics SD card chart in a standard SD card reader - For one the charts are encrypted, so there will be nothing you can do with the data. and secondly there are many people who have trashed their cards doing so.
Navionics sell a chart planning software and card reader as a package but it's not the best bit of software in the world, and the basic cheaper one will not let you navigate (say on a laptop).
Fugawi also sell the SD chart reader with their software which can be used as a full blown navigation system.
As a bonus, once the chart is loaded, you can remove it and carry on navigating as a backup in the saloon/cabin, and put the card into your plotter at the helm.

I've just had a look at the Fugawi website and it looks like it could be really useful. One question, the site says that you can use the software on scanned versions of your own paper maps, but I couldn't get info on exactly how this works. This would be really useful for me (hiking) as I have a large number of OS Explorer maps at 1:25,000 and they'd cost an arm&leg to repurchase as digital versions.

 

[AlexB]

Thanks for your reply Alan. I would be interested to find out where you acquired the extra power lead.

 

[AlexB]

Thanks timbartlett, I will try contacting Lowrance and see what they can suggest.
AlexB

 

[AlexB]

Hi BGw, I will have a look at the fugawi option and see if I can understand how to operate it.
AlexB

 

[AlexB]

confused

Alan r, I hope you rec. this reply as I am floundering a bit in trying to negotiate my way aroung the site. I am a bit confused between the Reply and the Quick Reply buttons
Alex

 

[BGW]

I've just had a look at the Fugawi website and it looks like it could be really useful. One question, the site says that you can use the software on scanned versions of your own paper maps, but I couldn't get info on exactly how this works. This would be really useful for me (hiking) as I have a large number of OS Explorer maps at 1:25,000 and they'd cost an arm&leg to repurchase as digital versions.

I have never used the scanned chart feature, but as I understand it, once scanned as an image you calibrate it with the software with known lat/long points and then can use the chart in the same way as the standard chart software.
You would either need access to a very large scanner, or software to link many small scans together, and I could never be bothered to go down that route.

 

[ditchcrawler]

I have a Lowrance/Eagle plotter and endorse the suggestions above.I run mine off a 12v ciggy lead anyway and just bring it home and run it off a powerpack to put in routes etc.

 

[BGW]

I have a Lowrance/Eagle plotter and endorse the suggestions above.I run mine off a 12v ciggy lead anyway and just bring it home and run it off a powerpack to put in routes etc.

Before I got the reader and software I used to do the same, but it takes an age if there are many waypoints.
The software on a PC makes it very much easier to plan, adjust, rename etc.
You can see much more of the chart at one time and it saves having to continuously zoom in and out. - I think the cost is worth it based on that plus the ability to have a standy/second plotter at the lower helm if required.

 

[alan_d]

Thanks for your reply Alan. I would be interested to find out where you acquired the extra power lead.

I cannot now remember where I got mine, but if you go to the Lowrance website you will find a link to here. This tells you you need either a CA-8 or PAC-9. Unfortunately they are "unable to accept or ship orders outside the U.S." so you can't actually buy one from them. However, you now have a part number and can either phone up your favourite marine electronics dealer or google for a UK supplier.

Alan

 

[AlexB]

Hi Alan, I found an agent on Lowrance website and have emailed them asking if they can provide a power lead. I await their response.
Alex

 

[AlexB]

Hi Richard10002,
Can you give me any info. on where you bought your additional power lead for your 3500
AlexB

 

[Richard10002]

Hi Richard10002,
Can you give me any info. on where you bought your additional power lead for your 3500
AlexB

From Mailspeed marine in Warrington, in 2006.

http://www.mailspeedmarine.com/

cant see one on the website, but they had a selection of Lowrance cables and accessories at the time.

 

[VicS]

Alan r, I hope you rec. this reply as I am floundering a bit in trying to negotiate my way aroung the site. I am a bit confused between the Reply and the Quick Reply buttons
Alex

The Quick reply button unlocks the Quick reply box. Only the minimum of formatting is possible

The reply with Quote button quotes the whole message at the start of your reply .... as above
It is a PITA if long posts are quoted in full ... but you can edit them.

The Multiquote button allows you to quote several posts ! Dont do it .. please.

The Post Reply button gives you the full reply box ..with all the formatting gizmos, complete with smileys, if you have selected "Standard Editor" in place of "Basic Editor" in "Edit options" in your User CP

Clear now? yeah .. as mud in a wine glass!

Strongly suggest you start by selecting the "Standard editor".

 

[AlexB]

Hi Richard,
I contacted Mailspeed re the 3500c power lead, and they have ordered one for me. Unfortunately they will not be available until April. They also said the model is nearly obsolete, and this would be the end of production of such items. Thanks for your assistance - much appreciated.
Alex

 

[alan_d]

Hi Richard,
I contacted Mailspeed re the 3500c power lead, and they have ordered one for me. Unfortunately they will not be available until April. They also said the model is nearly obsolete, and this would be the end of production of such items.

As that powerlead is common to many different models, I would take that information with a grain of salt ...