Furuno GP-3500: FP Card reader

[Topic]

My Waypoints and Routes lists stored on the Furuno GP-3500 plotter are becoming extensive. In order to more easily organize and rename the data as well as add new waypoints, I prefer to use my laptop (Running Windows 7).

I am looking to purchase a card reader compatible with the FP card in my Furuno GP-3500 Plotter on which data is stored as I understand that with an FP Card reader and a blank formatted FP Card, I could transfer the data from the plotter to my laptop. Assuming I can find a program to read this data, I would then re-name and re-organize the data and add new waypoints to the blank FP Card. They would then be transferred back to the plotter using the FP Card.

This is easily done on my other plotter the Garmin 4100, but I prefer to use the Furuno GP-3500 as my main navigating display, but need to find a way of transferring the data.

I understand raw NMEA data is accessible from the rear of the GP-3500 unit but this is unworkable as I don’t want to pull the unit out of the console to access the back every time data is transferred. I understand the data in NMEA format would also be hard to manipulate on a Windows PC. Please let me have your thoughts, ideas and solutions!

Many thanks

TOPIC
Portland

 

[jfm]

Alas the FP card seems to be unique to Furuno and I don't think anyone makes a reader that you can plug into a usb port. Everyone is focussed on SD cards these days as you know

As a left field idea, you could just give up using stored waypoints and routes. In decades of boating with simple and now the most advanced electronics, I've never used them and don't expect ever to.

 

[Topic]

jfm, thanks for your last. The move away from waypoints and routes would be hard for me. As an ex-MN Master I am addicted to the legislation requiring a written plan, berth to berth including courses, distance and waypoints. To me this ensures I am always ahead of the boat in terms of anticipating the next event and tidal/current planning. I do of course divert from plan occasionally, miss out a waypoint etc, but its hard for me to sail without a written plan and the plotter following a route which I know is clear of obstacles. However I don't let the plotter talk to the autopilot! Course change is a command decision!

TOPIC
Portland

 

[mjf]

I'm with you here too. I use the Furuno card system still and its fine for me.

In fact as others may recall when I did my routes and waypoints some years ago now I made a couple of lamanated books that sit on the helm as a back up one has the chart and the other a lat/long waypoint with course and distance - this was useful until the HMSO issued the lamanated yacht folios.

 

[OffScotland]

Is the plotter using the old PCMCIA style cards, the one about a business card size but a bit thicker? I can't find any reference to a GP-3500 but my 3300 uses these cards. I have a reader for PCMCIA but suspect that the Furuno format will be 'special'. My GP-31 has a menu option to transfer waypoint/route info via the NMEA port and I've successfully downloaded, tweaked via Excel, and uploaded via this route. If the 3500 has such options then a once-off refit to have a cable attached to the NMEA socket ending in a more accessible location might be the way forward. Send me PM if you want details of tweaking the waypoint/route data...

 

[Topic]

To OffScotland

Thanks for your reply and no the GP-3500 uses special Furuno FP Cards (. The plotter is still for sale with Cactus (http://www.cactusnav.com/furuno-gp3...p-10239.html?gclid=CK6Q_4q6ibkCFcjKtAodYUAAvg). I like your idea of attaching a NMEA cable but would welcome your advice on manipulating the waypoint/route data in Excel.