Garmin Data Cards and Handheld GPS units

[WalshamUK]

Can any of the (myriad) discontinued Garmin handheld GPS units take a Garmin datacard and display marine charts onscreen? Note that I mean an actual Garmin datacard (which have themselves been discontinued by Garmin), not a microSD card containing a Garmin chart. Note also that this must be a standalone handheld unit that I can walk about with, battery powered, not a GPS system wired into the boat's power supply.

Keith J.

 

[pagoda]

Can any of the (myriad) discontinued Garmin handheld GPS units take a Garmin datacard and display marine charts onscreen? Note that I mean an actual Garmin datacard (which have themselves been discontinued by Garmin), not a microSD card containing a Garmin chart. Note also that this must be a standalone handheld unit that I can walk about with, battery powered, not a GPS system wired into the boat's power supply.

Keith J.

I have used both Garmin Bluecharts -transferred to microSD and later G2 charts on a Garmin Vista HCx. Not all the G2 charts special extra functions work, but the older Bluecharts worked absolutely fine. Handy in the cockpit at times. No use for any planning, but Homeport is not bad for that, (or even real paper!).

 

[Searider]

Garmin 276c, 278, etc.

Probably the best portable colour plotter ever made. Takes the Garmin proprietary chip with bluechart G1 or G2 maps.

An old Streetpilot iii can also read the chips but is battery hungry and doesn't show depths in different colours.