Garmin Mapsource compatibility

[impact30]

Hi all.
I need a new chartplotter. I had a garmin (now broken) with 3 datacards, a writer and mapsource CDs which I still have.
I do not want to buy a new bluechart g2 plotter as I will have to purchase a lot of expensive sd cards to go anywhere far plus the hassle of looking after all these cards.
I have been looking on the net and have seen some older type garmin units which were originally designed for use with mapsource on garmin datacards, now for sale refurbished by garmin, but advertised as for use with g2 charts.
A specific example would be a 292c or that family.
Does anyone know if these plotters can be used with the mapsource garmin datacards?
I don't want to make an expensive mistake.
Padraic

 

[RestlessL]

I had a Garmin 292, and used this with both MapSource generated datacards, and a pre-loaded G2 datacard, so the basic answer to your question is yes, it can be used with the datacards.

There is, however, a big BUT.

To get the chart plotter to read the MapSource generated card you need a licence key that is specific to the individual chart plotter. Garmin used to supply 2 keys for each CD so you could produce data cards which could be read on 2 plotters. However, Garmin have also withdrawn support for the MapSource CD, so I would check with them that they will still issue you with an unlock code.

You should still be able to buy the G2 pre-loaded datacards - but the latest ones are 2008, and there seems to be some debate as to whether Garmin will continue to support this format in the future (see an earlier thread on this forum). Garmin told me that they will, but have told others that they won't.

Hope this helps a bit.

John

 

[impact30]

Thanks John
It does help but the unit I was thinking about has been refurbished by Garmin.
Is it beyond the bounds of possibility that they may have updated the firmware so that it will now not recognise mapsource generated datacards?
I have still licence for 6 charts to use.
Padraic

 

[fergie_mac66]

Thanks John
It does help but the unit I was thinking about has been refurbished by Garmin.
Is it beyond the bounds of possibility that they may have updated the firmware so that it will now not recognise mapsource generated datacards?
I have still licence for 6 charts to use.
Padraic

I think you might find that is the case just a guess

just my .02 p

 

[RestlessL]

Thanks John
I have still licence for 6 charts to use.
Padraic

I think you wil find that those licences are specific to your old chartplotter. The get the charts to run on any new chartplotter you will need the unlock code, which you get from Garmin after giving them the unit's serial number.

They used to allow you to run the charts on a 2nd chartplotter for no additional cost (you still needed to get the code from Garmin), but I not sure if this is still the case since Garmin withdrew support for the CD version.

The pre-loaded charts should run on any Garmin Chartplotter - my G2 card ran on my 292, as well as a 3005 and 3006, but data cards I gererated for the 292 would not run on the 3005 or 3006.

As you may gather, I will not be very happy with Garmin if they do withdraw support for their datacards.

John