Garmin MFD Experts?

[Sticky Fingers]

Garmin's website is a model of complexity and tells me nothing about what could be done, only what each unit can do, so I was wondering if anyone on here knows and understands the current range of Garmin MFD / chartplotters, and can advise on this.

My new boat comes with a single Garmin GPSMap 820 plotter, fitted at the stbd helm. Knowing next to nothing about how all this lot connects together, I'd like to know whether it's an easy task to:

(a) add a second unit at the port helm and use it to display similar or different pages of data;
and/or
(b) replace the stbd one with a bigger one (assuming adequate physical space of course)

Thanks in anticipation.

 

[Tranona]

The 820 (same as mine) has a WiFi facility which I use to pick up the signal on a tablet at chart table which displays exactly what is on the one at the helm.

Garmin help are very helpful, but suggest you spend some time with Dave who does the electronic and electric commissioning for Clipper. He will talk you through the system. However like most "experts" you will need to get your brain into gear to absorb what he says!

 

[Sticky Fingers]

OK, I've not met him yet, I'm down there next Thursday for the handover (all being well) so will try and get some info together then.

Had a very good session with the heating and plumbing guy though, hopefully Dave is up to the same standard

 

[pvb]

My new boat comes with a single Garmin GPSMap 820 plotter, fitted at the stbd helm. Knowing next to nothing about how all this lot connects together, I'd like to know whether it's an easy task to:

(a) add a second unit at the port helm and use it to display similar or different pages of data;
and/or
(b) replace the stbd one with a bigger one (assuming adequate physical space of course)

My Cruiser 37 has an 820, mounted in the aft face of the cockpit table. I believe you can use the ethernet socket on the 820 to link it to a similar plotter, and this will enable some data to be shared. The documentation isn't clear, so a call to Garmin's excellent support people would give you the answers.

Space permitting, you could easily replace your 820 with a 1020, which has the same wiring connections.

As I understand it, the 820's wifi only works with the BlueChart Mobile app (Apple products only) or the Garmin Helm app (which supports Android). I tried Garmin Helm on my smartphone, it works theoretically, but it's incredibly clunky.

The 820 is a well-featured plotter, but you really need to spend a few hours playing with it (with the user manual in front of you) to discover its full capabilities.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Thanks, that's interesting, good to know it's a simple plug and play (plus config no doubt).

I do wonder why businesses are still producing clunky Apps now. No excuse.

 

[Skylark]

I've recently crewed on a 500 mile delivery trip on a boat the same as yours, Graham and it had a pair of Garmin MFDs, one on each wheel. My own boat has Simrad touchscreen electronics so quite different layout/buttons etc. I'm not particularly computer literate but found the Garmin units very easy and intuitive to operate.

The two MFDs were linked, only necessary to enter waypoints to (either) one, for example, and each could be operated separately. Nice plotters.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Thanks, sounds promising