Garmin Updates

[Zagato]

I am just about to buy a 551S, £395 seems to be the best price.


Just found this out you need an SD card first to update, over £200 yeesh! Then you pay £49 for the update which goes in the SD card

Updates are end of Feb and August apparently - I wouldn't bother with paying for constant updates as long as my chart is updated.

The £200 SD card is a bit of a catch though Wonder if you can use someone else's card/update and give them a bit of money .

 

[Enya]

I was under the impression they came with a set of charts on board which one later updated. When I was looking at these models in Force 4 the other day I didnt pick up that it was that expensive. Mind you theirs was on sale for £100 more.

 

[johnphilip]

No you don't

I am just about to buy a 551S, £395 seems to be the best price.


Just found this out you need an SD card first to update, over £200 yeesh! Then you pay £49 for the update which goes in the SD card

Updates are end of Feb and August apparently - I wouldn't bother with paying for constant updates as long as my chart is updated.

The £200 SD card is a bit of a catch though Wonder if you can use someone else's card/update and give them a bit of money .

You do not need a £200 Garmin chart card to update the inbuilt charts in your plotter. Read again some of the posts on the recent "Garmin rip off " thread which you yourself contributed to.
I checked myself with the chandler where I bought my unit and they confirmed the update is applied to the plotter's inbuilt chart itself.
If you go on the Garmin site you can buy the update either as a download to put on your own SD card or buy a pre-loaded update card. I believe that you must format the SD blank card by putting it into your plotter beforehand, this ensures the update is for the correct unit ( and also prevents you sharing updates or charts)

 

[Zagato]

Thanks JP, I will go back and have look at the thread, from memory there was confusion in it so thought I would try and clarify the topic.

I was told the info in my post by two seperate dealers but then they may not be right as they disagreed with basic info such as how many updates there are per year Who do you believe?

Tech stuff is so frustrating, no one seems to know about it, even the blimmen dealers, it's no wonder I stay away from tech toys!

Garmin simply need to clearly write up all the information that is needed to use one of their GPS systems so that customers and dealers don't have to wade through all this confusion.

 

[Plevier]

I'm a bit confused by all this too (thinking about a 750), but isn't it that they are trying to sell you the upgraded charting, g2 or whatever it's called?
Surely the inbuilt standard chart can be updated?