How do I use a Nauticpath SD on my pc?

[ianwoods]

I have a Lowrance 3500C which uses a Nauticpath SD card. I have a Trust multicard reader which I bought from Tesco, and have loaded its operating programme from the CD which came with it onto my pc. I can load digital photos etc but it will not let me read the SD on which the Nauticpath maps are held. The computer says it has not got the operating system to open the Nauticpath SD. How can I overcome this problem?

 

[prescott56]

Hiya,
briefly...you can't..
I bought a 3500c with nuaticpath and was more than impressed with the kit. however after waiting 6 months for a reply from lowrance they confirmed that there is no way of reading these charts on a PC, even with the LEI reader and the Mapcreate software. Which is a big pity.
Also i have yet to find a way to upload waypoints via nmea, it has to be done via the SD card, bit messy.
There is a new firmware upgrade on teh lowrance site which states enhanced nmea functionality but have not tried this yet.

Regards
Roy

 

[Guest]

The only PC way to read the Nauticpath chart card is to have the Lowrance Card reader and then only read to the Emulator. You cannot read the charts / card to any other program.

Any generic or other card reader does not have the ID / Code reader set-up that the LEI card reader has. When you put the card in - the reader recognises the Lowrnace embedded code and reads the card. The code allows the data to be used. Use any other card reader and it cannot read that code ... so no data use.

The only bthing you can do with a generic / other card reader is back-up the card contents. BUT you can only re-install the contents back to same identical card ... another one of same size etc. will fail. Why ? It looks for that embedded Card ID ... which is unique to every card.

Yes there are cheat programs out there to over-write card ID's ... but stil won't help you ... !! as you still haven't got their reader !

How do I know this ? Been trying to use card in PC for ages and also had long discussions with Lowrance Technical guys ...

[edit] Forgot to add ... wpts / routes / user data is only loaded via MMC / SD card .... and I prefer to NOT use the Chart card for this ... You can extract chart card while on ... insert YOUR card - written in any card writer / reader this time as usr files etc. are not code dependent ... load usr file ... once loaded .. extract your card and put back chart card .. voila all up and running.

 

[jackho]

I am reliably informed you CAN read the data and display your charts on your PC, plan routes etc. Had it demonstrated at the LBS by an outstanding sales consultant Steve Walker from JK Max marine on the Lowrance stand.
You access the Lowrance website and go into Simulator - this brings up an identical template of your plotter and you operate the menu to display charts etc. on your pc , enter waypoints etc. (Obviously with your SD card in the PC card reader).
You save to card and take pack to boat and download into your unit.
As a footnote - this is a similar process to what you will have to do to download software update eg. When the tide height correction fix is posted in the near future!!?? Hope this helps ... Jackho

 

[Guest]

Read my post .....

The only way to read a card for PC is to use the LEI Card Reader and only program that will use the data is the Emulator ......

This is Copy-Protection issue.

A gerneric or other brand card reader will work - but not to use the chart data .... you can write lcm / usr / at5 files to any card with any reader /writer ... files you make using lcm2mapedit etc. - but Nauticpath card is emdebbed protection.