Navionics - Freshest Data

[Monique]

We have used Navionics charts for a number of years. We now have worldwide Navionics coverage.. (we are doing a RTW). As such when my "freshest data" expired, I only activated the "freshest data" for the area we'll cruise in next year. This is the 3 XG card covering the Caribbean.

However, when I "update", I only receive coarse data. After trying 3 times and not getting High res to work, I contacted Navionics. Following a "teamViewer" session the card is now up to date. BUT, the process is widely different than suggested by the Navionics website.

The customer service person had to define the 3 XG coverage manually. This took some time and frankly, the user should not have to go through this. The download exceeded 1 GB... this is not easily done with the narrow badwidth in marinas...

We commented on this and given the poorly written software, if I was to choose chart cards again, I would give their competition a serious consideration. CMAP perhaps though not sure of their cost.

GL to Navionics "freshest data" users.

 

[Ric]

Agree completely. I have endless problems trying to upgrade "Freshest Data". The process is particularly useless on a Mac because the software author is clearly a windows programmer and has absolutely no idea how Macs are supposed to be organised.

 

[Harry Brown]

I have an issue with updating my card via the Navionics chart installer. After an update of 642MB I remove the card and reinsert just to check, and it says that there is still a 642MB update outstanding.
I contacted Navionics about this because 1, I was not sure if the card was updating correctly with such a large/same update still outstanding, and 2, why download the whole 642MB's again, for each update! Why can we not receive just the updated portion of the chart say 20MB, rather than the same 642!! Crazy, especially when large internet downloads are sometimes tricky to obtain say the least!

This is their response:
Your case has been addressed to the Navionics TEchnical Support.
I'm writing in reference to your notification that after having completed the update in our Webstore and then relaunching the ChartInstaller, the same quantity of updates is shown.
This is due to the system always proposing the entire latest dataset for download and is not caused by any failure of a timestamp verification process of the data actually present on the card.
Any update of the card will always download the entire dataset and replace the one resident on the card.
To assure you do have the latest updates we suggest you to perform an update at least on a monthly basis.

 

[Monique]

After spending much time with their Customer Service, we downloaded my charts. I try to verify the availability of High Res. NADA.

Luckily, Navionics will refund my payment and give me another "updated" card. There is a hitch though.. we are on the boat, no car and their web site will not give me a dealer/address in Lanzarote.

Maddening situation...

 

[Monique]

Latest development... After being quoted €279 for a new card (which had never been inserted in either of my plotters yet) I decided to call Navionics UK and see what we could do..

It so happens the "grand fromage" at Navionics recognized me. We then discussed my problem and we may find a reasonable solution yet.

Stay tuned...

 

[Monique]

SORTED!!! To my great delight but....

I was the one who goofed. We have many Navionics cards aboard and although I am very careful to place each card in its designated area holder, I misplaced the 3XG card (Caribbean coverage) in the Australasia folder. Needless to say, I did not get "detailed" charts from that silly action.

I must give kudos to the UK "grand fromage" to pressure me into doing a thorough investigation... he is a fine gentleman and a VG customer service person. Navionics fully operational again.