Transitioning from navionics cf to micro sd cards

[Ostara24]

Just upgraded from raymarine c90w to Axiom pro 2, I have a few cf cards that I would like to get onto micro sd, without having to buy new ones.

Has anyone gone through this? My cf cards are out of date re yearly subscription, so I was thinking of buying an update card, but my navionics chart installer dongle only has a cf card slot so can only upgrade onto cf.

I have asked Navionics online but no response!

Any advice out there?

 

[dunedin]

Not possible without Navionics assistance, as far as I know - try email or phoning them, I have found them very helpful in the past ….

To place your order and/or obtain further advice, please contact your dealer or the Navionics Authorized Distributor in the UK at sales@navionics.co.uk or call 01752 258726.

 

[Refueler]

There are expired but recent cards on eBay at 'sensible' price ... I bought entire Baltic Sea on micro SD for about 50 euros ... its updated till the last of the 2023 updates ...

There are also people selling CF cards .. so you might be able to sell your old CF's while buying in micro SD .. to offset costs.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

As Dunedin states, I don't think it is possible. The Micro SD card with Lighthouse charts comes with a code. As far as I can tell that code is unique to the Lighthouse chart. The Axiom+ reads the code to launch the charts.

The code is on a .txt file on the card, so it is standalone. However, as said, if you don't have the code and Lighthouse chart combination, I am sure it will not work with, for example, a code from my Lighthouse charts copied onto your SD card with the your cf card charts copied over to your SD card.

I may be wrong but I would just copy the charts from your cf to SD card and see if it works, nothing to lose trying.

Raymarines list of partner chart supplies compatible with Axiom Chart Partners | Nautical Charts | Raymarine

 

[dunedin]

As Dunedin states, I don't think it is possible. The Micro SD card with Lighthouse charts comes with a code. As far as I can tell that code is unique to the Lighthouse chart. The Axiom+ reads the code to launch the charts.

The code is on a .txt file on the card, so it is standalone. However, as said, if you don't have the code and Lighthouse chart combination, I am sure it will not work with, for example, a code from my Lighthouse charts copied onto your SD card with the your cf card charts copied over to your SD card.

I may be wrong but I would just copy the charts from your cf to SD card and see if it works, nothing to lose trying.

Raymarines list of partner chart supplies compatible with Axiom Chart Partners | Nautical Charts | Raymarine

You can use Lighthouse or Navionics charts on Axiom plus.
But Navionics cards are security coded. Copying from CF to SD won't work.
Either buy second hand SF card on eBay or as Navionics to send you a new SD card at upgrade price.

 

[Ostara24]

It turns out all I need is a generic multi card reader with both a cf and micro sd card ports, then buy sd update card and go through the usual update process on navionics updater.

Not tied it yet but reliably informed this works.

I will report back for anyone in the same situation.

 

[Refueler]

Can you still get a CF reader ?? especially with other ports as well ?

 

[ithet]

If the Navionics CF cards have never been used to enable a new card you can use them to enable a new Navionics micro SD update card. 100% I have done this. The Update card comes with a new USB - SD card reader and micro adapter. You use the Chart Installer, which will ask for the old card to be inserted to enable the new update card, you can swap the adapters at this point. You can even load software for a different area of the same value.

 

[ithet]

... I have found Cactus the cheapest for update cards:
Navionics Plus Updates Card (SD / Micro SD Card) (NAV-UD-MSD)

 

[Ostara24]

Can you still get a CF reader ?? especially with other ports as well ?

£4.99 on ebay and amazon.

 

[Refueler]

There are expired but recent cards on eBay at 'sensible' price ... I bought entire Baltic Sea on micro SD for about 50 euros ... its updated till the last of the 2023 updates ...

There are also people selling CF cards .. so you might be able to sell your old CF's while buying in micro SD .. to offset costs.

I worked it out that I could buy an expired card each year for 6 years - that has at least recent update on .... and still be in pocket compared to buying a new subscription card.
TBH - that 6 yrs becomes 12yrs as I am content enough to go 2yrs or more on an expired card ...

Oh Lordy Me ... how could he do such a terrible thing !!

OP is looking at about 110 quid for an update card ... that's 2x the price of the card I bought with 2023 update.

 

[Ostara24]

I worked it out that I could buy an expired card each year for 6 years - that has at least recent update on .... and still be in pocket compared to buying a new subscription card.
TBH - that 6 yrs becomes 12yrs as I am content enough to go 2yrs or more on an expired card ...

Oh Lordy Me ... how could he do such a terrible thing !!

OP is looking at about 110 quid for an update card ... that's 2x the price of the card I bought with 2023 update.

Thanks, refueler. That is what I will do

 

[Refueler]

Thanks, refueler. That is what I will do

Make sure you check carefully what Chart set you use in the unit .... check compatibility.

 

[Ostara24]

Will do, ebay is full of them! I take it these are cards that ran out of update time, and were used with a update card to renew subscription, hence making them un-updatable in the future.

Nice little earner for someone, fair play to them.

 

[Refueler]

Will do, ebay is full of them! I take it these are cards that ran out of update time, and were used with a update card to renew subscription, hence making them un-updatable in the future.

Nice little earner for someone, fair play to them.

I'm not up on Navionics subscriptions and how they are ... I have one on my Garmin UHD and Tablet app ... but that's Garmin versions.

All I know is that you cannot update these cards - but for me - I'm happy enough to use them for couple of years - then just buy another later expired chart card. Because I have the Tablet and Boating App with active subscription - I can check one against other and so far have noted no difference whatsoever ....