Marine Electronics Forum - Garmin Blue chip -Chesapeake

OK I got a good deal on a new 162. My first chart plotter/blue chip experience.


Am I reading the Garmin site correctly when I see that I have to both the northeast and southeast region (over $300)to get coverage for my waters?
Looks like the southeast will cover the bay, but to bump over to the Atlantic ocean/near shore, I have to get the NE region.

I can understand a north south cut off, but to have about 200 miles of an area (mid Atlantic) divided between two separate purchases (along an East West line -not North South) seems like a deal killer. My cynical side says the folks at Garmin like the demographics of the DC, Balto, Philly consumer, and they figure they can stick us pretty good with having to buy two regions.

IS there any mapping software that would work on this unit that does not pick this dividing line??


Also, If I decided to get a new unit in 5 years, would I have to repurchase the bluechart software for the new unit?


Thanks. I need to decide if I am being penny wise but pound foolish with this unit. I got the unit with mapsource (seems useless), ac and pc chord for $250

Thanks

Chris

chris the 162 loads right off the bluechart cd, doesnt take a chip
plug the pc cable right into the 162, load the cd up on your pc, and choose the maps you want to load. click upload and your done

you can only load maps up to 2 meg

as to the dividing line it is what it is...unfortunately
mapsource/bluechart is the only software that will work on a garmin unit

to be honest with you though i find the us topo maps more useful than the bluechart maps...no unlock code on those either

Hey chris,


I was not aware the topomaps gave you water depths. Truth is I havn't broke out the unit to mess with yet (two week old son has a way of messing with the best of plans).
I found a Maptech product that offers me perfect coverage (Chesapeake/del bay/ some light offshore) But its 399, and it can't guarantee it works with the 162.

It looks like all the unit I need (I would rather spend the $$ on a color fishfinder), but I would hate to have to add $300 to my purchase price.

BTW My little bro has taken the plunge on and ebay/hurricane sunk Camano trawler. You would be proud.

You have to buy the*Bluechart CD, which comes with an unlock code good for one region.* The Chesapeake is AMR-US006-6.* There is no north/south boundary for the CD option.* Garmin's link for the various northeast zones is http://www.garmin.com/cartography/bluechart/region.jsp?RegionPK=6050&cd=Americas (http://www.garmin.com/cartography/bluechart/region.jsp?RegionPK=6050&cd=Americas).* Garmin price for this CD is $151, but you can get it elsewhere at a much better price.* This is one example:* http://www.brokenlegdave.com/Manufacture/Garmin/software/bluechart_CDROM.htm

You need the Americas CD.* You do not choose the region until after you install the Mapsource software on your PC.* You can unlock your Bluechart*data for one additional GPS, to cover things like upgrading your GPS in the future without needing to repurchase your charts.*

Ahhh, now I get it, I thought I had to buy a NE coast CD and a SE coast CD. I just get the americas, then pay for what I use. That makes more sense to me. I can't seem to find out how big (how many megs) each map download is without buying the CD.
My unit came with fishing hotyspots for lakes and coast, and the waterways/nav CD. Neither appear to have the Depth or contour info I would want.

So i see that Nobletec, Maptec, and a few other software companies have charts that are compatable with Various Garmins.

IS anyone using Software other then Garmin to run their units?

I've got a 162 and have Bluecharts loaded to cover everything from the Bay Bridge down to the CBBT which covers 95% of my boating. If I want to go north of the bridge it's pretty easy to downoad the needed maps on the unit.

cjd - 3/7/2005 8:27 PM
BTW My little bro has taken the plunge on and ebay/hurricane sunk Camano trawler. You would be proud.


how bout some pictures?
quite obviously, of the boat...not john :)

you put john in a tyvek suit, and its tough to tell the diff.


ill look for some digital. the realy good stuff came the day we pulled all the carpet and (literally) crap out of the thing.

chrisD, thanks for the vote of confidence of me in a tyvek suit.............. I have one ready for you should you chose to grace us with your presence. Grand hope all is well. john

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2494955758

:ot: :ot: :ot:

cjd - 3/8/2005 7:49 AMAhhh, now I get it, I thought I had to buy a NE coast CD and a SE coast CD. I just get the americas, then pay for what I use. That makes more sense to me. I can't seem to find out how big (how many megs) each map download is without buying the CD. My unit came with fishing hotyspots for lakes and coast, and the waterways/nav CD. Neither appear to have the Depth or contour info I would want.So i see that Nobletec, Maptec, and a few other software companies have charts that are compatable with Various Garmins. IS anyone using Software other then Garmin to run their units?

Garmins will not display any maps other than Garmin Mapsource products, which includes the Bluechart stuff for saltwater areas, topo maps, street maps, etc. To use one of the other vendor products while on the water, you need a computer running their navigation system, and a GPS linked to the PC to keep your boat's position data current.

The Chesapeake mapset is 9.5 megabytes.