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I do not have a Garmin 3210, I have a Lowrance though I have been using GPS units long enough to know they all employ basically the same map from the same source, USGS Survey so I am sure I can answer this for you. The built in maps are great on all of these GPS unites I have seen but if you want to get custom detail such as small coves or very in-shore creeks, upgrading your map system may be worth it to you. For me it was easy, my unit takes a SD Card. I bought NauticPath USA which gave me so much more detail for only 99.00 dollars, I could not imagine using the unit with out though if you just want basic depths and you’re in the main waters, then you probably won’t ever see the detailed difference. I also use handheld units for hiking and hunting which I have custom loaded maps on as well. When I am hunting Elk out in the mountains of Colorado, I know the more detail I have could mean the difference between finding my way back to camp or not sometimes.
I actually emailed Garmin with this very question and was pleasantly surprised to find out the 3210 already has the main chartography loaded. My problem was that I did not have the detail level set to maximum. Try changing this setting and then see if you get the detail you want/need.
Chris
I have used the 3210 for the summer. The pre-loaded software is actually g1 and a half. The g-2 software contains the sat. images. and is not preloaded. I have the gsd 22 sonar and the sat. weather and radio. It is very user friendly. I have had sonar problems(just found out it is a power cord issue). I have not lost the signal to the sat. all summer. Great screen for daylight usage. I have nothing but good things to say about it. It is definitely worth the money. STAY ONTOP OF THE UPDATES!!!!
I have used the 3210 for the summer. The pre-loaded software is actually g1 and a half. The g-2 software contains the sat. images. and is not preloaded. I have the gsd 22 sonar and the sat. weather and radio. It is very user friendly. I have had sonar problems(just found out it is a power cord issue). I have not lost the signal to the sat. all summer. Great screen for daylight usage. I have nothing but good things to say about it. It is definitely worth the money. STAY ONTOP OF THE UPDATES!!!!
not true...... the 3200 series has all the g2 charts just as you would buy on the chip. The extra chip is for the photos of bridges - I own a 3205 with G2 loaded, a 3010c which is not loaded with anything except base landmass and the G2 photo chip which plugs into either unit.....
Glen I mostly lurk on this site and have read most of your posts. You know alot and I have grown to trust your information. I purchased my 3210 from Boater's World and my sonar and xm from West Marine. I was frustrated with trying to find the sat. images and finally asked the West Marine tech and verified with Garmin(30 mins on hold). The software pre-loaded on my unit does NOT contain the Sat. images nor did they supply a chip for them. The chip was an additional cost.
I did not buy the chip. Joe can verify this information and by the way, he did spend the money for the images and he can tell you if he thinks it is worth the extra money. For me, it is not due to the style of boating.
dematteoss - 8/2/2006 1:39 PM I do not have a Garmin 3210, I have a Lowrance though I have been using GPS units long enough to know they all employ basically the same map from the same source,
Welllll yea, but. What you said is like saying a AAA road map of Maryland is the same as a road map issued by the state of Maryland - wellll yea, but - but there is a BIG difference in these two maps. When you look at the Lowrance and Garmin screens side by side and you will see that there is a BIG difference because of who does the charts for Lowrance; and Garmin, who does their own chart design and manipulation.
dematteoss - 8/2/2006 1:39 PM I do not have a Garmin 3210, I have a Lowrance though I have been using GPS units long enough to know they all employ basically the same map from the same source, USGS Survey so I am sure I can answer this for you. The built in maps are great on all of these GPS unites I have seen but if you want to get custom detail such as small coves or very in-shore creeks, upgrading your map system may be worth it to you. For me it was easy, my unit takes a SD Card. I bought NauticPath USA which gave me so much more detail for only 99.00 dollars, I could not imagine using the unit with out though if you just want basic depths and you’re in the main waters, then you probably won’t ever see the detailed difference. I also use handheld units for hiking and hunting which I have custom loaded maps on as well. When I am hunting Elk out in the mountains of Colorado, I know the more detail I have could mean the difference between finding my way back to camp or not sometimes. Hope I was able to help.
a lot of misinformation here. what garmin includes as a basemap in the 3210 is in no way connected to what lowrance or any other manufacturer includes as a basemap in their gps units. the garmin 2210 (very detailed)basemap is completely different than garmin's own 2110 (just basic geographic outlines). the new garmin 3210 has full detail, including little coves of all covered areas (these areas are detailed on garmin's website). the chip adds high resolution aerial photos (and lots of them) and some extra road detail (no extra detail oflitte coves already in the basemap).
i have the g2 chip and would say it definitely is not needed but the photos have come in sort of handy twice and extrememly handy once in the 2/3 months i've been running it (not to mention the many times it's been just fun to play with). i think it's like any other gadget for the boat, you don't need a color 10" plotter, a 5" b&w would do, but need isn't really why you dump thousands into this stuff anyway.
dematteoss - 8/2/2006 1:39 PM I do not have a Garmin 3210, I have a Lowrance though I have been using GPS units long enough to know they all employ basically the same map from the same source, USGS Survey so I am sure I can answer this for you. The built in maps are great on all of these GPS unites I have seen but if you want to get custom detail such as small coves or very in-shore creeks, upgrading your map system may be worth it to you. For me it was easy, my unit takes a SD Card. I bought NauticPath USA which gave me so much more detail for only 99.00 dollars, I could not imagine using the unit with out though if you just want basic depths and you’re in the main waters, then you probably won’t ever see the detailed difference. I also use handheld units for hiking and hunting which I have custom loaded maps on as well. When I am hunting Elk out in the mountains of Colorado, I know the more detail I have could mean the difference between finding my way back to camp or not sometimes. Hope I was able to help.
a lot of misinformation here.* what garmin includes as a basemap in the 3210 is in no way connected to what lowrance or any other manufacturer includes as a basemap in their gps units.* the garmin 2210 (very detailed)*basemap is completely different than garmin's own 2110 (just basic geographic outlines).* the new garmin 3210 has full detail, including little coves of all covered areas (these areas are detailed on garmin's website).* the chip adds high resolution aerial photos (and lots of them) and some extra road detail (no extra detail of*litte coves already in the basemap).
i have the g2 chip and would say it definitely is not needed but the photos have come in sort of handy twice and extrememly handy once in the 2/3 months i've been running it (not to mention the many times it's been just fun to play with).* i think it's like any other gadget for the boat, you don't need a color 10" plotter, a 5" b&w would do, but need isn't really why you dump thousands into this stuff anyway.
I thought I knew what I was talking about but I guess not. Sorry for the confusion.
Thanks for the great info and clarification guys. From what I have read in the manual the photos and a little more detail were all you gained from the optional cards. I don't think this would be any use to me.
Garmin's maps are NOT the same as the maps from the NOAA. They may start with that, I have no clue, however I can say with 100% certainty they are not the same in the end. The Garmin maps appear to have more detail (humps, holes and such).
Garmin 3210 
