Garmin Mapsource software chart detail? - The Hull Truth

Birdman · 08-22-2008, 01:39 PM

Has anyone else noticed the lack of detail on the charts included with the Garmin Mapsource software? I unlocked the NY region (NY004) and the details is nowhere near the detail available on my Garmin 5215 chartplotter. The PC has ALOT more memory and diskspace than the 5215 display, so why wouldn't Garmin give us at least the same level of detail in Mapsource as on the plotters?

In addtion, anyone know why they won't allow the G2 vision chips to be viewed on the PC?? Is it copying issues they are worried about? This is a real bummer, I'd love to do some planning at home with all that data available on the 2@ chips.

I emailed this question to Garmin today, looking forward to a repsonse.

DogTired · 08-22-2008, 04:04 PM

I think you need to purchase the Blue Chart software? Is that standard basemap included inside your unit? I don't think you can upload your maps from the basemap in your unit to the PC..or can you?

I do know that Mapsource software does rely what map files you have installed.

Try this from the main screen of MapSource: Their should be an index box just below your "File,edit, etc" top menu bar. Click on the pull down arrow and it will show the map bases available inside of your installed Mapsource. If so, click on various ones. You probably have someting like Bluecharts ?????. Try that one for your marine mapbase.

Birdman · 08-22-2008, 06:04 PM

I purchased the bluechart software with 1 region, have registered the software and unlocked the region. That is all fine. The drop down menu of maps you are referring to shows me the Bleuchart America's of my region as well as Bluechart Tides and Marine Services or something ike that which lets you search for services. Bummer they can't be selected at the same time, but that is another argument.

The problem I'm referring to is, when you select the Bluecharts America's map, there's just not much detail on the bottom. I have spot soundings under settings turned on, and there is a sounding mark at about every 3 miles or something. The real paper chart this is supposed to emulate has sounding every 50 or 100' or so. So where did this detail go??

And again, why can't we view the G2 Vision data on the PC? THAT is the real data / bathy stuff we want to look at, and plan offshore trips with to find fish. (not that I would know what to do with it!!)

DogTired · 08-22-2008, 07:43 PM

Birdman,

Looks you are in tune and up to date. My version of Bluecharts is v 9.00 but there may be a later version.

I don't use and have not subscribed to G2 vision cartography. Nor do I know if G2 is even available on CD/DVD that would with MapSource on a PC. However, I seem to recall that Garmin once offered a chart set called Bathymetric something.....????

If you are looking for tighter and closer soundings that might be the data you need for MapSource.

I'm a little behind on this, but it does seem to me like Garmin would furnish (or at least offer) a mapbase for your PC software that is the same as what you purchased on your GPS or via a CD/DVD or chip to be used on the GPS. There is map upload feature under communications in Mapsource...have you tried it??? If you are unlocked, it might work for you

I'm also into planning and waypoints based on local knowledge and my fishing experiences. Certain of my knowledge is not yet in the public domain AND I'm constantly exploring new places. This is often done while I'm on the hill and in front of the PC.

So I'm like you, if I shell out a few grand for a new Garmin GPS/Sounder why should I have to deal with a diferent mapbase on my PC.

Let us know what you find out!!!!

pcww · 08-22-2008, 08:51 PM

Birdman...you must have the newest mapsource program installed on your computer. Garmin just came out with this version about a month ago and it wipes out all the detail on the bluecharts. I had to delete the new version and reinstall the old one. -pcww

cboyette · 08-22-2008, 08:59 PM

I talked to Garmin about two weeks ago and they say this is a new problem. They told me a few others had called and they were working on putting out a fix to put the spot soundings back like they were. It seems the latest version of Mapsource does this to the program.

DogTired · 08-22-2008, 10:05 PM

Bird,

Don't get confused about the above posts. Garmin put out a free update some time back for bluecharts where you had to download the mapbase based on your previous unlock codes back into your GPS. The update from Garmin didn't tell updaters that this was required. Had me confused also.

You have to go into MapSource map function and SELECT through the map function all of the maps in the region that is unlocked and send them to your GPS from the computer.

That's what I did.

Has nothing to do with what came with a recently new unit or G2, I don't think.

Your situation was not seeing the same enhanced detail in MapSource on the PC that you saw on the boat. That's what I understood you to say in your original poat above!

Curmudgeon · 08-22-2008, 10:06 PM

In MapSource, pull down the "View" menu, select "Map Detail", make sure it's set to "Highest".

I don't know about newer units with pre-installed cartography, but no Garmin unit lets you download charts from a preprogrammed chip to PC, unless Garmin has gone stupid in the last year or so ...

Birdman · 08-24-2008, 01:18 PM

pcww and cboyette got it!!

Garmin just emailed me back, and confirmed it is a problem / bug in the latest version of Mapsource 6.14.1 which is what downloaded to me on my first install of the program (via an auto-update). So I have never seen anything but this version. They tol me to un-install Mapsource, and gave me a link to download an older version which works correctly. Will try it later...

Dogtired,
This has nothing to do with downloading charts to the plotter or vice versa. It's simply looking at charts displayed on the PC via the Mapsource software. The charts in this version (6.14.1) show absolutely no detail. As per above, it's jsut a bug in this version.