Garmin questions Please help

[TopShelf]

I just got a new custom boat and the electronics are not working the way I want them to. Here are a few questions. I have a Garmin 4212, 4208, GSD-22, 2kw in hull transducer, Seperate temp ducer, Weather satalite thing, open array radar, 3205 in tower, and simrad ap28.

I bought a 512 MD SD Kingston Card. Down loaded the updates on the card and when I put it in the machine is said no garmin data card inserted or something like that. What did I do wrong

My builder said he could not get the machines to share info unless he used the network expander which I see but I thought you could plug into the back of the machines. Is this true. Can I put the temp tranducer into the back of the machine or does it have to go into the back of the gsd22 which already has the 2kw transducer. Do I need another gsd22.

I would like to be able to look at the 4208,4212 and the 3205 and see all away points, bottom machine, temp and radar. Is this possible.

I think I need an experienced garmin tech in Fort walton beach Destin area to come to my boat. Does garmin have train techs or do I just call someone and hope they know what they are doing.

Thanks

Josh

[SeaSwirler23]

did you actually put the software update onto the card or the zipped file containing the software update on the card? Dowload the zipped file to your computer, then unzip it, it should find your card reader automatically and put the files on the card. The machine can't unzip the files itself.

[Capthorace]

I bought a 512 MD SD Kingston Card. Down loaded the updates on the card and when I put it in the machine is said no garmin data card inserted or something like that. What did I do wrong

Did you first put the card into the Garmin and turn it on? This will program the card. Now download the updates and it will recognize the "Garmin card".

[LI32]

If the temp ducer is a NMEA 2000 unit, just plug it into the NMEA 2000 network - if not, I don't know.
You should not have needed a port expander as all 4200's have 3 ports - the radar and gsd would plug into the 4212; the xm and 3205 into the 4208; and the 4208 into the 4212. The AP28 uses NMEA 0183 data for in/out that would go into 1 unit (4212).
As far as updating, unless you unzip the updates with the Garmin download program, it won't work.

[gdfisher]

LI32 - the newer Simrad Autopilot computers talk NMEA2000, not NMEA0183. They can talk NMEA0183 via an adapter.

[bluewaterpirate]

1. Ensure all software updates are down to each unit. Procedure already talked about. Get a larger SD card 2 gigs you'll need it to back up your wpts, rts, trks.

2. You'll be running whay is know as an expanded network. The 4212 & 4208 mfd's each have three network connection ports and the 3205 one .... more than enough connectivity for your network.

3. Not sure if your running a NMEA 2000 backbone but if you are it needs to be connected to it's own power source. If you are and have the NMEA 2000 GPS 17x antenna then it will be plugged into this 2000 backbone. If you have the standard GPS 17 antenna the it will be connected to a power source and connected to your 4212 via NMEA 0183 connectivity.

4. If I were your I woukd connect your radar and XM weather modules to the 4212 ands your sonar (GDS 22) to the 4208.

5. Next ensure your network is functional .....

a. connect the 4212 to the 4208 and the 4208 to the 3205 using the network cables.

b. power the 4212 up first then the 4208 followed by the 3205.

c. your simrad AP has to be connected to one of MFD's via NMEA 0183 connectivity. My recommendation would to connect it to the 4212.

After you do that read pages 37 & 38 of your owners manual that came with your 4212 or 4208.

Because you have your AP & DSC VHF radio's connected to one your mfd's via NMEA 0183 connectivity if so you'll have to turn the DSC functionality on and ensure your comm ports are set correctly.

I have a question .... did the folks that built this boat install the electronics if so they did a poor job!

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by Capthorace

I bought a 512 MD SD Kingston Card. Down loaded the updates on the card and when I put it in the machine is said no garmin data card inserted or something like that. What did I do wrong

Did you first put the card into the Garmin and turn it on? This will program the card. Now download the updates and it will recognize the "Garmin card".

Yep you have to do that so the unit can format the card to Garmin's specifications.

[ElyseM]

the 3000 series may need a garmin propriety card for the updates. (the 3000 is the older card)

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=685

you should contact garmin to see if the 3000 will take a remote software update via the 4000. if not, you need the separate card.

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by bluewaterpirate

.......................
I have a question .... did the folks that built this boat install the electronics if so they did a poor job!

A person or company shouldn't be installing electronics if they don't know how to set them up so that they work correctly.

And why would they sell someone two 4XXX series units and one 3XXX (older model) unit?

[TopShelf]

Yes the people that built the boat installed the electronics. I should have done it differently but what is done is done. I got the 3205 do to space and wanting to see everyting on the screen. The 3205 is in the tower. If I had room for the 4208 I would have put it.

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by TopShelf

Yes the people that built the boat installed the electronics. I should have done it differently but what is done is done. I got the 3205 do to space and wanting to see everyting on the screen. The 3205 is in the tower. If I had room for the 4208 I would have put it.

If they supplied the electronics, they should be responsible for making them work even if they have to hire an outside contractor to do it. If you brought the electronics to them, it's probably your responsibility. Or you could negotiate the cost of an outside contractor.