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Random Quote: If you cant take the sea's get into a cat.
In my opinion, depending on where you boat, yes! I purchased a closeout from Defender for $25...
__________________ - Chris
Guess What?? I got a Fever.. And the only prescription is.. MORE COWBELL!
-2011 Blue Wave 2400 Pure Bay / Yamaha F300 4.2 with Command Link Plus
-2003 Sea Fox 195 Bayfisher - Mercury 125 Saltwater Classic (Sold)
-1994 Wellcraft V-20 Step Lift (Sold)
Yes, very much worth it. I won't ever have a garmin in my boat without one. Plus, on my unit, it unlocks a bunch of additional features.
the difference in the two cards you referred to is the area that they cover. Go to the Garmin website and it will highlight the areas each card covers, then you can decide. I got the one that basically covers the entire gulf of mexico so that no matter where i go around here, I will have coverage. It was extra, but worth it.
Do you leave the card in the gps unit or do you install it into the gps?
Leave it in..
__________________ - Chris
Guess What?? I got a Fever.. And the only prescription is.. MORE COWBELL!
-2011 Blue Wave 2400 Pure Bay / Yamaha F300 4.2 with Command Link Plus
-2003 Sea Fox 195 Bayfisher - Mercury 125 Saltwater Classic (Sold)
-1994 Wellcraft V-20 Step Lift (Sold)
I got 1 chip that covers the whole gulf and 1 that covers the Atlantic coast. IMO the Garmin would be almost useless without it
Agreed, wish they would alter their code to where we, the customer, didn't have to swap out chips when going from inland lakes to coast and the associated regions. I have 3 regions right now, 3 cards...
Be sure to Copy/Back them all up on your PC - call the folders what the chips are so as not to get them confused (i.e. "inland lakes")
__________________ - Chris
Guess What?? I got a Fever.. And the only prescription is.. MORE COWBELL!
-2011 Blue Wave 2400 Pure Bay / Yamaha F300 4.2 with Command Link Plus
-2003 Sea Fox 195 Bayfisher - Mercury 125 Saltwater Classic (Sold)
-1994 Wellcraft V-20 Step Lift (Sold)
Agreed, wish they would alter their code to where we, the customer, didn't have to swap out chips when going from inland lakes to coast and the associated regions. I have 3 regions right now, 3 cards...
Be sure to Copy/Back them all up on your PC - call the folders what the chips are so as not to get them confused (i.e. "inland lakes")
The back up would not work on another sd card. Just the one it came on. Its matched to the serial number on the card.
The back up would not work on another sd card. Just the one it came on. Its matched to the serial number on the card.
This is correct. The backups will work for HomePort (Garmin's PC software) though. You have to back the cards up to another card. HomePort cannot read the maps from a hard drive.
I got 1 chip that covers the whole gulf and 1 that covers the Atlantic coast. IMO the Garmin would be almost useless without it
That depends on what Garmin plotter you have. A 40XX or 50XX has no internal maps and would need a map card for the area you boat in. 42XX and 52XX plotters have detailed built in maps. The G2 Vision card adds some features, but not map detail.
For my use (cruising, not fishing), I don't feel the G2 Vision card was worth it.
That depends on what Garmin plotter you have. A 40XX or 50XX has no internal maps and would need a map card for the area you boat in. 42XX and 52XX plotters have detailed built in maps. The G2 Vision card adds some features, but not map detail.
For my use (cruising, not fishing), I don't feel the G2 Vision card was worth it.
Never disagreed with rwidman before, but I will here. The 42XX and 52XX plotters do indeed have detailed built in maps, but the vision map is far far more detailed than the standard G2 map that they come with. Perhaps you have to be in my part of the world where we have an intricate web of marshes and bayous to notice the difference, but there is a huge difference in the standard G2 and the vision card.
Make sure you check the year of the card. The latest available is G2 Vision 2010. If you get the 2008 or 2009 version, you will be missing out of some nice upgrades.
These are $200-$400 retail though. If you are seeing deals (other than Defender or an established authorized distributer) for $25, well, lets say you can be fairly sure no money is going to Garmin. These chips can be copied.
Support the guys who have put in the late hours to develop this stuff, not some foreign thieves. Just sayin.
__________________
Terry Jason 35, Yanmar 370 hp, Lots of fun at a leisurely pace
Make sure you check the year of the card. The latest available is G2 Vision 2010. If you get the 2008 or 2009 version, you will be missing out of some nice upgrades.
These are $200-$400 retail though. If you are seeing deals (other than Defender or an established authorized distributer) for $25, well, lets say you can be fairly sure no money is going to Garmin. These chips can be copied.
Support the guys who have put in the late hours to develop this stuff, not some foreign thieves. Just sayin.
I tend to agree with you-that's why was asking about this Canadien outfit on eBay for $125.00
__________________ 26' Century CCF w/ twin 200 OX66's
I think you are right that they can be copied, but the copies only work in homeport, not the unit itself.
Nope. They can be copied and the copies will work in the mfd's, but the process takes a few technical backflips, and I won't say how its done. Don't ask me how I know.
The G2 Vision is absolutely a worthwhile investment. If for no other reason, you get updated charts (the base charts are probably 4 years old at this point).
__________________
Terry Jason 35, Yanmar 370 hp, Lots of fun at a leisurely pace
Never disagreed with rwidman before, but I will here. The 42XX and 52XX plotters do indeed have detailed built in maps, but the vision map is far far more detailed than the standard G2 map that they come with. Perhaps you have to be in my part of the world where we have an intricate web of marshes and bayous to notice the difference, but there is a huge difference in the standard G2 and the vision card.
I haven't noticed a difference here. I can say that the G2 Vision chart shows a lot of on land detail that's missing from the built in maps. Streets, marinas, etc. And you can pull up photos of the marina you're about to enter. It might well show marshes and bayous.
I don't have any use for the underwater views, etc. The Auto Guidance feature (the reason I bought the card) doesn't do much for me. There's a narrow ICW cut (Elliot Cut) near me and the Auto Guidance refuses to route the boat through the cut no matter how I set it up. It sends me out to sea every time.
Another thing about the G2 Vision card. It has a limited coverage area. If you ever leave the area, you have to remove the card to access the built in maps. Not an issue for some folks, an issue for others. A trip I have planned, but not taken, takes me up the St. Johns River in FL. Shortly upstream from Jacksonville, the G2 Vision card ends and it will be necessary to remove it to navigate the rest of the way.
Which one of these is better -- Garmin BlueChart g2 Vision VUS513L Bahamas - Florida
or
Garmin BlueChart g2 Vision VUS009R Jacksonville, Key W.
I just got my card in the mail today. I paid 129.00 for it. I came in a small plastic case with a Garmin label on the case. In the case is a micro card and a card adaptor. Neither of them says Garmin. So I'm not sure if they are from Garmin or copies. My boat is in shrink wrap but I have a zipper door so I wanted to go into my boat and try it but I caught a really bad cold. (Probably from cod fishing) so I did the next best thing. I plugged the micro card into my Garmin Oregon 400C hand held GPS.
All I can say is WOW!!! The detailed info that popped up was incredible. I got the Sat. images, 3D views,tons of popup info and alot more. It's actually way too much info for a hand held. I also got all the local roads and POI's on the road too. Mind you, This card will be going in my 5212. It was just neat to see so much info pop up on a 300 dollar hand held unit. This is part of my ditch bag and as a backup to get home in a jamb. I actually did use it once because I lost my tracks on my Raymarine plotter on my last Grady.
So I can't say if it's an original or a copy but it works and was worth the 129.00.
Garmin Bluechart g2 Vision Card Questions 
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