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GPS Software

748 Views 18 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  Twin27Advantage
What software do you use to plot courses and up load into the GPS.
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I use Garmin MapSource - Blue Chart Americas on my PC then upload it to the memory stick then install the stick into my Garmin GPS.

Best way I've found to plot a trip.

There are other threads on here on this subject. If you don't get the answers you're looking for in this thread, do a search for the other opinions on here.
I have a Garmin and bought this stuff after gHart suggested it.

LOVE it - excellent detail and works great.
I have the same stuff. Only problem is I dont know how to use it. I just got it last week, so hopefully I will get the hang of it.
I was looking at the Garmin also but the thing I was concerned about was only getting one region and having to pay extra for more. I have not found out how big a region is or if I would need more then one. I would care mostly about having it from NYC and LI up to MA/Nantucket and of course cover CT coast.
Black Wishbone said:
I was looking at the Garmin also but the thing I was concerned about was only getting one region and having to pay extra for more. I have not found out how big a region is or if I would need more then one. I would care mostly about having it from NYC and LI up to MA/Nantucket and of course cover CT coast.
Simple fix for ya, move to Maryland and you'll have the entire Chesapeake Bay to play in! It is on the BlueMaps CD ROM, just one buy. :blush:
Gladhe8er said:
I have the same stuff. Only problem is I dont know how to use it. I just got it last week, so hopefully I will get the hang of it.
Just play with it and it will come to you eventually. :D
Gil seeing you have the software do you know how the regions work. If I move to Maryland then I KNOW I will need more then one to get back to CT. :laugher:
2
It's a valid concern.

Fortunately for me, I only needed area US006R from the
Bluechart America - North East Coast (cdrom)


From the looks of things, you'd need 006,005,004,003,002 & maybe even 001 ($$$$)

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Black Wishbone said:
Gil seeing you have the software do you know how the regions work. If I move to Maryland then I KNOW I will need more then one to get back to CT. :laugher:
Refer to post #9! :bigsmile:
my confusion is with #4 it looks like it will do NYC to the vineyard which would work. Does it overlap with #3 and #5.
Black Wishbone said:
my confusion is with #4 it looks like it will do NYC to the vineyard which would work. Does it overlap with #3 and #5.
I seem to recall when I bought mine, you access the area of your choice by buying the key to the map areas you want to unlock from the CD ROM.

I only needed the Chesapeake Bay for my boating but I could have bought other keys if I had the need at the same time.

Maybe Hap will chime in, I'm sure he knows the answer.
I'm not 100% sure.
But I think area 4 is the shape I've colored red.
And, area 3 is the shape I've colored yellow.

Please do NOT take that as fact - just a guess.

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MM thats what I was thinking. Does anyone know if Bluecharks America will work with the 545s just to chartplot. every thing I read talks about G2 Vision which is 250 more. I just want plot at home and transfer to the gps. and # would be perfect I think I could find my way to Nantucket

Thanks for all your help
MM thats what I was thinking. Does anyone know if Bluecharks America will work with the 545s just to chartplot. every thing I read talks about G2 Vision which is 250 more. I just want plot at home and transfer to the gps. and # would be perfect I think I could find my way to Nantucket

Thanks for all your help

Cool that was my first double post ever on any forum yeppie
There are some very simple hacks on the net that will unlock any map that garmin sells. Including all of the road maps.

They even include a couple of hacks to allow you to load mapsource without the cd. You then are able to load bluechart americas and unlock all regions available.

Not saying it is right or wrong to do but...its there if you are good with a pc.
As someone who makes his living selling software, that's a terrible thing to do or even suggest!

Having said that (what's the URL) ? :D
As for the 545 - I just don't know.
There is a member here named Hap Hazzard who is a manager
at a West Marine store, and knows this stuff very well.

You might try sending him a PM.
If one were to go searching the net :winker: and accidently typed the following into a search engine: :winker:

Bluechart americas 9.5.zip (hint...thepiratebay.org)

garmin unlock utility.zip (hint...mybittorrent.com)

You need to have sharware to get the bittorrent...easy to figure out.

...purely for entertainment value only!!! :winker:

In no way do I (cough) support doing (cough) this :winker:
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