Garmin and Navionics have joined forces in an ever-expanding ecosystem
My Garmin ECHOmap UHD 74cv is a wifi router but does not actually connect to the internet. You will still need your iPhone for the internet/download connection.
Active Captain (mobile app) and Garmin Express (desktop app) will work but require more steps. AT this point I prefer to be old school and use my laptop and MicroSD cards for updates to my chartplotter software and charts to my chartplotter.
This allows you to back up charts to your hard drive by downloading directly from the Garman website, then write to a SD card in your laptop, then install the card into your chartplotter.
OS UPDATES: Updating the operating system only requires 2-3MB of space. Use a smaller 16 MB disk instead of your chart disk if you want to save space on ypoor chart cards.
First download the latest operating system to your hard drive.
Then, update the the chartplotter software using a micro SD card:
- Turn on the chartplotter.
- After the home screen appears, insert the memory card into the card slot.
- NOTE: In order for the software update instructions to appear, the device must be fully booted before the card is inserted.
- Select Update Software > Yes.
- Wait several minutes while the software update process completes.
- When prompted, leave the memory card in place, and restart the chartplotter.
- Remove the memory card.
NOTE: If the memory card is removed before the chartplotter restarts fully, the software update is not complete.
CHART UPDATES: Charts are far more memory/disk space intensive that simple software updates. They are more costly too.
I only have one extra chart beyond the pre-installed US+Great Lakes Detail Map (version: 2020.0) and Quickdraw Contours Starter Map (version: 2021.0). I use VCA501L-Puget Sound-Dixon Entrance (version: 2021.0) for all Western Canadian waters. Vancouver-Island-Dixon-Entrance-Canada-Bluechart-G3-Vision, Part # 010-D0394-00. It currently costs $380 on clearance! These one time purchse charts seem to be on the way out, soon to be replaced by a subscription model.
Garmin is moving to a subscription-based model but I prefer to buy the crarts outright. You will need to use a 32GB card or larger. Be aware that also it may already have Canadian maps, in a folder simply named “garmin” and consume 11.45GB.
My 32GB micro disc also has a copy of the latest 2023.02.080 software (2.09 GB)
Active Captain gives you incremental over the air updates (if you have cell data service) but requires a dedicated SIM card, downloading the update to your phone or iPad, reconnecting to your chartplotter, and installing over the air wirelessly.
Garmin Express is a downloadable desktop app for downloading software and full charts.
Garmin Support
- support.garmin.com
- 913.397.0872 or 800.800.1020, M-F 7am-7pm CST
- Product.Support@garmin.com
