Active captain to Garmin transition - what a mess

[knotflying]

Anyone figure this out? It is hard to believe that such a great service created by Jeff and Karen has been so disrupted. Everything seems to be misaligned. If I go on Bluecharts (which is now discontinued, but supposedly still available to past owners) on my ipad or iphone I can't log into active captain. I also can't download the new active captain app on my ipad and I get a message saying "Garmin ActiveCaptain isn't compatable with my device". When I go to my desktop (windows) and sign into Active Captain I get redirected and then I am on a totally different page with no directions on how to use it or access info. Kudo's to Jeff and Karen for making a deal that worked for them and they deserved it for all of their hard work, but it looks like it will be at the expense of the end user. Very sad.

 

[Irish Mist]

Sadly lately, we are living aboard and not doing any real cruising ....so although I have been following lots of discussions on a few sites about Active Captain, it has not been an issue while attached to the dock.
I did however see a post about Aqua Map which I downloaded and seems to have all the Active Captain info on it. The down side is some of the maps are pictures of the charts which is fine for me.. cost was $35.

 

[Red Raven]

I continue to use BlueChart. New reviews are still added to the data even though I can’t log in. Maybe you only need to log in if you want to add your own review. I am hoping BlueChart will continue to work like this until the Active Captain mess is resolved. Incidentally I was told by Garmin I updating my iPad IOS would break BlueChart. Didn’t happen. I have upgraded to the latest IOS no problem. I suspect what they meant was that they weren’t doing anything to make sure it was compatible with updates. Doesn’t mean it won’t work. Don’t delete it though because you can’t get it back.

 

[knotflying]

Spoke to Garmin. The new Garmin Active Captain was only a beta. They now have launched it, but......... it has not yet been approved by Apple. Therefore, you cannot download the App yet or sign into Active Captain if using BlueCharts mobile. BlueCharts Moble is no longer available, but if you have it, you can use it. If you delete it or lose it you cannot re-download it. Also you should get Garmin Express. This allows you to register all your devices and maps so if you lose them there is a record of what you have purchased and then it is a matter of just downloading again to an SD card. In order to "register" your devices you need to have copied your map files from your Chartplotter, then open up Garmin Express, then "ADD Device" If you have several of the G2 vision cards (The scary part) you have to delete the device XML files first which are automatically copied to the card on initial insertion. If these files are not deleted from the card first then the program thinks you are trying to register the original unit again. The Garmin Tech was very sympathetic to our plight and very helpful. I felt a bit more confident after our conversation.
The desktop version of Active captain was also explained a little. When searching you have to be specific. I would also recommend opening the "show marker" tab before doing a search because when you hit enter all you markers on the map disappear and you can't click the "clear search" link unless the show marker tab is opened. A bit awkward, but hopefully more progress in the future. Also some of the features like measuring a path etc. seem to have gone away.

 

[BB marine]

This was posted on the AGLCA this week .It helped me. I have an Apple notebook so the App is not available . I logged on thru the Active Captain web site and was able to register and set up my profile again. I used my old log in. Satellite or NOAA mapping is available . Its not really user friendly yet because I think it is a work in Process. I use Safari as my default search Active captain didn't work as well so I tried Google Chrome it seemed to work better. I have the site saved in Google Chrome and use Active Captain with the notebook. We have a 7600 series plotter so the active captain app on the iPhone or iPad is like having Bluecharts of old only better. All charts are loaded on each, mirroring is done just by hitting helm. Updates are done almost automatic. When updates are available I receive an alert, down load it on my phone .When I get onboard turn the Garmin on ,hit active captain it links to my phone and the updates are done. I'm keeping my fingers crossed this continues to work and issues are not developed from this. Right now its a work in progress. I'm hopeful when its all completed and the bugs are worked out it is going to be better. Most all of us on this site have Garmin equipment so I'm hopeful it turns into an upgrade from the old.

Posted on AGLCA
https://www.panbo.com/garmins-new-activ ... whats-not/

 

[BB marine]

This weekends experience with Garmin, Active Captain App on 5S phone and iPad and Mac book pro.

I received a notice from active captain that I have a update available for Garmin 7612. I opened active Captain app and downloaded the update using my 5S phone. The update loaded and then indicated it was ready for transfer.I also down loaded the update on the iPad ,also indicated it was ready for transfer. When we arrived at the boat I turned on the Garmin 7612, opened the active captain app on the 5S turned active captain on (7612) both linked, I proceeded to transfer the update, I continued to get a message "not enough room in SD card". I have the required 32GB SD card. After several attempts I tried the iPad, iPad linked to Garmin and transfer started. It took approx 1/2 hour to complete the update so far so good but to early to tell if there are any glitches. I honestly think it was easier to the old way to update.

Active Captain using iPad and 5S. I have the active captain information on both but it will not update. Last update was 4/26/18. I have it set to auto update but that is not working. Yesterday I added a comment (Active captain) to an anchorage while using the iPad it auto links to (activecaptain.garmin.com) I put my comment in. It shows up on the Web site but not on the iPad app. which is our Active captain resource while cruising.

Active Captain using Mac Book pro. activecaptain.garmin.com ( using Safari doesn't work good) ( using Google Chrome, better) When the site opens up it asked do you want it to see your location (yes) It shows I'm in Nebraska ! Go to search enter a location with amenities needed 50/50 chance it will show all the marinas and anchorages. I did it 10 times and it would show everything , no markers ,then half the markers.
It all works but it is very inconsistent. I'm not sure If I'm doing it wrong or if it just doesn't work right. When I get everything to work right and repeat the search it doesn't repeat.

I have been playing with all of this since the Ranger rendezvous in Florida this winter. The Garmin Rep. made it sound easy and awesome. I want easy and Awesome :shock:

 

[avpilot]

Thanks, Mike, for the info on Garmin BlueChart Mobile and the reason why we are unable to LogIn/update Active Captain in the BlueChart app. Our AC updates are current as of 22 days ago. Hopefully, this is a temporary glitch and we can survive the summer with less-than-current reviews. We are steadfastly holding onto BlueCharts and will keep a death grip on it until we eventually get backed into a corner and using it becomes untenable. We were glad to see Mark's review of the Aqua Map app. This morning on the Active Captain Facebook page I saw Jeffery Siegel's recommendation for Aqua Map. Thus, we forked over the $US30 for "unlimited and never-to-be cancelled" updated charts for the US and Canada. We now have a back-up to BlueChart (which has been the trusty back-up to the Garmin chartplotter on our Ranger). The Aqua Map feature to upload then delete segments seems like a positive move. You don't need to fill up storage space with charts not in use.

Kate and Gregg
Santolina, R25SC

 

[ixlr8]

I have Active Captain on my iPad, I had no issue updating my maps to my Garmin 7612. I also had a note that there was an update to the 7612 available, I chose to not download that update as I thought I had read there was some issues with it. I wanted to verify before uploading. Active Captain indicated there was an update to AC information, I tried to upload that information, it said downloading 0% and then update available screen pop-ed back up. No download occurred. My last AC info update was May 22.
Several times lately when trying to get my iPad to communicate with my Garmin, even though I have a WIFI connection between them, they won't talk to each other. I need to shut off the iPad and restart it before they will talk to each other. Typically my iPad is asleep when I get on the boat, it is not powered off.
The Active Captain app certainly needs more work, it is not really ready for prime time in my opinion.

I downloaded Aqua Map and found for some area's it works well with good maps, other area's we want to go to, the maps are terrible with no detail at all. Yes I did download the maps for that area. I find this to be unacceptable and find the money spent a waste.

 

[CLF]

THIS JUST RECEIVED TODAY FROM GARMIN.....




Dear ActiveCaptain Community Members,

The new ActiveCaptain® website was launched on May 23 and included required privacy protection updates. As a result of this update, you may be experiencing sign-in issues. We're also aware of problems with updating the ActiveCaptain Community data within ActiveCaptain and BlueChart® Mobile applications.

We know that this is a terrible inconvenience to the community, and our technical teams have been working around the clock to address these issues. We are targeting to have these problems fixed by Monday, June 18.

We will provide you with another email update once the issues have been fixed.

As a reminder, due to the same privacy protection rules that required us to make changes to the ActiveCaptain website and related ActiveCaptain mobile applications, we were unable to make these changes in Homeport™, which resulted in the permanent removal of the ActiveCaptain Community.

We regret the impact this has had on the community, and we are committed to getting things back up and running as quickly as possible. We appreciate all that you put into the community as well as your patience as we work to resolve these problems. Rest assured that we are committed to building your trust in us and to expanding the ActiveCaptain Community.

Sincerely,
Garmin Marine Team

 

[dclagett]

Craig,

Thanks for the update, I will be interested in hearing how folks like the software once Garmin completes the upgrade. Currently I am unable to use Active Captain data on my chart plotter since it is not WIFI capable. I would need to upgrade my equipment and at the present time I can't justify the cost. The last time I used Active Captain was on our trip south a few years ago from Norfolk, VA to Daytona Beach, FL on the ICW. I felt the AC data was a mix, some good and some not so good, both for hazards and marina data. I understand that the AC data in the last couple years is now vetted rather than raw crowd data without review so I would expect the data to be improved. Once I do upgrade my equipment I will try again.

It was great meeting you this past weekend at the Pocket Yacht Knot and hope to see you out on the Choptank.

Dick

 

[William Thomas]

I was just about ready to download AC onto my I-Pad and I-Phone as well as the Garmin Chartplotter.
Sounds like I should wait until after the 18th.

Bill T.

 

[knotflying]

Another interesting note, I have an iPad 4th generation bought in 2012. Apple no longer updates the software on that iPad. I tried to download the Active Captain App on the iPad and I got a message that the app is not compatible with the device. I wonder if it is part of the Garmin issue or an operating system issue. I guess I will know after 06/18

 

[Cutwater28GG]

the new Garmin AC app needs iOS 11 or later.

 

[knotflying]

Hopefully that is not the case for Garmin Blue Charts and Active Capatain combo.

 

[Cutwater28GG]

whilst I dont know I woudnt keep your hopes up. the train of upgrades rolls on and is fueled by apple. Apple wants people on the latest HW and use the SW release schedule to keep everyone moving forward.

even if Garmin has no motivation to actively block old versions its an economic situation. They have to make sure their app works on the latest version of iOS. if there is significant cost managing the source code for two different versions they will force people to use the latest version of the app.

 

[avpilot]

After a couple of months of being unable to log-in on my iPad to ActiveCaptain (AC) onto Garmin BlueChart Mobile, it appears Garmin has fixed the problem. I was able to log in and update AC! When I first logged on to AC in Settings in MobileBlue Charts I hit Update and it appeared to be working. But after several minutes "in progress" turned into "interrupted." So, I hit Update again and was presented with the options to "cancel" or "delete." Select "delete." Log back in and you get the choice of "cancel" or "download." Hit "download." This process took over an hour to complete, so don't do as I did - starting the process at 11:30pm! But, hey, Active Captain is updated. Even though the BlueChart Mobile maps won't be updated, I can live with updated Active Captain.


Kate and Gregg Dohrer
Santolina, R25SC

 

[BB marine]

In the last week Active Captain has been coming around. I was able to down load the latest updates to the Garmin 7612, Course Computer Unit( GHP Reactor) auto pilot, And GMR 24XHD radar using my iPad to download and transfer to onboard Garmin electronics. It worked flawlessly this time. I was also able to down load current 6/23/18 Active captain information to the iPad and transfer this information to the charts in the 7612. Now the charts in the 7612, iPad , and 5S all have current active captain information. Finally I was able to log into the active captain on Garmin Blue chart. After Logging in I was able to down load ,at least I thought. It lasted about 5 minutes and then said interrupted. I have done the repeat many times with the same result. I just read Kate and Gregg's post and repeated their suggestion and Active Captain is now updated to my Blue Charts. I'm sure there will be a few more glitches in the future. Once all the is done and we all figure out how to use all the new features and resources it will be a good product. Thank you Kate and Gregg for the suggestion. It worked!

After a couple of months of being unable to log-in on my iPad to ActiveCaptain (AC) onto Garmin BlueChart Mobile, it appears Garmin has fixed the problem. I was able to log in and update AC! When I first logged on to AC in Settings in MobileBlue Charts I hit Update and it appeared to be working. But after several minutes "in progress" turned into "interrupted." So, I hit Update again and was presented with the options to "cancel" or "delete." Select "delete." Log back in and you get the choice of "cancel" or "download." Hit "download." This process took over an hour to complete, so don't do as I did - starting the process at 11:30pm! But, hey, Active Captain is updated. Even though the BlueChart Mobile maps won't be updated, I can live with updated Active Captain.


Kate and Gregg Dohrer
Santolina, R25SC

 

[knotflying]

Yes, finally! It even works on my ipad that cannot take the ios updates any longer. Jeff and Karen did a great service to the boating community with the creation of Active Captain. Hopefully Garmin will continue to support it.