Chartplotter updates

[YukonRon]

I'd like to check for updates for my Garmin 5212 chartplotter, but having trouble. Maybe someone can tell me what I'm missing?
I have the Garmin Express software loaded on my Windows laptop. It says I need an SD card prepared by my chartplotter to tell it what equipment I have. The Garmin website gives the following instructions to prepare the SD card:

Please follow these instructions to prepare your micro/SD card in your Garmin Chartplotter/Sounder:

With your Chartplotter/Sounder powered off, insert the micro/SD card into the device
Power on your Chartplotter/Sounder with the micro/SD card inserted
When the Warning screen appears, choose I Agree
Once "I Agree" has been chosen, your Chartplotter/Sounder has prepared the card.

I've done that, and there is now supposed to be a "Garmin" folder on the card with a "GarminDevice.xml" file in it, but it's not there. I tried several times with different cards; no luck.
What am I missing?
It would be nice if there was a USB port on the plotter to connect it directly to the laptop. Can it talk to a PC through the Network jack on the back?

 

[Lenny and Louise]

Ron,

Lenny has no problems with this -- Louise does it! Here’s the notes I wrote down when Garmin was on our boat a couple of years ago.

1. Go to Garmin.com. Select SUPPORT, SUPPORT CENTER, Device: 5212 (the only choice
2. You should get a picture of the device screen, with 3 choices underneath: Manuals, Software, Change Product. Select Software
3. You’ll see a whole bunch of devices. Yours is there, so no worries.
4. Scroll down to these instructions:
Installation Instructions
1. A maximum size 32GB SD card, formatted to FAT32, with 512MB of free space is needed for this update. Insert that card into the SD slot on your computer. This is not intuitive from the instructions, and I think it is where you are making your mistake
2. Please back up your user data before applying the update. This means if you have routes plotted that you want to save, backup the user data on your hard drive someplace else.
3. Click on 'Download' and choose to save the file to your computer.
4. Choose a location where you can easily find the file, such as the 'My Documents' folder or 'C:\'.
5. Once the download is complete, go to the location where you saved the file.
6. Double-click on the downloaded file. This will automatically extract the files to C:\Garmin and run a program to transfer the software update to an SD card.
7. Now, eject the SD card from your laptop and go down to your boat.
8. Power on the device and make sure all attached network devices are powered on as well.
9. Insert the card into the card slot of your primary device. Select 'Update Software' in the window that automatically displays. If you do not have a primary device with a card slot, please see your dealer.
10. After the update completes, all Garmin Marine Network devices and NMEA 2000 sensors will have the latest software. This ensures all of the devices will be able to communicate with each other.

 

[YukonRon]

Thanks Louise.
I went through Garmin.com -> Maps -> Marine Charts and Maps -> Update, and it takes you to the GARMIN Express software app which supposedly guides you through the registration and update process. It directs you to first "prepare" the SD card by booting the chartplotter with the card installed in the device. The SD card then goes back to the computer where GArmin Express reads the GarminDevice.xml file to recognize the device and look for updates. Garmin Express seems to have no other way to know which device you want to update. This is a whole different process than described through the Support page.
Part of my problem may be that my laptop only accepts a Micro-SD card, and I may be having issues with the adapter/reader I'm using to convert. I'll sort that out and try it again through the support method.
Thanks for the info.

 

[Dale777]

YukonRon,

SD cards usually have a small switch for readonly or read-write on the side of the card. Ensure that switch is set to read-write.

 

[HRowland]

Ron,
You need to navigate a different path on the Garmin website for a software update, not a map update. There is a menu to select obsolete chartplotters in the web chartplotters display. Find the 5212 and click Software.
This is the link that I found to allow download to a SD card. You do not need to use the Express app.

http://www8.garmin.com/support/collecti ... 0-00594-01

This download will have the latest software for the 5212 and the other devices on your marine network.

Howard

 

[nzfisher]

I believe there are no longer updates for the 5212 as it is so long out of production. A call to Garmin would confirm that. Call early and you will get the best customer service in the industry, maybe any industry.

 

[YukonRon]

Success! , well, sort of.
My intentions with all of this was to first update the system software, then check for an update on the built-in chart, then see what supplemental maps I should download to cover our cruising area here in Southeast Alaska. Garmin Express seemed like a good starting point; one stop shopping.
My first step was to replace my old SD card reader. Suddenly Garmin Express was working as it should, it saw the GarminDevice.xml file on the card, and registered my device. Yay!. Then it told me my device is outdated (I knew that) and there are no updates for it. 🙁
So next step was the route Louise and Howard suggested. I went through the Garmin support page and found the latest update file. The table of what was covered for updates in the file did not include the 5212, but I decided to try it anyways in case something on my system pulled an update out. I downloaded the file, it extracted to my card, and with all my devices running I popped it in and ran the update. It did its thing but in the end everything still looks the same; no change to the version information. No big surprise.
The good news is that everything did seem to work as it should once I figured it out. So even though I didn't get an update, any time I learn something new that is a good thing! Now when I'm ready to buy or download a supplemental map, I know how the system works.
Thanks for your help everyone!