Garmin Chart desupport/failure

[captstu]

I just finished a 45 minute call with Garmin. The results are appalling,

My 5212 is no longer supported. The introduction of Garmin Onechart and the integration with Active Captain caused the desupport. They do not know how much longer the chart cards will be offered for the 5212 or how much longer the charts I purchased will work.

BlueChart Mobile is no longer supported. The existing BlueChart licensed charts will not work on Active Captain Garmin (the new software). New chart purchases are required.

The integration of my user data offered by One Chart does not work on any Apple device and when the Garmin phone consultant tested it on an Android, it had stopped working.

Homeport does not work with the One Chart charts on Apple devices.

The consultant said "Navionics has been purchased by Garmin and will most likely be shut down."

Garmin Blue Chart Mobile still works with the old charts on the existing Apple devices until the IPAD or IPHONE is updated to IOS 11 (High Sierra).

I'm glad they don't make pacemakers. The man advised paper charts.

 

[NorthernFocus]

The upside of modern technology is that it is constantly improving. The downside is rather rapid obsolescence of previous models/versions of things.

My solution is that I don't even use a chart plotter. For GPS/charting I use a laptop, charting software, and free vector charts(or raster if you prefer) downloaded from the NOAA website. There are various choices of charting software out there. My personal choice is Coastal Explorer. It was an early entry to the market and I've stuck with it. I think the software is $400 or so, a reasonable laptop with 1080p screen can be had for $500-700, the charts are free, and you need a laptop mount which can cost almost nothing if you're inventive or can run a couple hundred dollars for a RAM mount. The laptop also doubles as a multimedia player as well as technical library for all on board equipment manuals/reference material.

Or for $10 you can get a Navionics app for phone/tablet and download free charts that include detailed bottom contour data 🙂

 

[knotflying]

Yes, Garmin can be disappointing at times. Kind of sad that you increase profits by raping your customer. I had a lifetime subscription to xm weather purchased through Garmin. To them Lifetime is until there was an operating system update. All I received was an unsympathetic - " That's how it is." Now on Active captain we are forced to sign up for E-Card.

 

[baz]

The trouble with technology these days for hardware & software is that maintaining backward compatibility is nigh impossible or if it's done makes the current far more complex and far to difficult to maintain. Companies have tried this over the years to their demise. The companies (and Garmin is no exception here) are kind of caught in a Catch 22 situation. Do they appease existing customers making things backward compatible but more difficult for the company to maintain vs. cutting off all the old baggage, upsetting existing customers so the company can keep things simple, less complex and maintainable in order to keep costs down into the future.

As soon as Active Captain merged with Garmin I knew for sure this compatibility issue and how things used to work would change mainly for the worse.

Just look at computer companies that are faced with the same issues when introducing new hardware and new software. Some may see this as improving things yet others will not see it that way as they simply don't like change, which is a human trait.

 

[captstu]

Hey second call to Garman resolve the issue. They pushed the replacement charts for BlueChart to my Garman account at no charge. There is a limit on the new charts of two devices per subscription. My two devices each have a back up so it when it calms down I’m going to ask me how I purchase additional licenses. It was a difficult transition, I felt lost at sea for several days, But they got me going again.


Stuart Bell
Ranger 25: Shearwater
(561) 352-1796

 

[NorthernFocus]

All's well that ends well...

 

[captstu]

Not quite. The charts I had were credited, additional charts are very expensive!!


Stuart Bell
Ranger 25: Shearwater
(561) 352-1796