Navionics Update Chart

[journey on]

Just to let everyone know what the latest cartography chip is. And if you already know, congratulations!

Navionics offers a SSD micro chip which contains all the charts for the USA and Canada. That’s right, if you’re going to go to Ft Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, the chart will tell you what you need to know. Also if you’re going to San Diego Bay, or the Chesapeake Bay or .....

The number of this chip is MSD/NAVU-NI and it lists for $99. It’s offered as a update chart, but can be activated by using a C-Map, Fishing HotSpots, Garmin, Lakemaster, Lowrance, Magellan or TrakMaps chip as well as Navionics.

One activates it via a software program, Navionics Chart Updater, which doesn’t accept a non-Navionics chips for activation. Fear naught, for an e-mail to Navionics Customer Service, with pictures of the Navionics chip and the other activation chip will bring the desired activation results. And then you get to download ~6 Gbits of new charts. You also get a full year of updates. Never again will you be without the proper chart as you travel thru Canada or the USA.

I have 2 of them, one for Judy and one for me. Judy’s MFD uses the micro and mine the standard SSD. A great bargain.

Boris

[JMacLeod]

Thanks for the update, Boris.

We just started using the Garmin 7610xsv with BlueChart g2 U.S. coastal and LakeVu HD maps.
So far it's been less than impressive.
Do you know if this Navionics chip is usable in that unit, and is it a big improvement over the pre-loaded maps?

[thataway]

[robhwa]

Garmin bought out Navionics about a year ago.

https://www.garmin.com/en-US/blog/fishandhunt/garmin-acquires-navionics-marine-charts/

Not sure what this will mean in the future, but it is likely that the bargain that Navionics has been will get pricier.

[JMacLeod]

[journey on]

I've never owned a Garmin unit, but the ad for the chip lists Garmin as one of the activating options. And if Garmin bought Navionics, I'll bet they are compatible.

I mentioned the SSD chip, but I only have Lowrance MFDs. I assume that Navionics will supply any confiuration available.

Still a great chip, anywhere in Canada or the USA.

Boris

[thataway]

Navoinics chips are not currently usable in Garmin chart plotters--they may be some time in the future. Furuno, RayMarine and Lawrence have had the ability to use Navionics charts in some models.

This link from the ad that Boris refers too shows compatibility for almost every brand, except Garmin!

I suspect that the use of a Garmin chip would allow you to use the Navionics charts to be used in a computer...and to tempt you to buy or update other Navionic products. Be cautious about "updates". Sometimes if you don't pay, you can no longer "play".

[dgeorges]

Boris is correct. I have been using Navionics+ by "paying to play" as Bob mentioned for 5 years. You only download the maps you need, instead of the whole map. This can be done on the fly from any location where wifi is available. For example: if I want to fish the East side of Lake Michigan around Manistee for those big ol nasty Chinooks staging offshore in August, I only have that area on my Lowrance HDS2. That facilitates faster regen speeds and faster response from my unit. I feel that the $99 per year to get updates is worth it. However, if you don't want an update when your subscription expires, you don't have to buy. The charts don't stop working, they still reside on your chip.

I work for a major sporting goods retailer part time, and all the Garmin units we sell state on the box that they are compatible with Navionics+. Ya still gotta get the subscription, but, to me it's worth it to have updated maps.

D

[thataway]

dgeorges wrote: