Blue Chart Question

[Redfish]

I have a Garmin 498 chart-plotter. I am seeking comments from anyone who has direct experience with the Blue-Chart cards that can be purchased for these Garmin units? Specifically, I want to know what the advantages of having such a card would be over using just the pre-loaded maps that came with the unit. Is there any increase in accuracy, detail, etc.?

I like the GPS side of this unit (although have not been real impressed with the "depthfinding" side). I am considering the upgrade, but would hate to drop 150 or so bucks if I am not gaining a whole lot.

Thanks,
Redfish

[lakebiker]

I have a Garmin 498 chart-plotter. I am seeking comments from anyone who has direct experience with the Blue-Chart cards that can be purchased for these Garmin units? Specifically, I want to know what the advantages of having such a card would be over using just the pre-loaded maps that came with the unit. Is there any increase in accuracy, detail, etc.?

I like the GPS side of this unit (although have not been real impressed with the "depthfinding" side). I am considering the upgrade, but would hate to drop 150 or so bucks if I am not gaining a whole lot.

Thanks,
Redfish

I pretty mush asked the same question here and on other forums before I got my 492 (a 498 w/o the ff) and was told I'd be surprised how much was already there and not to waste my money. I've not had it on the salt yet but for lakes and rivers, I like my old 162 better. You might want to check to see that you've got the latest version software. That shows up on the screen when you power up. I'm thinking 6.?? was the latest when I got mine. Sorry, not much help.

[Redfish]

Thanks, LB. Apparently the upgraded charts are not all that poplular since nobody wants to jump on this question.*006* Only reason I ask was I have a buddy who has an older model Garmin WITH the Bluecharts. (In the days when he bought his, that is how you got charts--you had to buy a card and upload them. Units did not come with maps installed.) He claims his is more accurate and more highly detailed than mine, which came with the pre-loaded maps, but I have not had an opportunity to do a side-by-side comparison.

[Harry]

I had the 498, now have the 540. I would LOVE to get the blue chart, but will be spending money on trim tabs and -T-top this year.

I "heard" those charts are great and show all kinds of under water contour,,,etc.
To be honest, I had the 540 for a year now and STILL can't operate all it's features and functions. Getting the blue chart would only add to my confusion ..... *clonk*

I was excited when I saw this thread, & was hoping to see some feedback too. I mark the thread, so I can keep an eye on it.... *thumbsup*


Thanks !!!

[Shakespeare]

I've looked long and hard at getting the card but the expense keeps getting in the way. In addition to the underwater topography I believe you can also get satellite imagery displayed as well. The "other" caveat is you have to target the specific region you will be navigating in. If you happen to fish an extensive amount of coastline then you may go beyond the territory that's covered by the card. Here's the Garmin wizard for figuring out what card you need. Just keep clicking and you'll eventually get there. You'll probably see #VUS028R that looks like it covers the entire east coast but note that it says "general coverage".. whatever that means. *006*

http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/g2vision/region.jsp?RegionPK=25502

[workinprogress]

Thanks for that link, Shakes. I haven't jumped into this conversation yet because I am not much of an authority on the subject. I have this card:
http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/g2vision/card.jsp?sku=VUS011R
I spend most of my time running around the 10,000 Islands area where accurate gps mapping info is an absolute must have, and I am thoroughly impressed with the accuracy of the Blue Chart G2 card. Here's why I'm no authority--I bought my G2 card the day I bought my unit so I have no basis of comparison. I don't feel too confident saying the card is awesome, because maybe the unit is almost as good without it. I bought my 545s at West Marine, and at that time they were running a deal where you could buy the G2 card ($300 if I remember correctly) for $100 with the purchase of the 545s. I didn't want to find out a week later I needed it, and have to go back and pay $300, so I bought it.

[Redfish]

I've fished in my buddy's boat a time or two. His Garmin is smaller than mine, but my mind tells me his maps appear more accurate. It's just been a while since I actually looked at his and I have not done so since I got my unit about a year ago. The literature with my unit says that it comes pre-loaded with the Bluechart maps for the coast, but there has got to be some advantage to the G2 charts for them to be worth an extra (in the case of the one I would buy) $214. For instance, my maps show all the land features, but often when we are up a creek, the map may show that we are sitting out in the sawgrass. The creeks and other "inshore" areas appear to lack some detail on my present setup as well.

Before I started using mapping GPS, I used to go to a site called Terraserver, which provided areal photography much like Goggle Earth does nowadays. I printed out, page by page, screanshots of the areas I fish and laminated the pages and kept them in a notebook on my boat. I cannot tell you how useful these were when exploring creeks and backcountry areas. I was hopping that the Garmin would do a better job of showing details and accurate features. Maybe that IS the advantage of the G2 charts, but I do not have enough confidence at this point to spend the 2 bills just to find out. Thanks for the comments. Anyone else who cares to chime in would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Redfish

[Harry]

FWIW,
Keep an eye out on e-bay. I've seen them there for around 90 bucks once. I assume you can use it from someone else and doesn't need a password or something ?? *006*

Shake might know.....

[NOTHING ELSE MATTERS]

Harry, no password need it.

Redfish, i have also the g2 cards on my Grady. Let me tell you, it's a whole different ballgame. It does not make the unit more accurate, but adds a whole bunch of more info on the screen but a lot more info on the background of the card.

[Harry]

Redfish,

Here's an example http://cgi.ebay.com/Garmin-MapSource-BlueChart-Americas-Blue-Chart-LATEST_W0QQitemZ310126535620QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGPS _Maps_Software?hash=item310126535620&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

This one says it comes with "unlock code" so I would check into it if buying used ...........


NEM,
You reading this ? I'm thinking a used one might need a type of code, to get it to work.


Also these are saying "latest version" if you buy new you might get free downloads to the newest, latest, & greatest from garmin
Just something to think about ........... *kickrock*

[NOTHING ELSE MATTERS]

Harry, the one on Ebay is a computer cd, not the card for the GPS unit. What i understood was that Redfish was looking for the card that goes in the GPS. Also, those cards you cannot update, you can update the software of the machine though.

[Harry]

Thanks,
they did have cards for sale too. Would hate to have someone lay out the dough and get bad info from me and not have an unlock code our outdated card.

do your homework guys.... *thumbsup*

[Redfish]

I understood that you could get the software two ways: through a download directly to a card and on a cd that must be transferred to a card before putting it onto the unit. What is being shown on the e-bay site is a cd, but it is different from what I have been looking at. Here is the link to the G2 card upgrade I am considering:

http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/g2/card.jsp?sku=2US012R

And here is the link to what Garmin says the g2 card will do for you:

http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/g2/g2.jsp

I think the e-bay cd is an add-on of some sort, but I do not think it has the features of the G2 cards. That same "add-on" is available through Garmin for $150. The G2 card is $214 through Garmin.

NEM, did you buy the G2 card? Tell me a little more about what makes it a "whole different ball game."

[NOTHING ELSE MATTERS]

Yes i did buy it. First of all and most important you get more info on depths, buoys, more detailed map, then you get the pictures(you can also navigate on the picture), you get tide info on the screen along with weather info on the screen(if you have the xm module).

[workinprogress]

you get tide info on the screen

Do you not get that without the G2 card? If not, that service alone is worth a lot if you fish in shallow areas. I rely heavily on the tide chart on my Garmin.

[Redfish]

Do you not get that without the G2 card? If not, that service alone is worth a lot if you fish in shallow areas. I rely heavily on the tide chart on my Garmin.

I get tides, currents, moon phase, and other stuff I still haven't learned how to use with whatever came pre-loaded. It's the charts that I think are improved. Go to the site, WIP, and tell me how close yours comes to what they are promising here. http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/g2/g2.jsp

[workinprogress]

I get tides, currents, moon phase, and other stuff I still haven't learned how to use with whatever came pre-loaded. It's the charts that I think are improved. Go to the site, WIP, and tell me how close yours comes to what they are promising here. http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/g2/g2.jsp


I went to the site. Sorry, Redfish, because I never used my 545s without the G2 card, I really don't know how much improved it is with it. I will say the mariner's eye 3D feature they pitch is IMO a novelty, and as far as I can tell offers very little functional information beyond what the 2D map offers.

[seacrets]

Much more definition on screen. Visit a store and have them remove a card from their demo units. A big difference. The area my card covers is from Bradenton to New Orleans. I run a 182C and I wouldn't be w/o a card. When you buy, be sure to purchase a current card (mine's July 08). Search online and you can buy a card for $130. I also run a Garmin 250 fishfinder, ain't impressed.