T&T: Updating basemap charts on Garmin 492/498 GPS/Chartplotters

[Richard Cook]

Hi Bob,

Disclaimer up front:  I am a Garmin fan, having had two of their 
chartplotters, a 210? and a 2006C, over the last 11-12 years.

There may be some confusion as to the meaning of "basemap".  In my 
experience, basemap is Garmin's term for their very-low-detail world 
map, built into their units which do not come with detailed charting 
built in.  There's no need to update that.

If you did buy a unit without detail mapping built in, you could get two 
"regular" Blue Chart cards to cover Maine, but there are single "large" 
cards that cover from Saint John, Nova Scotia, all the way down past 
Cape Cod, at list $214 (Blue Chart) or list $321 (Blue Chart g2).

You might consider what you get for $549 (Consumers Marine Electronics) 
with the 492C.  It's pre-loaded with the detail charts for coastal US, 
so you don't need separate data cards.

I don't know what may be available to update the built-in detail maps on 
their newest units, but I've been periodically updating the built-in 
system software on my 2006C at no cost.  You might call them at (800) 
800-1020 for clarification.

Richard Cook
New Moon (Bounty 257)


Bob McLeran wrote:
> I've been looking around for a new and improved GPS/Chartplotter for 
> some time to replace my older, reliable Garmin 162. Most appealing in 
> terms of cost and usability for my situation are the Garmin 492/498 
> units, both of which contain Garmin basemaps (charts of the US 
> coastline). Both of these Garmin units use the proprietary Garmin 
> BlueCharts. Both units have built in basemaps (note: Garmin still uses 
> the term "map" not "chart" even when dealing with marine applications), 
> built in or external antennas, nice color displays, fairly large display 
> areas, connect to a computer, provide NMEA output, etc.
> 
> I'm totally adverse to buying any product that uses proprietary 
> software, including charting software, and the Garmin BlueCharts is one 
> of those products that, as far as I am concerned, are a waste of money 
> and only serve to line the pockets of the manufacturer. For example, to 
> cover the state of Maine you'd need to buy two BlueChart cards at a 
> discounted price of $175.00 each! Figure out how much it would cost to 
> get the proper charts for the entire east coast or the great loop, 
> compared to buying a brand new laptop, some navigation software, and 
> downloading free BSB charts or even buying regional chart books that 
> come with BSB charts!
> 
> Anyway, I thought the 492 unit (without the sounder) would work, and I 
> could use it for waypoint/route information display even if I chose not 
> to buy the proprietary BlueCharts. An added bonus would be if the 
> basemaps could be updated from time time time, either via Garmin's web 
> site or perhaps by purchasing a CD with updated information. The manager 
> and a sales person in one of the local West Marine stores assured me 
> that Garmin would have something available to update the base maps. Not 
> being one to believe anything a sales person says without checking 
> further, I asked Garmin tech support via a question-form on their web site.