G1000 - how to update DB

[gsontheimer]

This is where I stand with my experiments. The described procedure not work with the DA40 V.0321.22 Software:

1. airframe_info seems to be SD card specific now. Copying does not work. Must be generated by the G1000 itself
2. BaseMap on the SD-Card is needed to get anything but the built-in version 1.0

[Rick]

1. airframe_info seems to be SD card specific now. Copying does not work. Must be generated by the G1000 itself.

Yes, it is generated by the G1000, and it is SD-card-specific. It's just a text file, so you can look at it - there is a tag in it with the SD card serial with the card id.

[Gasser]

Flew mine to Dallas last night. Everything worked perfect. Did rnav approach back home snd everything in there and working. Safe taxi in dallas was great. Helpfull to a new pilot like me.

Not sure really on the airframe data. Im assuming its in there.

What should i check and how do i check nav data to be sure its updated right? I didnt see it on the start up screen.

[gsontheimer]

AUX - Systems Status page

[Gasser]

Ok, thats what i thought. Ive looked that all over. Its all prefect.

[Tim H]

This is a problem with the PFD / MFD BOTTOM SLOT CARDS - NOT THE NAV DATA CARD.

After several attempts to update the Terrain, Obstacle and Safe Taxi databases on my G1000 data cards (bottom slot PFD/ MFD cards), I realized that the files are too big for my size card (Garmin P/N 010-00330-41 120MB).

Garmin also tells me that Terrain, Obstacle and Safe Taxi has never fit on my size card, but that can’t be true because that’s what I had (up until I tried to update all three).

Jeppesen tells me that the old files remain on the card unless the update is successful, but the only way to tell if the old database is still there is to load them in the G1000 and turn it on.

I hope to get over to the airport tonight to see if the original file is still there or not.

Anyone know what happens if the PFD and MFD cards have two different versions of the same database or if one card is missing a database?

I see a lot of back and forth on whether I can use a generic 2 or 4GB SD and use them for the PFD / MFD or if I have to buy it from Garmin – not sure I see a definitive answer.

I am running software version .22 (non-WAAS non-SVT)

[gsontheimer]

If the DB versions do not match for PFD and MFD the function is disabled (SVT, Terrain, ...).

You can use any 2 GB or 4 GB SD-Card (4 GB SD cards are rare now! SDHC cards do not work!!). Just put all the data bases on them and put them into the G1000. They will be married to the G1000 and only work on your G1000 instance thereafter.

Version .23

[Chris]

After several attempts to update the Terrain, Obstacle and Safe Taxi databases on my G1000 data cards (bottom slot PFD/ MFD cards), I realized that the files are too big for my size card (Garmin P/N 010-00330-41 120MB).

Garmin also tells me that Terrain, Obstacle and Safe Taxi has never fit on my size card, but that can’t be true because that’s what I had (up until I tried to update all three).

I ran into the same issue earlier this year when I tried updating to newer Terrain and Obstacle databases. In our case it turned out badly since our original MFD card was 256MB and the original PFD card was 128MB (which the Garmin rep couldn't believe) and I happened to update the MFD one first (successfully) before hitting the capacity problem on the PFD card. At that point I had mismatched databases on my cards, ugh. I was able to replace the 128MB card with a larger card (1GB or 2GB, I think) and everything works fine now. However, since the replacement card isn't an "official" $500 card from Garmin, there's still the question of whether it's legal.

[Tim H]

Thank you Chris - that is my situation exactly.
Thank you Gerhard.

Gerhard / Chris - Can I use a SD card that is larger than 4GB or does it have to be 4 or smaller? Will any brand work? As Gerhard stated, the the 2's and 4's are hard to come by.

[Chris]

Gerhard / Chris - Can I use a SD card that is larger than 4GB or does it have to be 4 or smaller? Will any brand work? As Gerhard stated, the the 2's and 4's are hard to come by.

Any card larger than 4GB will be SDHC or SDXC so they probably won't work. Any brand should work, though I believe the originals are SanDisk. You can pick up 2GB SD cards on Amzon for $10 or $15, which is still overpriced but much better than $500 or whatever Garmin is charging these days.