GNS data updating

[Rich]

I didn't want to invade the G1000 DB updating thread, but similar issues exist for GNS530/430 and WAAS versions thereof.

I have always used Jeppesen for nav data updates. Garmin offerings when you have a pair of these units do not offer financially compelling reasons to change and the database updating process is far superior to the klunky maneuvering offered by Garmin. The standalone JDM app runs great on Windows, Mac and iOS/iPadOS and supports isolating the download step from the card-writing process.

But all is not super-wonderful, because for things like terrain and obstacle data one must resort to Garmin. This means a separate card-writing gizmo and using this weird hybrid app/browser process for loading the obstacle cards. Today I gave it a try and the stuff failed miserably. To skip the earlier iterations, when the native app (FlyGarmin for Mac) is launched with the Garmin data loader plugged in all seems to go well. Nice green light on the adapter and the app says to plug in a data card. Then it all goes horribly wrong. Amber light on the data loader and the app crashes with no useful information.

The cards I'm using were delivered with the WAAS upgrade way back in 2007. I suspect that these may not be field-updatable and the cause the problem. If so, it would appear I will need to get newer cards ($350.00/pair). Furthermore I suspect that the world basemap and terrain data is also embedded in these cards and I won't be able to just load current obstacle data and go on, instead I will need to also purchase/download the additional stuff onto the new cards. The terrain for two cards would be another $300 and I'm not sure what the deal is with the basemap.

Email off to them and we'll see. I just wondered if anyone else has been down this road.

[Rich]

It gets better. The terrain/obstacle card i was using is now rendered unusable and I can no longer boot up my 430W.

[Rich]

An hour or so with support. First words out of his mouth: Can you try it on a Windows machine? Obviously support for Mac (at least for these cards) is grudging at best.

After all sorts of whining about my Macs having only USB-C ports (true of all Macbooks produced in the last couple of years) I was able to try this out on my neighbor's Windows machine. At least the app didn't crash, but it could not find the card when plugged in. It would seem the card somehow became bad between pulling it out of whichever GNS unit it came out of or the initial attempt to update it corrupted it or caused it to fail.

I'm inclined to think if you're a Mac user you may wish to think twice before using Garmin as a source for your GNS data.

[vontresc]

I support a pair of 430s and the G1000 in our diamond for our flying club. In general the latest version of the Garmin has been fine for update purposes. I know it's kinda clunky, but you gotta remember that the 430 came out in 1998 and the G1000 in 2004. These are ancient in terms of consumer electronics.

The only real gripe on the 430 is the amount of time it takes to load the nav data. The terrain/obstacle updates are pretty fast. I use the Garmin programmer, and the official Apple usb-c dongle. Only issues I have had recently is a data card getting corrupted. On the positive side Garmin sells a replacement card for $160 vs the $250 for the Jepp version.

[Rich]

The only real gripe on the 430 is the amount of time it takes to load the nav data. The terrain/obstacle updates are pretty fast. I use the Garmin programmer, and the official Apple usb-c dongle. Only issues I have had recently is a data card getting corrupted. On the positive side Garmin sells a replacement card for $160 vs the $250 for the Jepp version.

That's good to know. The final conversation I had with phone support yesterday was that I could not expect the GNS programmer to work with a Mac having USB-C. I too, have the apple dongle, but I've got several others that work with other products. I feel their statement is hogwash. Last night I was informed they're sending a replacement programmer. Interesting that subject never came up yesterday, but did occur to me last night as well.

The terrain cards seem to be tricky to come by. In one of my conversations yesterday I was told I had to get these from a Garmin service center. Indeed, they do not seem to show up on their site, although the nav data cards do. Believe it or not, the phone support guy did no know the nav data cards were available for order from Garmin. I had to steer him to where they are shown.

When you plug the card into the programmer, what does the light on top do? Have you procured replacement terrain cards?

[Rich]

With the Jepp Skybound the nav data download is mere seconds but the overall update to each card is about 10 minutes. First erases, then it writes, then it validates. This isn't a big deal to me since I use the pair-of-spare-cards method an am ordinarily loading some evening days ahead of the required update. Then when the card-swap takes place it's about a 5-minute operation.

While the Garmin nav data cards are more reasonable ($159 apiece plus shipping) the terrain cards are more like $250 apiece and you can't order from Garmin.

[Rick]

What is this "Garmin programmer" you guys keep talking about? I just put my SD card into the SD card slot on my laptop and the klunky Garmin Update program writes directly to the card. Are you talking about some other piece of hardware?

[Rich]

What is this "Garmin programmer" you guys keep talking about? I just put my SD card into the SD card slot on my laptop and the klunky Garmin Update program writes directly to the card. Are you talking about some other piece of hardware?

GNS 530W and 430W use proprietary cards. Nobody, and I mean nobody, puts ports for these in their computers. Hence the programmer. BTW, newer MacBooks also do not have slots for SDs and you need an adapter for those, which I have used for other situations.

[Rick]

What is this "Garmin programmer" you guys keep talking about? I just put my SD card into the SD card slot on my laptop and the klunky Garmin Update program writes directly to the card. Are you talking about some other piece of hardware?

GNS 530W and 430W use proprietary cards. Nobody, and I mean nobody, puts ports for these in their computers. Hence the programmer. BTW, newer MacBooks also do not have slots for SDs and you need an adapter for those, which I have used for other situations.

Thanks, Rich. I didn't realize the 430/530 used special cards - I guess that explains the 3-digit price then, too.

[Colin]

(Rumor is that the new MacBook Pro coming out with get the SD slot back.)