Garmin Route Planning

[JLR]

I have two Garmin 4200 chart plotters on my 74. Neither is used to navigate with and neither is interfaced with my pilot. I use them merely as backups. However, I would like to enter my routes into them before heading south. What do I need to be able to plan the routes from the comfort of my desk with my pc and transfer them to the Garmins. Looking for the most basic, simplest setup possible.

 

[Blaine Thorpe]

Take a look at Garmin Homeport.

http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=7263

 

[JLR]

Does that supply the charts as well as the ability to export routes?

 

[Boatsb]

Blue chip charts not included. Read the description. I believe you can use your existing chips.

 

[Blaine Thorpe]

The charts are not included in homeport. If you have a Bluechart map card, you can use it. If you don't have a card, you should be able to copy the built in charts off of the 4208 to an SD card and use them. Plug the card into the computer before starting Homeport.

Before transferring any data from Homeport to your plotters, plug the SD card into the plotter. It puts some information on the card that homeport uses.

 

[cb48lrc]

I found Home Port to be pita. We use Garmin Blue Charts on our IPad. The Garmin program is free, charts a around $50. We transfer to the chart plotter via a Garmin wifi.

 

[Blaine Thorpe]

I found Home Port to be pita. We use Garmin Blue Charts on our IPad. The Garmin program is free, charts a around $50. We transfer to the chart plotter via a Garmin wifi.

We use Garmin on the Ipad as well, but the Garmin wifi can run close to $200.00.

 

[sgharford]

I just installed the Garmin Wifi about a month ago so I could do just what you are looking to JLR, it works flawlessly with Ipad Bluechart Mobile app. You can put a route together in no time with that app and it uploads multiple routes in less then a second. The Wifi was pretty easy to install, just run power to it and a RJ45 cable (included) to either Garmin Router or to extra port in back of one of your displays. By the way, I found the Garmin Homeport program clunky and obsolete feeling compared to Bluchart Mobile app. While the app is free, the charts are not. I found it difficult to find correct charts. I eventually exported the maps from Garmin 4212 and imported into Homeport just to try it out and did not care for it. Regarding the Garmin Bluechart app, I do not have BlueChart SD Card for my 4212 plotters, you don't need them for the exported routes to work. As aside, I believe you can export routes from Homeport to SD Card, then import on your plotter from that same SD card - no need need for wifi which Homeport does not support if I recall correctly. You cannot do this SD export/import with Bluechart app, there is no functionality built into it for that, I guess since Apple mobile devices don't have SD slots. Only way to export with Bluechart app is with with Garmin Wifi.

 

[JLR]

Thanks all for the help. Still cogitating.