Garmin MapSource BlueChart CD-ROM for Garmin GPS Units, Americas (010-10317-00) Reviews

• Misleading and very costly: buyer beware

  
  By AQXBNY8DVDU3Q on 2007-03-02
  Although the packaging offers coverage of the U.S., Canada, Caribbean, and South America on this expensive CD, you can only unlock a very limited "region" with your original purchase. Says Garmin tech support, "When you purchase BlueChart, you're entitled to one free region, and then additional regions can be purchased for $116.65." The word "free" here reflects Garmin's generally abysmal use of language found on their Web site, a labyrinth of obfuscation tangled in their arcane and ultra-paranoid "unlocking" technology and hidden prices. Unlike their Topo and City Navigator CDs where you get a lot of maps for your money, BlueChart gave me a limited sliver of southwest Florida for my purchase price. When I went to load Cape Cod, I discovered I would need to pony up another $116 for this small region. To unlock everything on this CD would costs many, many thousands of dollars, and nowhere is this clear to the unwary consumer.
  
  What is especially grating in all this is that Garmin relies on U.S. government maps and GPS satellites that we taxpapers have already paid for. I find the marketing of Blue Chart really deceptive, especially given the important public safety implications of nautical mapping.
  
  I would add that boat-towing travelers and nautical siteseers will need shoreside mapping and road info, for which these charts are useless, so you'll need additional map products and memory cards to show roads, parks, dining, and local amenities. Buyer beware.
  
  

• Comprehensive, fast, and easy to use

  
  By A3H78NCT3DJMY2 on 2003-06-22
  The Garmin "Bluecharts" are vector charts, which means they use mathematic algorithms to store all the lines and features of a nautical chart. I have steered away from these in the past because they tended to give up a lot of detail vs. "Raster Graphic" charts, which are essentially photographic images of paper charts.

  With "Bluecharts" they have gotten to a level of detail (including multiple colors) that they look almost as good as a paper charts. The advantages of vector charts is that they take up much less room on your hard drive and run much faster on a PC. This is important when you are zooming in and out to see your depth or proximity to a wreck while moving on a boat.

  I use mine with an eTrex Legend and am able to load most of the detail (depth, obstructions, nautical aids, etc) onto the handheld. For the full look of charts, I connect the GPS unit to my laptop. The package also includes tidal charts, which are much more detailed and accurate than the little tide chart booklets I used to use. Overall, it makes navigation a breeze...your boat is automatically represented on the chart and you have many simple tools to calculate distance/time to a given destination. It also incorporates additional information on Marinas and service locations.

  The Garmin application the charts run on, "MapSource" allows you to easily switch between map types. I have "Americas Bluechart," "MetroGuide" (streetmaps), and "Tides and Marine Services," all without having to reconnnect the GPS unit.

  The only hassle is the "Unlock" process, which is a bit time consuming and involves providing the Garmin website with a bunch of codes, including the serial number of my GPS unit to unlock a set of charts from the CD-ROM. I'm not sure, but I think it will only work with that specific unit, which worries me a bit as I am thinking about buying a second unit for backup.
  
  

• Simply the best!

  
  By A18JQT5T00M8DR on 2002-04-29
  I'll cut right to the chase--if you have a Garmin GPS unit that is MapSource compatible, and use it on the ocean, buy this CD! Garmin's Water Ways & Lights CD is a total joke compared to the BlueChart CD. The level of detail is an exact duplication of NOAA paper charts--very, very accurate and very, very detailed. I use this software with my GPSMAP 162, and the only drawback is that with the detail level set to high, it slows the screen redraw rate down considerably. but, when you're actually on the water, this isn't even noticeable. Bottom line--this is a great product.
  
  

• Nice maps -- "Must have" for boaters!

  
  By A1ED6GYNJ1MK1L on 2006-05-02
  I ordered this CD ROM at the end of April 2006. I received version 7.5 from Amazon.com. Garmin is now shipping v8.0 which is a free upgrade (install the 7.5 version, unlock your region, then order the free v8.0 upgrade CD ROM from Garmin's website.)
  
  This map installs easily using the MapSource software on your PC. On the iQue, you can load both the City Select detailed maps and the BlueChart maps into the unit at the same time. If the BlueChart maps are loaded for an area that has the City Select maps loaded, the City Select maps are displayed by default. Switching between the two map sets can be very confusing at first, but is easy once you know the trick.
  
  To switch map sets on the iQue 3600, go to map view. Press the menu button (second icon from the right at the very bottom of the screen), select Options then Preferences. Make sure that you have "Maps" selected in Preferences. Change the drop down box from "General" to "Detailed Maps." Now, here's the trick: Once your detailed maps are listed in the window, click the menu button again! Now you can enable all maps, disable all maps, enable only the BlueChart maps, or enable only the City Select maps.
  
  If you're a boater, you should never leave home without your GPS (the Coast Guard can find you more easily if you provide them with your GPS coords if you get into trouble.) And, having a BlueChart map loaded into your GPS gives you buoy information, channel information, water depths, depth contour lines, etc., and much more! It's like having a NOAA chart in the palm (no pun intended) of your hand which also shows your exact location at all times.
  
  

• OLD SOFTWARE!! Instead FIND - USE Version 7 as of (06/15/05)

  
  By AWQNKUDLIQXN4 on 2005-06-15
  I cannot believe that anyone would ethically sell outdated charts. Avoid unless you find the latest version available. Storms and tides change the oceans, and new wrecks and hazards may be present.
  
  AVOID!!! Version 5.5
  
  Update 5/14/06: Do not believe reviewers that tell you to keep old charts or old software versions. For your own safety, insurance, and liability reasons you need the latest charts. There may be an obstruction or security zones added. It is the responsibility and requirement by the coast guard that each boat owner have current charts. Notice to mariners and other updates as well... I can tell you that in the coastal waters in Florida sometimes the Hurricanes cause bottom contour changes that could render you aground... Be safe!
  
  
  
• you are selling an OLD version as NEw
  By ADO42QBPHP5J3 on 2005-06-08
  The current version of the software is 7. Why are you putting people's lives and property in danger selling old map data.
  
  
• It is exaclty what is says
  By A8QLBXF7GXDA7 on 2006-10-16
  As of 10/16/06 V8.5 is the most current version, and that it what was shipped to me.
  Once you install the CD you get to only choose from a rather small area. Like 1/4-1/2 of your state (for me, Orlando-Key west). This was a HUGE disappointment. City navigator gives you the ENTIRE US map on DVD for streets, that's 2 gigs of data, so why does Blue Chart only give you like 20megs of bluechart data on a CD. It just doesn't make sense.
  This software is pricey, but necessary for boating.
  All and all I'd like to give it 3 stars for making me feel ripped off but I gave it 4 stars because the product itself is actually very good.
  
  I also feel that once you buy their overpriced software, that you should be entitled to updates for it. But of course you are not. You have to go and plant down more money to Garmin if you want the next version.
  
  Don't get me wrong, Garmin is a great company with great software, I just wish they weren't so greedy.
  
  
• free upgrades at Garmin web site
  By A1L0FVQU1597DK on 2005-11-13
  If you ORIGINALLY & NEWLY unlocked a NEW locked MapSource CD-ROM/DVD-ROM product ON or AFTER the release date of an update for that same product, you are eligible to unlock on that specific update what you unlocked on the original for no charge. In other words, you can update to the latest data for free! visit the garmin web site for more info
  
  
• read the fine print
  By A2PWM8ZKTS1TUI on 2007-03-09
  be aware that this chart system, unlike the road map versions, includes an unlock code for only a small portion of the coverage area. if you want more areas, you pay a new unlock code for each one.
  
  
• Crap Charts and no Support
  By A381L93R1YDB4O on 2005-07-18
  If you have a question or need support, forget it!!! I sent a email to Garmin support "5 to 7 days" for a reply. Ah, call them, 9 to 5 CST and a 90 minute wait.
  
  I love the GPS but needed help with charts and learned that Garmin does NOT SUPPROT THEIR CUSTOMERS!!!
  
  If it takes a week or more to get help, I would say that the company has issues. I think that their hardware has some great engineering behind it but the company does not value its customers and does not support them beyond the sale.
  
  I'm not sure of the alternatives but I'm looking...
  
  
• BlueChart version 7.5 almost no improvement over ver. 5.0
  By A1ZRGAX3PUGXB7 on 2005-09-24
  BlueChart is good in many ways, but I just purchased update version 7.5 (region Hecate Strait South) and can find virtually no improvements over version 5.0 for this region. So I don't encourage buying update if you already have older version for this region. (Version 5 and higher have much more detail, however, than version 4.01).
  Water passages, islands, and shore prominences are generally not labeled, giving significantly less information than if you buy paper charts. Shoreline character (rocky, sandy etc) has been deleted from the newer version.
  Garmin's email support has been very good; quick and very helpful to me.
  Addition 9/24/05-- I find some of the detail is not deleted, it is hidden in version 7.5. It does show if you select Medium or Low Detail onscreen instead of Highest Detail, to get rid of the new depth shading.
  
  
• Be Carful
  By A1QVTS5K9IYQ2F on 2005-10-25
  What this advertisment does not tell you is that while you get a good deal on the software.You will not be able to unlock it unless you are using a Garmin GPS unit.I bought this unit thinking that I could use it on my PC to drive a Global Sat GPS and found out from Garmin that this product cannot be used on any other make of GPS.The advertisment does not spell this out.Dont buy unless you have or are going to buy a Garmin GPS unit.
  
  
• Amazon shipped old version
  By A3KTBV9IRQ0UI2 on 2007-09-11
  Amazon doesn't specify which version of BlueChart you will get. Amazon sent me version 9.0. I later found out that the current version is 9.5. Garmin now charges $75 to upgrade from 9.0 to 9.5. The charts are good, but Amazon should tell you which version you are getting.
  
  
• Very misleading!
  By A22M4D1GAF4MIB on 2007-07-30
  CAREFUL - you don't get much coverage! It has been awhile since I have been so mislead by a product. Great charts, but what they don't tell you is that this CD is cut up into a bunch of sectors. YOU ONLY GET ONE sector and have to buy each additional sector - which for one that I checked was MORE than the original CD! I'd say RIP OFF if the charts were not so good. No...on second thought, I do feel like I've been ripped off!
  
  
• Difficult to use
  By ADN7HU0Q7CLHD on 2006-03-20
  It took me two hours to get everything working on my computer. I found it very frustrating to get started. Once I got the product working it is great.
  
  
• Good product, buyer beware, sarcastic customer support
  By A2X064CINXMH0V on 2007-07-11
  I bought this product for my portable Garmin GPS. The description is very poor and leads the user to believe it covers all water in a certain "unlocked" area; not! You don't get inland lakes. So I paid for soemthing I can't use or return. I called Garmin customer service and they were very sarcastic when I asked them why this didn't include lakes. I wanted Dale Hollow Lake in Tennessee. His was reply was that the BlueChart was for oceans and that last time he checked, Tennessee wasn't on the ocean. I ended up buying yet another map set that should include the inland lakes. Garmin is a great product and I love my GPSmap 60csx but their customer support needs to be more knowledgeable about their own products. Plus, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE better explain the map coverages!!!! It seems like a nasty trick to get you to buy maps.
  
  
• Wow - Boating from My PC !!!
  By A22NKFOH9RATRC on 2006-09-14
  This is fantastic !!! Map out my trips from the comfort of my PC and then download them into my Garmin 2210. Its so fun, why go out? And no more lost waypoints... The only problem is that I entered all my routes and waypoints the first hour, its that easy - Now I have nothing to do but to follow them... And I got a great price $99. I did have some inital problem with my GPS and PC seeing each others maps - Turned-out to be the GPS' software needed to be updated.
  
  
• Installation of this product was more difficult than anticipated!
  By AUV1AEXIEVVI2 on 2007-05-21
  This was my first experience with installing Garmin BlueChart software using on-line links to finish the installation. (My last GPS had a 'chip' that contained the software so that was a physical installation.)
  
  I felt that the product lacked clear directions for it's installation and I struggled with it for some time and finally ended up calling their "Help" telephone number (after searching around their on-line assistance area) to get additional help in accomplishing the software install.
  
  As it turned out, I had wasted a number of hours because everything I had attempted to do had to be deleated and reinatalled correctly. While the personal assistance was very polite and helpful, the software is so 'rich' in it's content, I'm still not completely sure that I've got everything installed, content wize, that I could within the terms of my license. A better, more comprehensive set of step by step instructions would be a most desirable addition. It needs to be written by a non-technical writer rather than by someone with a technical background who thinks like a 'geek.'
  
  For those who are interested, I bought a slightly obsolite 76C hand held GPS to go on my 24' cruiser. The area I was interested in is for water use only in the coastal areas between just below Cape Cod to the South to Bricktown N.J. The selections can include a great deal of detail and there is quite a bit of room for that even in this slightly older version of the product. (The newest version of the hardware product features even more software storage.) Making these selections does not seem to be at all intuitive. I did not find a detailed listing of the various areas that are selectible along with a discription of what was contained in those areas. These have to be loaded via your home computer (or a laptop) to the hand held device.
  
  The detail I have selected is very satisfying but I have almost a third of my available memory still unused and I'm a little bit at a loss as to how to increase my overall detail software content and have it relevant to my needs.
  
  Perhaps a solution would be for Garmin or their dealers to offer to provide or sell software installation assistance; a method that might be an excellent option for those of us who are attempting to use this software method for the first time. I suspect that an hour or less would be sufficient to get the job done completely for that first time user if he listens and does not talk too much.
  
  To summarize, it seems to be a very comprehensive product but it takes some specific knowledge to properly use it.
  
  
• Garmin Support is AWFUL
  By AGF4H79QTPCBC on 2008-06-13
  Six weeks now and I still don't have this GPS running. Wait 45 minutes for tech support to get on phone, then they have to hand you off to someone else which means another 45 minute wait. Their instructions and web site are not intuitive and are very unclear. A friend who is a software designer can't figure this convoluted mess out. The best help is through others who have struggled with this and posted remarks and solutions on the internet. I would not recommend Bluechart Americas to anyone. This was supposed to help me navigate in my kayak, but it is giving me ulcers. This is a good stock (GRMN) to short. It just has to go down.
  
  
• What a ripoff!
  By AHTST3OFFP0G8 on 2008-07-15
  There aren't many choices for nautical chart software for the Garmin 76cx so I sprung for the Bluechart Americas package expecting it would cover at least a few of the 10,000 lakes up here in Minnesota. Well, they did manage to cover Superior and even Lake of the Woods and Rainy Lake, but they missed a little something called the Mississippi River (at least the northern half) and the other 9,997 lakes. What's unbelievable is the unlock process. Holy cow! I can choose to unlock the Rainy Lake area for the $100+ I spent for this package but if I want Lake Superior it's another $100+!! Wow, I wasn't expecting that I would get all of the Caribbean or Lake Titicaca (Peru) for the initial price but I certainly expected they would include the only two lakes covered in Minnesota for the same price. What a colossal rip off! It's pretty rare to find blatant examples of unfair business practices in this day and age but I think this falls in that category. Incredible!
  
  

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