Manual For Garmin Homeport Google
So I got the G2 vision charts for the Med ( France/Spain) and the Homeport software.The Homeport will not load on my XP laptop but loads OK on my windows 8 PC, has anyone had this difficulty?On the PC the Homeport and the charts look fine, I had hoped to be able to use the Google earth type 'overlay' with this as I thought it was part of the vision package. I can get Google Earth pics. Centred on my chart position but not geo-referenced, any views on this please?I can't find any sort of manual for this software and very little in the 'help section' and would appreciate pointers here also.thanks as ever.
Barefoot Gal came with a Garmin 541S chartplotter, installed by a previous owner. On one hand, it was a major step up from our previous boat, where we had only a simple handheld GPS with no maps — we simply entered a list of waypoints gleaned from charts and cruising guides.But frankly, I found trying to plan and set up a route on the Garmin to be a horrible experience. On the chartplotter, I had to use a rocker switch with either the chart view or waypoint list. Even simple routes took hours and it was difficult to see potential hazards. Once underway, it was great.After a few months and combing the internet for ways to make it easier, I stumbled on Garmin HomePort — an app that Garmin does not publicize at all well.
(This is not the same as their Blue Chart/Active Captain app — both are good but in different situations. More on Blue Chart at the bottom of this article.)HomePort is a free app that works on Windows and Mac laptops and desktops, using your existing Garmin charts. It then lets you create a route using your mouse on the larger screen, zooming in and out to see the overall picture and also details of hazards.
It also allows you to overlay Active Captain data on the chart.If your chartplotter is wifi enabled (and you have it set up on a network with the laptop), you can transfer the route to your chartplotter via wifi. Ours isn’t wifi enabled, so I use an SD card to “sneaker net” the data transfer. You can also save the route (as a.gpx) to use with backup navigation programs that you might have on a tablet or phone.
More on how to do all this below. I am certain that I have only scratched the surface of what HomePort can do!I am certain that I have only scratched the surface of what HomePort can do! However, this past winter I spoke to at least a dozen other cruisers in Boot Key Harbor who were also looking for easier route planning with their Garmin chartplotters and helped them get started. If you’re in the same boat (bad pun), here’s a quick rundown of how to install and use it.NOTE: These instructions assume you do NOT have a wifi network connection between your computer and chartplotter. If you do, and you want to transfer files via the network, you’ll have to check your owner’s manual to determine how to transfer data (ours is not wifi-enabled). This is also how it works on my computer (Windows 10) and my chartplotter — other systems may be slightly different but this should point you in the right direction.INSTALLING AND SETTING UP HOMEPORT. Copy charts to use on your computer:.
You will need a blank 16GB SD card (mine uses a full-size SD card; check yours) — the charts on ours take over 8GB, plus you need space to store the routes. If you don’t have one on hand, you can buy them at most big-box stores, computer stores, even some grocery stores and pharmacies (they’re the same data cards that most digital cameras use) or you can get one for less than $10 on Amazon:.
I recommend having a card that you use just for HomePort, it makes life much simpler. Put the SD card into the chartplotter and turn the chartplotter on. On ours — and all Garmin models seem to be pretty similar, but perhaps not exactly — the menu sequence is as follows, starting from the “Home” screen: Information User Data Data Transfer Card Copy Built-In Map. Select and wait for it to copy the maps (takes a minute or so).
When complete, you can remove the SD card and turn the chartplotter off. Put the SD card in your computer’s SD card slot. You have to use the card every time — there is no way to copy the charts to the hard drive and have HomePort read them from there.
Open HomePort on the computer and choose the correct chart. What is listed as “Global Map” is very low res; don’t use it. If there is more than one other chart (for some reason there are two others on mine), try each to see which is the higher resolution.
Garmin Homeport Install
The higher resolution will NOT show up until the scale is less than 10 miles (the scale is shown in the bottom right corner) — use your mouse wheel to change the scale if necessary. CarolynGreat article. I got Homeport just after Garmin released it about 7 years ago. At that time, I had to pay around $30. I read some reviews written mostly by users of its predecessor whose name I don’t recall. I never did see what Homeport replaced.I have the 441 chart plotter (a little smaller than yours w/o the sonar). I love it and plan on getting a new 5″ unit sometime during the next 12 months.I transfer my data as you describe and I use Homeport for most of my planning – including making routes.
But, unlike you, I don’t transfer my routes to the 441. But I do often transfer my tracks from the 441 to Homeport. One of the things I like about Homeport is the ablity to set up lots of folders and subfolders. I store waypoints for cruises I’ve done and ones that I’m planning.One of my favorite uses is for determining predicted current. It’s easy to select a current station and then adjust the calendar and clock into the future to see what the current will be doing at that time. Also, the search feature is great.For naming routes, waypoints, etc, I’ll just double click on the icon and change the name. I’ll also add notes (places I’ve anchored, conditions, etc.).My backup is a Nexus 7 tablet with Plan2Nav.
Garmin Homeport Download
It uses c-map charts but, like you, I can transfer.gpx files back and forth between that and homeport. Is that what you use the new ipad for – your 541 backup?