FAQs

Memory Cards

Our memory cards include Garmin^® files ready to import into your unit. All new models accept our chips! For any unit older than 2016, check your user guide to confirm your unit accepts SD cards and what is the maximum size it accepts. Our fishing and diving chips for Garmin are microSD memory cards stored inside an Adapter, so you can use our chips on any unit that accepts standard size SD chips or microSD chips. 

GPX Files

2016 or newer models can read GPX file format so our memory cards and GPX dowlnoads will work with newer units.

IMPORTANT! If your Garmin unit automatically recognizes the chip, EXIT out of this screen to the Main menu then select menu's mentioned below for your model. DO NOT import from this shortcut screen, it will wipe out the data on the chip.

3 things to consider if you plan to import GPX files on your own. Find this information in your user guide.

1. Chip Style: Modern GPS units for the past 15 years have used SD and microSD chips. If your unit does not have an SD chip slot, you will not be able import data.
2. Chip Size: Most manufacturers did not support anything larger than 8GB until about 5 years ago. Currently the maximum chip size any unit can accept is 32GB. Purchase the smallest chip you can find, 2GB or larger.
3. Maximum Waypoints Your Unit Holds - Most units accept 3,000 up to 10,000 waypoints. Be mindful of how many waypoints are on your unit and how many are on the file you plan to import, ensuring the total is less than your units capacity.

Older Garmin^® Units with the large Garmin^®card or the large CF card cannot import our waypoints; if you have one of these units your only option is to manually enter waypoints from our PDF file lists. Please do not purchase our files, there is no way to get them on your unit.

Handheld Units

Handheld units are great to have if you are traveling to a location using another boat. You can purchase the download GPX files or our memory cards loaded with data.

Most models require you to open desktop software then transfer to the handheld using the software. Some models can transfer waypoints by dropping GPX files on the unit drive, most notable here the GPSMAPTM78 series, Oregon^TM and Montana^TM models. Please consult your User Guide or call Garmin support for assistance.

Garmin^®  handheld units DO NOT import data directly from a chip. You must connect the unit to a computer via USB cable to import data following the steps below. If you have trouble with transferring your best resource is calling Garmin^® support.

Handheld Models made in 2020

Transferring Files to Your Device

1. Connect the device to your computer.

   On Windows^® computers, the device appears as a removable drive or a portable device, and the memory card may appear as a second removable drive. On Mac^® computers, the device and memory card appear as mounted volumes.

   NOTE: Some computers with multiple network drives may not display device drives properly. See your operating system documentation to learn how to map the drive.

2. On your computer, open the file browser.
3. Select a file.
4. Select Edit > Copy.
5. Open the portable device, drive, or volume for the device or memory card.
6. Browse to a folder.
7. Select Edit > Paste.

   The file appears in the list of files in the device memory or on the memory card.

Handheld Older models used Homeport software but it is no longer available.

GPX Files

Most Garmin^® units made before 2016 cannot read GPX files directly - you need software to converts GPX files. The software is used to import our .gpx files then export as a .ADM file for units that accept this file type. Some handhelds (74, 78) can read GPX files, see Handhelds above.

You need the correct card size for your unit to read data from the card. Here is a help topic on the subject: Why does my Garmin Chartplotter not recognize a software update on a 4GB card?