Compatible devices w/ builtin maps?

HI,

I have a GPSMAP 3206. It does not appear on the list of compatible devices.
Is this due to the fact that it a dis-continued model, uses built-in maps or is there some other reason that it will not work?

I do have versions of Bluechart maps on CD that I used in conjunction with an older model gps and Mapsource software. Will Homeport support those Bluechart versions on CD?

Thanks,
Tim

The GPSMap 3206 isn't compatible with Mac HomePort because the Garmin Card Programmer relies on a special Windows kernel-mode driver to boot its firmware -- this just isn't practical on the Mac.

I do not know whether the '3206 will work on PC HomePort -- it should if you can find a copy preinstalled map to card function on your updated chart plotter. Because of HomePort, ChartPlotter software was updated to add the copy to card function. So this depends on whether your unit's software got this updated functionality.

To use your older versions of BlueChart on Mac HomePort, you'll need to convert these maps from .img (a disk archive format) to .gmap (a Mac/PC Bundle format with discrete files on the disk.)

To convert a map use MapConverter on a PC installation of the CD.

http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=3898

The GPSMap 3206 isn't compatible with Mac HomePort because the Garmin Card Programmer relies on a special Windows kernel-mode driver to boot its firmware -- this just isn't practical on the Mac.

Well that explains why I can't use the DataCard programmer to transfer to/from Homeport on the Mac and my GPS.
However what I want to know is can I connect directly to the GPS from Homeport Mac using a serial connection in order to transfer info back and forth? Assuming I can convert my Bluechart maps then I could plan routes and waypoints on my Mac and then transfer them directly to the GPS and transfer tracks from the GPS.

That is what I have been waiting for years to be able to do with my Macintosh and Garmin GPS units.

Thanks,
Tim

Well that explains why I can't use the DataCard programmer to transfer to/from Homeport on the Mac and my GPS.
However what I want to know is can I connect directly to the GPS from Homeport Mac using a serial connection in order to transfer info back and forth? Assuming I can convert my Bluechart maps then I could plan routes and waypoints on my Mac and then transfer them directly to the GPS and transfer tracks from the GPS.

That is what I have been waiting for years to be able to do with my Macintosh and Garmin GPS units.

Thanks,
Tim

You won't be able to transfer your user data from your Mac OSX over the serial NMEA interface to your GPSMap 3206 plotter. Both Mac HomePort and PC HomePort transfer data to this device as .adm files on the data card.

I think that you would be better off continuing to use the PC software for this purpose.

I have just tried HomePort with an older BlueChart Pacific 2008.5 (map file name gmapsupp.img) and it does not work.

It would appear that only BlueChart G2 images are supported as per the documentation.

The gmapsupp.img file that you tried is placed on a device by MapSource or MapInstall and is a partial map sent to a particular device.

HomePort will read gmapprom.img files, but not gmapsupp.img files.