Copying Charts to the Computer

Former Member over 8 years ago

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Hello! I'm new to HomePort and somewhat computer illiterate! I managed to copy the charts from my new EchoMap DV54 to an SD Card. I'm trying to copy the charts into HomePort. The charts do appear but when I remove the SD Card they disappear. Isn't there a way to keep them on the computer or do I always need the SD Card handy. Thanks for any help folks!

0 SUSSAMB over 8 years ago

If like Basecamp and Garmin maps then yes, you need the card.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

Thanks! I'll get some extra SD Cards for each computer.

Charley

0 rwidman over 8 years ago

Charts on Computer

Yes, HomePort will only read charts on removable media (SD card, etc.). They are cheap so that's not really an issue. What is an issue is that many computers only have one SD card slot so, for example, if you want to create routes on your computer you need the chart card in the slot but when you want to copy your routes to upload them to your chart plotter you have to remove the chard card and insert the blank card for the routes. You can still transfer the routes but you can't see the chart while you're doing it.

Also, there's the unnecessary wear and tear on the cards and slot and the chance of damaging one or the other or losing the chart card.

Upgrading HomePort to be able to use charts stored on the hard drive would be a welcome improvement.

0 SUSSAMB over 8 years ago

Should be able to do so by creating a virtual drive on your PC

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/5291/how-to-create-a-virtual-hard-drive-in-windows-7/

0 rwidman over 8 years ago

Virtual Drive

Thanks, I'll take a look at that.

0 SladeHawke over 7 years ago

Should be able to do so by creating a virtual drive on your PC

I am currently just using the default world chart in homeport. My echomap unit has Bluechart g2 Vision chart installed. I assumed the copy protection would prevent me from duplicating the charts, but it would sure be nice depth contours on my PC while building routes in Homeport. Could I use that chart briefly in the computer to load them into homeport on a virtual drive, so I can return the card to the boat? Or are we talking about different charting options here?

0 SUSSAMB over 7 years ago

Should work, try it and let us know :)

0 SladeHawke over 7 years ago

Should work, try it and let us know :)

It doesn't recognize the virtual disk drive as an sd card... It probably needs some sort of "virtual sd-card emulator" (which would be another program to install) instead of just a simple virtual disk.

On another note, It did work duplicating it onto a spare SD card

0 SUSSAMB over 7 years ago

The virtual disk needs to be a dismountable one for it to work, should you prefer to have that working?

0 Fully40 over 7 years ago

Use jump/flash drive

I made it work by copying the SD card to a Flash/jump drive and using that on the computer w/Homeport