Garmin 176 Chartplotter Questions - Tides Tab

[Joe Mullee]

I bought my Garmin 176 with the small screen in 2002. The tides tables that I recall were loaded into the unit have disappeared. The page itself comes up with the station, date, empty graph, and tide times but there is nothing in the graph itself (no curved lines up and down) and nothing in the tide times section (just all blanks). I admit I've never had much use for the tables in the past because where I sail in the upper Chesapeake there really isn't much tidal range,maybe two to three feet, if that. I'm planning a little trip this summer though I and I need to know the tides at different places.

How long into the future would a unit like mine generally be loaded with tide tables? Could it possibly be for just a few years? I guess I've owned it now for seven years and maybe it wasn't loaded with tides this far after its' purchase date? Or am I doing something wrong that is preventing the information from populating the screen? Or maybe it's broken.

If you know anything about this unit I would appreciate help. Thanks.

Joe Mullee

 

[bobtigar]

Sme problem with my unit. I contacted Garmin. They emailed me a link to update the GPS, but a special cable (that you can purchase from them) is required. They then sent a chip to update. Cost of chip is $58+ postage. Use the chip, return it to them and get $50 refunded. That's really something for a big company to do.
However, that did not work. They think my software is to old to do that (version 2.02). So they asked me to mail it back so they could update the software. I mailed it back last week. We'll see. Bob

 

[Joe Mulee]

Cable?

"They emailed me a link to update the GPS, but a special cable (that you can purchase from them) is required".

Bobtigar,

Thanks for the response. Do you remember if the cable that you needed came with the original unit? I still have all the accessories and there is a cable that connects it to the computer.

Please keep me posted if you can on the outcome. You can reach me thru this site if you don't mind. I did send Garmin an email last night as well.

Thanks much.

Joe Mullee

 

[richk]

As some may know, tides are well known and quite predictable. Depending upon the implementation, however, software usually relies on equations, validation and proximity of reference stations. If your chartplotter is near a reference station and its s/w relies on the same reference station, more the better.

For a history of tide prediction see http://www.co-ops.nos.noaa.gov/predhist.html.

NOAA also provides web access to tide predictions (http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tide_pred.html).

 

[Maine Sail]

I have

I have an older B&W GPS Map 176 at home and I'll try it out tonight. I purchased it the month it came out so I'm guessing it is at least as old as yours. I'll let you know what I find..

 

[bobtigar]

Re: Cable?

No, cable is a special purchase item-prob about $50 but if they will update who needs the cable. Bob