Garmin "pre-loaded" vs g2 Cards

[NautiDuck]

I have been doing some research into chartplotters and have probably settled on the 292/392/492 line as giving good performance at a price that makes sense for my needs. The difference in the units is that the 292 has no pre-loaded data, the 392 has inland data, and the 492 has coverage (Bluewater g2) of the whole US. Of course the 492 costs more. So, since I just need a certain area of coverage (Puget Sound area) would I be better off buying the 492, or the 292 and adding a g2 data card for the Puget Sound area? At first glance it seems the 492 is the much better deal since the data card is about $200 and the price difference between the 292 and 492 is $100 or less. Easy choice, right?Actually yes, but not what you would think. I asked a major GPS online store if the 492's pre-loaded data is the same as the g2 card. Here is the answer:"The 492 will be preloaded with the areas you requested. The pre-loaded G2mapping is slightly different than the data cards. The 492 is pre-loaded withthe mapping data only. It does not give you the 3D view, port photos orcomplete tide data(you will see only the tide times, no flow direction orspeed.)" I thanked the vendor for the excellent reply. I think I'll go with the 292 and the g2 card. Anyway, the decision about what GPS unit to get is complicated enough. I think Garmin should be clearer about what data these pre-loaded units come with.

 

[soling42]

My Garmin experience

We carry a Garmin 276c that is swapped out to the car when not in the boat. While the screen is smaller, the security, portability and usefulness for trips in the car or for nav in the boat makes it all good for us. Its been very reliable and dead on for nav. Needs a sun sheild in our tropical glare but I don't have one yet. The one thing I'd do diff is to buy the bluechart disc and get a blank card to load the unlocked area I'm in(I only have a BC card). This way you can display the same charts on a laptop or hm comp to layout routes/highlights etc and review your charts. The other reason is simply to have a hard backup incase the card fails/gets lost. You could also unlock a diff area and wouldn't need to wait on another card, just call and pay for an unlock code to the new area maps. I suppose there would be other reasons to have a disc but I'm outta time. Good luck, that looks like a nice unit for a reasonable cost.Michaels/v Plan Bsarasota, Fl

 

[BarryL]

New Garmin Units

Hello,Garmin has new units coming out in March that will replace the X92 series.Take look here for more informationhttp://www.tigergps.com/garminxmas2006.htmlhttp://www.garmin.com/marine2007/index.htmlGood luck,Barry

 

[NautiDuck]

Volatile market

Barry, thanks for the post. I know there is a model change coming and that is what is driving down the prices on the current units. My belief is that the chartplotter market is going to be very volatile and prices will drop dramatically over the next few years due to competition and cheaper LCD screens (the primary cost factor). I plan to use the 292 for 2-3 years and then move up to a large-screen unit which, I am convinced, will be much lower priced than the 10" versions today. Call me crazy but I think there will be mainstream 10" chartplotters on the market at less than $700 within 2 years.

 

[Tsehum Pete]

492 is Great

I bought a 492 a year ago and love it. I also bought the 110 volt adapter for the unit so I can plan voyages on my PC (I live 600 miles from my boat) and then bring the unit home off the boat and download routes etc right onto the unit straight from my laptop. Printing off decent route plans is not good with the Garmin software but the 492 does almost everything else I need. I only bought 2 Canadian chart sets for the West Coast and if I venture down to the Excited States I can then remove the Cdn chart chip and I have full US charts.

 

[grigs]

???? Cost Chartplotter

Randy,  What is the cost of a 292 Garmin and the cost of a G 2 card ? Then what does it give you that the 492 doesn,t??? I might have missed something here/// is it the currents and tide with 3 d ??? Grigs

 

[NautiDuck]

Grigs, more data

Using Tigergps.com for the information:Garmin GPSMAP 492 internal antenna, US coverage built-in $570Garmin GPSMAP 292 internal antenna, no map $502g2 card to provide coverage of Puget Sound $179So the 292 option plus the card = $681 vs the 492 at $570.So, your point I think, is the 3D, port photos and tide graphics worth $111?Good question! Anyone have experience with this extra 3D stuff and photos and tide graphics?? Is it worth the extra $$??Thanks!P.S. I have found another online store selling the 492i for $530.

 

[grigs]

Garmin 492 Int. Ant. Price

Randy  I think we started a diff. run on things, but as long as were here, I found the 492 with internal ant. del. to my home on line ( I dont know the protocol for posting names on this site,,,Newbie ) for 516.15 ..... . and because I am not familiar with 3 D , is it worth 100.00 if you are sailing in the same area ( Narr. Bay, Block Island, Etc.) Coastal cruz. Looking for waypoints and routes,!00.00 isnt much money if you benifit from it,but then its easy to say why not go to the 498 int. with the sonar, and on and on and on.If you explain the 3 D its probably something I might need or could use and dont know it yet.I would hate to buy the 492 and see what the 3 D does and realize I should have gone the 292 route.I hate to overwork things.  PS the store on line gives you an extended 3 month warr. so if you purchasesin May ypu would get almost 2 seasons out of it instead of the 12 month leaving you with 7 months with your your boat sitting in your yard. Grigs

 

[NautiDuck]

Grigs - post the site

It is OK.

 

[grigs]

PRICE Garmin 492 Int Ant.

I went on line after going to the Prov. Boat Show and seeing a 492 for 549.00 plus tax.  12 month warr. from Garmin. Page Computer ( the Main Store ) Free Shipping del to your door $ 516.15  Grigs