GPSMap 172c Can not read Garmin Data Card

WAAS is a seperate service from GPS. It provides GPS corrections so if you can not get WAAS there is no big problems. you unit just wont be as accurate as normal. WAAS only is for North America and EGNOS for Europe. You may want to turn WAAS off for now. I suggest trying a update for the unit. You will need a memory card and Garmin USB programmer. Then just go to garmins site to get the latest update. If you need a USB programmer feel free to Contact GPSCity.ca or GPSCity.com. They are the leading experts in Garmin GPS.

Contacted Garmin technical department as well as local technicians about problem. Thanks

I have the same problem. Did you ever figure out why it was not loading? There are no software adjustments to be made. Just plug in the card and wait. It says its reading the card, but never goes any further. Let it 'read the card' for hours with no luck. Help!!!

It is not a fish finder but the good news is that the cable connections are listed here: http://www8.garmin.com/support/faqs/faq.jsp?faq=68

The data wires are to send / receive serial data (like waypoints, tracks, routes and software updates) to and from a PC for example or any other 3rd party device that accepts that type of information - the manual will have more help. The 178C is the combined chartplotter / fishfinder - not your model.

All the best - Tony at KiwiGPS

i have the same problem. i just read that it maybe a software rather than a hardware problem. updating the firmware will "Fix bug on Data Card Information page to prevent unit shutdown"

http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=431

...trying to locate a pc interface cable to install...

Hi there -

The GPSMap 295 can only have one region at a time - North America, South America, etc. You can purchase an updated database specifically for Africa and the Middle East - it's about $50 USD. It will erase whatever region you have in there right now (you can't store Africa/MidEast with America, for instance. It's one at a time.)

The Garmin Website:

http://shop.garmin.com/aviation/databases/

lets you download new Jeppesen databases to your GPSMap 295. Select your model, then select which region you want.

***Before you buy:*** You'll have to have the data cable to connect it to your computer. Without that, you will have no way to update the maps and database.

If you do have the data cable, the process is very easy - just follow the instructions carefully, and make sure all the numbers they ask you for are correct. I just did mine today. Good luck!

contact garmin sounds like a defective unit

you need to go outside in an open area with no trees around and turn the garmin on untill it receives a sat connection it can take several minutes for it to find it

The power switch usually allows you to adjust the backlight with a short tap there should be a scroll bar, use the four way toggle up to increase the back light.

Any bluechart that has been preloaded on an SD card should work.  Did you purchase your chip with the data preloaded or did you download it yourself?  If you downloaded it yourself, try erasing the sd card, format it, then insert the blank card in the 420 and power it up. This somehow preps the chip for the data download.  Then download the bluechart onto the chip and try again.  There is some ambiguous wording in the download screen that makes it look like some kind of error, try the download anyway and most of the time it will work. After the download is complete it should list the bluechart software version on the screen along with some other software info.  If the operating system software is not v2.5 or higher, you may need to download a software update first.