Downloadable maps for GPS
 

I just bought another handheld Garmin 76Cx to replace a Magellin that crapped out. (I use them in winter as well when I sled, thus the handhelds )
A quick look at the basemap in the the Long Island sound area does not show very much of anything in detail.
Everything apparently needs to be downloaded with this one.
My old unit at least showed bouy locations. I was told at the store that there were some shareware sites where I could possibly find some free downloadable software which can supplement my GPS. If not, what is best program for what I need. Nothing too crazy, just basic stuff for my locale. Can this stuff be downloaded, or do I need to buy a disc?
Thanks

I think you are going to have to buy the Garmin bluechart cd http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/m...icas.jsp#price

$150 retail, though some places discount down to about $120...

yep. only way to get full up to date maps is going to be with bluechart. I him-hawed around for a while before i bought mine but it is well worth the money.

That's what really sucks about Garmin, they rape you on the maps. Try planning a trip from, oh, say, Cleveland to Chicago on the great lakes. It'll cost as much in bluechart downloads (which are really just digitized NOAA charts that you already paid for with your tax dollars) as it did to buy the GPS.

I agree it's worth the money. But before you download/ buy the ""unlock"" code, call Garmin customer service, you may be entitled to one chart free with your purchse.

There's something I did not know.
I'll call now to see what they say..

thats cool, i did not know they had offers like that either. i have had several Garmin GPS's and they work very well. my next unit is gonna be a Lawrance iWay though. Has all the maps/waypoints preloaded.

Just called. Yes, you do get a free unlock, but only after you purchase the Blue Chart CD. Then you are given one free unlock for any region on that cd. Want another region thats already on the cd, you have to pay up again to get it unlocked as well. Nice little gig they got going there.
Anyways, FYI, for those of you who have the software, whatever region you have unlocked can be downloaded to a buddies GPS as well for no cost. You are allowed to download to two seperate GPS serial numbers with no extra cost. But thats it. Two downloads max. After that, it won't download the same region anymore, without paying again.

They do hit you on the charts, but it's worth it, especially when you're boating in strange waters. I watch mine when I'm running to see the depths. It's kept me out of trouble more than once.