Thread: Anyone use the Navionics PC app?

BBC Boards: Navionics PC App. - a disaster!!!!

This fellow wasn't too happy with them.

I just installed the app last week. It's a major file with the east region--over a gig to download, so you better have a high-speed connection.

Other than that, it went fine and is working. I think the part that is error prone is the updating of the new SD cards--which you won't have to do with your existing card (same as me). So far, my one complaint (and it could just be because I don't know how)--you can't delete more than one waypoint at a time. In other words, if you upload all your existing points, then subsequently rename them (which I do alot to organize them), deleting the existing points becomes a problem.

This is PLANNING tool. So far, I think it sucks at waypoint management, so you'll need a different tool for that.

Originally Posted by Fish Slapped

I have a Navionics Hot Maps SD card that isn't eligible for the free PC app. So I'm thinking about buying the Navionics PC app. I want to be able to scout out some new places on my computer before going to the lake. I'm looking for some feedback from users of the app before I buy it. Thanks!

You mention your SD card is not eligible for the free PC app... that means it is a somewhat older (pre April 2010) card that doesn't support some fancy new tech called nTag.

No worries... evaluate the software called Navionics NavPlanner 2 (just Google or Yahoo! search it, comes up real easy). No web download and high speed internet needed, it's good old fashioned software installed from a DVD disc. NavPlanner 2 happily reads both the older cards and the newer nTag supporting cards. Besides reading in and displaying the Navionics charts on your card, you get thousands of built-in lake maps of the USA, coastal charts, tons of stuff. And the software will transfer waypoints and routes to various chart plotters like Raymarine, Furuno, Lowrance, NorthStar, GeoNAV, on and on, lots of options.

I looked up my order invoice and found that I purchased the Navionics HotMaps South SD card on 9/16/11. Does that mean its eligible for the free PC app?

If the HotMaps SD card mentions 2011 anywhere then you should be confident it is eligible for use with the free PC app. And even 2010 cards will (many of them) be okay except if they were manufactured before April 2010 (and then sat on a stocking shelf for a long time until you bought the card).

If you use Windows Explorer or a Mac Finder to browser to the SD card, you should see a file on the card called "nTag", a text file (don't delete it!)... if you DO see that, you are golden and it should work with the free PC app. If you don't see that nTag text file, the card will not work with the PC app.

Not true; my card is a 2011 from June, but was not eligible, confirmed with Navionics directly.

As to Navplanner 2, be careful about buying it as I believe it has been discontinued by Fugawi (you can still buy it for the time being, but I'll bet future support will be limited.)

I've found that the PC app is very helpful. If you have an I-phone there is an app that is just as cool. I'm usually on the road and it made sense to buy it but the coolest thing is that I can be at the ramp looking for places to fish on a strange lake or if someone is on my regular spots I can quickly look around for a great place.

for me the andriod app is horrible on my phone atrix 4g gps is off by a mile or so. Going to try it out on a motorola xoom today.