Chartplotter help please

[Play N Hookie II]

This is something I do not understand well enough and need some help please. I have a combination chartplotter, GPS, fishfinder. It is a Lowrance LMS 337 C (I am pretty sure). It came with the boat and has a memory card in it. I have read the manual and know how to use it pretty well now. When you purchase this originally you can buy a software for your computer and a card reader. The software that supports it was Mapcreate 6. I cannot buy that product new any longer and have been looking at it on ebay. It sells for around $70 ish with shipping. What I am looking to do is be able to plan my trips with my comuter and save them on my card them it to the boat with me and have my course all ready to go. So here is my pressing question. I cannot get a retailer to be able to answer it. Do I have to buy the old Mapcreate or can I go with Nauticpath or any chip and software I want? I contacted Lowrance and the Lowrance retailers and they don't seem to know. What have you done? What chip do you prefer and do you use your computer for route planning?

Thanks in advance for your answers!

[Nehalennia]

Lowrance 337c Software update (http://www.southco.com/resources/documents/MR.en.pdf)
or
see the listed other programs here (http://primus.lowrance.com/support/resultDisplay.do?docType=1000&contextId=799%3A6.17%2C2284.2312%2C6.17&clusterName=ClusterPublic&docset=%2FDocuments%2FUnits%2FLowrance%2FCombo&linktosource=1&responseId=135ccbe2cfd4f608%3Adcb03b%3A119a076c143 %3A-32d3&groupId=4&answerGroup=2&score=980&page=http%3A%2F%2Fprimus.lowrance.com%2Ficr%2Funit s%2FLowrance%2FCombo%2FLMS337CPub.htm&result=3&excerpt=LMS-337C+DF&resultType=5001#Goto6)

I don't really know but did a quick search. I hope it helps

[Play N Hookie II]

Thanks Todd! Did your new one come with software for use on the computer? Does anyone here plan trips on the computer then load them onto their card or just plan on the unit?


Lowrance 337c Software update (http://www.southco.com/resources/documents/MR.en.pdf)
or
see the listed other programs here (http://primus.lowrance.com/support/resultDisplay.do?docType=1000&contextId=799%3A6.17%2C2284.2312%2C6.17&clusterName=ClusterPublic&docset=%2FDocuments%2FUnits%2FLowrance%2FCombo&linktosource=1&responseId=135ccbe2cfd4f608%3Adcb03b%3A119a076c143 %3A-32d3&groupId=4&answerGroup=2&score=980&page=http%3A%2F%2Fprimus.lowrance.com%2Ficr%2Funit s%2FLowrance%2FCombo%2FLMS337CPub.htm&result=3&excerpt=LMS-337C+DF&resultType=5001#Goto6)

I don't really know but did a quick search. I hope it helps

[3788sam]

Your LMS337 can use Navionics charts here is their site-

http://www.navionics.com/PlatinumPlusCharts.asp

I am using their Platinum charts on a 9200c, but the also have PC planing software avaible as well.

BTW if you just want to use their Chips your model uses Gold series and ther is a tab to see the features as well.

[Nehalennia]

Thanks Todd! Did your new one come with software for use on the computer? Does anyone here plan trips on the computer then load them onto their card or just plan on the unit?

I have contacted the new owner of my old boat who I gave the mapping software and the old handheld Garmin eMap to. Apparently that software will work with the new Garmin unit I have. I need to find out from him if he intends to use it and if not, see if he wants it or not.

[SomeSailor]

Garmin Blue Charts have some of the best copy protection going. They match your software serial number, to your GPS serial number... and then generate a 3rd number that's hashed against a number stored in firmware that's unique to your CPU. Any one of those doesn't cross... and you don't talk.

Garmin Blue Charts can ONLY be used on a GPS to which the software has been registered.

You can use it to plot waypoints and then upload them via the your laptop... but they don't talk otherwise. Been there done that. :)

I have a copy of Garmin's Blue Charts here that I run on my laptop.