Garmin 531 w/ inland lakes

Tacit Blue · 07-24-2011, 12:11 PM

I just purchased and I'm awaiting shipment on a Garmin 531 that is prelaoded with US inland lakes charts. Has anyone have a simalar unit and used the prelaoded charts? Is the Winni chart any good, or will I need to purchase the Bizer chart to get all the information I need (markers, depth readings etc.)?

speedbump · 07-29-2011, 12:21 PM

My experience may not help. Being "GPS" ignorant, my "new to me boat" (09) came with a Garmin 541s. It tells me the lat and lon and has a wonderful depth indicator but lacks all else. It had the inland lakes chip and I thought, as the boat was from the south, that I needed a BIZER chip. I have found no differance with the local chip, it is exactly like the existing chip. It appears my Garmin needs more techichal help than I can provide. Not everything can be found on the internet - help is still to be found.
I would love to see what a screen is supposed to look like. Mine just has a vauge indication for land (which it appears I regularly navigate on) and absolute no navagation help - no markers, no islands, no rocks etc).
Where I get the major highways (Rt 11) and a really bad idea of where the land is (see above) it is of no value. I am either unable to set it up or it needs help beyond my ability.
If it works - others have been happy - but if it does not, you are your own repairman.
But, the old PAPER chart is still working great.

Bizer · 07-29-2011, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedbump

... I thought, as the boat was from the south, that I needed a BIZER chip. I have found no differance with the local chip, it is exactly like the existing chip. ...

The Bizer SD chip has substantial detail and is notably different from the Garmin base map. If you installed the Bizer SD chip and can see no difference, it is likely that you do not have the GPS configured correctly to use the Bizer chip. Most Garmins have a map selection page wherein the desired map is selected to take precedence over the unit's base map. Bizer just spent 20 minutes on the phone helping a Center Harbor fellow with his Garmin 498. Try pushing the HOME button and selecting CHARTS (or INFORMATION or CONFIGURE) and then use the MENU button. You may have to play around with it as the Garmin manual is a bit vague (and I don't own a 541).

Bizer guarantees satisfaction. If you can't get it to work (or if you are not satisfied for any reason), return the SD card and Bizer will refund your money.

One thing: For user's who want the SD card version, Bizer ships a Micro-SD chip (about the size of a fingernail) with an SD adapter (about the size of a postage stamp). Make sure that the Micro-SD chip is inserted into the adapter before inserting the SD adapter into the GPS.

Lakepilot · 07-30-2011, 05:56 AM

In addition to my paper charts and Standard Horizon, I use the Navionics app for my iPhone. It costs $9.99 and shows all the buoys, depth contours etc., for the big lake, Wentworth, Crescent and many others. The same app works for me in the Everglades.

Fargo · 07-30-2011, 07:28 PM

I just downloaded the Navionics to my iPad, very cool but I think I'll stick with the paper charts.

07-24-2011, 12:11 PM	#1
Tacit Blue Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 16 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Garmin 531 w/ inland lakes I just purchased and I'm awaiting shipment on a Garmin 531 that is prelaoded with US inland lakes charts. Has anyone have a simalar unit and used the prelaoded charts? Is the Winni chart any good, or will I need to purchase the Bizer chart to get all the information I need (markers, depth readings etc.)?

07-29-2011, 12:21 PM	#2
speedbump Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Wishing you good luck. My experience may not help. Being "GPS" ignorant, my "new to me boat" (09) came with a Garmin 541s. It tells me the lat and lon and has a wonderful depth indicator but lacks all else. It had the inland lakes chip and I thought, as the boat was from the south, that I needed a BIZER chip. I have found no differance with the local chip, it is exactly like the existing chip. It appears my Garmin needs more techichal help than I can provide. Not everything can be found on the internet - help is still to be found. I would love to see what a screen is supposed to look like. Mine just has a vauge indication for land (which it appears I regularly navigate on) and absolute no navagation help - no markers, no islands, no rocks etc). Where I get the major highways (Rt 11) and a really bad idea of where the land is (see above) it is of no value. I am either unable to set it up or it needs help beyond my ability. If it works - others have been happy - but if it does not, you are your own repairman. But, the old PAPER chart is still working great.

07-30-2011, 05:56 AM	#4
Lakepilot Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 446 Thanks: 70 Thanked 57 Times in 40 Posts	Navionics app for iPhone or Droid In addition to my paper charts and Standard Horizon, I use the Navionics app for my iPhone. It costs $9.99 and shows all the buoys, depth contours etc., for the big lake, Wentworth, Crescent and many others. The same app works for me in the Everglades.

07-30-2011, 07:28 PM	#5
Fargo Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Lake Winni Posts: 215 Thanks: 36 Thanked 130 Times in 38 Posts	Avionics I just downloaded the Navionics to my iPad, very cool but I think I'll stick with the paper charts.