Garmin USB data card porgrammer

Has anyone been able to read from or write to a Garmin data card connected thru the data card programmer? I have four Garmin devices that I can connect to MapSource running on Windows XP thru parallels using either the USB or serial port connections and they all work fine. The data card programmer is acknowledged by MapSource but I can neither read or write the card. The card is OK as I can read and write to it thru the serial port when it is plugged into a device. Answers from Garmin tech support were the usual "wait for the Mac version".

 

I have the Garmin Data Card Programmer running under Windows 2000 with no problems.

Instead of using MapSource, download the latest firmware for one of your Garmin devices and run it to see if that will write to the data card.

 

Are you running Windows 2000 under Parallels? The data card programmer works well on a stand alone Wintel machine. I'll check my firmware but I think I'm up to date. Thanks

 

Sorry that my post wasn't all that clear. Yes, I am running Windows 2000 under Parallels on a MacBook.

My suggestion that you try to run the Garmin updater is not for the purpose of updating your firmware but to test the Garmin Data Card Programmer. The Garmin update is a Windows executable file that writes the actual firmware to the data card.

You're using this as a test to get the Garmin Data Card Programmer running. If it writes the firmware to the card then it's working and you don't have to actually use the card in your GPS. The card can be erased and used for other purposes after you're done.

 

Tried the updater and it works on all my garmin devices except the card programmer where it displays 'device not found' even though the OS hardware wizard says the card programmer is installed and ready to use and I have it selected tn the DEVICES/USB menu. I tried downloading the beta connectivity software from Garmin to no avail. The only thing that has changed is that MapSource no longer acknowledges the data card programmer under 'find device' in the transfer window. Seems like I'm going backwards on this.

 

I know that the Garmin Card Programmer will work under a vm Windows 2000 but I do not know whether or not it will work with a vm Windows XP. I believe that the driver is the same so I would think that it should.

I'm using version 2.07 of the Garmin USB drivers and you can download them here.

It would be really helpful if you could list the model numbers of the Garmin devices that you are using. Also the specific software names and versions of what works and what doesn't work.

Does your XP vm have all of the current Microsoft maintenance applied to it?

 

All Microsoft updates have been applied.
I am using version 2.07 of the drivers update.

MapSource V6.12.4 - works for all but the data card programmer
168 GPS Sounder V3.6 - works with serial to USB adapter
Legend C V2.7 - works with USB cable
Rino 530 V2.3 - works with USB cable
178C GPS Sounder V2.7 - works with serial to USB adapter (this device also uses the data card)
Data card programmer 2.07driver - won't work, MapSource will not acknowledge device

I've tried to reinstall the data card programmer USB drivers (207) and the procedure forces me to locate the grmnusb.sys file manually which is located in the garmin\USB_Drivers\I386 folder. The wizard can't seem to find it. Once located all seems to go well with the installation.

 

The current firmware version for a GPSmap 178c Sounder is 2.80 so let's use this to test the Garmin Data Card Programmer. You can download the 2.80 version of the firmware here. The firmware file that will be downloaded is GPSMAP178CSounder_280_USB.exe.

Run GPSMAP178CSounder_280_USB.exe in your XP vm. After running it, does it recognize the Garmin Data Card Programmer and write the firmware to the data card?

 

Slow progress being made. I have found that connecting the data card programmer directly to the USB 2.0 port rather the the USB 1.1 hub results in the following:
The install procedure works as specified (even repeating steps 3 & 4).
The wizard finds the grmnusb.sys file without any manual help.
Under Parallels 'devices/USB' the USB HS Data Card Programmer appears (must be clicked on to activate).
MapSource now recognizes the data card programmer as a valid device!!!
Problem now is that I can't write, read, of erase the card. I get the message: "The card cannot be read. Please try re-writing it".

Back to square one.

 

Sorry I reposted prior to getting your last. I will to upgrade to 2.8.

 

Following your procedure, all went well until I got to the 'HS Card Programmer Initializing... ' dialog box which was immediately followed by the same error message as before "The card cannot be read. Please try re-writing it". Again I know the card is good but I will verify by reading and writing thru the serial to USB adapter.

 

It's possible that the card has a problem. You can test this by inserting the data card into the GPSmap 178c sounder, go to the System Tab of the GPS and see if you can save your waypoints to the card. If you can then you know that the card is good.

Have you tried a different card?

 

The 178C programs correctly thru the serial to USB adapter and the card functions properly using the "save to card" and "restore from card" functions.

Seems I'm very close to a solution.

 

This narrows the problem down. I'm using version 2.5.3188 of Parallels and I don't know which version you're using but if it's not 3188, then that could be a possibility.

We're both using the same Garmin Data Card Programmer driver but you're using Windows XP and I'm using Windows 2000 so it could be an issue with XP.

Lastly, there could be a problem with your Garmin Data Card Programmer hardware.

 

I've upgraded to build 3212 (June 1, 2007) of Parallels. I ran across a window in XP that said if your having problems with XP you can emulate other older systems - I clicked Windows 2000, didn't seem to help. Lastly the data card programmer hardware works on a stand alone WinTel machine so I think its OK.

Maybe someone from the Parallels team could shed some light on this?

 

This thread talks about the changes made in build 3212. USB was affected by this build.

 

I've emailed Andrew of the Parallels team and asked for comments. By the way, webupdater would not update the 178C to version 2.8 using the serial to USB adapter.

 

In the Garmin WebUpdater notes it says that WebUpdater is not compatible with fixed-mount marine units.

Perhaps you could try reverting back to build 3188 and see if the problem persists.

 

btw I connected the data card programmer to the stand alone WinTel machine (mainly to verify that the hardware was good) and downloaded version 2.8 update for the 178C. Software update wrote to card OK. I then plugged card into the 178C and the software automaticly uploaded into the 178C. Changes to the software version didn't help the compatibility problem between the card programmer and Parallels. Still get the message "The card cannot be read. Please try re-writing it." when I try to interface thru Mapsource.

 

Changing the GPS firmware is not going to resolve this issue but by doing this you have verified that the Garmin Data Card Programmer and the card itself are functional.

Does the problem occur when you use the Garmin Data Card Programmer in your XP vm under Parallels 2.5.3188?