Q. What is Navionics NavPlanner?
A. NavPlanner is a PC-based software program that enables Navionics customers to view their Navionics charts on their computer, and then load, edit, save and transfer routes and waypoints from PC to plotter and back again.
Please note that NavPlanner is only available in Europe-Asia-Oceania-Africa-Polynesia. Americas users please see info on NavPlanner2 instread. |
Q. What is included with Navionics NavPlanner?
A. NavPlanner CD (software for install), Navionics 23-in-1 Multi Card Reader, USB cable, NavPlanner Quick Start Guide for importing/exporting routes and waypoints to and from Navionics compatible chartplotters. |
Q. What system requirements are needed to run NavPlanner on my PC?
A. A PC-based computer running Windows Vista (32bit not 64bit)/XP/2000 (Pentium 233 or faster is recommended), 256MB RAM minimum (512MB RAM or greater is recommended), CD ROM Drive (for installing software program), 7MB of free hard disk space required, 16 Color 640x480 Graphics card (256 colors or greater is recommended), USB port required to connect Navionics Multi Card Reader. |
Q. Which Navionics Charts are compatible with NavPlanner software?
A. Navionics Gold and Platinum+ Charts are compatible with Navionics NavPlanner, as well as HotMaps, HotMaps Premium and HotMaps Platinum Charts. Please note that Platinum+ and HotMaps Platinum features are not compatible with NavPlanner, only the 2D charts and maps themselves will display.
Navionics products that are not compatible include Classic Charts and HotMaps Classic Lake Maps. |
Q. What instructions do I need to get started using NavPlanner?
A. There is a NavPlanner QuickStart Guide inside the packaging. And a complete Users Guide (.pdf) can also be downloaded if you need more information. |
Q. Does NavPlanner display all of the features of Navionics Platinum+ or HotMaps Platinum Charts?
A. NavPlanner is a navigation planning tool. The only information displayed and viewable is limited to the navigation chart content only; 3D view, top-down photo overlay, coast pilot and panoramic photos available in Platinum Charts and HotMaps Platinum are not viewable using NavPlanner. |
Q. What do I need to transfer routes and waypoints from my PC to my chartplotter?
A. After installing NavPlanner software and your Navionics Multi Card Reader, all you will need is a blank SD or CF media card (depending on which fits into your chartplotter) to save and transfer your routes and waypoints to and from your PC and chartplotter. Once saved, insert this memory card into your chartplotter and upload your new routes and waypoints. After upload is complete, insert your Navionics Chart card into your chartplotter; the routes and waypoints you created and uploaded will now appear over the Navionics Chart information. The Quick Start Guide included in your packaging provides step-by-step instructions for installing and using NavPlanner. Please also see our downloadable Users Guide for more information. |
Q. Where is my serial number located to complete the software?
A. On the back of the Quick Start Guide enclosed in your packaging. |
Q. Are their updates available for NavPlanner?
A. Yes. They are available on our updates page. |
Q. Is it possible to print maps from the computer screen to the printer with NavPlanner?
A. No. You can create 'screen shots' or 'screen grabs' from any of the areas you're viewing on your PC (usually made by pressing the 'PRINT SCREEN' or 'PRNT SCRN' button on your keyboard and pasting the captured image into an image viewing or document creation program like Paint or Word. Full maps, however, cannot be printed from NavPlanner or from Navionics Charts. |
Q. Can NavPlanner software be used on a laptop in conjunction with the GPS receiver to function as a chartplotter for purpose of navigation or do I have to buy a different PC or Mac software?
A. Navionics NavPlanner software cannot be used on a laptop in conjunction with a GPS receiver. It is a planning tool which allows you to plot waypoints and routes using your computer in the comfort of your home. Navionics is compatible with a number of software companies who offer GPS navigation software for PC or Mac. |
Q. I get an error stating the security is invalid. What is this?
A. If you get an error stating that the security is invalid, make sure you are reading the Chart from the memory card that's inserted into the Multi Card Reader, and not from the hard disk. |
Q. I have a Navionics-compatible PC or Mac software which uses the Navionics card reader and would like to view my Navionics charts with this software, can I use a regular card reader or must I use the Navionics reader?
A. You have a Navionics Multi-Card Reader to view the Navionics charts on these products. If you do not use the Navionics Multi-Card Reader you will not be able to view the Navionics charts on your PC or Mac and may corrupt the charting information. The Navionics NavPlanner software comes with the Navionics Multi-Card Reader & the NavPlanner CD. Separate Navionics Card-Readers may be purchased from Raymarine or Fugawi or through their Authorized Dealers. |
Q. I am having difficulty seeing spot depths, they are very faint.
A. On Windows XP, depending on some system settings, the spot depths and other text appears very faint on the display and difficult to read. This can be corrected by checking the following Windows setting:
- Right click on the desktop to get the pop-up menu.
- Select "Properties" menu option.
- Click the "Appearance" tab to select.
- Click the "Effects" button on this page.
- Ensure the tick box labelled "Use the following method to smooth edge of screen fonts" is ticked.
- In the pull down menu alongside select "Clear Type"
- Then click OK. The text on the chart (in particular spot depths) should be much clearer.
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Q. Why do I get an "Auto Play" when I plug in my Navionics Card Reader?
A. This is caused because Windows keeps trying to read from the card reader via 'autoplay'. Also, when NavPlanner is being used, Windows tries to read the installed cartridges from the file menu without prompting. This could be caused by an application in the system software. Disconnect all other devices (usb hubs, printers, scanners, other usb devices, ethernet wireless hubs, network adapters, bluetooth adapters, etc). Then plug in just the card reader and run NavPlanner. If this solves the problem, add each usb device back to the computer one at a time and check the application. If the device that is causing the problem can be identified, try uninstalling the device and reinstalling but with only the minimum additional software (a lot of scanners and cameras come with lots of additional editing and viewing software that tends to try and automatically read cards plugged into card readers). Alternatively, check for the latest drivers for the device as the problems may have been cured in the later drivers/software. |
Q. I received "This application has requested the Runtime to terminate it in an unusual way" error message.
A. This problem may be from a Windows update. First, check that your computer is fully updated with all the latest Windows updates. If this does not resolve the issue then please read this Microsoft article. |
Q. Cannot read chart from Multi Card Reader; or NavPlanner does not start, and/or is giving an error 3000, 3001, 3002 or 3004.
A. Probable causes:
- Possible software conflict:
There are some software packages that can cause conflicts with the Multi Card Reader. If this happens, the conflicting software needs to be disabled or uninstalled. A known conflict exists with Adobe Photoshop Elements (apdproxy.exe). This program runs in the background and may need to be either disabled or uninstalled to resolve the problem.
- Possible hardware conflict:
If there are several USB devices connected to your system, this may cause the system to have difficulty in recognizing the Navionics Multi Card Reader. If this occurs, remove all other USB devices, as well as any hubs, then plug the Multi Card Reader directly into the computers USB port, and retry. If there are built-in memory card readers also installed that use internal USB ports, these may also need to be disabled.
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Q. I am getting an error message: "A valid card reader can not be found" or "Program has performed an illegal operation".
A. First, uninstall NavPlanner and reboot your computer. Disable any other program running (i.e. Norton System Doctor, Virus detection programs, etc.) and then re-install NavPlanner. If the PC has a network drive connected it may not be possible to see the second Drive on the Multi Card Reader. If you are unable to see the Drive and have a network drive connected, try disconnecting from the network drive and then connecting to the Multi Card reader. The Navionics card reader has 3 drives (normally E, F, G). The first (normally E) is for CF cards, the third (normally G) is for SD cards. |
Q. When I load my route into a (non-HDS) Lowrance GPS, only the waypoints are showing, what do I do to show the whole route?
A. After the transfer of data, please do the following on your (non-HDS) Lowrance unit:
- <Exit> out of all menu screens
- Press your <Menu> button twice
- Scroll to "route planning" and press <Enter>
- Highlight the route you wish to view from the pop-up window and press <Enter>
- Use your <Up> arrow to highlight “Navigate” and press <Enter>
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Q. When I transfer my route to my Raymarine E or C series only the waypoints are showing up, what do I need to do?
A. Here are the steps to save the route to the unit:
- Insert the CF card with your routes on it
- Press <Data>
- Press the softkey below <Archive & Transfer>
- Press the softkey below <Retrieve from card>
- Below the left softkey titled <Select List>, select <RTE>
- Choose <Retrieve All>
Then, to have the route shown:
- <Cancel> out of all menu screens
- Press the softkey below <Navigation Options>
- Choose <Routes>
- Choose <Show/Hide Routes>
- Verify that <SHOW> is highlighted in blue (**When the default <HIDE> is selected, the waypoints are the only portions that show and not the line that connects them).
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Q. When I load my routes from my GPS unit into NavPlanner, only the points are showing, not a route line connecting them. What do I do?
A. While using NavPlanner, click on <Route> | <Create a new route>. Then click on the first waypoint that you have in the route and answer “yes” when asked if you want to have this waypoint included in the route. Then continue clicking on the rest of the waypoints you would like included in the route, when finished right-click on your mouse and choose end route. |
Q. I am getting an error message "Cannot create directory [g:waypts\]" (The g could be any letter as this is the drive the memory card is in) when saving created routes or waypoints to a blank SD card. What is wrong?
A. First, make sure that you are not attempting to save to your Navionics card as you only want to save to a blank media card. Saving to your Navionics card can corrupt your chart data. This error is created when the SD card is in the locked position, which will prevent you from saving to the card. Remove the SD card from the reader and move the lock button into the unlocked position. |
Q. Do electronic charts replace paper maps?
A. The electronic chart is an aid to navigation designed to facilitate the use of authorized government charts, not to replace them. Only official government charts and notices to mariners contain all information needed for the safety of navigation, and as always, the captain is responsible for their prudent use. |
