Sorry about the delay in response. We did a pile of experiments, etc., with the Magellan driver in Offshore Navigator in order to get to the bottom of this.

First, some direct answers to your questions:
Why is OSN trying to download waypoints as part of a route upload process?
Because the way that Magellan works, we have no idea which "slots" are available for waypoint storage. Rather than just blasting a route (or series of waypoints) to the unit (and possibly overwriting whatever data is there) we ask the unit for its entire memory, then fill up only the empty spaces.

Is there a way that I can revert back to 5.04b?
Not easily, but Ill provide that option (see below.)

Ive just been assured by Magellan Tech support that all of their units use the same technique for upload/download of waypoints and routes. Is that your understanding as well?
Yes. With the exception of the various storage capacities, supported baud rates, etc., all Magellan units use the same data transfer protocol. In essence, they are all the same.

Ok, now heres what we found out...

We had one Magellan that was behaving badly. Like yours, it would not transfer data reliably (if at all.) In this case, it was a ColorTrack. We have several ColorTracks, so we tried another - it worked fine. Likewise, all of the rest of the Magellan units we had kicking around (including a Meridian) worked fine. This was all done with the 5.06 OSN software.

We went back to version 5.04b and tried the same units. As with 5.06, the one ColorTrack would not work, yet the other GPSs (including a different ColorTrack) worked fine.

At this point, we suspected that the problem (at least in our case) was not with the OSN software, but with that particular ColorTrack. So, we cleared the unit as best we could, and flashed it with the latest system software. This actually took 2 tries, as the unit actually crashed the first time we tried to update it.

After a successful software reset, the unit performs flawlessly with OSN 5.04b and 5.06.

While I cant be certain that this will work in your case, Im out of ideas. You indicate that Magellans web site has an older version of the system software than your unit currently does. I suggest that you contact Magellan support directly to see if they have something more current than what is in your unit. At the very least, they should have the same system software that you do, and re-applying that software to your unit may correct the problem.

Alternatively, you could put up the GPS Data View (found in the Help menu of OSN.) With that data showing, transfer a route to the GPS. Upon its failure, copy the Data View to the clipboard and paste it into a posting (or an email to elecuyer@maptech.com.) I will have the software engineer responsible for our GPS drivers analyze it - as it may shed some light on this problem.

Finally, you could revert back to 5.04. Simply run the Uninstaller found on the Installer CD that came with Offshore Navigator. (Do not use Add Remove Programs as the Windows Uninstaller is not reliable.) On the screen that comes up when the Installer CD is inserted, choose Uninstall, Offshore Navigator. Then, reinstall with the version of your choice. However, I suspect that this will not correct the problem, and we can not offer continued support for earlier versions of the software (thats why we give away the software updates.)

Please let me know how this works out.

- Ed Lecuyer
Manager, Quality Assurance & Release Engineering

First off, thanks for your efforts. I spent a long time yesterday getting thriugh to the Magellan support folks. The version of code that is on my FX324 is only available in production and in the repair facility, so the only way to refresh it is to send the unit in. They will do this, but it may not be required. More info below.

It occurred to me that the GPSU program might provide some insight to the problem. In case you are not familiar with it, it is a utility program that interfaces with a broad range of GPS units, providing the ability to upload, download, monitor, etc. It is available in a reduced form as freeware from the GPSU site,

I tried that this morning and it worked fine uploading and downloading waypoints. I tried OSN and it failed the same way as before. Traces of each follow:

GPSU Download
->$PMGNCMD,WAYPOINT*71
<-$GPXTE,V,V,,,A*33
<-$PMGNCSM,71*63
<-$PMGNWPL,3816.620,N,12217.165,W,-000027,M,2AMOB,,ag*1C
->$PMGNCSM,1C*17
<-$PMGNWPL,3816.621,N,12217.160,W,-000027,M,2AANCHOR,,ag*41
->$PMGNCSM,41*60
<-$PMGNWPL,3816.547,N,12217.191,W,-000018,M,MARK0001,13:31:41 04 APR 05 0M,c*7A
->$PMGNCSM,7A*13
<-$PMGNCMD,END*3D
->$PMGNCSM,3D*12
->$PMGNCMD,TOFF*69
<-$GPAAM,V,V,,N,*38
<-$GPAPB,V,A,,,N,V,V,,M,,,M,,M,A*3D
<-$GPBWC,190754,,,,,,T,,M,,N,,A*75
<-$GPGLL,3816.621,N,12217.163,W,190754,A*3C
<-$GPGGA,190754,3816.621,N,12217.163,W,2,09,0.8,00001,M,-0027,M,,*7F
<-$GPRMC,190754,A,3816.621,N,12217.163,W,00.0,000.0,050405,15,E,A*13
<-$GPVTG,000,T,345,M,0000.0,N,0000.0,K,A*21
<-$GPXTE,V,V,,,A*33
<-$PMGNCSM,69*6A
<-$PMGNCMD,END*3D
->$PMGNCSM,3D*12
Finished with Comms.

GPSU Upload
<-$GPRMC,191246,A,3816.621,N,12217.163,W,00.0,000.0,050405,15,E,A*14
<-$GPVTG,000,T,345,M,0000.0,N,0000.0,K,A*21
<-$GPXTE,V,V,,,A*33
->$PMGNWPL,3816.6200,N,12217.1650,W,-27,M,2AMOB,,ag*1C
<-$PMGNCSM,1C*17
->$PMGNWPL,3816.6210,N,12217.1600,W,-27,M,2AANCHOR,,ag*41
<-$PMGNCSM,41*60
->$PMGNWPL,3816.5470,N,12217.1910,W,-18,M,MARK000A,13:31:41 04 APR 05 0M,c*0A
<-$PMGNCSM,0A*14
Finished with Comms.

OSN Download
GPS-> $GPRMC,193335,A,3816.619,N,12217.164,W,00.0,000.0,050405,15,E,A*1F
GPS-> $GPVTG,000,T,345,M,0000.0,N,0000.0,K,A*21
GPS-> $GPXTE,V,V,,,A*33
GPS<- $PMGNCMD,VERSION*28
GPS-> $PMGNCSM,28*6F
GPS-> $PMGNVER,038,VER 1 25,FX 324*3E
GPS<- $PMGNCSM,3E*13
GPS<- $PMGNCMD,WAYPOINT*71
GPS-> $GPAAM,V,V,,N,*38
GPS-> $GPAPB,V,A,,,N,V,V,,M,,,M,,M,A*3D
GPS-> $GPBWC,193336,,,,,,T,,M,,N,,A*76
GPS-> $GPGLL,3816.619,N,12217.164,W,193336,A*33
GPS-> $GPGGA,193336,3816.619,N,12217.164,W,2,08,1.0,00000,M,-0027,M,,*79
GPS-> $GPRMC,193336,A,3816.619,N,12217.164,W,00.0,000.0,050405,15,E,A*1C
GPS-> $GPVTG,000,T,345,M,0000.0,N,0000.0,K,A*21
GPS-> $GPXTE,V,V,,,A*33
GPS-> $PMGNCSM,71*63
GPS-> $PMGNWPL,3816.620,N,12217.165,W,-000027,M,2AMOB,,ag*1C
GPS-> $PMGNWPL,3816.620,N,12217.165,W,-000027,M,2AMOB,,ag*1C

OSN Upload
GPS-> $GPRMC,191919,A,3816.621,N,12217.163,W,00.0,000.0,050405,15,E,A*15
GPS-> $GPVTG,000,T,345,M,0000.0,N,0000.0,K,A*21
GPS<- $PMGNCMD,VERSION*28
GPS-> $GPXTE,V,V,,,A*33
GPS-> $PMGNCSM,28*6F
GPS-> $PMGNVER,038,VER 1 25,FX 324*3E
GPS<- $PMGNCSM,3E*13
GPS<- $PMGNCMD,WAYPOINT*71
GPS-> $PMGNCSM,71*63
GPS-> $PMGNWPL,3816.620,N,12217.165,W,-000027,M,2AMOB,,ag*1C
GPS-> $PMGNWPL,3816.620,N,12217.165,W,-000027,M,2AMOB,,ag*1C
GPS-> $PMGNWPL,3816.620,N,12217.165,W,-000027,M,2AMOB,,ag*1C
GPS<- $$
GPS<- $PMGNCMD,HANDON*70
GPS-> $PMGNWPL,3816.620,N,12217.165,W,-000027,M,2AMOB,,ag*1C
GPS<- $PMGNCMD,HANDON*70
GPS-> $PMGNWPL,3816.620,N,12217.165,W,-000027,M,2AMOB,,ag*1C
GPS<- $PMGNCMD,HANDON*70
GPS<- $$
GPS<- $PMGNCMD,HANDON*70
GPS-> $PMGNCSM,70*62

One other bit of info: After the failure, OSN is very fragile. When I tried to get the second trace without shutting down and restarting OSN, the program terminated itself with no notice. The traces were made with the PC that has 5.05 on it.

Thanks again for your efforts.

Bob Craven

Sorry about the delay in repsonse. I was waiting until I had new information.

Unfortunately, I do not.

We are working with Magellan in order to secure one of these units for testing and troubleshooting. How long this will take is unknown at this time. Once we have a FX324 in-hand, we should be able to correct the problem (assuming we can recreate it.)

In the meanwhile, you can try the 5.07 release of Offshore Navigator. While it doesn't contain anything specific to correct this issue, we always recommend running the latest software release.

- Ed Lecuyer
Manager, Quality Assurance & Release Engineering

I have installed and tried 5.07, and as you suspected, the results are the same.

Thanks for your efforts.

Bob Craven
S/V Caladesi

Any prospects on when there might be a resolution to the Magellan FX324 issue. I have found that I can upload routes using the Raymarine setting. The routes dont get transferred, but the waypoints do. I then have to string the waypoints together to get the routes manually on the GPS. Tedious, but better than nothing.

Thanks.
Bob Craven

We spoke with Magellan about this issue and they were unable to supply us with this unit.

The best I can offer is if you want to send your unit to us to borrow, we can try to figure it out. If this is something you wish to persue, email me at elecuyer@maptech.com.

-Ed Lecuyer
Senior Manager, Maptech Customer Service

I am also having comm problems with an FX324. The magellan manual states 2 stop bits on 183 and navigator light is set to one stop bit and there is no way to change the stop bits though the UI in Navigator light. Any thoughts?

The players in this thread took the discussion off-line. After a number of tries, we were able to determine that the FX324 has two interesting properties:
- It uses 2 stop bits instead of 1.
- It uses non-standard (non-NMEA) characters during data transfer.

We got this all straightened out. Anyone using an FX324 is welcome to contact me at elecuyer@maptech.com for a copy of the driver for that GPS.

Thanks to Robert and Chris for sharing their time and commitment to make this possible.

-Ed Lecuyer
Senior Customer Support Manager

I am considering buying Marine Navigator , I have a few questions though. I am great with computers but boating navigation is a whole new learning experience for me. We are looking for an inexpensive way to have GPS as well as knowing what lies below the water in front of our boat. I know you can purchase forward looking sonar from Interphase and install trransducers but we have so many upgrades to do to our 46" houseboat that we are hoping for an inexpensive solution for now. I have 2 nice laptops with MSN Streets and Trips (which comes with a GPS-360 usb plug in). If I purchase Maptech's Marine Navigator (which comes with Contour 3D charts) will this work with my laptop. Will the GPS-360 work with this program. Are there any other items I will need besides Laptop, Software and GPS USB plug in. Are these 3D charts accurate and do they show small rock shoals etc. I will be in the Georgian Bay, to Penetanguishene, Ontario area and want to know as much as possible if there is anyone out there that can help me in any way. Spring is coming fast. See you at the Toronto Boat Show on January 14th!!!! Debbie
PS..I know this forum was for Chart Navigator Version 5.05 but I didn't see any forums for "Marine Navigator." Hope nobody minds!!!

Hi Deborah,
You may want to check out our new program called Chart Navigator Pro. It gives you more data for the same price (the whole US). You can view more about that here: http://www.maptech.com/water/chartNavigatorPro/index.cfm

However, if you need to navigate in Canadian waters that will require some additional purchases. You can view those options here: http://www.maptech.com/water/digitalcharts/index.cfm?infopg=buy

As far as the GPS goes I've never heard of the GPS-360 but, any standard NMEA 0183 GPS should work as a receiver in any of our programs. Please let us know if you have any more questions. Thanks and have a great day, Erika



Erika Nagle
Discussion Forum Moderator