Q2 2022, April 2022 Garmin Software Update Now Available!

Garmin is constantly working to improve their existing product line through the release of periodic software updates. These updates allow for the support of new accessories, provide new menu features and more.

Software updates are available from Garmin free of charge via Garmin.com, through the ActiveCaptain app on your compatible smartphone, or through the purchase of a pre-programmed software update card shipped from The GPS Store, Inc. Shop the preprogrammed update for Garmin GPSMAP series here. Shop the preprogrammed update for Garmin ECHOMAP series here.

View the list of highlights from the April 2022 software update below, followed by the feature compatibility list.

Chartplotter Voice Control- Use select spoken voice commands to change pages, query the local tide information, ask for the fuel level, control music and more! The Garmin Voice Control Bundle required and sold separately. Click here to shop the Garmin Voice Control Bundle. A compatible headset or speaker is also required and sold separately. Support for additional headsets including AirPods will be added in the June software update.

Power-Pole Anchor Integration- Now control (stow and deploy) your Power-Pole anchor from your compatible display. (C-Monster Gateway from Power-Pole required, sold separately.)

OnDeck System Remote N2K Switching- The Garmin OnDeck Hub now allows for NMEA 2000 and digital switches to be controlled remotely via the ActiveCaptain app.

ActiveCaptain Auto Updates- Never forget a software update again! Enable auto downloads in your account for the app to automatically detect and update your software silently in the background of your app. The April 2022 update also provides new progress indicators on the boat apps page to let users know the progress of the download.

Enable Background File Transfers- ActiveCaptain will now allow file transfers to continue in the background while the app is minimized. This feature is supported by Android and iOS devices.

Garmin User Interface- Allows users to make quick adjustments to a wide range of items without having to change screens.

Mercury Cruise Control- A new overlay bar will appear when the user is connected to a Mercury gateway that supports the Mercury Cruise feature. This will keep your engines at a target RPM that the user sets.

Sailing Features- Adds polar data fields on GNX120/130 and wearables.

Get Outdoors with Garmin inReach Satellite Communicators

As the temperatures rise and the days get longer, you may begin exploring the outdoors. Hiking, fishing and camping are some of the most memorable parts of Spring and Summer. There are several products on the market that help to make sure your time is as carefree as possible. Garmin’s line of inReach satellite communicators provides peace of mind at a reasonable price. No longer limit your travels to areas where you receive good cell service. The inReach satellite communicators allow you to send and receive text messages, trigger SOS and allow friends and family to view your coordinates all with the 100% Iridium global network.

What is inReach technology?

Using the Iridium network with 100% global coverage, you can send and receive text messages with any cell phone number or email address. You may also share your coordinates with friends and family if you desire. In an emergency situation, you may trigger an SOS in order to get help. Garmin inReach technology is built-in to a wide range of Garmin handhelds which all have additional unique features. Additional features may include marine mapping, topo maps, sensors and more.

Who receives my SOS Distress Call:

The Garmin IERCC is a leader in emergency response coordination services and is staffed 24/7/365. All inReach satellite subscriptions include unlimited interactive SOS signals to the 24/7 search and rescue monitoring center via the 100% global Iridium satellite network. Once your SOS is triggered, your GPS coordinates will be sent to the Garmin IERCC and they will communicate with emergency services or others to provide assistance. The Garmin IERCC is able to stay in touch with you until assistance arrives, or until you no longer require assistance.

How can I see data about my recent trip?

All Garmin inReach devices come with free access to the Garmin Explore website where you can plan your next trip, review coordinates from past trips and link your social media accounts.

Can I view weather forecasts directly on my device?

Optional inReach weather forecasts can provide weather forecasts directly on your inReach device when paired with the Earthmate app.

Can I share my location with friends and family?

If you choose, you can turn the tracking function on to allow friends and family to see your location on their computers or smartphone using the MapShare portal. If you prefer to keep your location private, simply keep this feature turned off.

Subscription Plans

A Garmin inReach subscription plan is required and can be selected through the Garmin Explore website. Freedom (month-to-month), or Annual (1-year contract) plans are available. Read more about InReach plans here.

Which inReach product is right for me?

The handy comparison chart below may help in selecting the right inReach product for your needs. Don’t forget that our sales team has specialized knowledge in our product lines and know the right questions to ask to get you paired with the right unit. Feel free to give us a call toll free at 1-800-477-2611 (M-F, 9am-5pm ET) or email sales@thegpsstore.com

Garmin Tacx Indoor Trainers Bring the Road Indoors!

Indoor cycling has increased in popularity over the last several years in part because of its ability to pack an amazing workout in a short amount of time from the comfort of your home. Many find that squeezing in a workout is much easier if you’re simply venturing to your living room.

If you enjoy outdoor, on-road cycling in addition to indoor training, the Garmin Tacx series of indoor trainers may be equipment to consider. Using your existing bike, simply snap-in to a Garmin Tacx trainer for an incredibly realistic cycling experience. Training on a single bike has many advantages and allows you to have a consistent riding experience whether your outdoors on the road, or opting to train indoors.

Garmin’s Tacx series includes several trainers ranging from basic, affordable trainers to premium trainers such as the Tacx Neo 2T Smart Trainer with Tacx Training app support via Bluetooth.

Shop the Garmin Tacx series below:

Listed from Premium, full featured options to straightforward, cost effective models:

• Garmin Tacx NEO 2T Smart Trainer
• Garmin Flow Smart Trainer
• Garmin Tacx Boost Trainer

Certified Refurbished Debunked

Have you considered buying a certified refurbished product? Many feel uneasy about buying refurbished and are unsure about the condition of the item they would receive.

On occasion we receive certified refurbished specials from our manufacturers and are able to offer them at unbeatable prices. The GPS Store, Inc. is an authorized dealer for all of the brands that we sell- and have been since day one! This means that you can rest assured that when you buy certified refurbished products from us- they have been refurbished by the manufacturer, tested and restored to factory specifications, come with a 1-year manufacturers warranty and are in ‘like new’ condition. There will be no flaws, scratches or blemishes on the device and it will include all of the accessories that the Brand New model would come with. Basically- you get all the same great product features at an even better price.

Refurbished products are always clearly marked on our website and account for a very small portion of our offerings. These items are also always limited in quantity.

We have a handful of Certified Refurbished specials right now including the Garmin Panoptix LiveScope System with LVS 32 Transducer. Panoptix LiveScope sonar has been one of the most popular and highly regarded products on the market and remains a customer favorite. The Panoptix LiveScope System is compatible with a wide range of Garmin chartplotters and multifunction displays making it easy to integrate with your existing Garmin setup. Give us a call to confirm that your display supports Panoptix LiveScope or reference the compatibility list at the bottom of this post.

LiveScope provides real-time, stabilized sonar imagery up to 200′ down and away from your boat. See your lure as you retrieve it and even distinguish between fish species in real time. The Panoptix LiveScope consists of a GLS 10 Black Box sonar module and an LVS32 transducer that can be mounted on your trolling motor or transom.

Shop the Certified Refurbished Garmin Panoptix LiveScope System here.

All refurbished specials can be viewed here.

Garmin Panoptix LiveScope System Compatibility:

• ECHOMAP Plus 7″ and 9″ units
• ECHOMAP UHD 7″ and 9″ units
• ECHOMAP Ultra 106/126sv
• Garmin GPSMAP 1022/1042/1222/1242/722/742/922/942/7400/7600
• GPSMAP 8400/8600

Spring is almost here!

March is here and we’re looking forward to getting some warm weather here in southern North Carolina. While we may be experiencing a cold front now, we know Spring is only 5 days away and warmer weather is on its way. For many this means it’s time to get their boats ready with new electronics, buy new fitness gear for outdoor exercises or purchase some new golf equipment to up their game.

Garmin is making it easy to prepare for these warmer temps with many new and improved wearables including new fenix 7, Instinct, Epix and Descent series watches.

If you’re a golf enthusiast- check out the Garmin Approach series of golf watches or the Approach Z82 laser rangefinder with GPS. The Garmin Approach Golf Watches provide yardage, preloaded golf courses and performance stats! The Approach Z82 is a laser rangefinder with image stabilization and over 41,000 preloaded courses including hazard views and more!

If it’s time to upgrade your marine electronics, give us a call. We offer competitive prices on a wide range of products from top manufacturers like Lowrance, Simrad, Furuno, ACR, FLIR and more. We are authorized dealers for every manufacturer we offer and have been for over 20 years. If you are revamping your entire boat, give us a call for help putting together a marine package.

No matter the outdoor activity, we have the equipment that you need to get out on the right foot! As always, we are standing by to help field questions, make product recommendations and if you prefer, help you place an order on the phone.

The Atlantic Boat Show ended Sunday and the boat show team just returned. Atlantic City did not disappoint. The AC show wrapped up our boat show season and we are moving into one of the busiest times of the season.

There have been several recent new product launches and we are adding new products to our website daily.

One of the hottest new products on the market is the Garmin Livescope Plus System. The new Livescope Plus System consists of the same GLS10 black box included with the previous version, along with a brand new LVS34 transducer. The new system (p/n 010-02706-00) includes trolling motor mounts and the Garmin Perspective Mode mount, not included with the previous version. The Livescope Plus system provides improved resolution, reduced noise and clearer images than the previous model. Target separation and screen clarity are also improved, bringing you the best in real-time sonar imagery.

The Garmin Livescope Plus system is compatible with the following Garmin displays:

• Garmin GPSMAP 8400/8600 Series
• Garmin GPSMAP x2 Plus Series
• Garmin GPSMAP x3 Series
• Garmin ECHOMAP Ultra Series
• Garmin ECHOMAP UHD 7″ and 9″ Displays

Shop the Garmin Livescope Plus System here.

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The Atlantic City boat show is underway! The show runs today thru Sunday and we are located in booth 407. Show information can be viewed at https://www.acboatshow.com.  This is the final big show of the season and a great opportunity to check out new products.

Can’t make it to the show? Our YouTube page is a great place to view videos about these new products including hands-on demonstrations! It’s the next best thing to being at the shows. We’ve added several new videos from the Miami Boat Show to our YouTube page. View our YouTube page here and don’t forget to subscribe to avoid missing any new content. New videos include information about the new SiTex MDA-5, Furuno NavPilot, Simrad NSX, Fusion Wakeboard Tower Speakers, Garmin Boat Switch and the new Garmin Navionics cartography!

Simrad has released their newest series of multifunction displays with the Simrad NSX series.

Simrad has worked hard to make these some of the most user-friendly units on the market. The Simrad Setup Wizard guides you through step-by-step setup instructions eliminating the headache of setting up your new GPS. Update software, plan trips, routes and more- all through the Simrad Companion app.

The Simrad NSX units feature a bright, SolarMAX IPS touch display for viewability at any angle and even in the harshest sunlight and with polarized sunglasses. NSX displays are available in 3 sizes- 7-inch, 9-inch and 12-inch models. These displays are offered in several SKU’s- with the Active Imaging 3-in-1 transom mount transducer for CHIRP, DownScan and SideScan sonar, with HDI transom mount transducer for DownScan and CHIRP, or without transducer. Give us a call for help choosing the best model for you!

The Simrad NSX units include all new CMAP Discover X Maps for North America. This chart includes 12 months of free, easy updates- ensuring you always have the freshest data. Discover X maps are exclusive to the Simrad NSX series and provide Full Vector charts, Hi-Res Bathymetry, Custom Depth Shading, Day and Night modes, Tides and Currents, Detailed Marina Port Plans, Harbor and Approach Detail and subscription-free autorouting. Satellite Imagery and Shaded Reveal Relief Shading are available with the purchase of a CMAP Reveal X chart, sold separately. See the comparison chart below to compare the included Discover X chart with the Reveal X chart (optional accessory, sold separately).

NSX units have full Simrad radar support in addition to NMEA 2000 and sonar support. Sonar support includes 1kW single channel CHIRP, ActiveImaging, and 50/200 sonar- allowing for a multitude of transducer options to suit most sonar needs. All NSX units come with a single network port as well as a single transducer port.

Have questions? Give us a call! 1-800-477-2611 M-F 8am-5pm ET.

Shop the Simrad NSX Series here.

January 2022 Marine Software Update Now Available

The Garmin January 2022 Software Update is available for download from Garmin ActiveCaptain or Garmin.com. Simply tap on the ‘My Marine Devices’ option from the ActiveCaptain app to view available software updates. While software updates are always free from Garmin, we do offer preprogrammed SD cards containing software updates as a convenience to our customers. Shop the Garmin ECHOMAP software update card here and the Garmin GPSMAP software update card here if you would prefer to receive the update on a preprogrammed SD card.

Software updates from Garmin are free of charge and are released routinely in order to provide backwards compatibility with new features, resolve bugs or add compatibility to new devices and features.

The Q1 2022 release provides:

• Support for the new Garmin Navionics+ and Garmin Navionics Vision+ charting.
• Updates to user interface including new graphics and fonts for GPSMAP series units.
• Added Vessel Look-Ahead feature shifting your vessel position on the chart as the vessel speeds up. This shows more of the chart in front of the vessel!
• Chart Points of Interest (POI) review feature immediately shows POI’s on the display removing the ‘review’ button.
• Polar tables support provides sail specific information.
• Yamaha Engine Page split screen allows users to add the Yamaha engine data page to their favorite split screen or combo page.
• Added Fuel remaining feature which uses a sensor in the tank rather than the fuel flow.
• Mercury Sport Exhaust feature routes the exhaust through a muffler or not, in order to make engines loud or quiet.
• Common troubleshooting assistance adds troubleshooting text to common alarm banners.
• Ghost Reject auto setting provides a clearer picture.

New features are not compatible with all units. Please see the software update feature compatibility chart below.

Next Up- Miami International Boat Show

Our boat show team is back from the New York Boat Show and we will begin processing and shipping out show orders. Despite the snow, the New York show turned out to be a great opportunity to spend time, in person with our customers and industry partners.

Our next show is coming up in a few short weeks. We will be exhibiting at the Miami International Boat Show from Wednesday, February 16th through Sunday, February 20th. This is the first year that the Miami International Boat Show and the Miami Yacht Show, Superyacht Miami will join forces and combine both events into one amazing show.

Our booth will be located at the Miami Beach Convention Center- booth number yet to be announced. In-water components of the show will be held at several locations including Sea Isle Marina, One Herald Plaza, Museum Park Marine and IGY Yacht Haven Grande at Island Gardens. What a great opportunity to explore all facets of boating at a single event!

Several ticketing options are available and must be purchased online. Click here to purchase tickets.

We hope to see you at the show!