Albin Owners Group

Maybe everyone already knows this but I just found out that the old Navnet VX1 can be converted from Navionics Classic chips to C-Map NT+W by just a software change. The Navionics Classic chips contain very little area so you have to purchase several of them and they have not been updated since 2001. In addition the color choices were selected by someone who must have been color blind. The water can be white or black. The land can be hideous shades of purple, red or a bright green. The C-Map chart looks like a real chart with a lot more labeled features and the single chip I purchased covers Norfolk to Bermuda down to Jacksonville Florida. I just reinstalled it today and am more than pleased. The software change was one hour of time at $85.

Hi Russell, Thanks for this very useful piece of info as Navionics charts are very hard to get in our neck of the woods. (Or should I say "arm of the sea")
Also furuno agent here in Auckland, New Zealand, are unsupportive of old technology and more or less wanted me to retire the Vx1 for a 3D or suffer the crappy old charts.
It was only until I applied the lever of "Russell the Albin owner in the USA" routine, did they admit they could do a software change. Sooo, once again, thanks for the heads up!
As I can't seem to get these details from the agent here, (over the phone) could you pls enlighten me to a couple of points:
*Are the new, Cmap nt+ chart cards the same size?
* Does the slot have to be changed?
*Has there been any problems since you did the change?
*What is the sufix for large area charts?
*Does the large area chart lose detail?
Sorry about the inquisition ;it sure is hard to get info locally.

The only large area navionics chart freezes the RDP-139, the others (smaller) are fine. Consequently I am totally over navionics.(Classic )

I answered in a private email but for the interest of other readers I am still very satisfied with the change to C-MAP charts. The improvement is incredible and no change in the slot is needed. Just change the software and purchase the chip for your area.

Russ, will you send the details on how to change the software. Do I get the Furuno installer to make the change? Also when the change is made to c-map, does this software change cause any other problems with the network such as fishfinder or radar? Thanks for the idea it seems that all Furuno reps want to sell the new vx3 so they are not interested in talking about available upgrades.

I found a knowledgeable Furuno dealer that made the change for me. I took the unit to his shop and I am not sure if that is necessary. He was a good distance away and I did not want to pay the travel time which would have been more than the cost of the work. The dealer at my marina was not familiar with it but luckily in this area there are several marine electronics dealers. Call around until you find one that knows how to do it. There were no problems with the radar or the depth sounder. Even the waypoints I had stored were still there. I am still amazed at how much better it is than the Navionics Classic charts. I was so unhappy with them that I was considering changing to the VX2 but now the differences are not worth the expense.

Furuno tech support is great. Call them for good "no-sales-driven" tech advise. They are the best for supporting "yesterday's" gear. I live on the East Coast so it's nice to have the option of calling the West Coat tech dept in the evening since they are open until 5PST, 8EST. I have a VX2 setup I installed in the winter of 2008/2009 and I love it.

East Coast: 410-479-4420
West Coast: 360-834-9300