Garmin Data Cards

On Sun, 28 Aug 2005 18:55:48 +0100, Peter
wrote:

The database key (which changes occasionally) is linked to the card,
not the unit. If you have multiple cards for one unit, you need to be
careful which DB key you use - write the wrong one to the card and
it's useless. Ask me how I know.... But you can take a valid card
and shove it in any KLN94 and it'll work just fine. Anyone who could
successfully duplicate the entire card, including the DB key storage
system, would have a fully functioning card for any unit.

I have not seen this stuff about DB keys written down anywhere.
Doesn't this mean that one could easily render a database card
unusable while writing it with the Sandisk writer? How can I avoid
this?

They do mention being very careful about transcribing the key on the
website pages you navigate through when generating your database.
Having an incorrect key doesn't make the *card* useless, but it won't
properly download and validate when inserted into the GPS. You will
then have to call customer service and ask them to add a download back
to the account (at their discretion about whether the error was
intentional and thus not eligible for reversal, no cookie for you if
they think you're trying to wangle a free download), or use one of
your remaining download credits and generate a new download file with
the appropriate key instead of using it against a later download.