Garmin 90 Database Updates Discontinued

John Galban wrote in message
om...
Looks to me like the database has just outgrown the GPS-90s
available capacity. That strikes me as being more likely than a
sinister plot by Garmin.

As an old computer hacker, (25+ years) I have to wonder
why no one is looking into removing parts of the database that
aren't needed. For example, someone who does mostly local flying
might not need much more coverage than a few states.

Along these lines, what program loads the database, what format
is the database in, any special hardware needed, and where can you
get a current database that might be converted? There must be a
number of programmers around who are also pilots besides myself.
Why couldn't a program be written to convert a current database
so that the GPS-90s could be used a while longer? I'd bet quite a few
would like to have a free program that simply converted another
database into the correct format. What about using an FAA database
and converting it directly?

If this GPS can be updated with a freeware program, then what
about other databases? I suspect several other GPS units will
become obsolete because of memory restrictions. Also note that
it will be unlikely that all GPS brands will be immune. Your brand-Y
unit may be ok today while falling into the same boat as brand-X
next year.

Oh, before you get to deep into what a hacker is, try to forget the
media hyped version. There is usually 3 definitions of hacker.
Only one is a criminal and one is a bad programmer. I'll let you
figure out what the third one is.

I'm looking for the last database update as well, since I missed it
from the Garmin site before it became obsolete.
Thanks.
Greg

(Mark) wrote in message . com...
Lowrance Airmap 300 owner wrote in message . ..
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Does anyone have this last update? I need to update mine since this
is the last one for the GPS-90.

I guess this is Garmins trick to force users to upgrade to newer
units, well it will work, but I won't buy Garmin.....

(Mark) wrote in message . com...
Lowrance Airmap 300 owner wrote in message . ..

I guess this is Garmins trick to force users to upgrade to newer
units, well it will work, but I won't buy Garmin.....

I've heard that, but I'm not sure if I buy it. Garmin's contention
is that the memory available for waypoints (like intersections,
navaids, etc...) can no longer hold everything in the Jepp database.
Apparently, the number of waypoints has been increasing substantially
over the last few years(possibly due to new GPS approaches). I know I
had to install an operating system mod on my 195 that shrunk the OS to
create more room for the latest database.

Looks to me like the database has just outgrown the GPS-90s
available capacity. That strikes me as being more likely than a
sinister plot by Garmin.

John Galban=====N4BQ (PA28-180)

It sounds like that's already happened. I got an email from someone
who has written such a program. I'm probably going to check this
route out, as Garmin says I can't buy a database from them for the
GPS 90; even an old, out of date database...
Greg
"CryptWolf" wrote in message
s.com...

John Galban wrote in message
om...
Looks to me like the database has just outgrown the GPS-90s
available capacity. That strikes me as being more likely than a
sinister plot by Garmin.

As an old computer hacker, (25+ years) I have to wonder
why no one is looking into removing parts of the database that
aren't needed. For example, someone who does mostly local flying
might not need much more coverage than a few states.

Along these lines, what program loads the database, what format
is the database in, any special hardware needed, and where can you
get a current database that might be converted? There must be a
number of programmers around who are also pilots besides myself.
Why couldn't a program be written to convert a current database
so that the GPS-90s could be used a while longer? I'd bet quite a few
would like to have a free program that simply converted another
database into the correct format. What about using an FAA database
and converting it directly?

If this GPS can be updated with a freeware program, then what
about other databases? I suspect several other GPS units will
become obsolete because of memory restrictions. Also note that
it will be unlikely that all GPS brands will be immune. Your brand-Y
unit may be ok today while falling into the same boat as brand-X
next year.

Oh, before you get to deep into what a hacker is, try to forget the
media hyped version. There is usually 3 definitions of hacker.
Only one is a criminal and one is a bad programmer. I'll let you
figure out what the third one is.

(Mark) wrote in message . com...
Lowrance Airmap 300 owner wrote in message . ..
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Does anyone have this last update? I need to update mine since this
is the last one for the GPS-90.

I guess this is Garmins trick to force users to upgrade to newer
units, well it will work, but I won't buy Garmin.....

(my database is from Nov, 96!!)

I did some calling and if you call Gulf Coast Avionics they will
update it to the last update (June 03) for $75. Also, Tropic Aero will
update it to their latest update (April 03) for $50. Both places ask
you to ship your unit to them, they pay the return shipping charge.

I ONLY use mine for backup, so I really don't need the latest update.
As i said, mine was almost 7 years OLD!! I still love my old GPS-90,
it's a understandable shame that Garmin has discontinued support.

I sent mine to Tropic Aero and it only took 8 days week to get it
back.

mark