Free Software Update Provides Expanded Sonar Capabilities, Networking Options and More
OLATHE, KA- Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, today announced an exciting new software update available for both the GPSMAP 8000 Glass Helm Series and newest series of chartplotters and combination units that includes expanded GCV™ 10 compatibility, further networked sonar capabilities, Garmin Helm™ for Android™ devices and more.

“By offering this free software update for our newest line of chartplotters, we’re putting even more capabilities and potential at the boater’s fingertips,” said David Dunn, senior manager of marine sales. “Bringing DownVü and SideVü to our Glass Helm series, new internal sonar-sharing options for the inland fisherman and improved gauges and features for the sailor, everyone will benefit from the latest advances that we have to offer.”

This update provides the GPSMAP 8000 Glass Helm Series the ability to utilize the Garmin GCV 10 sonar black box. Coastal anglers will now have the opportunity to benefit from DownVü and SideVü, the clearest scanning sonar of fish returns and structure available on the market today. Additionally, the GPSMAP 8000 Glass Helm Series will now allow multiple sonar black boxes to exist on the same system. This capability provides easily networked sonar and the ability to switch between GSD™ 26 CHIRP sonar and GCV 10 scanning sonar.

Internal sonar sharing is another valuable feature that is available. With this capability, chartplotters can share sonar internally to any other devices within the same network. Non‑sonar devices can also display compatible sonar shared across the network1. Compatible units include the GPSMAP 8000 Glass Helm series, new GPSMAP xs and non-xs series and the echoMAP 70.

Garmin Helm, the mobile app that allows boaters to view and control their multi-function chartplotters from the convenience of their mobile device, is now available for Android devices. From the expanded support for Garmin Helm, Android users can now benefit from the same user-friendliness and simplicity that they have come to expect from Garmin marine devices and applications as a result of this software update.

Other feature enhancements include Meteor™ 300 support for the GPSMAP 800xs and 1000xs series chartplotters, improved sailing gauges that provide a wind gauge, heading gauge and user specified data bars for the entire echoMAP series and new GPSMAP series and improved sonar source selection and custom sonar overlays.

The software update is available now for free from the Garmin website. To download, visit http://bit.ly/1hA989L.

Garmin Helm is a free application available from Google Play™ (requires Android 4.3+). In order for the Android device to establish a connection with any GPSMAP 8000 Glass Helm series devices, the Garmin Marine Wi-Fi® Adapter (sold separately) is needed.

Garmin’s marine business segment is a leading provider of navigation and communication equipment to retail and OEM customers. Garmin’s portfolio includes some of the industry’s most sophisticated chartplotters and touchscreen multifunction displays, sonar, high-definition radar, autopilot, high-resolution mapping, sailing instrumentation and other products and services that are known for innovation, reliability, and ease-of-use.
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