I have an ECHOMap 94sv with Bluechart G3. I'm following this thread to hear experiences with Standard Mapping - Texas One and Garmin.

Garmin now owns Navionics and Navionics currently has two products for Garmins: Navionics+ and Navionics Vision+. The Vision+ product has high resolution satellite imagery like Standard Mapping -Texas One. Vision+ updates are kept in sync on your Garmin using the ActiveCaptian app. Vision+ has the satellite imagery that I am looking for but the problem is......my ECHOmap does not have the screen resolution to take full advantage of Vision+ satellite imagery. ECHOmap 7x and 9x series units have screen resolution of 800 x 600, while the equivalent GPSMap units have screen resolution of 1024 x 600 and 1280 x 800 respectively. I would have to upgrade to a Garmin GPSmap (or Garmin ULTRA) series to utilize the Vision+ satellite imagery data fully.

Here's a link for more info on ECHOmap vs GPSmap features: Garmin GPSmap Vs Echomap (What Are The Key Differences?)
Here's a link for more info on Navionics+ and Navionics Vision+: Marine and Lake Charts

I hesitate to install Standard Mapping - Texas One on my ECHOmap for a few reasons, primarily because my 800 x 600 screen resolution. I also wonder how current their information is and their process to keep the information current is not clear.

 

Does anyone have the Standard Mapping - Texas One on their Garmin device? I have an ECHOMap 74cv with the bluechart g3 preloaded, if I install it on the Garmin, will it replace the bluechart mapping? Is the latest card updated imagery? I have read that the satellite photos are out of date.

I have it in my 74cv and love it. Worth the money. It does not lag at all.

 

Every Garmin I have put it on made the unit super slow. I stopped offering it on Garmin units. The vision plus card works well on 86xx units

 

Please share your thoughts and opinions of Vision+ and compare it to Texas One. Are Vision+ satellite images and chart overlay as good as Texas One? What other comments can you provide on Vision+? Are there any downsides to Vision+?

What other information can you share about Texas One? How current are the Texas One satellite images?

For Garmin owners, which satellite image overlay product do you recommend, Texas One or Vision+?

TIA.

 

Ok. So I spoke with a Gamin support representative this morning. The Vision+ does not have satellite overlay over the water. It's only over the land and the blue chart g3 shows up over the water. He also said Garmin or Navonics does not offer any "google earth" type overlays over the water. See below

So with that being said, Texas One from standard mapping is the only one that offers a "Google earth" overlay for any device.

This is kind of disappointing because on my old garmin I would use Basecamp and Birdseye imagery, download it to a chip and throw it into my device and go. Now garmin got rid of Birdseye imagery because they purchased Navionics. I told him that it was way simpler for doing it that way than using all this active captain stuff. He said he would agree. But garmin is trying to shift to a subscription based platform. They are not understanding that people just want a chip to throw in and go. Update once a year and move on. Somehow they think making it more complicated will get people to buy. Not sure how that works. Who knows, maybe they will come out with it if they have enough requests.

So I am going to use the standard mapping and see what happens. Even if it deletes my preloaded bluechart g3 maps it will be better to see the satellite overlay that the bluechart.

 

Ok, so I figured it out. Here is my email conversation with Garmin Tech Support yesterday. I did end up getting the Vision+ and I will share my experience after.

Garmin Tech-support 12/2/2022 @ 8:23AM
Hello James,
After further review, I did find a toggle for high-resolution satellite imagery to view that information on the water with the Garmin Navionics Vision +. You would still need to use Active Captain for that mapping.
Please reply to this email with any questions

Thank you for choosing Garmin,
Tim

Product Support
Garmin International
For 24-hour access to support videos, manuals, FAQs & more, visit the Support Center.

My Reply 12/2/2022 @ 8:31AM
How does that toggle work?
Can you possibly send me a picture of what it looks like?
How does it work with the bluechart g3 preloaded charts?
Will it remove the preloaded bluechart g3 navigation waterways and markers?
Is it subscription based purchase?

Garmin Tech-support 12/2/2022 @ 10:39AM
Hello James,
Thanks for the reply, could you please send me coordinates for the location or name of the area where you would be looking for the charts? I can send you some screen shots and functions to show that on the chartplotter.

Thank you for choosing Garmin,
Tim
Product Support
Garmin International
For 24-hour access to support videos, manuals, FAQs & more, visit the Support Center.

I send him a reply of some areas I fish.

Garmin Tech-support 12/2/2022 @ 4:01PM
Hello James,
Per our conversation, if you purchase Garmin Navionics Vision + it would be subscription based. The initial cost is $249.99 and half price after that to continue the yearly subscription. To get the vision features for example relief shading or satellite imagery, you would have to use Active Captain. You would also get daily updates. You would download the area of coverage you want and transfer to the Active Captain card in the unit. The Bluechart G3 vision would be a one time buy for a smaller area of coverage and you could just plug and play the card in the unit for the vision features. You can just remove either the Active Captain card or Bluechart G3 card and it would resort back to your built in map of the unit. I included some screen shots of relief shading and Satellite imagery in that area. It doesn't look like there is a lot of detail in your area.

To get the satellite imagery: Home>>Charts>>Fishing chart>>Menu>>Layers>>Chart>>Satellite Photos on>>3 dots>>Turn off land only.

Please reply to this email with any questions

Thank you for choosing Garmin,
Tim
Product Support
Garmin International
For 24-hour access to support videos, manuals, FAQs & more, visit the Support Center.

So needless to say that Tim was super helpful.

Now I did purchase the Vision+ for my ECHOmap UHD and get the satellite imagery to work. There is actually a very very good Youtube video over the Vision+ by Garmin.
Here is the link:

So after my experience, I am happy with this. It is either 2 ways to get satellite imagery on the Garmin devices. One way Standard mapping chip is $300, people have said it lags on Garmin devices, cannot get updates. The other way is Garmin Vision+ and it costs $50 less than standard mapping, pretty good clarity, additional stuff that comes on the Vision+, and it constantly gets updated via Active Captain. This was my thought process of debating on what to do, others can do what they want.

Now, Vision+ is subscription based. The way it works is that you purchase the charts for $249.99 and get 1 year of free daily updates. Now to renew THE UPDATES, you have to pay yearly at $125.00. So you never loose the charts, but if you want the constant updates after a year, you have to pay.

Let me know what ya'll think if you decide to get one or the other.

 

I have a Garmin echomap 106 ultra and Texas One Map. I think it is awesome. I’m not sure how I fished without it, actually I remember but I like this setup a lot. It is a little bit slower but worth it to me. You can see grass lines, some rocks, depth changes. It seems kind of expensive but it has definitely been worth it. I should’ve gotten Texas One Map sooner. I do have to pop it out to fish lakes in central Texas which are not on the Texas one map. Otherwise it’s all good.

 

My Garmin is a 1242 XSV….bought it in 2020 I believe. Do y’all know if these chips are compatible with a model like mine? Or would it slow it down dramatically?

 

The video I posted shows the units that Vision+ is compatible with.

 

thefisher… this is good news and thanks for the follow up. I’m considering adding a new 12” GPSMap unit and networking it with my 9” Echmap. If I do, I plan to get the Vision+ package.

 

That's good to hear. There isn't much out there on this topic, so I figured that I would post my experience.

I went out this afternoon and had the Vision+ satellite imagery. It was super useful, but I didn't use it much because I knew where I was going. It will forsure help out when I'm at my inlaws in Indianola.

Now the good news about Vision+ is that it is constantly getting updated. And you actually don't loose the buoy markers and navigational channels. I actually like it alot.

 

Did you end up going with the vision+ card or the download?

 

I played with Texas One at the fishing show too. The colors and contrast are very nice and almost too pretty. Our upper gulf coast waters never ever look like that. I zoomed in close to troublesome areas that I’m very familiar with and despite the pretty water graphics, I did not see obstruction detail that I thought it might reveal. I asked the rep about the date of the current version and I recall he said 2016(?). I asked about the next release date and the tone of his voice was weak when he said end of 1Q’23.

I now have Vision+ downloaded to my EchoMap 94sv unit. I made a mistake when I was upgrading my subscription and downloaded V+. My EchoMap has locked up a few times after this upgrade. I’m coming to the realization that over-the-water digital imagery is not worth my money. I don’t want digitally enhanced pretty images to navigate with.

 

I mean there are some days in the winter and spring, especially when the wind lays for days at a time, our bays get ridiculously clear but I kmkw what you mean!

Heck, you remember May of 2018 when it was legitimately blue on the beach & inside the pass? i wonder if those clear days are when they decide to pull their satellite images?

Do you like the vision+ other than it not loading with your EchoMap? Is the detail better than the Texas One chip?