I could use your insight as to whether the Garmin Active Captain app is worth installing on my smart device. Has anyone found the features to be worth the download and does the sync work as advertised. I fish both inshore on the Texas coast and Central Texas lakes. What are the key attributes

you will not be able to update your graph without it, pretty seamless once you learn how to use it, will auto download updates then you decide when to install.

also auto registers your unit, has access to support center for the particular item you need help with.

only drawback is downloading updates can take some time, other than that I think it is pretty cool.

I run 3 9" echomaps, force and livescope so it does come in handy for me.

Yes, I have it on my android phone. Up until the latest update, 20.00/2.58, I had always updated with an SD card (mini in the full size adaptor) which was easy to do. Garmin changed the way updates download to an SD card on the latest one and I tried twice to update with the SD and couldn't get it to work Now I have found out I should have put the blank card in the unit first because the unit installs a file, .gpx I think, to the card and then the SD card update would have worked. Anyway I was able to load it on AC and on to my 102sv. It is a good app like hop said and worth having on your phone or tablet. Here is another group that has lots of Garmin info.

You can still update using a PC and SD card.

didn't realize that, had the app since the first 9", makes it too easy.

Yes it's still there but on my new Garmins I've only used active captain for updates.

Thanks everyone for your insight. I install AC on my smart phone, then ran into a roadblocks. Its asking to connect to Garmin WiFi. I thought that info was on a card I received with the unit. Which has gone missing. The Garmin website and manual aren't much help either as that dont have info on retrieving the wifi info (wifi site and password). Any help with retrieving the wifi info would be greatly appreciated.

I'm trying to remember how I did it. I know you need to install a blank SD or micro SD in to the unit. It needs to be formatted to FAT32. If your phone is connected to your unit it will take you to the Garmin wifi connection on your unit and AC will be installed on your card. You should get a prompt that new software is available and you can update. Honestly I think I did it accidently but it worked. I had always used the SD/micro before this 20.00/2.58 update, it was different. I needed to put a blank card in the unit so it could upload a .gif or .gpx file to the card, then put the update on the card and then it is ready to load.

Here’s a step by step video from Garmin on setting up an Active Captain account .