Populating a microSD memory card with LightHouse Charts

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

Populating a microSD memory card with LightHouse Charts

LightHouse Charts are purchased via the Raymarine LightHouse Charts Store. Like chart cards that are purchased from Navionics or C-Map, the LightHouse cartography is encrypted to prevent piracy and violation of copyright. Much like Navionics or C-Map cartography, the encryption is tied to the memory card, not to the chartplotting device that chart card is used with. This permits the chart card to be used with any compatible chartplotting product within one's system. As such, copying the LightHouse chart files from the original microSD memory card onto which they had been downloaded, and then pasting them into another microSD memory card, will not then permit use of the duplicated LightHouse cartography data with a compatible Raymarine chartplotting product. Similarly, one should not expect duplicated Navionics or C-Map data to support chartplotting features within a compatible chartplotting product.

Prior to downloading LightHouse Charts, the microSD memory card that will contain the LightHouse Charts must first be inserted into either of the following:

- a Raymarine a/c/e/eS/gS-Series MFD running LightHouse II or later software ... the microSD memory card may be inserted into the MFD's memory card reader after the MFD has completed startup initialization. The microSD memory card may be ejected (HOME->MY DATA->EJECT CARD) any time thereafter.

- a Raymarine eS/gS-Series MFD or Axiom / Axiom Pro MFD running LightHouse 3 software ... the microSD memory card may be inserted into the MFD's memory card reader after the MFD has completed startup initialization. The microSD memory card may be ejected (HOME->MY DATA->IMPORT/EXPORT->EJECT CARD) any time thereafter.

- At the time of this post, Dragonfly display software was not designed encrypt a microSD memory card which will be used to store downloaded LightHouse Charts. To work around this limitation, the microSD memory card may be brought to an authorized Raymarine dealer and may be inserted into one of the above listed MFDs to then support having purchased LightHouse Charts be able to be downloaded from Raymarine's Charts Store and then stored on the microSD memory card.

Doing so will cause a LightHouse_ID.txt file, which will be unique to each microSD memory card, to be created and stored within the root level directory of the microSD memory card. The LightHouse Manager computer application, which is later used to download the LightHouse cartography, will verify that the LightHouse_ID.txt file present on the microSD memory card matches the details of the microSD card itself. If not valid, then the, the LightHouse Manager application will not permit the purchased LightHouse Charts to be downloaded to the microSD memory card.

As the downloaded LightHouse Charts are registered for use with a specific microSD memory card, should one attempt to download the LightHouse Charts to another microSD memory card, then the LightHouse Manager will not permit the download to occur ... as doing so would constitute an instance of unauthorized duplication. While most customers will typically download a single set of LightHouse Charts, those undertaking extended cruises covering multiple LightHouse Charts regions may want to consider purchasing a high capacity (32GB max), high data rate. It is additionally recommended that such high capacity microSD memory cards have a Class 10 or UHS (Ultra High Speed) rating. Such microSD memory cards are readily available at electronics stores and it is recommended that cruising customers intending to use LightHouse Charts purchase such a microSD memory card for use with their systems prior to the initial download of purchased LightHouse Charts.

Should one have not previously downloaded or attempted to have downloaded the LightHouse Charts to another microSD memory card, then it is recommended that the LightHouse_ID.txt file be deleted from the microSD memory card, that the microSD memory card then be inserted again into the MFD's reader after the MFD has completed initialization, and that the microSD memory card then be ejected, plugged into the computer's SD memory card slot (requires a microSD to SD adapter sleeve) before attempting to download the LightHouse Charts from the Charts Store via the LightHouse Manager program.

Should a problem persist thereafter in downloading purchased LightHouse, then it is recommended that the Charts Store be contacted at [email protected] for support in resolving this problem.

RAYFAQ#