G3X Software Updates on a Mac

[Tango Mike]

Okay, Mac G3Xers, after all my fumbling around and rotary57's inputs, don't bother with the Webupdater or Communicator or contact Garmin.

Here's how to solve a problem that isn't a problem once you avoid all the false leads I followed:

1. Click on the Apple logo in top left corner of your screen
2. Click on App Store
3. Click on the categories link at the top of the page
4. Click on The Unarchiver in the Utilities category
5. Download the free app
6. Double click to open it
7. Use it to open the .exe file downloaded from Garmin and save to the default folder suggested
8. Open that folder, then root > Garmin > gupdate.gcd
9. Connect your reader and insert the SD card with the outdated software
10. Drag and drop the gupdate.gcd file into the Garmin folder on the SD card to replace the existing one
[IMG][/IMG]

[freefly42]

Sorry for resurrecting an old thread, but I believe it's relevant.

The Unarchiver method does not work for me with update 3.00. Has any mac user gotten it to work?

I've tried with unzip, 7zip, wine, and The Unarchiver.

Very annoyed that the software updates are being distributed in such a stupid uncompatible format, especially when they're being extracted by the user anyway so there's no protection of the data being gained.

Lots of ways to distribute software out there, and this is what they choose. Boo.

[g3xpert]

Hello freefly42,

We periodically get requests to support G3X software updates on non-Windows computers, so I'm pleased to be able to report that we plan to add an alternate download link in conjunction with a future software release.

thanks,
- Matt

[868RM]

WONDERFUL Thanks, Ron

[freefly42]

Thanks!

Your responses are awesome, one of reasons I bought a G3X, btw.

I was able to extract it with Stuffit Expander, from the App Store for OSX.

Kent

[g3xpert]

Great news - as of today we now have an alternate download link for software updates for G3X and G3X Touch displays. When you visit the G3X software downloads page, you can select either a self-extracting Windows installer or a .zip file that can be used with other operating systems. For the non-Windows downloads, a text file is included that contains some simple instructions for copying the required files to the SD card.

- Matt

[marcusadolfsson]

Thanks Matt that is very helpful!

[freefly42]

Yes, that's great news.

[humptybump]

The one step in the instructions that always messes me up is ...

"Insert the SD card containing the software update. You will be prompted to confirm before the update is installed."

For whatever the reason - the insertion of the SD card does not register with the GDU, the GDU is busy doing something else, or I'm not waiting long enough - I find I have to do this step 2 or three times before I get the message (at the right time).


Can I get some G3Xpert-ise ?

My guess is that we need to be more prescriptive - is it something more along the lines of ...

Boot the GDU without inserting the software update SD card
Wait for the GDU to boot, initialize, and calibrate. You will know it is ready once all the notices have cleared.
Wait another 30 seconds
Insert the software update SD card
Within 30 seconds You will be prompted to confirm before the update is installed.

Anyway, whatever the mistake I am making, I've made it with the 3.00 update and now with the 3.5 update. Eventually I get it right but it's an uneasy feeling until I do.

[g3xpert]

Originally Posted by humptybump

The one step in the instructions that always messes me up is ...

"Insert the SD card containing the software update. You will be prompted to confirm before the update is installed."

For whatever the reason - the insertion of the SD card does not register with the GDU, the GDU is busy doing something else, or I'm not waiting long enough - I find I have to do this step 2 or three times before I get the message (at the right time).


Can I get some G3Xpert-ise ?

My guess is that we need to be more prescriptive - is it something more along the lines of ...

Boot the GDU without inserting the software update SD card
Wait for the GDU to boot, initialize, and calibrate. You will know it is ready once all the notices have cleared.
Wait another 30 seconds
Insert the software update SD card
Within 30 seconds You will be prompted to confirm before the update is installed.

Anyway, whatever the mistake I am making, I've made it with the 3.00 update and now with the 3.5 update. Eventually I get it right but it's an uneasy feeling until I do.

Hello Glen,

You probably already know this, but the software loading procedure for your G3X Touch display is on page 29-3 of the Rev. R G3X Installation manual.

You may insert the software update card into the display before applying power, or after the display is completely powered up and ideally you have acknowledged the startup messages.

There is a third method of loading software, and this is used should you ever have a need to reload the same software. Insert the card then press Menu, Menu, Tools, Database Information, then select Menu, Load Software.

One recommendation is to keep your cards simple. Use one card for software updates, use one card for database updates, and use one card for flight data logging. Don't use these cards in your cameras, phones, or other devices. You don't want your PFD having to look at video files from your vacation on startup trying to figure out what is on this card and what it should prompt you to do with this card.

There is no Windows, iOS, Linux or any other non-Garmin operating system on these displays. They are programmed to be very reliable and mission specific, which means that any files on your cards which are not necessary to the operation of the display are just something that the display has to be programmed to ignore, and some files are so large and spread around on the file system that they are hard to ignore.

Another recommendation is to reformat or run error-checking on your SD card if you ever see anything odd like you are reporting. We will occasionally see cards that have file access table problems which do not work properly in the display. Again, keep things simple and you should never have a problem.

Let us know if you have additional questions.

Thanks,
Steve