Databases not updating

[StevieDee]

Does anyone have an idea why the databases on for the G1000 are not updating? I can get them into the Standby column.  Upon the required restart, the Stanby databases go back to 2022 date. Upon another restart, the Active databases remain not updated.

Edited September 8, 2023 by Stephen De Klerk

[Brandt]

Well, my personal belief is because Garmin got a package deal on “C” student programmers.  I find this process often infuriating.  Make sure you are using an SD card, I recommend no bigger than 16 gig,  with no other data on it.  First wipe it clean and then download the databases. The downloader doesn’t really care for Mac and I find the FS510 wireless card so slow that it’s close to useless. If I sound irritated please know that I’ve toned it down from how I really feel…

Assuming this doesn’t work, get a magazine to read to fill your time, then call Garmin support.  Settle in. Best to call during the week, as the B team works weekends.  And be aware their advice isn’t always consistent.  But, they can help wipe all the databases to reset the pointers and do a clean reload.  That solved my problem, and has been working OK since.  Good luck.

[alextstone]

Well, my personal belief is because Garmin got a package deal on “C” student programmers.  I find this process often infuriating.  Make sure you are using an SD card, I recommend no bigger than 16 gig,  with no other data on it.  First wipe it clean and then download the databases. The downloader doesn’t really care for Mac and I find the FS510 wireless card so slow that it’s close to useless. If I sound irritated please know that I’ve toned ot down from how I really feel…
Assuming this doesn’t work, get a magazine to read to fill your time, then call Garmin support.  Settle in. Best to call during the week, as the B team works weekends.  And be aware their advice isn’t always consistent.  But, they can help wipe all the databases to reset the pointers and do a clean reload.  That solved my problem, and has been working OK since.  Good luck.

You forgot to mention that the nose of the aircraft must be pointed toward Garmin corporate headquarters at sunset and that you must also toss sumped 100LL fuel over your right shoulder before starting the upload.

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using Tapatalk

[M20F]

Did you load the right databases?  They are showing expired 8/23?

On my 650 I didn’t update for awhile.  I downloaded the 9/7 databases and uploaded them prior to 9/7.  The radio wouldn’t update them because it wasn’t 9/7 yet.  My 430 didn’t care.  Soon as 9/7 passed it loaded them. 

[MikeOH]

2 hours ago, Brandt said:

Well, my personal belief is because Garmin got a package deal on “C” student programmers.  

Thanks for the morning laugh!

[StevieDee]

When I started the avionics up this morning, everything moved to Active within two minutes.  I spoke with Garmin before going to the plane and they also said to use an SD card.  In addition, they said that the databases in Standby will not be able sequence correctly if a GPS signal cannot be detected.  I checked the satellites and they were showing, so maybe it was that they were not being picked up last night when I had the problem.

[201Mooniac]

It isn't directly about having satellite signals but about having the correct date and time as databases will only load active when they become current.  Typically the built in real time clock is good enough for that unless your avionics have been off for about a month or more and then they want a new fix to get the GPS timestamp.

[larryb]

Most of the time my databases update fine in the hangar. But if they don’t I have to pull it out, let the GPS lock and then restart to trigger the update. It needs a recent clock synchronization.

[Pinecone]

I was just going to tell you to make sure the plane is out seeing the sky.

For some unknown reason, you need for the unit to see the sky to get a time input to even load the standby databases.  THAT makes no sense.

Load the database, then when the system can get a time update, THEN activate them.