Access to the back of the Garmin MFDs on a 330 Express

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Garysmo

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Express 330
Just bought a 2022 330 Express that has twin 8616s....however there is no MicroSD card in the unit to be able to do software updates/active captain. Is there an "easy" way to get at the back of these units to be able to install the card?
 
Garmin offers an external SD card reader. Plugs into the back of the unit and you can put it somewhere easy to get to. Mine is loose and next to my VHF. I have an Active Captain 32GB SD card in the back of one of the units and other slots are unused. The external SD reader has 2 SD cards I use for backup, screen shots, video and waypoint loading.

I use Active Captain app for all updates including software, charts and waypoints. If you are using upgraded chart regions (w/shaded relief) you need to use Active Captain.
 
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Raise dash up, use a strap to hold unit up, then unpin and lift
 
I have a different boat but same raising dash/electronics box i love.
When i have to access behind i use a rope around the electronics box to keep it open, but that probably does not work on the 330.
You may cut a piece of wood to act as pole to keep it open and work under it.
Not sure about the 330 box, but on mine it's not easy to install the pin again as one need thin and long fingers, again a cut to measure wooden spacer will help with that. Do not try that alone, have a helper with you to keep the box open and half close to fit the pin.

As Halfhitch mentioned, buy the dual slot USB reader and install it, one slot for the ActiveCaptain card and the other empty or for the card for saving data as backup. The money for the USB reader is well invested.
Make sure you buy the round, dual slot one! It seems that the older square one has some compatibility issues.
Chris
 
My SD card reader (square one) is loose in the overhead box - you can see it next to the microphone cord blow the cover. There is no reason to ever remove the Active Captain card. Only one is permitted per "system" (not one per MFD). 8610xsv and 8612xsv MFD's. There is only the Active Captain SD card in one MFD slot and 3 empty SD slots. All the SD card swapping that needs to be done happen on the external SD reader.

8610 Overhead.jpeg
 
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I carry a board, actually an ax handle, that is cut to size. I place it under the right side of the lid after disconnecting the ram and tilt it up as high as I can. Still not easy access but do-able. I pad the ends to make it easier on the gelcoat. It fits inside the right top corner of the lid and anchors inside the box area.
 
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Thanks for the feedback....definitely some options to look at
 
Garysmo said:
Just bought a 2022 330 Express that has twin 8616s....however there is no MicroSD card in the unit to be able to do software updates/active captain. Is there an "easy" way to get at the back of these units to be able to install the card?
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I have a 2024 Freedom 275 with 8616 and I had a little difficulty with mine too. I found that I could not access the sd from underneath. I had to remove the black trim from around the display. That exposed the screws to pull the unit out. Once I did that carefully, I was able to access without any trouble. Make sure you double check the max size sd card with Garmin that the unit is compatible with. It does have a max storage capacity threshold. I highly recomment you get the largest that is compatible as it gets a lot of data stored on it.
 
I have a 2018 Express 330 with twin 8616xsv screens. Access is tough but if you raise the hatch all the way up you should be able to get your arm in through the sides of the hatch and open the rubber cover on the back of the unit and insert or remove a micro SD card. Just be careful not to drop the micro SD card - mine fell down into the hole where all the cables go - was super fun to fish out. PM me if you need more info as I’ve done this card swap many times now.
 
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