Using Helm in the ActiveCaptain® App with Discontinued Chartplotters

The Helm function works on Discontinued Chartplotters using the current Garmin ActiveCaptain® app. The now discontinued stand-alone Helm app is no longer downloadable on a mobile device. See the following list of chartplotters that do not require an ActiveCaptain card to use the Helm feature. The chartplotter needs to be registered and have current software.

Compatible Discontinued Series

• GPSMAP® 1040 chartplotter 

• GPSMAP® 840 chartplotter

• GPSMAP® 741 chartplotter

• GPSMAP® 547  chartplotter

Set up Communications On Chartplotter

Power on the GPSMAP® chartplotter, select Settings > Communications > Wireless Devices > turn on Wireless Network if necessary, and rename and create a password. 

Set up the Helm Feature on the Chartplotter

Select Settings > Communications > Wireless Devices > Helm from the main page. Choose the Helm viewing preference to use

From the Smart Device (phone or tablet)

Open the ActiveCaptain app on the smart device. Click on the blue Connect to Garmin Wi-Fi > select the chartplotter's network > answer Connect when the message displays. 

Once connected to the ActiveCaptain app, the main page populates the Helm icon is now selectable. 

Controlling the GPSMAP using Helm is accomplished by touching the smart device screen and selecting the appropriate push button key. To access the button menu, press the six square button in the upper right-hand corner of the display—the button menu screen functions as the push buttons on the chartplotter. 

See examples below of some ActiveCaptain views using Helm along with the selectable push button keys.

            Active Captain Main Menu:                           The GPSMAP device is ready to be selected                  GPSMAP ready to be controlled by Helm

                    Select Helm icon                                             Select the GPSMAP to be controlled                            Touch the screen or the 6 squares 

      After touching the handheld screen,                  Helm with GPSMAP "HOME" screen and                    Helm with GPSMAP "Chart" screen and 

      selectable push buttons appear                               selectable push buttons activated                                  selectable push buttons activated

NOTE: The selectable pushbuttons will time-out and disappear if they are not being used.