GPS Skycaddie Subscription Question

gerrymadden1

So, I buy a Skycaddie SG5... How many maps come with the initial purchase?

If I get maps for my 6 most often played courses & I'm happy with that, must I still pay an annual subscription?

Or perhaps the subscription is only if I require additional course layouts in the 2nd year??

Sorry, I'm just a bit confused...

BUACHAILL

gerrymadden1 wrote: »

So, I buy a Skycaddie SG5... How many maps come with the initial purchase?

If I get maps for my 6 most often played courses & I'm happy with that, must I still pay an annual subscription?

Or perhaps the subscription is only if I require additional course layouts in the 2nd year??

Sorry, I'm just a bit confused...

Hi you purchase it and you get no maps. After purchase you need to download the skycaddy program onto your computer and register your details. you then have 3 options of annual subscriptions, you then decide what level of download you will need, it ranges from ireland , ireland uk and europe , then europe and states etc , obviously the more courses available the more the annual subscription.

I went with uk and ireland thats plenty for me and think the cost was about 40 dollars for the year, not huge in fairness and well worth the money if your actively playing different places in opens etc !!

Hope that helps !

gerrymadden1

Thanks... I'm still not sure how it works though...

I only want it for about 6 courses... all in Ireland... If I get those course in year 1 of my subscription, must I continue to subscribe every year?

In other words, would my licence to use the 6 courses expire as happens for example with anti virus software.

BUACHAILL

gerrymadden1 wrote: »

Thanks... I'm still not sure how it works though...

I only want it for about 6 courses... all in Ireland... If I get those course in year 1 of my subscription, must I continue to subscribe every year?

In other words, would my licence to use the 6 courses expire as happens for example with anti virus software.

ok you go ahead and buy the sky caddy.
Come home and register it on the web into your pc signing up to the deal that suits you for the 6 courses you need which will be irish courses only and the cheapest annual sub. you pay for it and it opens a library to download any participating course in ireland. you then select and download the 6 courses you want onto your handheld gps.

now technically you no longer need to pay another annual sub again as you have the courses needed, however if one of those courses changes holes around or for whatever reasons moves yardages, puts in bunkers, lakes , or any hazard your gps will not pick it up as the mapping now needs to be updated by skycaddy, you also can no longer avail of software updates for your unit, if you happen to go play another course you cant get the mapping etc.

I think you should probably look at a golf buddy or another gps as you do not need an annual sub , all the mapped irish courses are downloaded onto your handheld from the start, you only need to bring it with you and will be updated accordingly through your software program.

again hope this clears it up, if not just hire a caddy lol
:D

brian076

BUACHAILL wrote: »

now technically you no longer need to pay another annual sub again as you have the courses needed, :D

Don't think this is correct. I downloaded my home course when I bought my Skycaddie and it only lasted 1 year. A message appeard on Skycaddie just before expiry date, and courses were erased from my device until I payed subscription.
I think the only way to avoid paying a subscription is to map your own courses, which will only include distances to green and not hazards.

BUACHAILL

It will be erased if you connect your device to your computer after your expiry date but if you do not connect it up how can it be deleted ?

gerrymadden1

Now do ye understand why I'm confused???

;);)

BUACHAILL

gerrymadden1 wrote: »

Now do ye understand why I'm confused???

;);)

Im pretty sure its as I have stated but stand open to correction, judging with your previous posts i think the sky caddy isnt best for you, go with one that has it all pre loaded, golf buddy have a good rep !!

brian076

BUACHAILL wrote: »

It will be erased if you connect your device to your computer after your expiry date but if you do not connect it up how can it be deleted ?

As far as I know and I'm open to correction, when you download courses they have an expiry date on your device, so it doesn't matter whether you connect it or not. I definitely didn't connect my device before they were erased.
My subscription is up in February, and about 2 weeks beforehand a warning message appeared on the device letting me know that my subscription was due. I didn't play for 3 weeks, didn't reconnect my skycaddie to the computer, and when I went to play again my course was gone from the device.

BUACHAILL

brian076 wrote: »

As far as I know and I'm open to correction, when you download courses they have an expiry date on your device, so it doesn't matter whether you connect it or not. I definitely didn't connect my device before they were erased.
My subscription is up in February, and about 2 weeks beforehand a warning message appeared on the device letting me know that my subscription was due. I didn't play for 3 weeks, didn't reconnect my skycaddie to the computer, and when I went to play again my course was gone from the device.

maybe so . I will let you know in about 9 weeks, i will be up for renewal then !!

Kace

I wanted to keep it simple and cheap when buying a GPS so I opted for the Bushnell Neo http://www.bushnellgolf.com/gps/yardage_neo.cfm

I just bought the device for about $120 USD (which is cheap as chips for these things), mapped some of the courses myself and downloaded a few from them (which they gave me for free when I sent them the mappings for the few courses I mapped).

All files are stored on your PC and don't expire. The device itself is also tiny and can be carried around in your pocket during a round.

There is an annual subscription option which gives all courses, but there is no real need for his if you only play 3-4 courses regularly like I do.