Elite-5 Fishfinder / Chartplotter

[Jsinkic]

Hey everyone,

so I'm new to electronics and have only used the not so handy one take came with the boat (17 ft smoker craft). Anyways I'm looking to upgrade to a Lowrancr Elite-5FISHFINDER / CHARTPLOTTER. Just a quick questions, why do I have to buy Navionics Chip? Don't the unit already come with maps on it. Or you don't have to buy it but it's worth the 200 price tag for the upgraded maps.

Any help would be great! Thanks

J

[Wayne P.]

If the unit does't come with mapping that covers your waters, you have to add it if you want it.

[Jsinkic]

If the unit does't come with mapping that covers your waters, you have to add it if you want it.

 

So some come pre loaded with mapping on it?

[Wayne P.]

So some come pre loaded with mapping on it?

No, not any with contours. Just a basic color background with some outlines of bodies of water.

 

Additionally since it is a lesser quality unit, it's processing capacity is limited to 2GB map cards.

Do a web search for that model to see what map products are compatable.

 

Also check the Navionics web site for their map products that are compatable with the Elite 5.

 

The more sofisticated units can have Insite mapping included, but that doesn't work with the Elite models.

[Scott F]

There are quite a few contour maps preinstalled but not as many as you might need. I bought the Premium Hotspots chip that has a lot more maps, but still not every lake, and it was $100, you can go the the web site and download a list of the contour maps contained on the chip to see if the lakes you want are on it before you buy.

[Jsinkic]

No, not any with contours. Just a basic color background with some outlines of bodies of water.

 

Additionally since it is a lesser quality unit, it's processing capacity is limited to 2GB map cards.

Do a web search for that model to see what map products are compatable.

 

Also check the Navionics web site for their map products that are compatable with the Elite 5.

 

The more sofisticated units can have Insite mapping included, but that doesn't work with the Elite models.

 

 

Great thanks, I looked at the Navionics website and the card will run me like 100 bucks. that would be for all of the contours and what not that you are talking about  correct.

[Wayne P.]

There are quite a few contour maps preinstalled but not as many as you might need. I bought the Premium Hotspots chip that has a lot more maps, but still not every lake, and it was $100, you can go the the web site and download a list of the contour maps contained on the chip to see if the lakes you want are on it before you buy.

There is no such map product.

Hotspots is a Lowrance product and Premium is a Navionics product. 

 

There is Navionics Hotmaps Premium .

 

Great thanks, I looked at the Navionics website and the card will run me like 100 bucks. that would be for all of the contours and what not that you are talking about  correct.

The best product is Navionics+ for your unit. Max 2GB of data.

 

It has no maps, you choose what individual waters to download to the card from anywhere in Canada and the US. It also has the Sonar Charts feature.

 

The only $100 product is Navionics Update and that takes an already owned older Navionics card to activate it to make ti the Navionics+ version.

 

MSRP for Navionics+ is $179

MSRP for Hotmaps Premium is $149

MSRP for Navionics Update is $99 --- PLUS a currently owned card.

[Scott F]

I never said it was a Navioncs product. I did say "Premium" . That was incorrect. The map chip I have is the Fishing Hotspots Pro USA The 2015 version is available through Cabela's and other retailers for $99.99 it contains 6000 lake maps.

[Wayne P.]

I never said it was a Navioncs product. I did say "Premium" . That was incorrect. The map chip I have is the Fishing Hotspots Pro USA The 2015 version is available through Cabela's and other retailers for $99.99 it contains 6000 lake maps.

Good explanation, novices need all the accurate information they can get.

 

Being in Ontario, the OP needs to check closely what locations are included on the map product he choses.

 

All the locations that Navionics has are shown on their web sites Web App.

 

Does Fishing Hotspots Pro USA include Canada?

I see there is a Great Lakes version.

[Jsinkic]

Good explanation, novices need all the accurate information they can get.

 

Being in Ontario, the OP needs to check closely what locations are included on the map product he choses.

 

All the locations that Navionics has are shown on their web sites Web App.

 

Does Fishing Hotspots Pro USA include Canada?

I see there is a Great Lakes version.

 

It does include Canada as well and the great lakes. and My previous post I did mean $199.00, thats my mistake. I only really fish a few lakes in my tournaments so 2Gs should be enough unless the maps are huge but I can't see that. I will pop in to the Cabela's and see what they have to say.

[Wayne P.]

It does include Canada as well and the great lakes. and My previous post I did mean $199.00, thats my mistake. I only really fish a few lakes in my tournaments so 2Gs should be enough unless the maps are huge but I can't see that. I will pop in to the Cabela's and see what they have to say.

It's not about the size of the maps, its about the amount of data your unit can process.

 

When you shop for a map card, pay attention to the card capacity. I have a $199 Hotmaps Platinum regional card and it is 16 GB.

 

Look at the list of compatable units for each Navionics product on their web site. Your unit will be listed with the 2GB max versions.

[Jsinkic]

It's not about the size of the maps, its about the amount of data your unit can process.

 

When you shop for a map card, pay attention to the card capacity. I have a $199 Hotmaps Platinum regional card and it is 16 GB.

 

Look at the list of compatable units for each Navionics product on their web site. Your unit will be listed with the 2GB max versions.

 

Great thanks for all of your help! I went on to Navionics website to see what card I can get. I will head over to Cabela's to confirm everything.

 

Thanks a lot for the help Wayne!

[Jsinkic]

Hey everyone!

 

Just got my lowrance unit. Just have a quick question. When the time comes should I hook it up to my trolling motor battery or my cranking battery. I have no idea how much this unit draws in power and even if I did I truly wouldn't understand. 

 

So which battery should I hook it up to, Trolling or Cranking.

 

Thanks,

 

Jeff

[Scott F]

Cranking.

[Robeng]

I have the Elite 5 hdi combo--gps, sonar and downscan.  hook up to the cranking or even a separate battery.  I live in Michigan and map of lake st clair was decent.  just bought HotMaps Premium from Navioncis for $119 plus tax.  much better detail.  you can check out your lake detail on Navionics website. 

Though the Hummingbird products for the high end units let you do real time mapping on a lake and creates chart instantly. 

The Updates for Navionics for $99 I dont think is worth it.  Besides, the Premium and some other Navionics give you one free year of updates.  you can also download for your Iphone a limited mapping system for $10 from App store.

 

I do like my Lowrance though.  Good features for price.  I talked with a few people and the newer CHIRP units are not worth the $ according to them.  Guy at Bass Pro said samething-not worth it.  He said you need a true CHIRP transducer which are around $2k for the CHIRP unit to really give you the crisper detail on downscan etc.

 

have fun.

[Wayne P.]

I have the Elite 5 hdi combo--gps, sonar and downscan.  hook up to the cranking or even a separate battery.  I live in Michigan and map of lake st clair was decent.  just bought HotMaps Premium from Navioncis for $119 plus tax.  much better detail.  you can check out your lake detail on Navionics website. 

Though the Hummingbird products for the high end units let you do real time mapping on a lake and creates chart instantly. 

The Updates for Navionics for $99 I dont think is worth it.  Besides, the Premium and some other Navionics give you one free year of updates.  you can also download for your Iphone a limited mapping system for $10 from App store.

 

I do like my Lowrance though.  Good features for price.  I talked with a few people and the newer CHIRP units are not worth the $ according to them.  Guy at Bass Pro said samething-not worth it.  He said you need a true CHIRP transducer which are around $2k for the CHIRP unit to really give you the crisper detail on downscan etc.

 

have fun.

 

The Navionics Update card has no maps and it requires a previously owned Navionics card to active it, then it becomes the Navionics+ card. It is basically a discount purchase of Navionics+ since you would already own a Navionics product to qualify for that card.

 

Every new purchase of a Navionics product includes a year of Freshest Data updates.

 

The Hotmaps Premium, Hotmaps Platinum, and Navionics+ cards will have the exact same Nautical Charts for a particular body of water if they are updated the same day. It will be the exact same maps as shown on the Navionics web site's Web App.

[Robeng]

Thanks for the detailed reply.

[Jsinkic]

Is there anywhere that I can get a list of lakes I'm Canada? Like on the site?

[Wayne P.]

Is there anywhere that I can get a list of lakes I'm Canada? Like on the site?

 

Yes you can see the list and the actual maps on the Navionics website.

 

The maps are viewed by clicking on Web App.

 

The list is viewed by clicking on Chartplotter, then Navionics+, and then scroll down to Coverage and click on choose your region. After that click on US & Canada  and then click on See Lake Lists to view the list.

[Jsinkic]

Great thanks!