Map Cards For Lowrance

[nixdorf]

I have a Lowrwnce HDS 7 and Elite 7 HDI. Between the preloaded maps and Insight Genesis, the maps I've been using aren't that great. The preloaded maps are pretty much junk. Detail with Insight Genesis is good, but the coverage is not the best. I've been uploading sonar data after every trip, but would like to have detailed map data available when I'm on the water, not after.

What do you guys recommend for map cards? I've checked out the Lowrance/Navionics website, but I'm not certain which one to buy.

Also, does anyone know if is it possible/legal to copy a map card that you buy to use in your other sonars (eg console and bow mounted units)?

[Wayne P.]

  On 10/31/2015 at 1:16 PM, nixdorf said:

I have a Lowrwnce HDS 7 and Elite 7 HDI. Between the preloaded maps and Insight Genesis, the maps I've been using aren't that great. The preloaded maps are pretty much junk. Detail with Insight Genesis is good, but the coverage is not the best. I've been uploading sonar data after every trip, but would like to have detailed map data available when I'm on the water, not after.

What do you guys recommend for map cards? I've checked out the Lowrance/Navionics website, but I'm not certain which one to buy.

Also, does anyone know if is it possible/legal to copy a map card that you buy to use in your other sonars (eg console and bow mounted units)?

You cannot copy a map card. You would need the mfg software to write that data.

 

For your part of the country for inland lakes/rivers, you have several choices with Navionics. The Navionics maps are called Nautical Charts.

Navionics Hotmaps Premium for the South region has Nautical Charts

 

Navionics Hotmaps Platinum for the South region has Nautical Charts, Satellite Overlay, 3D, and photos. It can also have the Sonar Charts map layer when updated. Sonar Charts are HD contour maps created from user uploaded sonar logs and is a FREE service and FREE to download.

 

Navionics+ Preloaded has all the Nautical Charts for the US and Canada plus it can have Sonar Charts downloaded. It is also customizable which means you can delete all that is on the card and only load the locations you want. Some do that for units with slow processors like the Elite series.

 

Navionics Gold and Navionics Platinum+ have coverage for coastal and offshore for several regions worldwide.

With the Navionics+ Preloaded you get some of that coverage for coastal waters also. The 2GB version of Navionics+ does too if you choose to download it.

 

The website shows the coverage for each product.

 

If you already own a map card by most any company, you can get the 2GB version of Navionics+ by purchasing the Navionics Update card. You active that card with your card when you register it and it becomes the Navionics+ card with no maps. You choose what locations to download to the card from anywhere in the US and Canada up to the 2GB capacity and it is deleteable to do over again as much as you want.

It can also have Sonar Charts added during a download.

 

You don't have to guess what the maps look like, you can view the current maps on the Navionics website's WEB APP. It is updated daily and what you would get when you purchase a map card and do an update. Every new purchase includes a year of Freshest Data Updates.

Both Nautical Charts and Sonar Charts are included. There is a circle at the lower left of the page, when it is grey, that is Nautical Charts, when it is blue, that is Sonar Charts. Just click on it when zoomed in to less than 1/2 mile so see both map layers.