Lake insight vs navionics hotmaps

[black94gt50]

I have a hds 9 touch at console and hds 10 at bow, both gen 2. I've searched online and got a lot of good info on these chips, but find it hard to find any specifics on the east maps. I fish mostly east tn. I have found all the lake list and both the chips have all my lakes on them. I have also looked on the navionics site online at the preview of the map for the lake I fish the most, but from my understanding the contour line on the chip are a touch different from the previews they show online. 

Anyways, what chips have you lowrance guys had good luck with? And which chip is generally considered better for the tva reservoirs in tn? 

Thanks in advance.

[Wayne P.]

The maps shown on the Navionics website are current as of Friday at least,  maybe today--don't know if they work on weekends in that dept.

All purchases of a new Navionics map card includes a year of Freshest Data Updates. If you bought a card today and updated it today, your map card would match the Web App. The whole purpose of the Freshest Data updates is for you to have current maps. There are about 2000 updates per day "somewhere". You can keep up with any changes if you want.

I don't use Insight and don't have Lowrance units, but I know Navionics.

[black94gt50]

Thanks Wayne p, I was actually hoping you would chime in. I know your more hummingbird specific, and from what I understand hummingbird has some good stuff with their lakemaster maps. I figured you has some experience with navionics, and from what I can tell navionics would be the safest bet to go with. The majority of people using them seem to be happy.

[Wayne P.]

It's all about the coverage. Some products have better features/details for a specific location than others.

Lakemaster is really good where they have done their own surveys, the other maps they have are not so good.

It's really handy to be able to view the actual maps before purchasing.

[black94gt50]

Understood, one last question. Do you see the need to purchase the platinum navionics over the premium chip? I see the platinum has 3D capability, which I don't believe I would use much.

[BassnChris]

You can also make your own maps using Lowrance Genesis insight......I just started looking at this over the weekend.

looks promising but I am in the early stages of researching it.

[Wayne P.]

 Navionics Nautical Charts is Navionics data.

Navionics Sonar Charts is user generated data from uploaded sonar logs by unit owners. It is not Navionics data and is not for sale. It is FREE to download to some map cards.

Navionics Hotmaps Premium regional cards have been discontinued. If you can find any, they would only have Nautical Charts.

Navionics Hotmaps Platinum regional cards have Nautical Charts, 3D, Satellite Overlay, and photos. PLUS can have Sonar Charts downloaded when updated.

Navionics+ Preloaded has all the Nautical Charts for the US and Canada. PLUS can have Sonar Charts download when updated.

If you can find older stock of Navionics+ which is a 2GB card, it has no maps. You choose what locations to download to the card from anywhere in the US and Canada up to the 2GB capacity. PLUS can have Sonar Charts added too.

A regional card for Tenn would be the East Region.

I have all the versions and I don't use what I call the gimmick stuff on the Platinum card--3D, Satellite Overlay, Photos. IMHO satellite overlay is useless unless you fish from a float plane or have a really tall tuna tower on your boat.

8 minutes ago, BassnChris said:

You can also make your own maps using Lowrance Genesis insight......I just started looking at this over the weekend.

looks promising but I am in the early stages of researching it.

Yes, Insight Genesis and Navionics Sonar Charts are good for creating contour mapping where there is none or is inaccurate.

[black94gt50]

Thanks for the help, I believe the navionics would be the way to go. Thanks both of you for the information.