Various Lowrance HDS Gen 2 Questions

I purchased a HDS7 last spring, and I am pleased with what I have been able to do so far... but there are some questions that I can't seem to find answers to:

Waypoints (1) - Is it possible to place waypoints when reviewing sonar logs in Insight Genesis? It seems that this can only be done from the unit itself, and not on the PC. It just doesn't make sense that this can't be done, is it possible?

Waypoints (2) - A friend of mine purchased a Garmin, and he is able to easily place waypoints on google earth, and then transfer the .gsx files to his unit using a free (and simple) program. It seems that you've got to be a computer genius to do this on the Lawrence. Is there a simple program to accomplish this?

Structure Scan - Can this be viewed from your pc? Two people have told me no, that only the 2D and DI can be viewed.

Instructions / Tutorials - It seems that for having so many bells and whistles, Lowrance is behind the 8 ball on providing these for everything that they offer: i.e. Insight Planner, Map Creator, Etc... Most that I find on youtube are in foreign languages. Id hate to think that I spent that kind of money to be so limited with my unit, when I could have purchased a Garmin or even a cheaper Lowrance that doesn't have so many things (that I can't / don't know how to use). Can anyone please point me in the proper direction on instructions / tutorials?

Last question - can the maps I create on insight genesis be loaded onto any of Lowrance's handheld units? Id like to use them while ice fishing, without having to tote along an extra 12v, and my head unit.

I'd like to hear some responses as well. I switched from HB to a HDS touch 7 and I have not figured out how to use Insight either. The PC program for HB was straight forward and easy to transfer back and forth, but I have not figured how to use the Insight program.

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Originally Posted by Goliath13

Waypoints (2) - A friend of mine purchased a Garmin, and he is able to easily place waypoints on google earth, and then transfer the .gsx files to his unit using a free (and simple) program. It seems that you've got to be a computer genius to do this on the Lawrence. Is there a simple program to accomplish this?

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Don't know for sure with Lowrance units but with Humminbird units yes. For Humminbird, and I assume with Lowrance too, you will need to use the free software GPSBabel. You can save your Google Earth waypoints to your computer and then with GPSBabel you can covert them to be compatible with various GPS units.

I was playing around with Insight again this morning. I found that you can mark and save waypoints in insight genesis by right clicking... who would have thought, right? I like that I can drop waypoints while viewing the sonar, but it would be much more accurate if this could be done while viewing structure scan. The 2D / DI gets you in the ballpark, but it leaves a question as to how far left / right the object you want to mark is.

I also downloaded GPSBabel - thanks DrNip. It seemed pretty straight forward at first but after converting Google Earth .kml files to .gpx files, Insight genesis gives an error when trying to upload them. Ill have to keep experimenting with it.

There are YouTube clips on using this software.

if your not happy with insight G. check out reef master pro this is one awesome program.
it just like insight G. but you do everything yourself. I have flash earth image on my hds 7 touch as well.

Here is a pic from the reef master pro. This is a picture of a drop off out if south west pass out of vermillion bay louisiana. program.Attachment 192061

Attachment 192062 this is another pic generated from sonar logs with reef master along with the Google Earth image over lay. Those reef were outlined in red

This can be done in about 30 40 mins once you get the hang of the program

Attachment 192065 here is another pic