New to Humminbord GPS need help

Just got a 2015 model Humminbird Helix5 SI/GPS.
Ive used Navionics App on my phone for a while now and I can see the topo water depth lines and other data on the lake on my phone. When I hooked up my unit in the driveway and looked at the chart on the lake I didnt see water depth topo. jus blue for water. Am I going to have to get a $150 card just to see water depth of lakes? Doesnt make sense I can see the lake data for free on my phone but when I get a fancy new unit I have to spend even more $ to get the same data. Or maybe Im missing something.:scratchhead

Most units unless you get a combo with navonics chip you only see water no depths on map .

You didn't know the GPS takes a special card when you bought it? I don't know how the device works as I have never played with mine in my driveway but you should get depth without a map card. I bought a HB 688DI last summer, my first one. I used it last summer on several lakes, the gps is just that, a plain old gps. You can mark waypoints and look at your track, etc just like your car gps. The lake is a blue space. If you want to see depth, speed and water temp you must go to a view with the sonar. You can likely do a split screen.

If you want topo lines in your lakes you need a map card. I bought a Great Plains edition Lakemaster map for $107 on eBay.

Ok thats the answer I was looking for - Not the answer I wanted - but thats what I was expecting. Still amazes me that you can have all that lake topo data for free on your smartphone. But have to buy it seperately for your fishfinder.

Thanks for the replies.

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Originally Posted by Progator135

Ok thats the answer I was looking for - Not the answer I wanted - but thats what I was expecting. Still amazes me that you can have all that lake topo data for free on your smartphone. But have to buy it seperately for your fishfinder.

Thanks for the replies.

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Agreed that doesn't make a lot of sense.

:banghead:bangheadYes, it does make sense if your in the business of selling lake map's

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Originally Posted by Progator135

Ok thats the answer I was looking for - Not the answer I wanted - but thats what I was expecting. Still amazes me that you can have all that lake topo data for free on your smartphone. But have to buy it seperately for your fishfinder.

Thanks for the replies.

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Before you go buy a card, look at Navionics and Lakemaster. Check to see if they actually cover the lakes you fish. A lot of the smaller places your going to fish down there may not even be covered.

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Originally Posted by cray

Before you go buy a card, look at Navionics and Lakemaster. Check to see if they actually cover the lakes you fish. A lot of the smaller places your going to fish down there may not even be covered.

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Yeah thats exactly whats holding me back - Im fishing lake Palestine in TX this weekend - Big Unfamiliar water - would love the card for it - but Id never use it back home in Louisiana because 2 of my main lakes I fish arent even covered...even on my phone app. Just wouldnt be worth it. I see I can download just that one lake from Humminbird for $30 - Im considering that just for this weekend. but I doubt it - Ill just use my phone if I really need it. Ive already scoped out a few good spots on the Navionics web site app. (also free) thatll get me in the ballpark.

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Originally Posted by Progator135

Yeah thats exactly whats holding me back - Im fishing lake Palestine in TX this weekend - Big Unfamiliar water - would love the card for it - but Id never use it back home in Louisiana because 2 of my main lakes I fish arent even covered...even on my phone app. Just wouldnt be worth it. I see I can download just that one lake from Humminbird for $30 - Im considering that just for this weekend. but I doubt it - Ill just use my phone if I really need it. Ive already scoped out a few good spots on the Navionics web site app. (also free) thatll get me in the ballpark.

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That really is the best buy if you have a couple of lakes you fish on a regular basis. But for a one time deal maybe not.