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If I purchase 2 HDS units 1 @ console & 1 @ bow; do I want (or need) Lake insight maps on both units?
Is it something I will use from the front of the boat or???????????
I've never had GPS on my depth finder before. I'm just trying to get an understanding before I buy.
Thanks
You almost certainly want some kind of mapping on your console unit for navigation. You can always add a chip later. I use the contour lines on the bow unit when fishing points and ledges, and it's pretty handy to have mapping on the console to navigate the lakes I fish at winter pool.
I bought 2 insight hds 5's. It's nice to have the mapping built in, as opposed to switching out cards. Some prefer the map cards to the insight maps though.
Can someone post a couple pictures of their insight maps?
I think they come with Base Maps so something is already there (I assume).
What are the "Map Cards" could you explain that a little please.
If I had it to do over, I'd go with the base maps. I have two HDS8's and I operate off the Navionics cards almost entirely.
could you explain this a little please? Why?Quote:
Originally Posted by rockmike
The Navionics cards offer the most detail for the lakes I fish, and one card will cover the areas I fish almost entirely. You pay a pretty good premium for the Insight.
I have hds10 & 8 with Insight on both units. I looked at the Navionics chips for Ky. Lake and Insight has a lot more detail for my particular lake. If you get 2 units with 2 different maps they will look different at both ends and be a lot more confusing. Especially with GPS waypoints.With Navionics you have to buy 1 chip for each unit. They will not share maps on the network.Same thing for Insight maps. They will not share maps between the units.The one advantage with Navionics is you can buy another program called NavPlanner 2 and manage waypoints. I have NavPlanner 2 and it is hard to figure out. I use OzExplorer for all my waypoint managment.Just what I am use to .
2d or 3d view?Quote:
Originally Posted by gabowman
Both would be great, so people know them all.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cane Pole
That's one thing I was wondering, if they would share maps.Quote:
Originally Posted by ifish
So if you don't have a program to manage waypoints. How does the unit store them?
also can you store them on a SD card as a back up?
At this point, I only have 50 or so waypoints and I keep a little note book. I'm sure I'll be adding a lot more if I ever figure this stuff out:eek:
You can network the units, really easy if you buy the LSS-1 and share routes, waypoints. And you can always back the data up to an SD card. If you don't back up your gps info from time to time, you'll feel like a fool when you have to reset the unit. Please back your data up.Quote:
Originally Posted by crappiemax
I use Oziexplorer for my mapping and waypoint managing and created a waypoint folder in the program and sub folders for each lake. I like to keep them on a sd card too.
x2Quote:
Originally Posted by mduncan62
Now that's cool
I like that idea. Is that hard to do??????Quote:
Originally Posted by justinp61
No not hard at all. I haven't figured out how to set Oziexplorer to convert to and from .usr files so I use a online converter for that. Oziexplorer uses a .wpt file. Do you have Oziexplorer?
Ozie want convert to .usr.Quote:
Originally Posted by justinp61
You can store multiple .usr files on the HDS sd card and import the files you want to use anytime you wish.
I also use Ozzie and also use GPS babel file converter.
Good point CP.
Quote:
Originally Posted by justinp61
Okay you guys are loosing me here. I don'yt know what any of that stuff is.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cane Pole
Remember, I'm the guy who fixes everything with heat and hammer. bigger problem= more heat, bigger hammer.
That won't work on computers.
I can probably figure the SD card out.
big problem = more memory, bigger processor.
And all this time I thought it was me :confused:.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cane Pole
If you hook your gps unit up to your pc, you can import and export files to from your gps unit, but you cannot save them to a file on the pc except in .wpt, gpx or kml file formats.Quote:
Originally Posted by justinp61
If I'm going to import waypoints from the HDS I save them to the card. On the computer they are saved to the "in" folder I created. When I get ready to convert I go to GPS Babel, choose the input file type, Lowrance, then the output file type, oziexplorer. After the file is converted its then saved to the lake folder I created in the "waypoint" file in Oziexplorer. You can convert directly form the SD card if you choose to do so. It takes a little time because you can only do one waypoint at a time. If there is a prgram that will convert multiple waypoints I'm all ears. Thumbs Up
download easygps. Use the gpx as an interim. Up load .usr file from your sd to GPS babel. Then convert from lowraqnce .usr to GPX XML and save. Upload this gpx file to oziecxplorer by using load from file, import gpx file function. This will get them all waypoints from your .usr file on the sd.
Ok guys. All this map updating has got me real confused.
I have the HDS 5 w/lake insite. It has good maps, contour lines and all that stuff but. Why would someone want to spend $$$ on maps of lakes that or 40+ yrs. old and all silted in?
I live on lake livingston and were the maps show it to be 40', it is lucky to be 15' in reality. All of the lowland resivours that I have been on are pretty much the same way. Heck they still sell GPS maps and Hot Spot maps that were made before the resivours were filled. Whats the deal? Are the premium map upgrades any different? Seems to me that if a person really needed to have an up to date map of a section of a lake/river than it would be better to get something like DrDepth. since its about the same amount of money and can be updated each and every time you go out. (NO I have no connection) Just wandering. 2 or $300 is a lot of money for a map upgrade if it is anything like the maps you get at the local bait shop.
I think Cane Pole should tour the US giving siminars on mapping. Pretty sharp feller.
Don't know much about Texas, but I saw Navionics up here a couple of years ago mapping our water. I would say Navionics maps were pretty good for here.
The OxiExplore I use converts straight off the memory card.It converts .wpt to .usr by using the load usr file/save usr under the Lowrance tab at the top of the screen.I can import and export .usr waypoints.I create files for each bay and put them in any file I want and the HDS reads them fine.I set my configuration to .usr. = file/configuration/gps/gps model/.usr . I have the full version of Oziexplorer. I do not use any other program to convert anything. It sounds confusing but it is not once you do it.
I tried that on the share ware version but couldn't get it to work. Edit: I just found how to load .usr files, in the menu bar click Lowrance/ load .usr file/ loaction. This is going to save me some time!
I got 3 different gps. that why i know GPX works with any.
won't work with Humminbird though.Quote:
Originally Posted by ifish
Quote:
Originally Posted by ifish
Thanks ifish. First time I tried this.
Has anyone done business with bbg marine over on bbc. His prices look great on the HDS units. I have another question if you get the structure scan with the HDS series. Can the unit run the structure scan and sonar on the split screen.
My HDS 8 and Elite 5 DSI came from BBG Marine. Brian is a great to do business with. Yes you can run structure scan andQuote:
Originally Posted by ezgo
Sonar on the split screen. The HDS 8 & 10s screens can be
Split four ways, the 5 & 7 can be split three ways.
Hey thanks you answered everything I needed to know.Quote:
Originally Posted by justinp61
Look at the nav site and also the lowrance site. Double check that the insight is of the lakes that you fish. Just remember there will be no updates of the insight,,period.
The great looking 3d mapping will go to 2d when zooming in on the map. Im not bashing lows units, I have 4 of them on my boat and love them. Just wanted you to double check the mapping for your lakes.
Cane pole put the rest to you straight up. Check bbg but also compare cabelas for the combo units for pricing.