Lowrance
 

Been trying to get some answers on what the dealio is on the total lack of detail on the base mapping on Lowrance Hook2


This is the older Elite model,


http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegall...33001.jpg?8050


and this is the Hook 2 7


http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegall.../IMG_33031.jpg

Good luck on that - our so-called Navionics expert on this board seems to just ask inane questions, yet has not answered a single question related to what he is supposedly the "expert" on...

Insane questions with insane prices. Really a subscription for charts? Losing customers must be common occurrence. I know they lost me after the first year. Never again. Definitely not worth it.

That’s been bothering me too. Is there a different brand with comparable charts that don’t require a subscription?

Lowrance
 

Not that I know of. The charts on my elite TI unit are detailed enough for me. Once you fish an area enough times, you can kind of map it out in your head in conjunction with depth readings on your sonar. Rendering charts pretty useless anyways.

:D..........get out of my head.:D

I think this issue is a deal between Navionics and Lowrance as this is the mapping on Lowrance without the chip and I think it is supplied by Navionics, seems to be forcing people into purchasing Navionics. I wonder if other brands have had the same hit in lack of detail. Long time Lowrance fan considering looking at other brands to stand behind.


Navionics has now complicated things further forcing customers to have to set up cards per region, they give you free updating for a year and charge a subscription after that. You need a SD card reader on your computer or flash/micro adapter to USB to load the details of your region via their website..........lame.

It's in "forum fishing report mode" so you can post you catch from "somewhere in the Pacific".

So what’s the question?


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You don’t have to renew your subscription to Navionics after it expires, your chip will still work just as it did in the first year. If you want to update your maps, you will have to renew which is a reduced cost from the initial purchase.


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Navionics doesn’t supply the base mapping on Lowrance units, most depth finder manufacturers have an option to get a Navionics card with your purchase or they include it in the purchase.
Most fisherman I know typical don’t travel out of their “region” that often to fish unless they are fishing tournaments, and I’ve never heard them complain about having to use a different card for a different region. Typically when you have a large amount of information you’re trying to access from an electronic device who’s main purpose is to show you depth and bottom composition, you don’t see a lot of computing power left over for the secondary or tertiary functions in your smaller screen units.
As far as having to use an SD card or USB adapter, Navionics supplies both when you purchase your card, which is a micro-SD card. As most people know, the electronics manufacturers decide what type of accessory ports they want to put on their equipment, Navionics tries to provide options for consumer so they don’t have to try and find an adapter that will work on their computer.



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I apologize if my questions are “inane”, I thought the whole point of forums was to exchange information, and engage in conversation with other people that shared some of the same interests. Admittedly, I don’t live in SoCal, and have not fished from a kayak in SoCal, so I’m limited in how I can engage in conversations. I also apologize if I haven’t fielded everyone’s questions that had one. Fortunately I’m very blessed to have a family and a job working maintenance for an American steel manufacturer so my time is limited with how much I can read forums(and this forum is not the only one I’m a part of) Most of the questions I receive are through direct message and I typically give them my personal cell number so there is no mistake in communicating the problem they may have or in the answer I give and welcome call backs if they are still having issues as it can be difficult to troubleshoot a map problem with your electronics sitting in your garage and not on the water. I admit, I don’t know everything there is to know about every map card we have or the units they are used in, but I strive to answer every question honestly and to be up front if I don’t know the answer, and to be diligent about finding the right person who can answer the question. I’ve been using Navionics for a few years now, and was recently added as a Marine Specialist so I do have a lot to learn. What I lack in knowledge I try to make up for with making myself available at a personal level. Now, with all that being said, I’m going to bed, 12 hour night shifts suck when your getting old like I am [emoji23].


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I’m sorry about your dissatisfaction in our pricing, a subscription is only necessary after the initial purchase period is over if you want to update your charts. Your charts will still work if you decide not to renew at the reduced cost.


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I will wait to pass final judgement after I update a card.

There must be a couple of versions based on price.

I have three Navionics chips, two are slightly better then the standard Lowrance map, but one has a lot of detail. Not sure why.

Navionics+ Marine and Lakes, Platinum+ Marine, and HotMaps Platinum Lakes have the option of downloading Nautical Charts and Sonar Charts. The sonar charts will have better bottom contour and detail, that might be the difference in the two chips with lower map resolution and the one with better detail.


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