Recommendations on charting software for new Lowrance

[Rjr812]

Hello guys.  The wife gave me a one time green light to upgrade the electronics on my Sl.  Not one to waste an opportunity, I installed the Lowrance HDS Gen 3 (12").  It comes loaded with Insight and a poor version of Navionics that I don't understand.  I reason that that I should probably be updating the charting software but know very little about it.  Any recommendations?

[Chief of the Boat]

I am using the Navionics Platinum Plus Puget Sound, very happy with it.

[Mcneilcab]

Just curious, are you installing the 3d structure scan? I picked up a 9" gen 2 on closeout recently. The 3d looks like the way of the future!
I plan on installing the navionics for Alaska

[Rjr812]

Never waste an opportunity.  I installed the structure scan 3D.  Really freaks me out how realistic it looks.  Can't wait to get it on the water to test it out.  Found out that I needed the software update to enable the 3D.  One other question:  I have a HDS Gen 2 (5") and a LCX-113 (10") that I just replaced.  Thought of using one of them to mount in the stern near the downriggers. Which one to pick???

[Diablo]

Never waste an opportunity.  I installed the structure scan 3D.  Really freaks me out how realistic it looks.  Can't wait to get it on the water to test it out.  Found out that I needed the software update to enable the 3D.  One other question:  I have a HDS Gen 2 (5") and a LCX-113 (10") that I just replaced.  Thought of using one of them to mount in the stern near the downriggers. Which one to pick???

I'm also looking into 3D for my HDS 9 gen 3. let us know how that 3D works in deeper water say 200ish.

It's always cool to have a stern mounted depth sounder. 

[FWilliams]

Navionics platinum plus Puget sound as well

[Rjr812]

Thanks guys.  Plan to take her out tomorrow to calibrate and test her out.

[Threeweight]

I bought the less expensive Navionics + for my new boat.  It comes with a free one year subscription to "Sonar Charts" and "Freshest Data", which let you download a good chunk of high-detail maps from Navionics website before I ran out of room on my card.  Got the super high resolution maps covering the OR/WA/SW BC coasts, Puget Sound, and Columbia/Willamette Rivers.

Was $165 for a the chip.  I'd have needed to buy two $200 Platinum + chips to cover the same area.

[Rjr812]

Is that the Navionics 638+ or the Navionics 912P. The 912P is just under $400 and the msd638+ is just under $200.  Which one is the one I'm looking for?  What is the difference between them?

[Kimbrey]

Is that the Navionics 638+ or the Navionics 912P. The 912P is just under $400 and the msd638+ is just under $200.  Which one is the one I'm looking for?  What is the difference between them?

Kind of depends on where you plan to boat.  3 or 4 years ago I bought the 912P+ mainly since I wanted to operate out of Westport and Puget Sound. It covers both area plus a lot of area I'd never use.  The detail is great with the chip but I probably should try to update it.

[DSCS]

Never waste an opportunity.  I installed the structure scan 3D.  Really freaks me out how realistic it looks.  Can't wait to get it on the water to test it out.  Found out that I needed the software update to enable the 3D.  One other question:  I have a HDS Gen 2 (5") and a LCX-113 (10") that I just replaced.  Thought of using one of them to mount in the stern near the downriggers. Which one to pick???

You can network (ethernet and NMEA 2000) the HDS Gen 2 with your new HDS. So that would be my choice for for the stern. Plus the LCX-113 is pretty darn big for that location. I run an NSS 7 at the stern and really would not want anything bigger than that back there.

Alan

[Rjr812]

Thanks for the input!

[TJ Arima]

Dang.. I wish I can have a new GPS/FF/DS . Any ideas which one for SE Alaska? I got Lowrance LCX28-HD and it has this chip. It says Puget Sound on it. Is this Navionics? Maybe someone has a need for it as it don't work here in Sitka.

[tsuribaka]

PM sent

[Rjr812]

I have the Lcx-113 that it might work on.

[Rjr812]

Took her out yesterday on Sequim Bay and around Protection Island and then out to the Dungeness Lighthouse.  Got the Precision compass calibrated and started to play with the Structure Scan 3D.  One thing I recognized right away about the structure scan is that if the transducer is not exactly horizontal, then the length of the "cone" down to the bottom is unequal lengths on each side.  A small adjustment should take care of that.  Saw a good picture of the bottom at around 100' and less.  The picture is sensitive to turns and drops out for a second or two anytime the course changes by more than a few degrees at the speed I was going.  Did not have very good results at 200' as the return was broken up and did not give a very good display.  If anyone has a cure for this or has experienced the same thing, let me know.  Also tested out the radar overlay on the chart plotter and got some good practice in during daylight and good conditions.  Played around out at Dallas bank trying to spot fish with the fish finder.  I DO need more practice!

[Diablo]

Thanks for that report. So I have a couple of questions about the structure scan. One how fast were you going? Did bottom improve at trolling speed? OK more than a couple. Could you see fish suspended when you didn't see the bottom? How about some screen shots next time?

I would like to upgrade to the structure scan. The youtube videos look great but there are at 30' or so. One deep water video was 65'. That wouldn't help much unless you can see the fish suspended. Thanks for being the first on the block to test that $1000 option. Look forward to hearing more.

[Rjr812]

I was probably going a little too fast and really wasn't paying as close attention to the speed as I should have.  Next time.  I could see fish suspended in the column as little colored dots.  I split my screen with the fish finder on one side, the structure scan on the other and then correlated the dots with the fish ID on the finder.  Bait balls showed up really well.  I need to play with it a lot more to be able to fine tune the display.  I also need to take to a place with a lot more structure on the bottom, as Sequim bay is fairly sandy bottom and not much detail as far as I can tell.  I'd really like to take it in front of my house and try to find derelict  crab and shrimp pots.  If I ever figure out how to take a screen shot, I will.  Hell, I didn't even know you could take a screen shot till you said something.  ha

[Diablo]

You made me think. I was just thinking of a screen shot with your phone camera. But I found you can take a screen shot by pressing the page and power buttons at the same time. Now as for getting that file out of the Unit??? You might have to ask a kid. 

[Diablo]

Talked to the electronics guy at West Marine today who was well informed about charts. Here is what I found out.
If you buy the Navonics+ chip for $200 you get the entire US and Canada plus lakes and sonar charts and community edits. The card is 16GB. No download needed.
If you upgrade from ANY other chart, even another company's, to the Navonics+ you select the area you want and what device you are going to use it in, on your computer, then down load that to the 2GB upgrade card. $99. Much smaller card.
Navonics is the most popular card for the Puget Sound.

Rjr812, if you want to get an idea of what the Navonics maps are like on your unit, you can. Go to pages, select settings, find the simulator, select that. When it comes up select chart options and select Navonics. You can then make side by side charts on the pages page and see Lowrance and Navonics next to each other. Although this will not show the great detail that you get with the Navonics sonar charts.

[Andre Morin]

Look at this video and you will get the real picture: http://www.arimaowners.com/index.php?topic=11487.0

In January 2016 Navionics has take off the market the Navionics Gold & the Hotmap and they replace those by the Navionics+ and the Update; both are 16gig and they have all the Canadian & US water. The only thing you need to download is the Sonarchart layer for the water you are fishing.

For the compatibility you can look here: http://www.navionics.com/sites/default/files/documents/americas_compatibility_guide_mar16.pdf

To find out about the coverage of the Hotmap Platinium and the Platinium+ you can see it here: http://www.navionics.com/en/platinum-plus