Lowrance eleit series GPS

[hugo]

i was wondering if anyone has this unit with a navionics gold card installed and if the card is worth the 200.00 bucks. i was told the one with the gold combo from lowrance actually had a limited gold version and would still need more cards so i bought the standard unit. should i buy or just save my money?

[Blue_Heron]

I just bought the Lowrance Elite-5 DSI gold. The Navionics Gold card that came with the unit has all the maps I'll ever need and more. I can't say if there's a difference between the Navionics Gold card that comes with the unit and the one you buy separately.
Dave

[hugo]

Dave i did some more reading and i was missinformed, (INTERNET) i was under the impression your unit came with the gold loaded and a MSD slot for other charts like the lake and hot spots. i didnt realize buying it your way was basicly the same unit with the card at a discount price. have you used it without the card? and is it a big diffrence in the map quality?

[Blue_Heron]

Hugo,
You put the card in and then you go into the charts menu to select the Navionics or the Lowrance basemap. So far, I've only played with it a little, but the Navionics Gold charts seem to be comparable to the Garmin Bluechart I'm used to.

The Navionics Gold definitely has more coastal detail than the Lowrance basemap. IMO, it's worth the money,especially if you'll be in Biscayne Bay or the Keys. Ironically, to see the Suwannee River, where I've been running the boat to break in the engine, I have to go back to the basemap.

The only downside to Navionics I'm aware of is that they don't have a good software package for managing routes, tracks, and waypoints on your computer. Most of the reviews I've read on NavPlanner2 are discouraging. I guess Garmin's Bluechart has me spoiled. I'm going to play with GPSBabel to see if I can convert data from Bluechart to work in my Lowrance unit.
Dave

[hugo]

thanks for the info Dave. guess i will break down and get one, not like i need it soon still doing my transom. and i know i have a garmin color handheld GPS with the bluecharts in it and it has way better detail than my lowrance. if i had to do it again i think i might have looked closer at the $250 more expensive garmin units.

[Blue_Heron]

Originally Posted by hugo

... and i know i have a garmin color handheld GPS with the bluecharts in it and it has way better detail than my lowrance. if i had to do it again i think i might have looked closer at the $250 more expensive garmin units.

Yeah. I have a GPSMap 76 and a GPSMap 76C. All my routes and waypoints are in them or in my computer in .mps files. Unless I can figure out a way to put them in the Lowrance, I'll be navigating with the 76C until I can mark waypoints in the Lowrance while I'm on the spot.

I like Garmin's GPS technology and map software much better, but I think Lowrance is ahead of them on sonar technology. I was going to buy just the fishfinder, but the combo unit was only about $100 more, so I went for it.
Dave

[Blue_Heron]

Originally Posted by hugo

... and i know i have a garmin color handheld GPS with the bluecharts in it and it has way better detail than my lowrance.

Hugo,
As I mentioned, I've been looking for a way to manage waypoints, routes and tracks for the Lowrance unit like I do in Bluechart for my Garmin units. NavPlanner2 didn't look like a good option based on the reviews.

But in one of the reviews I found on another forum, I came across a reference to a freeware program called GPSBabel. It's a file converter that allows you to convert one manufacturer's files into another manufacturer's file format. It only converts routes, waypoints, and tracks, so you're not pirating cartography, just transferring your own data.

I tried it out this morning. I uploaded routes and waypoints from my GPSMap 76C into Bluechart and saved the file. Then I converted the file to Lowrance .usr file format with GPSBabel and then saved it to my map card. I plugged the map card into the Lowrance unit and then used the menu to get the routes and waypoints from the card. Then I went to the map and all the routes and waypoints were there.

I like this very much! I can still use Bluechart to manage routes and waypoints and then use them in the Lowrance unit. How cool is that?

[hugo]

thats awsome i will definetly check that out. thanks for the update. so much better than sitting in the boat in the backyard.

[Blue197320]

on my hds-8 i have a navionics 3d chart on mine. its pretty cool. you can come take a look at it if you like.

[eggsuckindog]

Hey Hugo I have a 76c also with only the base map - I would like to have a better map in it what do you suggest I do