Navionics charting questions - need help with charting?

[prostaff1]

I have an HDS 8 Gen2 & HDS Gen2 7 Touch. Could someone walk me through the Chart Settings to have a shaded area from the bank out to 15 fow? I have tried all I know to do and only get Red Dots at the 15' level instead of shading. The red dots are hard to see. I have a Navionics Premium East v6. I have also tried the shading with the built in Lowrance Insight mapping with no success.

Thanks

HI Donnie, I sent you a PM explaining this in answer to your PM to me. Pls check that for a full explanation. Wayne and Wally answers below are exactly correct.
Tommy
Prostaff Lowrance/Navico
Prostaff Marine Specialist/Navionics

[contium]

I'm thinking about getting the Navionics hot maps platinum. If i'm reading this right. The Sonar Charting program won't work if you have updates higher than whats stated below, from the Navionics website? Or do you just have to save logs in a different format? I'm new to mapping, but have noticed the depth contours on my HDS 7 gen 2 aren't real accurate. I believe I have Insight USA.

Lowrance HDS Gen2 Touch and Lowrance HDS Gen2
Starting from software release 3.5-45.2.143, these units do not provide depth data in the export of sonar logs in GPX format.

It's always something. I just switched from Garmin to Lowrance to use Navionics. Now I'm running into problems uploading my sonar logs. As stated, there is no depth data on the gpx export. So I exported as USR5 and then converted to gpx with EasyGPS. Every program that opens gpx files opens it fine. It does have depth data. But I get a currupted data error when I try to upload. Currently working with Navionics on this but they just seem to want to blame Lowrance. It seems it would be in Navionics best interest to find a solution since they are selling us on "the freshest data". If half the user base can't upload, the data is going to start getting a little stale.

[contium]

I think I might have successfully uploaded a log. I exported as usr4, converted to gpx with EasyGPS, edited in Homeport, and then exported as gpx out of Homeport. Not sure if the Homeport stage is necessary but I needed to edit the log. Question. Do my waypoints get uploaded for everyone to see?

[wallyandre]

delete

[prostaff1]

HI Donnie, I sent you a PM explaining this in answer to your PM to me. Pls check that for a full explanation. Wayne and Wally answers below are exactly correct.
Tommy
Prostaff Lowrance/Navico
Prostaff Marine Specialist/Navionics

Let me answer this once again for more clarity.. I just spent two days at the new Cabaelas in Huntsville demonstrating this exact scenario and FLW Douglas Lake last weekend doing the same... Once shown to the angler they get it AND are always amazed at what the Platinum card will do. Douglas was abt 15 feet down so prior to the tournament I showed them how to do the water offset. Navionics Plat/Lowrance. I always get some OMG's and that is amazing, "never seen anything like that before"

FIRST..There is always confusion as to what Navionics card has which features.. IMPORTANT: how OLD the card is and when it was updated last. We cannot expect an older card (in my experience predating 2014) to give you the most current results when Navionics updates these cards 2000 times per day. This is the KEY point...the PREMIUM card will NOT...NOT do what you are asking. The premium card is a basic map and does not have even Sonarchart which is the heart of the incredible Navionics system. So if you want the shading, depth offset etc...you CANNOT get it on the Premium OR..OR..the Navionics+ card. NEITHER of these cards will have those features. Regardless of what misinformation you read or hear about. Depth highlighting, shading along with shallow water grid etc, are incredible features and can be used singly or in tandem for really great customization. You can highlight any tiny OR large range you want for specific areas only, such as a fall pattern of fish movements into creek mouths etc. You can show ONLY those areas on the map which help you focus on your chosen pattern choice. Set it up for pre-spawn transitions and highlights...then use the unit for summertime Ledges, ditches etc. You can manipulate the contours and intensity...and on and on.

This is a TOOL, it is not a paper map and only if the angler learns the capabilities of the tool will they have success with it. THE ONLY card, once again, that will allow this level of customization is the Hotmaps Platinum. Those that say the Navionics+ card is the best and ultimate card are leaving out a LOT of information and those statements are misleading and only partially correct as it applies to what that particular Anglers opinion is. It may be the best choice for some particular need..however, it maybe not for your needs.
The Hotmaps Platinum is a regional card (see Navionics.com) to confirm your areas. If you want full USA/Canada coverage on ONE card...then the Navionics+ card has that convenience, has Sonarchart, free updates for a year, and is very cost effective (one card). HOWEVER, you sacrifice the features and customization that Navionics has built into the Platinum card...If the "best featured card" meets your need, then you now know...if economic convenience but reduced features meets your needs, then the above should clear it up. This is exactly why Navionics presents the different cards...to best meet YOUR individual needs. My advice: determine your needs, then select the card that best meets them. This is what I stress in all of my events. I do NOT favor any certain card, they all have their place...but from customizing maps for Pro Elite and FLW anglers, I have found nothing compares to the Platinum cards when the Anglers are serious about the details to help them set patterns, eliminate water etc. ....maybe this will help clarify and help you choose the exact card which is best for your particular situation. Note that within the Lowrance HDS family, that ONE card may be shared to all HDS units.... thus the need for only ONE card to service all HDS...I personally run four screens and use only one Platinum card. Sry for long post but this map card confusion needs to be completely and accurately clarified.
Tommy
Prostaff Lowrance/Navico
Prostaff Marine Specialist/Navionics

[Wayne P.]

I don't think you can get shading on a Premium map, only on Platinium

Shaded Depth (blue highlighting from shoreline to chosen depth) is a setting that affects all the map products the same way.

Navionics Hotmaps Premium, Navionics Hotmaps Platinum, and Navionics+ have the exact same Nautical Chart map of a particular location if updated the same day and is the exact same map that can be viewed on the Web App that day.
Only the HD surveyed locations have the shading in 1' increments and on some very deep waters that do not have 1' contours, but still are HD.
Other bodies of water with more infrequent contour lines will shade out to the next contour line from the chosen setting.

Since the Sonar Charts map layer is HD, the Shaded Depth works the same as the Nautical Charts HD locations.

This is the ContourXD background mapping that higher end Humminbird units have. That map product is the former 2006 Navionics Hotmaps Premium. This location just had 20' contours then. I did not have any map cards in my unit when I saved this screen shot.
Note the Shaded Depth setting and how it highlighted out to 40'.



The "heart" of Navionics mapping is their Nautical Charts.
Sonar Charts is a FREE add-on that was activated in May 2012 in the US and was available earlier in Europe with Platinum+.
Sonar Charts is NOT Navionics data. It is a result of uploaded sonar logs by Humminbird users in the beginning and other brands later.
Of course a couple of those later ones decided to not allow their data to be processed by Navionics.

[wallyandre]

Wayne, I had something else in mind and can't tell you the exact Navionics word at this moment and my Lowrance is in French so I will change to English to find the exact word.

[Wayne P.]

Wayne, I had something else in mind and can't tell you the exact Navionics word at this moment and my Lowrance is in French so I will change to English to find the exact word.

As Tommy has stated, with current software and Navionics mapping, you can have water level offset, depth highlighting, and safety depth setting like the Mobile App has.
Still have the Depth Shading setting though as illustrated.

Water level offset is changing the contour lines to match the change in lake water levels.
Depth highlighting is choosing a depth range to concentrate on such as between 10' and 15'.
Safety depth highlighting is the red dots to highlight shallow areas to either avoid or easily find when fish are shallow.

This is using a Sonar Charts map I provided data for its creation. Previously there was no maps of any kind, not even a shoreline--new lake.
The red dots here is the Safety Depth setting of 5'
The white area is the Depth Highlighting set between 12' and 17'
It has some Community Edits too by someone taking advantage of my supplied data.



There may be another setting Lowrance has like the Mobile App has which is turning off a range of contour lines that are not needed like this.
It gives you an "edge" to concentrate your fishing approach without extra contour line clutter instead of using the blue Depth Shading setting. I turned off the contour lines deeper than 20'.
Also had the Shallow water highlighting and Depth Shading set at 5'.

[wallyandre]

Because the discussion was turning on Platinium vs the other choices, I was thinking Transparency on the Platinium.

Depth highlighting is choosing a depth range to concentrate on such as between 10' and 15'. This is a feature that I use a lot accordingly to species and season
Safety depth highlighting is the red dots to highlight shallow areas to either avoid or easily find when fish are shallow. For the water I fish it's always on 6' because the waters that I fish are rocky bottom so better be careful with that bottom


A lake that my brother and I fish a lot did not have any datas as you stated not even a contour on the webapp. We logs over 475 miles of sonarcharts; so now we got a very detail map to help us catch those nice walleyes.

[wicked]

Hi, I am in NY and fish primarily on the East Coast (NY, CT, PA, VA) - I am looking for the best card for charting. Coming from an aluminum boat, I was not as cognizant about water hazards, small water, etc. as I am with the glass boat.

[Wayne P.]

Hi, I am in NY and fish primarily on the East Coast (NY, CT, PA, VA) - I am looking for the best card for charting. Coming from an aluminum boat, I was not as cognizant about water hazards, small water, etc. as I am with the glass boat.

Navionics has pretty good coverage for those states. You can view the actual maps on the Navionics website's WEB APP they are the current maps.

Navionics maps are Nautical Charts.
Hotmaps Premium, Hotmaps Platinum, and Navionics+ has the exact same maps for a particular location.
Navionics+ Preloaded has all the maps for the US and Canada including waters covered by the GOLD product.
Hotmaps Premium and Hotmaps Platinum are regional. You would need the East Region.
Refer to the website for coverage areas.

The Navionics+ and Hotmaps Platinum can have the extra map layer (Sonar Charts) when updated.
Every new purchase includes a year of Freshest Data Updates.


BTW if you have an Elite or HDS GEN 1, the Navionics+ is the best. You can delete all on the card and only download the waters you need. That will make up for the slow map processing those units have.

[wicked]

Navionics has pretty good coverage for those states. You can view the actual maps on the Navionics website's WEB APP they are the current maps.

Navionics maps are Nautical Charts.
Hotmaps Premium, Hotmaps Platinum, and Navionics+ has the exact same maps for a particular location.
Navionics+ Preloaded has all the maps for the US and Canada including waters covered by the GOLD product.
Hotmaps Premium and Hotmaps Platinum are regional. You would need the East Region.
Refer to the website for coverage areas.

The Navionics+ and Hotmaps Platinum can have the extra map layer (Sonar Charts) when updated.
Every new purchase includes a year of Freshest Data Updates.


BTW if you have an Elite or HDS GEN 1, the Navionics+ is the best. You can delete all on the card and only download the waters you need. That will make up for the slow map processing those units have.

Thanks Wayne! I am using an HDS Gen2 I am thinking of the Hotmaps Platinum or the Navionics+

[Hydrasport80]

I have an Elite 7 with GPS, what is the best map for Va. lakes and will it also work on the Chesapeake bay? I'm looking for bottom detail. Thanks

[wallyandre]

What you need is the Navionics+. Once you got home with youre new card start by deleting(purge) everything then download the region you intent to fish.
Why deleting everything? Its to help the processor working a little faster. If you leave everything US & Canada Nautical charts this is to much for the Elite processor.

[Bassakwards]

I'm going to Guntersville this weekend. I don't want to buy another navionics card. I don't fish down there often enough to justify the purchase even though its only about 2 hours from my house. If I download the navionics app for my phone will it cover gville, and will it work the same as it does on my HDS unit? I will be using the lake insight mapping, but might need some better detail at some point during the day.

[wallyandre]

yes it will

[Bassakwards]

ok thanks

[Wayne P.]

What you need is the Navionics+. Once you got home with youre new card start by deleting(purge) everything then download the region you intent to fish.
Why deleting everything? Its to help the processor working a little faster. If you leave everything US & Canada Nautical charts this is to much for the Elite processor.

Don't download a "region", only the individual waters you fish.

[wallyandre]

Don't download a "region", only the individual waters you fish.

By region I meant an area that you fish and I should be more specific like a part of a lake or a stream or a part of a river

[bassseeker]

Gentlemen, I have cleaned all my wpts and have them separate on a SD card according to the bodies of water that I fish. My question is, can I now purge my units (HDS Gen 2 10 and 12T) ? This was all done from my 12T and was wondering if I have to do the same with my 10 or can I just delete everything from my 10 ?

Thanks