Lakemaster 2011 release date??

[Gus]

Anyone know when the new lakemaster gets released? Better yet, anyone know what lakes may be added? :0 Doubt it but it's worth an ask. Just need to figure out if I "need" to wait or not.

Thanks

[Esox_Magnum]

I finaly bowed to all thehype on lakemaster, spent $120 on a new chip for my yearly Vermilion vacation, used it 2-3 hours and put my 07 N avionics back in my unit, I was very disaponted.

[Ed Carlson]

The new 2011 release date, depends on what region I think?

The only people who really know that for sure, is LakeMaster, and what was enhanced this summer and in what region.

Drop them an e-mail, if they can release the info now, they will.

[Chode2235]

Any update on this?

Is version 7 the newest one?

Hopefully they release a new Insight chip that will include the Mississippi pools on it.

[McGurk]

I understand that v7 is the 2010 release for MN.

[slammer]

Ok, I need some clarification. I have chips from 07 and 08. Has Lakemaster came out with anything new since? I have a 4 year old Lowrance graph. Will I get the "HD effect" on my graph if I use one of the new Chips or do I need to upgrade to a HD graph?

[McGurk]

There are new chips that will have more of the accurately surveyed lakes for you, and there are also chips that work with new graphs that allow for some cool stuff, like 3D traveling views when on the lake. I don't think you'll get "HD" in any different way than you currently have by just getting a new chip, which will have more of the tightly contoured lakes on it in addition to the ones you already have.

I hate that the term "HD" gets thrown around so much and means so many different things, and Insight adds a whole 'nother level to this. For Lakemaster it means that there are lakes that have been surveyed in a manner that allows for 3' or even 1' contours due to the amount of data they have obtained from a lake. For a depthfinder/chart/graph I think it means higher screen resolution and possibly better transducers that allow more accurate and smaller increments that get displayed for what's down there. I could be wrong though.

[JbuZZo]

Just picked up a 2011 LOW/Rainy chip last night. Got it at GM in Fargo.

[slammer]

Is the "Insight" considered HD? I really dont need any of the extra features, just looking for a few more lakes that have been mapped and maybe some tighter contours on some that have already been mapped. The new graphs are nice but cant justify the price when mine works fine.

[Matt C]

I am currently setting up an excel spread sheet with side by side comparisons of all the lake mapping companies chips. (for MN waters specific). LM's most updated list for the public is from 2009.

[kg2]

I am currently setting up an excel spread sheet with side by side comparisons of all the lake mapping companies chips. (for MN waters specific). LM's most updated list for the public is from 2009.

HuH? What do you mean "most updated list for the public"?

I was easily able to obtain a PDF list for their latest (2011) MN Humminbird chip from the LM site...

[Matt C]

Really? Well heck, I must have been looking in the wrong spot! lol. I got the Insight list/Lowrance.

Thank you! I'll grab the one your talking about before wasting my time converting the pdf to excel!

[Matt C]

Yay! Found it, thanks kg2!

[croixflats]

Quote:

I hate that the term "HD" gets thrown around so much and means so many different things, and Insight adds a whole 'nother level to this. For Lakemaster it means that there are lakes that have been surveyed in a manner that allows for 3' or even 1' contours due to the amount of data they have obtained from a lake.

McGurk this is how Lakemaster explained it to me they also added an HD lake refers to a Lakemaster surveyed lake nothing more nothing less no special features other than being surveyed by Lakemaster themselves. Any features the software has works the same for non HD lakes and HD lakes.

[TooTallTom]

bundt2k, I don't know if it's the case or not, but it's certainly possible that there are different lakes at different levels of detail for the humminbird and lowrance units. It wouldn't make all that much sense, but it's possible.

[Matt C]

I am actually finding there is for HD maps.

Once my list is complete, it will have a break down of LM for Humingbird, Lowrance, Lowrance insight..and the Navionics chip, and post it on HSO.

I really just wanted to do a side by side for my own personal reference of wanting to upgrade chips this year...but boy its gotten complicated. lol

I have HDS units in my boat, so I was originally only interested in the LM -Lowrance only vs. Navionics. But now its turned more into a mission.

[TooTallTom]

I'll be interested to see the list. I'm a Humminbird guy myself, so I'm glad that you just couldn't help yourself.

[Matt C]

Here ya go fellas!

2011 Lakemaster/Nav - Lowrance and Hum chip comp.

[slammer]

Of the 1700+ lakes on your LM Lowrance list, how many of them actually have contours on them? I have alot of lakes on my chip but most of them are just a blue outline of the lake. I think when these chips became available, most people saw them advertised as every lake having contours. Thats obviously not the case. Your paying for only a handful of mapped lakes.

[McGurk]

Any named lake on the Lakemaster list will have contours of some sort, but the vast majority of them are simply taken from the DNR's pdf files. The ones followed with an asterisk (*) are ones that they LM has surveyed on their own, and have either 1' or 3' contours, and are considered to be the "HD" lakes.

For example:

French Lake- Aitkin county: 5' contours, scanned from the DNR survey map.

Aitkin Lake*- Aitkin county: 1' contours, created from their own survey.

We all know there are thousands more lakes in MN, that simply put LM didn't see the value in adding them at this time. The current (2010) Garmin LM chip (version 7) has over 3,900 lakes on it, but only a couple hundred of those are "HD" lakes.

[TooTallTom]

Thanks bundt2k. Now I've got some exciting reading to look forward to!