Lowrance Mapping Software

[ClownColor]

I'll say right off the bat, I'm lost. I purchased Gen2 w/ss last season that came with built in lake insight. This is about all I know...LOL. What "insight" came with my unit? I've looked every where, including on the box, and could not find out. Is it a generic insight, insight HD or Pro? This is what leads to my next series of questions. Pending what version of insight I have, would one consider upgrading to Navionics now after what appears to be some pretty nice upgrades on GEN2 2.0 (this was found in the "reviews" thread but since they "monitor" our reviews, it takes forever to get feedback). It seems weird they didn't make any good upgrades to the built-in mapping software which Lowrance owns, but did to an outside software company (navionics). Anyone have some "insight" on what a person would do to achieve optimal cartography? Does the 2.0 upgrade work with both navionics premium and platinum?

yikes...a lot of options here.

[ClownColor]

Here's the link to the update and video (must see).

http://www.lowrance.com/en-US/Software-Updates/HDS-Gen2/

You can now create a wifi hotspot in your boat and link it to your tablet! so...what does that mean? My HDS 5 is now my base unit and my tablet, a ten incher, will display exactly what's on my HDS giving me basically a separate unit...and much larger. This is freak'in awesome. Way to go Lowrance!

msrp for wifi module is $230...way cheaper then buy a 10" HDS. I can't even imagine all the possibilities this brings.

[CaptainMusky]

The lowrance insight pro or insight HD are chips that you would plug in just like a navionics chip. I have the 2012 lowrance insight pro. IMO don't go for the HD version because it only adds shaded relief and that goes away when zoomed in anyway. What your unit came with is different than these chips. The chips actually use lakemaster data.

In reference to the 2.0 sw upgrade I would do it for a couple reasons. One being that you can now share chips between units which is awesome. You also get some other cool features which you are learning about already on that link.

If you go with navionics chip just make sure you download the content from the HSOforum or it will be useless. They don't come completely loaded. You will get a free year of downloads upon the purchase.

There are some other really cool things you can do now with the lowrance units. Say your lake isn't mapped well or at all. You can record to your hds then upload it to lowrance insight store and then have them make a map file which you can load onto an SD card. Pretty dam slick!

[ClownColor]

Thanks. Just want clarification...my hds came with insight, not base map. So you are saying my version of insight is still different from pro or hd?

What version of navionics, premium or platinum? Navionics chip or download?

Can not wait to play with this 2.0 version with wifi....though have checked multiple stores and no one carries it yet.

[CaptainMusky]

The insight that came on your hds is different than the lowrance insight chips (either pro or HD). I have a 5 with the lake insight built in and installed the lowrance insight pro chip. The two are way different. There was little detail with just the preinstalled insight but when I out the chip in it was exactly the same as the lakemaster chip I have in my other unit.

I don't know much about the navionics chips I just have the phone app. The only thing I know is one is pricier than then other premium vs platinum but do not know the difference.

With either chip though you will need to download from their HSOforum to get more detailed info. This is free. Basically what lakemaster would do was have a chip by region. Navionics doesn't preload the chip with regions so you need to put it on there. More hastle for the consumer but they do thousands of updates a year this way you get most current data and not stuff thats been sitting on the shelf for months or years.

I think with that WiFi thing you can view on smartphones but control using a tablet. It is pretty sweet especially if you get into engine diagnostics and such.

[Jnoel - Navionics Rep]

Navico has a new update available for Gen 2 and Gen 2 Touch. Here are some of the features GoFree™ wireless, Chart-sharing, Here are just some of the of the Navionics new features they also added –

Depth Interval,(really like this one, I can hold a depth for Fishing) Dynamic Tides & Currents, Easy View, Rock Filtering, and Shallow Highlights. Keep it coming Navico…..

Both Navionics Premium North and Platinum will work in the HDS Gen2, added feature for Platinum would include 3D, Satlite Overlay and Panoramic Photo's, Fish n Chip. Fish ON.......

[Jnoel - Navionics Rep]

Just added some photo's of the new update features. if anyone else has any please post?

[Jnoel - Navionics Rep]

For some reason the Photo's did't take so I am going to try again.