Need Help Answering a Lowrance/Navionics Question...

[h2oz]

I'm looking to buy an HDS-8. I was also looking to get the Navionics Platinum Plus (643P) chip to go with it. The guy I am dealing with informed me that the Platinum Plus maps are not fully supported on the HDS systems. Specifically, he told me that the "3D imaging doesn't work on the HDS systems".

My research tells me that originally the Navionics chips were not supported at all until a follow up firmware update by Lowrance (back in May of 2009). The "Plus" chips were not fully supported until another recent firmware update (Sept 2010). However, I'm still reading about issues with the 3D bathymetric mapping. It looks like the varying depths are displayed counter-intuitively? So, "deep" area's are white, and blue is used to show "shallow". Someone referred to the representation as boating through the mountains...

Does anyone have any definitive information about the HDS systems and how they work with the Platinum Plus chips specific to the bathymetric mapping?

Thanks in advance!

-Chris

 

[mrmike]

I would suggest look into a garmin Why I ust had a $2.000 unit have a problem and was advised by Lorance O'H WE DON'T WORK ON THEM ANY LONGER SORRY IT WAS 4 YEARS OLD

 

[gonefishing]

I just purchased and HDS 5X and a HDS 5M. They are a 2 month old purchases and I am not having the problems you are describing. Talk with Lowrance. They helped me with my issues as needed through owning 4 units.

My first purchase was a HDS 5 and then a HD7. I sold the HDS 5 and it worked perfect. However, it did need the download as this was a spring 09 purchase. My HDS 5 was on a smaller boat that I had and I sold the Lorwance with the boat.

The HDS7 was an older version, not explained when I purchased it. So back it went. Several issues. I bought it for my new boat.

With the 2 Units I have now, the 5M and 5X, no problems, but they are the new versions. They did not need any up-dates. As I learned the hard way there are older versions of the HDS systems from Lorwance avaiable out in the market and you want to avoid those. They are in all sizes of the units I have bottom contoures and no issues with the new navionics platinum card. I fact, I love the heck out of what this unit does when I want to fish a new lake that has been mapped and the data loaded. Not all the lakes have the data on them loaded. Hence forth, the 3D is not available for those lakes. The Navionics web sight will give you a list by state that has the bottom contoures of the lake in 3 D.

I could tell you more of my saga with this, but pointless. I had my reasons for the 5M and 5X. I am happy with them. Easy to use mapping, and a fine quality fish finder.

They work well, but everyone has their preferences.

Buy this equipemnt from someone you can talk to, not on line is my recomendation. Go to a dealer that has employees that know something. If they don't write down the information on the box and check with Lowrance.

2cents

 

[h2oz]

I just purchased and HDS 5X and a HDS 5M. They are a 2 month old purchases and I am not having the problems you are describing. Talk with Lowrance. They helped me with my issues as needed through owning 4 units.

My first purchase was a HDS 5 and then a HD7. I sold the HDS 5 and it worked perfect. However, it did need the download as this was a spring 09 purchase. My HDS 5 was on a smaller boat that I had and I sold the Lorwance with the boat.

The HDS7 was an older version, not explained when I purchased it. So back it went. Several issues. I bought it for my new boat.

With the 2 Units I have now, the 5M and 5X, no problems, but they are the new versions. They did not need any up-dates. As I learned the hard way there are older versions of the HDS systems from Lorwance avaiable out in the market and you want to avoid those. They are in all sizes of the units I have bottom contoures and no issues with the new navionics platinum card. I fact, I love the heck out of what this unit does when I want to fish a new lake that has been mapped and the data loaded. Not all the lakes have the data on them loaded. Hence forth, the 3D is not available for those lakes. The Navionics web sight will give you a list by state that has the bottom contoures of the lake in 3 D.

I could tell you more of my saga with this, but pointless. I had my reasons for the 5M and 5X. I am happy with them. Easy to use mapping, and a fine quality fish finder.

They work well, but everyone has their preferences.

Buy this equipemnt from someone you can talk to, not on line is my recomendation. Go to a dealer that has employees that know something. If they don't write down the information on the box and check with Lowrance.

2cents

Thanks for your reply! All good information. I noticed that you wrote "Navionics Platinum Card", is that correct, or was it the Platinum Plus? From what I am reading, it is only the Platinum Plus people are complaining about.

 

[gonefishing]

I through the box away but pulled the card from my unit. It does not say plus. It is the 2010 plat. Western Card.

Good Luck