Has anyone out there tried either the Navionics sonarcharting of be lowrance insight genesis? And if so what did you like about that one over the other and why.

I use Navionics Sonar Charts and have uploaded about 200 recordings since that program was activated in the US.

Typically I record some each time on the water.

Just got an email today that the 4 recordings I uploaded the last time were processed and ready to update my software..

 

With Sonar Charts, they do the mapping creation and it is shared data for anyone to use.

You can view the current Sonar Charts mapping on the Navionics web site's Web App.

 

For inland lakes, either the Hotmaps Platinum or Navionics+ has the Sonar Charts layer once you do an update to add that map layer.

 

If a body of water is not on the software, Navionics will create the zero line and apply the recorded data.

If the shoreline of a particular body of water is inaccurate, Navionics will redraw the shoreline to apply all the recorded data that may have been shown on land on your unit. Typically maps obtained from "other sources" are not accurate.

 

This map was done for a somewhat new lake where there was just land shown on the Navionics software:

 

 

 

 

What that area looked like before Sonar Charts--same GPS co-ordinates

 

 

I use Insight Genesis, the Navico product. It is very user friendly and quick to process from upload to your merge and finished map. If you don't feel like, or have the time to log your own surveys, you can visit the Social Maps area on the Insight Genesis site and go through that list of bodies of water, which, is ever growing. You can use the 'bottom hardness' and 'vegetation' layers to help find the fishy spots. One of the most important features to me, is the ability to review my uploaded tracks (recordings), and when I find hazzards, holes or humps and even trees, I can add waypoints, save them and download them to an SD card then load those waypoints to my head units.

 

Here is a combined screen shot of Shaver Lake in Fresno County. The top portion is with an 'off the shelf' mapping card and the lower part was done with Insight Genesis.

 

 

I chose to create my map with 5' contours but you have the option of changing that.

 

In full disclosure to the forum, I am actively on Pro-Staff with Lowrance, Scotty Fishing and Shasta Tackle, however, I will try to be unbiased where I can.

 

Edd

Thanks Edd, nice post.  How about a short intro over here: http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/forum/31-introductions/

Thanks for the posts guys, I actually tried both out because there were things that I like about both!

I use Insight Genesis, the Navico product. It is very user friendly and quick to process from upload to your merge and finished map. If you don't feel like, or have the time to log your own surveys, you can visit the Social Maps area on the Insight Genesis site and go through that list of bodies of water, which, is ever growing. You can use the 'bottom hardness' and 'vegetation' layers to help find the fishy spots. One of the most important features to me, is the ability to review my uploaded tracks (recordings), and when I find hazzards, holes or humps and even trees, I can add waypoints, save them and download them to an SD card then load those waypoints to my head units.

 

Here is a combined screen shot of Shaver Lake in Fresno County. The top portion is with an 'off the shelf' mapping card and the lower part was done with Insight Genesis.

 

 

I chose to create my map with 5' contours but you have the option of changing that.

 

In full disclosure to the forum, I am actively on Pro-Staff with Lowrance, Scotty Fishing and Shasta Tackle, however, I will try to be unbiased where I can.

 

Edd

Hey Edd.  Being on Lowrance's Pro-Staff, maybe you can help me:

 

Bought an Elite 4 HDI, and just getting used to it.  I found a social map of a local lake that I frequent, under the Insight Genesis social maps, and I downloaded and installed it onto the included SD card.  Now, just sitting at home, I can see the lake with the contours and everything.  HOWEVER, when I get to the actual lake, I get a blank screen that looks just like the one Wayne P. showed, above.  I'm guessing I'm doing something wrong, but what? Maybe it's cause I had multiple social maps loaded onto the card at the same time?  Maybe it's cause the map(s) were not loaded into the root directory?  I just thought it was weird that all was well, when at home.

 

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

Jim

Yeah once downloaded on the card it should be able to read it no matter which area you are from just make sure that the unit is set to read the SD card.

Hey Edd.  Being on Lowrance's Pro-Staff, maybe you can help me:

 

Bought an Elite 4 HDI, and just getting used to it.  I found a social map of a local lake that I frequent, under the Insight Genesis social maps, and I downloaded and installed it onto the included SD card.  Now, just sitting at home, I can see the lake with the contours and everything.  HOWEVER, when I get to the actual lake, I get a blank screen that looks just like the one Wayne P. showed, above.  I'm guessing I'm doing something wrong, but what? Maybe it's cause I had multiple social maps loaded onto the card at the same time?  Maybe it's cause the map(s) were not loaded into the root directory?  I just thought it was weird that all was well, when at home.

 

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

Jim

So Jim I'm sorry it has taken me this long to answer. Guess I don't have my notifications set up correctly.

Your problem is easy to fix just DL each map to a separate Micro SD. One map per card for Elite.

Yeah, I think i got my issue licked.  Looks like I can load several lakes up on the same card, it just can't be on the same card as the included Lake Insight charts.  Bought a separate cards for downloaded lakes, and, so far so good.

Yeah, I think i got my issue licked.  Looks like I can load several lakes up on the same card, it just can't be on the same card as the included Lake Insight charts.  Bought a separate cards for downloaded lakes, and, so far so good.

Multiple maps on a single card is ONLY for HDS Gen2 and 3 units at this time. For Elite users, you still need a single map to a card.

 

Edd