What does this mean?

That is a mostly plain background on the Chart view with some outlnes of bodies of water and some highways.

No detailed nautical mapping. Basically some color.

 

If you want contour mapping with those units, you have to purchase a digital mapping product.

Humminbird units read Lakemaster and Navionics mapping products.

This is the Uni-map of a lake:

 

 

Same lake with contour mapping:

 

Ok.  Well when you pay so much money to have a product why should you have to go buy another product just to make it work?

Ok.  Well when you pay so much money to have a product why should you have to go buy another product just to make it work?

 

The product works as is when you buy it. The contour mapping is an ad on that is very handy to have but not necessary to the operation of the unit. 

The product works as is when you buy it. The contour mapping is an ad on that is very handy to have but not necessary to the operation of the unit. 

Why does it not come with it when you pay 100s to thousands of dollars for a unit. I know some do come with the card but it should be built in, in my opinion

Why does it not come with it when you pay 100s to thousands of dollars for a unit. I know some do come with the card but it should be built in, in my opinion

That's how they keep the price lower for the consumer. When you spend the thousands of dollars the units come with better mapping to begin with. Most of them have contour lines at that level even though they may not be highly accurate. The cards offer better and more detail maps. With the exception of Lakemaster (owned by Humminbird) they are offered by stand alone companies offering a product to make the units more useful. They aren't made by the companies that make the locators so that's why they don't come with them.

That's how they keep the price lower for the consumer. When you spend the thousands of dollars the units come with better mapping to begin with. Most of them have contour lines at that level even though they may not be highly accurate. The cards offer better and more detail maps. With the exception of Lakemaster (owned by Humminbird) they are offered by stand alone companies offering a product to make the units more useful. They aren't made by the companies that make the locators so that's why they don't come with them.

So your saying Lake master is better than navionics?

So your saying Lake master is better than navionics?

No, which card is better depends on the lake your on. Up by me there are some lakes that Lakemaster has mapped and Navionics has not. If they've both mapped them it's pretty much a draw. What I'm saying is Navionics isn't owned by any of the companies that make fish locators. Their product won't be included when you buy a locator. The Lakemaster company is owned by Humminbird so they could potentially include it with their locators, but the sales of those chips is what keeps the Lakemaster company going.