My one and only GPS unit is a Lowrance HDS-7 and I am trying to get a mapping chip for some of the lakes I fish. 

  My question is which one should I get?  I know the HDS versions have a option for the Lake Insight feature, should I get this one?  I believe that all the HDS versions are compatible with are Navionics. 

  The list of lake maps that my HDS is compatible with are as follows:

  1.  Silver

  2.  Gold

  3.  Platinum

  4.  Platinum Plus

  5.  Hotmaps Premium

  6.  Hotmaps Platinum

 

I am a novice when it comes to GPS/mapping so I can just speak for the Lake Insight. I have it on my HDS-5 and it does a great job for all the lakes I fish, with the exception of a small strip pit. The Lowrance site has a list of lakes covered by Lake Insight. Whether or not it is the best choice I don't know, but it works well for me. Good luck.

I am a novice when it comes to GPS/mapping so I can just speak for the Lake Insight. I have it on my HDS-5 and it does a great job for all the lakes I fish, with the exception of a small strip pit. The Lowrance site has a list of lakes covered by Lake Insight. Whether or not it is the best choice I don't know, but it works well for me. Good luck.

OK thanks.  I will look into it.

One piece of advise. Some chips offer contour lines for every foot of depth change, which is great if you only use your gps for fishing or you live where the lakes are shallow. If you also want to navigate with it the 1ft contour lines clutter your screen and make it more difficult to navigate. The lakes where I live are over 100 feet deep and it is just to many lines.

I think your best bet would be to go to a Bass Pro Shop or Cabelas and install the different chips for your local lakes and see for yourself. The BPS in my area will do this for you in a unit just like your own.....................Al