Map chip for Hummingbird DI HD

[sparky1423]

I am interested in purchasing a map card for my fish finder. I own a Hummingbird 587 DI HD and I am pretty sure I found the card that is compatible for my unit via the Hummingbird website:

Navionics® HotMaps® Premium 2D Lake Maps -- East

My questions are:

Do lake maps only include lakes, or they also include all the creeks and coast lines related to the area? (I hope this isn't a dumb question)

The most current map card I can find is a 2010...I know they are updatable for a year for free, but do they sell current 2012/2013 chips?

Are there other manufacturers other than Navionics for the Hummingbirds?

Any general advice or comments would be greatly appreciated. I have done my research on various search engines and forums...it's become a vicious circle!

[reel-em-in]

Jeremy, I'm pretty sure the lake maps card just contains maps of lakes. For the bay / tidal susky etc I'm 99% sure you want the navitronics gold 1XG card. Use this to help figure out if its what you want http://store-mirror.navionics.com/no...s/plotter_list

[bruce19365]

The "Lake Charts" cover inland water and come in several versions. They do not cover all inland water, mainly the big/popular lakes and reservoirs, but if your lake has a paper chart/map you can almost bet it will be included on a Navionics card. You can check the Navionics website to view the various states and the lakes included on a regional SD card. Newer versions include more lakes, so newer may be better, depending on which lakes you fish. I would definitely check the water included in your area before purchase to avoid disappointment and a waste of your money. For tidal water you will need a marine chart, which will include offshore, bays, and tidal river systems.

[DaveFX35]

You need the Costal Gold. http://www.amazon.com/Navionics-NAV-...navionics+gold

I think your FF is microsd? If not they sell a CF version.

A cheaper alternative is the Navionics app for smartphone $5 i think and has some nice detailed maps.

[sparky1423]

Thanks for the input!

[Yak Fish]

Like the others have said, the gold is what you want. However, if you can get the fish n chip, which was discontinued, that's your best bet. It has fine contour lines as well as really accurate weed beds...at least for the flats. I have both and use the fish n chip.

[Yak Fish]

The gold has really poor contour lines. They are very coarse and don't show much more than main channels.

[sparky1423]

Checked out the fish n chip...l like what I have seen, but the price is steep. I can't find it for less than $280....it's just not that important to me. So far the Gold 1XG is in the lead.

[reel-em-in]

Jeremy,

I did a little more research and Navionics+ may be the way to go. It has flexible covereage. I have to dig a little deeper, but to me it seems like you can download a specific area for a trip and then change it later. Also it has what they call "SonarCharts" which is crowdsourced sonar data. Essentually the Fish-n-chip resolution that is updated based on user input. Check out their web app here ...http://www.navionics.com/en/webapp . If you zoom in far enough you can see the sonar charts data. If you click the blue upside-down wifi symbol looking thing on the left it turns the sonar charts on/off so you can see the difference in resolution. Also it's $179, which is cheaper than the gold.

[sparky1423]

Thanks for the heads up Denver, it's impressive how detailed the map is. I will investigate more this weekend....after I catch my first flounder, LOL

Jeremy,

I did a little more research and Navionics+ may be the way to go. It has flexible covereage. I have to dig a little deeper, but to me it seems like you can download a specific area for a trip and then change it later. Also it has what they call "SonarCharts" which is crowdsourced sonar data. Essentually the Fish-n-chip resolution that is updated based on user input. Check out their web app here ...http://www.navionics.com/en/webapp . If you zoom in far enough you can see the sonar charts data. If you click the blue upside-down wifi symbol looking thing on the left it turns the sonar charts on/off so you can see the difference in resolution. Also it's $179, which is cheaper than the gold.

[Yak Fish]

Checked out the fish n chip...l like what I have seen, but the price is steep. I can't find it for less than $280....it's just not that important to me. So far the Gold 1XG is in the lead.

That's odd. It should cost the same as the Gold. I guess because you can't get it anymore that the price has gone up.

[deleonjo]

This may or may not apply to you, but if you fish the the local lakes, Navionics does not cover the following MD reservoirs: Liberty, Triadelphia and Rocky Gorge.

[Mbrupb]

I have the humminbird 597ci HD with the navionics gold chip. Like everyone said the contours are not the best, but I have not updated the chip since I bought it. This thread reminded me
I need to get that done. That being said, the gold is a huge improvement over the strictly navigational map that comes with the unit.

[sparky1423]

Still investing what chip to purchase. So far my FF is compatible with Navionics+ and Gold 1XG. Neither got the greatest reviews and too many bells and whistles. I did find a navionics product that is "compatible" called Navionics Marine and Lakes. Sounds like what I am looking for...simple and generic, not to mention $99.

Only downfall is at the Bass Pro website the reviews were great expect for the usage with Humminbird units. Sounds like Humminbird is blaming Navionics...and Navionics are blaming Humminbird. Maybe the owners are idiots and cannot use a PC...who knows.

[MetroMan]

I purchased a 386ci DI last winter...never really used it. I too was unsure of which card to get. The "sonar charts" feature looks pretty neat...assuming enough people are actually uploading the sonar data for valuable info to be available.