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Posts: 1939
Location: Black Creek, WI | I'm running two IFinders in my boat (Pro and H20 series) and am ready to buy a Navionics chip. Anyone out there have first-hand experience running the larger XL3 charts in either of these units? Do they perform OK? I've heard that they "bog down" and don't update fast enough when traveling at say 40 MPH.
I'm specifically interested in the IG900XL3 chart. Any feedback would be appreciated before I spend $200 on the chip. Thanks!
jlong |
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Posts: 1939
Location: Black Creek, WI | Noone out there running Ifinders with Navionics chips????
... still looking for some feedback.
jlong |
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Posts: 5874
| Jason,
My nephew has a new iFinder. Not exactly sure which one, but he bought the Premium chip, and it works on his. I will call him, and get the model he has, and get back to you. |
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Posts: 670
Location: Minnetonka , MN. | I have a Ifinder and my navionics chips work in it. Call Thorne Bros and ask them. 763-572-3782 |
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Posts: 1939
Location: Black Creek, WI | Thanks guys... I know that the Navionics chips WORK in the Ifinder. That is not my question. I want to know how WELL they PERFORM.
I've heard through the grapevine that the larger chips (XL3) are slow to update on the Ifinder because there is so much info to process. I'm trying to verify if that is true or not. Also, even if the background map is slow to update... I'm not even sure if that is a legitimate problem. Thus, I'm looking for first-hand experience/feedback. I'm also curious in the zoom detail. I'm assuming that these navionics maps have enough resolution to work well at say 0.1 mile scale on the small screens of the Ifinder?
jlong |
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Posts: 1936
Location: Eau Claire, WI | I too would be interested, I have an I-Finder H20 brand new in an unopened box and if it isn't going to update fast enough (although the guy at Cabela's told me it would...but you know how that can go..) I am going to return it before I open the package. |
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Posts: 1939
Location: Black Creek, WI | Mark... did the Cabela's guy say if there was a difference in performance between the PRO and H2O with the chips?
jlong |
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Posts: 1936
Location: Eau Claire, WI | Sorry J didn't ask...
I was hoping to network my consol unit with my bow unit and found that with today's technology and for being cost effective that I was best off with a hand-held unit for now. I was opting for the Garmin 60 C but after learning of the H2O and that I could use the same chip in it as I do in my X15 I made my choice. I asked him if it would update fast enough when traveling at 40mph+ and he didn't think it was an issue... Now I'm getting a little concerned.
Suspect you might want to call Lowrance customer service on the 800 number listed on www.lowrance.com I have found them helpful in the past.
My whole goals was that I was hoping to be able to punch in waypoints on my console unit and then view them up on the bow when I want to fish over them. I was told that with today's technology the only way I could do that was by removing the mmc chip and then uploading the info to the bow unit (they would not view shared waypoints over the nema connections). So I figured rather than do that I would buy a hand held and put a ram mount at each location and just move the hand held from the console to the front deck.
I've been told that networking two units together to view the same waypoint/mapping database on each unit simultaneously is the next wave of technology, but I suspect the first models will be very pricey... Might just be cheaper to buy a 618 tiller and start fishing out of the back again with all my electronics mounted in the back...  |
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Posts: 1939
Location: Black Creek, WI | Mark,
Or you could do what I did... and buy TWO Hand Held units. One for the bow... and one for the dash. I'll only need the mapping chip (Navionics MMC) for the dash mounted unit.... so that will save me $200. I'll just get two GPS/Graph combos on my next rig... and hopefully they can share the same mapping software... but that a few more years out in my budget.
I'm thinking the chip will be a decent purchase regardless... as it will surely work in any NEW electronics I buy. Well... hopefully.
jlong |
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Posts: 1936
Location: Eau Claire, WI | Same thing with two hand-helds though isn't it.. ? You still need a way to get the waypoints from the one on the consol to the one up front.. My hope was to avoid removing/installing/uploading by switching mmc cards ever time.
Example:
I'm putting along and out in the middle of no where land (I like suspendo's) I find a few structure elements I want to fish... so I press the "save wpt" button on my consol gps.. If I wanted to fish them right away I would like to be able to shut down the big motor, drop the trolling motor and view those waypoints on my bow unit without having to mess around changing chips etc.
There aren't too many places I fish that this is all that necessary but it sure is handy when it does happen. Especially for those little weed clumps or rock piles that are located just off of main structure elements...that's what I really want this for.
You and I need to get together one of these years and toss baits together.
One good thing I've heard from quite a few folks is that the I-Finder H20 is a darn nice unit for the money and I like the grayscale/lighted screen for clarity.
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Posts: 1939
Location: Black Creek, WI | Mark,
I agree... we NEED to hook up sometime.
I first bought an IFinder Pro to pair up with my Global Map 100. I did not transfer waypoints between these two units. Then, last fall I picked up an H20 to replace my Global Map. I popped the MMC card from my Ifinder Pro into the H20 Unit and ALL the waypoints were transferred in seconds. Really slick.... and easy to do even for me... and I'm an idiot when it comes to gadgets.
As for adding NEW waypoints... I always have both units running. So when I'm get in a situation that you describe... I just take the motor out of gear and jump up on the deck to punch in a second waypoint. Or.... I'll mark a less detailed waypoint on the dash mounted unit first.... then fish the spot to position the boat perfectly for the waypoint in the bow unit. Works fine for me.
If the Navionics maps update as quickly as the Lowrance IMS maps.... I'll be very happy.
jlong |
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Posts: 1185
Location: Wishin I Was Fishin' | Why not just put a big GPS like the 19C on a ram and turn it around when you want to use a GPS up front?
It would be easier then messing with 2 gps's and have color too.
For a lower buck you could run with an Eagle 500C.
I was talking with the Lakemaster guys at the Milwaukee show and it sounded like they would give you a really good deal on a GPS/software package. Now that would be awesome to have Lakemaster on the GPS with you! They said they will have Green Bay out in May.
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Posts: 670
Location: Otsego, MN | J-Long,
I have the the older navionics chip and used it last year just fine. I went up to Thorne Brothers a few weeks ago and put the new Navionics chip in to test it out. It was noticably slower and that was just standing in the store. I am not sure how it would handle going 40mph across the lake. It would work fine i think for trolling but not fast enough I think to handle the high end speeds. It sure was sweet though looking at some of the lakes in 1ft contours.
I also heard that if you take your old navionics chip to the retailer they will nock off $60 off the new $200 chip. That was Thorne Brothers though.
Jeff |
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Posts: 1335
Location: Chicago, Beverly | "I know that the Navionics chips WORK in the Ifinder." Not all I-Finders. I have a Atlantis and can apparently only use Freedom maps. I have also heard that older navionics cards are better then the new ones for I finders... might be the faster update thing..not real sure though... So far my Atlantis seems to work fine at speed, but I also only do 33mph top speed, and have not played with it a lot.... |
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Posts: 670
Location: Minnetonka , MN. | My GPS problem are solved . I just ordered a new LCX -111c hd for the con. moveing the LCX-15mt up frount and have my iFinder for backup (also have the Novionics Hot maps Premium north and 1G900XL3 on order) Its only money. |
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