Which Mapping Software?

[hoglaw]

What do you guys like? I researched this in the past but don't remember my conclusion. I recall one of them having sample maps on the web I could browse. Would like to look at a good topo of the war eagle area in the morning, but ultimately want to buy a map pack with beaver and some Oklahoma lakes on it. Avionics and hot maps are the only ones I'm familiar with and I don't know the difference between gold, platinum, or whatever else they offer. Any advice would be much appreciated.

[hoglaw]

That's navionics. Autocorrect got me.

[jeb]

I've only used Navionics on my 'birds. Seems to work well for the lakes around here (except Swepco is not on it), but not always 100% accurate. Close though.

This might be the link you were looking for:

http://www.navionics.com/en/webapp

[Feathers and Fins]

Navionics for me as well. But I will add I make my own maps as outside of a true bathometric survey map no commercially available map has the pinpoint details to my knowledge and I have yet to find a Bath for our lakes yet.

[hoglaw]

That's it, thanks Jeb! Question. Does the software on your unit update to reflect the water level some how? Maybe it beams a known depth and adjusts off of that or something? How does it reconcile the fact that the lake is 10 feet high or low? Also, on the web it cuts off a pretty good ways from shore. Does it do that on the boat too, or is it just hidden from the web demo or something?

[Feathers and Fins]

Hog, they don't on the units account for lake fluctuation. On the internet link go to the bottom left corner you will see what looks like a speaker icon click it, it will get you more contour lines.

On the water you need to do the math to figure out depth vs line on map.

[hoglaw]

Awesome, thanks again FF.

Hopefully last question.

Are all of these deals just plug and play? As in, do I just stick a card in my unit and be done with it? Or do I have to download stuff from the net, interface between the PC and the unit (or card), etc.?

[Guest]

stick the mapping card and sd card in there and go.

you can get software updates from the internet, but its not necessary.

You have to figure out the lake level vs the map.

I took a bunch of waypoints around blue springs when the lake was super low.

These were shoreline stumps, theyre shown 20 yards offshore on the map due to the differential in realtime lake level and mapped area mean sea level.

[Feathers and Fins]

Always do the lake math yourself. I actually have several waypoints that show DRY LAND when in fact they are 20yrds offshore. As I alluded to earlier until bathometric maps are available we are just at the mercy of who we have now. Navionics being about the best I have found.

[jeb]

My HB units have a depth offset setting. So you can adjust them as the water level fluctuates.