Topic: Minnesota and Wisconsin maps for 798 ci si

[sneakypete]

New owner (unit isn't here yet...)

Hey you up nort guys, which maps work best in your 798?  Apparently 798 will run Navionics Prem but not Platinum (so no 3d).  How does Prem stack up against Lakemaster's chip?  Should I be waiting for spring to nab the latest chip?

Pete

[h8go4s]

For Minnesota, most guys by far prefer Lakemaster. But there are a few who prefer Navionics. I've never seen a Nav map, so I can't comment, but I love my Lakemaster map cards in my 898. The depth highlighting and shallow water highlighting are great features exclusive to the HB Lakemaster cards. I'd check with Lakemaster and find out when the latest cards are being released before I'd buy.

Ron.

[sneakypete]

Thanks for the input Ron!  Does Lakemaster add a lot of lakes/make a lot of updates every year?

[h8go4s]

"Does Lakemaster add a lot of lakes/make a lot of updates every year?"

I honestly don't know. Many of the less popular lakes are fairly basic maps in 5-foot contours, sourced probably from the DNR maps done in the early 1900's with a knotted rope and weight. The ones Lakemaster itself has surveyed are in 3-foot or 1-foot contours. Whether they will continue to update the old maps I don't know. They are expanding their coverage area, having recently added Texas/Oklahoma. I'd assume they will continue to do so, and that may have an impact on what resources they can devote to our neck of the woods. You can email them at bigfish@lakemap.com.

Ron.

[sneakypete]

Shooting an email their way is probably a really good idea.  I've been shopping and it seems there are 250 hd lake versions and 287 hd lake versions.  Nearly 40 lakes between versions...

pete

[sneakypete]

I asked when to expect new MN WI versions and what is new for the program or the lakes.  I got a prompt (and somewhat vague) response:

Hi Pete,
 
Watch for new product releases very soon with new HD lake information.
 
Sign up for our email monthly newsletter!
http://www.lakemap.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=142
 
If you have further questions, please contact us.
 
Best Regards,
 
LakeMaster Lake Maps
Technical Support Group

[raricker]

Hi,

As I understand the story, the latest version(s) - for 2011/2012 - are 2.1 for Minnesota and 2.0 for Wisconsin. You can acquire lake listings of older versions of the chips by going to the Lakemaster website and checking the archives. For every new release they add either some new surveyed lakes or (some) new digitized DNR maps to the chips.

Take care,
Roger

[sneakypete]

I guess they could always come up with a feature like their depth highlighting or water level offset to add to a new version.  Not sure what the new feature could be but I'm betting it will come out about a week after I plunk my money down. 

It just seems to work that way...

Pete

[sneakypete]

If you follow the normal path through the lakemap website for Minnesota you get HPMNC2 which has 1650/287 lakes.  Through Google I found HPMNC02 which apparently adds a bunch of low res lakes: 1783/287.  http://www.lakemap.com/humminbirddigitalgpsmapcardminnesotav2.aspx

pete

[sneakypete]

I found: http://www.lakemap.com/humminbirddigitalgpsmapwisconsinversion2.aspx which would lead me to believe they have added a bunch of hi-def sconny maps.  old: 319/156  New 319/170...