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OFFSHORE ANGLING => Boat Tech => Topic started by: gerriecpt on May 12, 2022, 09:56:25 AM

Title: Marine maps
Post by: gerriecpt on May 12, 2022, 09:56:25 AM

Hi all. I am new to the forum and was hoping that someone can assist me, or point me in the right direction.


I have a oldish Lowrance Fishfinder/GPS unit. I would like to load maps onto it (Navionics or somethin similar). I know the Navionics gold is compatible and I have confirmed this with Lowrance but you cannot get it in a 1GB sd card. I know how Navionics copy protection works, but I cannot find an image of a card ( and the CID) anywhere. I also cannot find a second hand card to buy


I have also looked at OpenSeaMap from where you can download AT5 files. I cannot get Gpsbabel to convert this though. Seeing that AT5 is a Lowrance format, maybe I should just try using it directly on the device.


I would like to get a solution. I am willing to spend some money if I can make it work. At this stage I am not willing though to spend R20/30K on a new unit, maybe in a few years time I will. Need to get my kids through University first :)


Any help is greatly appreciated. By the way, I am an engineer so I can get technical if needed.

Title: Re: Marine maps
Post by: colin on May 12, 2022, 02:22:27 PM

 :welc: Gerrie  :uarocks :toppie:

Title: Re: Marine maps
Post by: FishStyx on May 19, 2022, 05:56:50 PM

Hi Gerrie and welcome to UA  :welc:


I was in a similar situation but ultimately, I gave up on trying to get maps onto my unit and used my tablet instead. The tablet had far better clarity (resolution) as well as general functionality. I'm a bit miffed now tho... After having bought the Navionics Asia and Africa package for tablet (about 5 years ago), recently its no longer usable and I am told that I will have to buy a new package. Anyway, I dumped everything Lowrance (I don't really like their approach to business) and will be installing something else on my next boat... Possibly Simrad.

Title: Re: Marine maps
Post by: Johnny Earing on May 20, 2022, 07:16:33 AM

Quote from: FishStyx on May 19, 2022, 05:56:50 PM

 Anyway, I dumped everything Lowrance (I don't really like their approach to business) and will be installing something else on my next boat...

+1

Title: Re: Marine maps
Post by: Slim Dusty on July 30, 2022, 11:41:58 AM

Heads Up……

Simrad and Lowrance were both owned by Navico, which was recently bought out in December 2021 by Brunswick Corporation.
Same, Same, but different!


 :zipit:

Title: Re: Marine maps
Post by: Capt. Hook on August 22, 2022, 10:59:32 AM

Buy a small Garmin with charts to run your GPS needs and use the Lowrance as a fish finder only. The Garmin with charts is not crazy expensive