Lowrance LCX-27C help.

[Big Ed]

I just ordered the Lowrance LCX-27C and should have it by wednesday or so.

Will this unit have lake contours already built in or will i have to purchase a seperate chip or upgrade?

I stay close to home in So Cal and occassionaly drive up to the Delta or the river for fun fishing. If i need a chip which chip would best suit our local lakes? Here is a list of my must haves for lakes.

DVL, Perris, Silverwood, Castaic, Piru, Casitas, Cachuma, River and some San Diego lakes would be the minimum. Delta, Clear lake and points inbetween would be nice too.

Thanks for your advice!

Big Ed!

[tunaman]

The 27C does not have a hard drive, so the lake maps are not built in - you will have to buy a chip.

I like the Navionics HotMaps myself... the Platinum version has some HD maps for some of the lakes you mentioned.

Roger

[macinckirk]

Some of those lakes you can down load from Lowrance web site with the contours but to get most all the lakes on your list you need to buy a chip like Roger said

[Greg E.]

I just installed ( a few months ago) a 520C and all Lowrance units
DO come with Lake Contour Maps (over 3,000 lakes). They are very basic but the map for Castaic, Casitas and Clear Lake are accurate. I understand that Navionics map sets are very good and very detailed but I have only unsed the maps that came with my unit.

Hope that helps

Greg E.

[tunaman]

I just installed ( a few months ago) a 520C and all Lowrance units
DO come with Lake Contour Maps (over 3,000 lakes). They are very basic but the map for Castaic, Casitas and Clear Lake are accurate. I understand that Navionics map sets are very good and very detailed but I have only unsed the maps that came with my unit.

Hope that helps

Greg E.

Lake contours are not the same as lake maps... they're just the basic outline, with a little depth detail included on some. If that's what you're looking for, the basic contours they are included in the internal map background. However, you may want to go to Anglers or your local store, find a 28C/38C/113C and pull up the stock map contour, then load in the Fishing Hotspots map data (or see if you can load a Navionics chip) and you'll see the difference - there's no comparison.

If you're just looking for the basic outline, the internal map on the 27c will suffice. If you're looking for a real map, get a chip... the new high-definition maps are incredible, and it is awesome having depth contours to 5' increments.

Roger

[Alex M.]

Go with Hotmaps...you WON'T be sorry...I have a 18c and it makes a HUGE difference versus just the contours...I learned of a tire reef @ Piru that I never knew of, and now that the water is sooooo low, I can actually see the tires. Hotmaps all the way man...Just my .02

[Big Ed]

Hey Alex;

Those tires is where our tournament was won a couple of weeks ago. Very interesting, it was the first i had heard of those as well. Did you say you found that on your graph? What chip?

I called over to Anglers today and am waiting for the Navionics premium hot maps to come in off of back order. They are temporarily out.

Sounds like that is the best from what you guys reccomend.

Thanks; Big Ed!

[JKitz]

I just read on the Navionics Site (a review by a user) that the HotMaps Platinum is not compatible with Lowrance Products. Is this true?

I want to get a chip as well, but not sure which one to get.

I have an LCX-25C

[tunaman]

I just read on the Navionics Site (a review by a user) that the HotMaps Platinum is not compatible with Lowrance Products. Is this true?

I want to get a chip as well, but not sure which one to get.

I have an LCX-25C

I believe you want the Premium, not the Platinum:

http://www.navionics.com/HMPremium08Com ... otters.asp

Roger

[Alex M.]

You can get one online alot faster. Try these places:

http://www.jollyannsales.com/navionics_ ... remium.htm

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NAVIONIC ... ZWD1V#desc

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NAVIONIC ... enameZWD1V

Or you can go with this one, its a chip for the entire country. 3,000 lakes on 1 chip: http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templ ... hasJS=true

[some guy]

these men dont lie.....navionics is by far the best...the hot chip even has pairs of shoes from the 80's on some lakes lol.

the chip is by far the best..go with it...you wont be bummed.

[buddy brown]

What's a good GPS unit to get that is reasonably priced, with the forementioned chip compatability? I got this round thing in my console that just flashes and tells me temp and depth Time to upgrade into the 21 century

[tunaman]

What's a good GPS unit to get that is reasonably priced, with the forementioned chip compatability? I got this round thing in my console that just flashes and tells me temp and depth Time to upgrade into the 21 century

Define "reasonably priced"... You also need to define what your requirements are - sonar only, GPS, screen size, networked, etc. Lots of variables come into play.

Give us some framework and we can steer you in the right direction?

[buddy brown]

That's true. I would like sonar and gps features with a split screen display, b&w or color, simple to use, scratch and sniff option, carp alert, collins and linder castaic 20 sack alarm... 600-800 duckets

[tunaman]

collins and linder castaic 20 sack alarm...

Had it covered until you specified that one... not sure any of the manufacturers are working on that feature, but I wouldn't hold my breath if I was you! They're still in R&D for the Grover proximity alarm as I understand it, and they already bailed on the idea of the Bailey/Rooke sensor!

I'd suggest you definitely want to get color... makes a huge difference. I'm pretty partial to Lowrance myself, even though I also have a Humminbird 797C2 (which I use exclusively for side imaging). I'd suggest for that price range, the LMS-520C would probably fit the bill nicely... good screen resolution, full feature set, compatible with networking - has the requisite buzzers and whistles for the cost.

Roger

[Alex M.]

Just saw this on ebay as well: http://cgi.ebay.com/Lowrance-LCX-19C-GP ... dZViewItem

It's an awesome unit at a great price. I have the 18c and have ZERO complaints about it. Does everything the BRAND NEW units do pretty much(minus maybe that lowrance-net thing...but thats no big deal anyway). If you get a recently discontinued unit thats still new in the box, you can save lots of $$$ from its original price. This is how I will purchase all my electronics from now on.

The first day I actually used my unit was at Nacimiento up in the river near the narrows. I was just idling around messin with features on the graph, then all of a sudden I graphed numerous fish on a hump in the middle of the channel. My partner broke out the jiggin' spoon and I drop shotted a small roboworm fluke type bait. We knocked the snot out of 'em on every single cast/drop. Would have never had such detail on my old piece of s#!t unit. It makes a BIG difference.

[Oldschool]

Hey Alex;

Those tires is where our tournament was won a couple of weeks ago. Very interesting, it was the first i had heard of those as well. Did you say you found that on your graph? What chip?

I called over to Anglers today and am waiting for the Navionics premium hot maps to come in off of back order. They are temporarily out.

Sounds like that is the best from what you guys reccomend.

Thanks; Big Ed!

The tire reef was a West Valley Bassmasters club project back in the late 70's. FYI, there is also a tire reef in Castaic.
Navonics chips are the best availble for your Lowrance units.
Tom

[JKitz]

You can get one online alot faster. Try these places:

http://www.jollyannsales.com/navionics_ ... remium.htm

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NAVIONIC ... ZWD1V#desc

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NAVIONIC ... enameZWD1V

Or you can go with this one, its a chip for the entire country. 3,000 lakes on 1 chip: http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templ ... hasJS=true

Thanks.. Just picked one up off of ebay!!

[Oldschool]

You can get one online alot faster. Try these places:

http://www.jollyannsales.com/navionics_ ... remium.htm

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NAVIONIC ... ZWD1V#desc

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NAVIONIC ... enameZWD1V

Or you can go with this one, its a chip for the entire country. 3,000 lakes on 1 chip: http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templ ... hasJS=true

Thanks.. Just picked one up off of ebay!!

Don Iovino sells Navionics chips; http://www.iovino.com/ or call 818/848.6180
Tom

[DougH]

If you care enough, be sure to get the 2007 version, rather than the 2006. The 07 version has Casitas in the new and improved High Density format, with 1' contour instead of 5'. All the ones you see on eBay are 06, for around $100. THe 07 model is about $150

[JKitz]

If you care enough, be sure to get the 2007 version, rather than the 2006. The 07 version has Casitas in the new and improved High Density format, with 1' contour instead of 5'. All the ones you see on eBay are 06, for around $100. THe 07 model is about $150

Damn It!!!

Oh well.. Anything is better than what I have right now (those Free Ones from Lowrance)...

I will get an updated one when I get a better fish finder for my console

[tunaman]

If you care enough, be sure to get the 2007 version, rather than the 2006. The 07 version has Casitas in the new and improved High Density format, with 1' contour instead of 5'. All the ones you see on eBay are 06, for around $100. THe 07 model is about $150

Damn It!!!

Oh well.. Anything is better than what I have right now (those Free Ones from Lowrance)...

I will get an updated one when I get a better fish finder for my console

Watch for their trade-in promotions... you'll be able to get a substantial discount by trading in that chip, and you'll have the benefit of using it until you're ready to trade up.

Roger

[Big Ed]

Excellent advice guys; Should look nice on my new Champion!

Thank you!

Big Ed!

[JKitz]

Got the navionics chip yesterday and installed it already (also installed the latest software for my sonar unit as well).

Wow, what a difference!!

Thanks fellas