GPS maps

[mpdive]

I have a very amateur question to ask......I have a new Eagle Fishelite 480 with the preloaded map. My wife and I want to do some river boating on the Copper River from Lake Moultrie to Charleston SC (not the whole trip though). My question is this....What is the difference between the preloaded map and the available SD card maps like from Hotmaps? Would this upgrade be a waste of money or does the upgrade do something that the other one wont? The hotmap site does not really state anything about rivers. Sorry for the newbie thought process here but the GPS stuff is all new to my technology challenged brain. Heck, my VCR still flashes noon!!!! Any help or advice would be appreciated.
Mike in SC

 

[In Deep]

Re: GPS maps

Mike, Not a silly question at all as I have the same question and hope to learn as much about this as you. Thanks for asking, hopefully the GPS guru's will chime in with their wisdom soon.

 

[Pez Vela]

Re: GPS maps

The "Fishing Hot Spots Pro" specifically includes Lake Moultrie, but to answer your specific coverage question, I would drop them an email http://www.lei-extras.com/store/HotSpotsPro/fhsp_east.as Such "chips" typically provide much greater detail than pre-loaded maps, and give you the ability to "zoom in" on your area of interest. You're probably going to have to buy it to make a comparison, but preloaded maps are rarely adequate for a serious user of GPS cartography.

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: GPS maps

The pre-loaded maps dont always show depth marked on the screen and bottom contours.
The ones you buy do, and alot more.
I have not used the Hot Spots one, but have used the Lake Master. I like it.
The Navoinics Platnum HD shows it in color for the depth and some 3D maps as well. They are cool, but I dont want to pay for it and they only have one or two lakes in HD in my area anyway.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: GPS maps

I have a different GPS (Garmin 2006) but esentially what I found are what the others touched on. Much greater detail, bottom contours, updated navigational placement, greater detail on marinas, ramps, fuel, hospitals, CG locales, etc.

The minimal amount you spend for a card is certainly worth it when you figure that your GPS may have to get you to a safe place at some time.

 

[mpdive]

Re: GPS maps

The "Fishing Hot Spots Pro" specifically includes Lake Moultrie, but to answer your specific coverage question, I would drop them an email http://www.lei-extras.com/store/HotSpotsPro/fhsp_east.as Such "chips" typically provide much greater detail than pre-loaded maps, and give you the ability to "zoom in" on your area of interest. You're probably going to have to buy it to make a comparison, but preloaded maps are rarely adequate for a serious user of GPS cartography.

Thanks to all that took the time to reply. My wife and I are so interested to do some river cruising and depth has always been an issue. I have tried for hours to find definitive information on rivers such as the Edisto, Cooper, Waccamaw, etc. I have read posts about people that do them but never anything in detail. I have seen the nav. maps online for purchase and I'm thinking between those and the GPS even with the preloaded maps, would probably suffice. My Eagle owners manual is as thick as the US budget proposal so being my first GPS I have a lot of learning to do. I'll just be happy to avoid the wifey arguments of "the dock's that way, NO it's that way, NO it's that way". You get the picture...........
Thanks again for the help!
Mike in SC:facepalm:

 

[NYBo]

Re: GPS maps

Welcome to iboats!

Heck, my VCR still flashes noon!!!! Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Here's your problem: it's flashing midnight, not noon!:facepalm:

 

[jhebert]

Re: GPS maps

Navigation "maps" for the water are called charts, not maps. The electronic charts included with many electronic chart plotters have nothing to do with the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS). The electronic charts are simply electronic representations of the land and water features, quite similar to paper charts except you view them electronically. If the chart plotter is linked to a GPS receiver it will show your current position plotted on the electronic chart.

There are many types of electronic charts and many devices that can display them. In the United States we are extremely fortunate that our government has provided all of its government-produced charts in electronic form at no cost. They are all free. And they are available in the internationally recognized standard format, S-57, which makes finding a way to view them extremely simple.

Many companies have commercialized electronic charts, in some cases adding enhancements or adding additional data, and converted these electronic charts to their own proprietary format, which they then sell at prices ranging from $100 to $600. Typically when you buy a particular commercial chart plotter you will become locked into using charts prepared for that particular manufacturer's electronic chart format. These charts are often sold in tiers, with more expensive charts adding more data and features.

 

[joed]

Re: GPS maps

You can download an emulator and practice using the features of your new GPS from Eaglnav.com

http://www.eaglenav.com/en/Downloads/Product-Emulators/