Lowrance vs Navionics – H2O Chip

I was convinced on the new 2007 Lowrance Chip for my upcoming H2OC purchase but now the new Navionic HotMaps Premium North ’07 chip includes MN, WI, MI, IA, ND, SD. I don’t fish those lakes much, if at all but you never know…

Included is a Lake Count on the Navionics of 5874 lakes:

MN Lake Count 2000+
Total SURVEY (1′) Lakes North 165
Total SURVEY (1′) Lakes MN 65
Great Lakes Coverage: COMPLETE-US WATERS for Superior, Michigan, Huron
LOTW Coverage: Complete US and Canada
Rainy Coverage: Complete US/Canada
Rivers Coverage: Complete within card boundaries

I have heard the Lowrance refreshes faster in the H2OC. Any suggestions?

Overall use and legibilaty , I’d go with the Navionics. Good trade in program too. Wich is important , the way these chips are going , you need to buy a new one every couple of years to stay “updated” it seems.

What lakes do you fish most?

If you are going to be using the chip in the H20C I can tell you I have had my share of problems with my Navionics Premium North chip. It tends to lock up my Lowrance H20C a lot. The fix is not the easiest either. You have to go in, remove the batteries, remove the chip and then replace them all and fire the unit up again. This was a real pain to say the least. I am not sure what it is about that chip, but it must be huge because it takes some time to load and locks up a lot.

I have never had a problem with a Lakemaster chip in my Lowrance. I have the MN chip as well as the LOTW chip. Both work flawless and load extremely fast. I really like the Lakemaster chip because you can zoom in very tight on the contours also.

Both chips contain a lot of info as I have been running both. So far I prefer the Lakemaster chip for both function and use. I have not compared a lot of lakes between the chips yet, but the functional aspects have been clear. Mille Lacs and Devils Lake are the only two lakes where I have ran the chips side by side.

I have ran the Navionics all year in both my Expedition C and Eagle 1000C and never had a problem in either. Guessing both units have several hundred hours running the chips.

Havent tried any of the other chips yet so cant comment on those.

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What lakes do you fish most?

If you are going to be using the chip in the H20C I can tell you I have had my share of problems with my Navionics Premium North chip. It tends to lock up my Lowrance H20C a lot. The fix is not the easiest either. You have to go in, remove the batteries, remove the chip and then replace them all and fire the unit up again. This was a real pain to say the least. I am not sure what it is about that chip, but it must be huge because it takes some time to load and locks up a lot.

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That has happened to my cousins some in the last year and he has the Navionics. I think I am going to go with the Lowrance since I don’t fish the other states (YET ).

PS – I think my cousin updated his H2OC and it ran the Navionics a little better, or at least he hasn’t complained about it anymore.

1. West Metro – 50% of time
2. Mille Lacs – 20% of time
3. Grand Rapids area – 20% of time
4. East Metro + Other – 10%

Yes, I had my H20C updated also this summer when I was having all the problems. It seemed to fix it some but I still get the same thing today. I am sure some of the fault is with the unit and some the way the Navionics chip loads. Based on the Lakes you mentioned above, I think the Lakemaster Chip will be just perfect for you.

Anyone else getting the Locking up issues with the H20C and the Navionics Chip?

I have the H2O black/white version and haven’t had any problems.
Thanks, Bill

Get the lakemaster. The H20’s were made for running those chips. Also, if you go to lakemaster’s website, there is a comparison between the two.

http://www.lakemap.com/gpsdata/lowrance/lakemaster_navionics.html

Lakemaster is far more detailed and easier on the eyes. Not a tough choice in my book if you mainly fish MN.

Thanks Scott and everyone else… The gift cards will come in handy when I pick it up. Thanks again. FISH ON!!!

PM sent.

Anyone run the “Mississippi river chip” in their H20C? Had any issues with it?

I have both the Navionic HotMaps Premium North and the Lakemaster MN chips. I run a Globalmap 4000m on my atv and have a handheld Lowrance Expedition C (basically h2oc w/a few extras). My Lakemaster chip runs flawlessly in both units, however the Navionics seems to have a very slow refresh rate in the Lowrance Expedition. Both show very good detail, nice to have all the lakes in midwest in one chip (Navionics) but for the H2OC I would lean toward the Lakemaster.

The new lakemsster chip is they way to go. It is easy to use and has some of the best maps on it. i have one and im really really happen with the detail.