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Member
Posts: 163
Location: Oshkosh | Hi Everyone,
I am going to be upgrading my current GlobalMap 2000 (one of the arrow keys doesn't work anymore) and I am probably going with the new GlobalMap 4800. First of all, does anyone out there have one, and what do you like/dislike about them?
Next, I want to get the Navionics Hot Maps for it, mainly the Winnebago system for now. What set of Hot Maps do you recommend? I will be getting everything from Cabelas because of a special promotion this weekend (I should be able to get the unit for about 40% of the retail price). They offer "Navionics Hot Maps," "Navionics Classic XL Size," and "Navionics Gold XL3 Size." DO the ones made for color units work on B/W models (of which the GM4800 is one)? Also, are the upper lakes and Wolf/Fox included in the set that features Winnebago? Lastly, how good of detail do these maps show (say, compared to Fishing Hot Spots paper maps)?
Thanks for all of your replies in advance!
Mark |
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I don't know much about Global Map, and it is off the subject, but will tell you my experience with button repairs with the Lowrance products.
The first of which was my 350A, which performed excellently for many years. But 2 years ago it had the same problem of a key not working. After learning the minimum repair was $249, I was discouraged as I didn't think the unit was worth it. But I really liked the many years of trouble free performance it gave, and sent it in for repair anyway.
These people not only fixed the key by replacing the whole key assembly, but they also replaced the screen and updated the unit - For Half The Original Quote!
And the same happened this last MWC Spring Valley Tournament. My X-15 had an arrow key that failed. I sent the unit in for repair, And They Sent Me A New Unit!
So my advice is to call them and discuss this repair, who knows where it might lead you. Good Luck Brother!
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Member
Posts: 185
Location: Port Washington, wisconsin | I recently purchased the navionics maps for my x15 lowrance unit. You need to get the classic item. The gold is for color units. Wisconsin lake maps are a number 9, and the great lakes is called western great lakes. It includes all of lake michigan, including lake winnebago, lake superior, and more.Be aware of the wisconsin lake map package as there is a new 2004 version out now. Get that one. There is still some older versions out there. The 2004 package also has lake winnebago in it. |
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Member
Posts: 2393
Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | Mark,
Color navionics chips (gold) do not work in black and white units but the classic (black and white) chips do work in color units. The 4800 is a fine unit if you can get over the smaller size compared to other units now available. My aging eyes make me lean toward larger screens.
Which chip to get is always a difficult question. You need to ask yourself "what waters do I fish the most, or where will this chip benefit me the most? If you get the lake michigan chip (navionics classic for you) it will have bago but not the upper lakes.
The "Navionics Hot Maps" are good for people who travel to unfamiliar lakes around Wisconsin. It has over 200 lakes on it.
"Navionics Classic XL" would be the Lake Michigan chip with bago on it. Very accurate it covers Green Bay, Bay de Noc and entire southern lake Michigan.
"Navionics Gold XL3 Size is for color units only. The XL3 indicates that you get three great lakes on one chip.....great for those who do Erie and Michigan.
I find the detail on the hotspots maps to be fine. I'm very spoiled at looking at the GPS and seeing a reef or underwater point. As a rule, the navionics xl chips tend to be a little better with accuracy than the hotspots maps because of where they got the original data.
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Member
Posts: 163
Location: Oshkosh | Thanks for the info, guys! I will follow up a little here...
I emailed Lowrance about the unit, as well as called for clarification. The GlobalMap 2000 is considered obsolete, and the vendor that supplied the original replacement parts no longer stocks the part because the part is obsolete. They require that I send the face plate off of the unit in (my wife is going on business to Tulsa and can drop it off for me at their headquarters) and then they will send a credit voucher to me.
Now, more map questions; On the "Hot Map" series, does this offer "seamless" operation? I mean, if I am going from 'bago to Poygan, is there a problem with the charting because these are considered two different lakes?
Also, I assume that Classic XL doesn't have the upper lakes, right? As an aside, the unit is supposed to come with the "background map" built in, how good is the detail on it? The background map on the GM2000 was really "blocky" until I got the Lowrance chip. Thanks for the info!
Mark |
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Member
Posts: 2393
Location: Waukesha Wisconsin |
The "Hot Map" series, is "seamless" . You'll never know that you're leaving one lake and going to the next when you look at the screen.
Also, I assume that Classic XL doesn't have the upper lakes, right? Thayt's right idf you're referring to the lake michigan map.
The background map will only show you the lake shape and roads around it. Pretty useless for fishing unless you're looking for a marina, bar, or port. |
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Member
Posts: 163
Location: Oshkosh | I guess I am leaning towards the Hot Maps version... when I go to Cabela's hopefully they will be able to provide actual displays of each one on a GPS unit. Last question, though! I read through all of the lakes that are on the Wisconsin set, and it lists "Sturgeon Bay- Lake Michigan (Door County)." Does this cover just Sturgeon Bay (or at least the extent of the coverage that the paper FHS Map provides) or does it extend to all of Door County (especially the Bay side)? I don't know which sources they use for their maps (I realize that it is mostly based on the paper FHS maps), but I have a huge paper NOAA map of upper Green Bay... If they have this area, it is a done deal for me.
I guess the more I think about it, my style of fishing tells me that contour maps of the upper lakes isn't as important as I first thought (as in the case with the Classic XL series). But if it is a trade off with upper Green Bay vs. upper lakes, I will take the one with upper Green Bay. Hopefully thw Hot Maps series will have this, it is a great value! Thanks again!
Mark
Edited by Brother Otis 4/28/2004 7:21 PM
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Member
Posts: 2393
Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | Mark,
I don't have the hot spots chip in front of me so I'm going by memory only. I recall fishing Green Bay during tournaments and going off the map several times. It all depends on how far out you go I guess.
I would suggest that you look at it first before purchasing to see if it covers areas that you want to fish.
If it were me and I had to make a choice, I'd want the most accurate maps that I could get for the Great Lakes areas that I fish vs seeing contour lines on the upper lakes of bago. But that's just me. I find it more important to use the gps maps in finding areas a couple of miles off shore in Door County vs finding a hole in Poygan where I can use landmarks.
There's also a safety issue for me in having the best maps available for Lake Michigan in case of poor visibility. |
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Member
Posts: 163
Location: Oshkosh | Well guys, I pulled the trigger this weekend and got the GlobalMap4800, with the Navionics HotMaps Gold edition. I know the Gold edition is for color units (to show color shading contours) but the shading is present on the black and white unit, too. I tried it out tonight to see the detail and such and discovered this.
However, I have run into a problem with it... I figured that before I permanently mounted everything I would run it to make sure everything was in good working order. I could never get it to lock onto any satellites. I had to first get out of simulation mode, and I even tried to auto locate the satellites, but had no luck. And what annoyed me most is that it would only search for a couple minutes, then it would automaticaly revert back to the simulation mode.
The manual says that you require a "clear sky" overhead, no trees, buildings, or other obstructions. I was in my driveway, with a clear view of the southern sky, a tree to my east, clear to the west, and my house to my north. Is this not considered a "clear sky?" I turned on my LMS 350A and it had no difficulty in locking on to the satellites. Does the WAAS receiver require a clearer sky than the regular GPS receiver the 350A uses? Also, is there a way to manually enter your position to make it easier for the unit to locate my current position and lock onto the satellites? Thanks for all of your help!
Mark |
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Member
Posts: 2393
Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | Brother Otis,
You may have received one of the new receivers with that unit. Check to see if you have a black and red lead coming off it. If you do, it will need to be powered. Check their web site for this update. |
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