Looking at the Lowrance 5300c. How accurant are the maps on this unit.Are the Hot Spot download maps good, or is there another brand. I need one that has Ray Roberts. I was wanting maps with contour lines. If Iam looking for a bend in a creek how close will I be. ThaNKS

I just purchased the Navionics 2008 chip, supposed to be a High Definition lake with tolerence of 1' intervals. Have not used it on the lake yet, but was advised by several people before I purchased that it was very accurate. Good luck.

'08 I here is awesome.

I bought it and used it on Tawakoni a couple of weeks ago. OUTSTANTING!!!!!! I had the 06 version before and theres a big difference . I just wish my display was bigger to get a better overall view. I highly recommend it. Make sure you get the South Version. The 1 ft intervals is not the tolerance but the contour changes in depth.

First of all, if you want detail you need Navionics.

There is alot detail on the Ray Roberts lake. Especially since it is in HD. If you plan on using it on Roberts, you'll be very pleased.

Accuracy? I haven't fished any one particular structure on that lake yet so I don't know. If I were a beting man, I would say that you could probably get within 3ft of what ever your looking for.

Holzer, I would bet your right. I believe the accuracy on all the GPS systems available to the public is +/- 3ft. That isn't set by the Navionics but by the GPS satellites. When they first became available it was around +/- 25-30ft, after the Korean airliner was shot down by the Soviet Union several years ago Pres. Regean made the accuracy available to the general public.

Prior to GPS was Loran-c. That system could be made more accurate by the use of ground based signals which required a seperate receiver.
Gps for fishing was not used much until the late 80's, I think.My first gps system was the Lorance LMS160. It was not as accurate as the ones today because of WAAS that was made available sometime this century (I think again). That system was depowered some to make things less reliable and accurate because of national security but that was for a few years and then turned back up.

All of the above requires an "I think".

Thanks. The Navionics is what I will look for.

What are the major differences that set the 2008 Navionics version apart from the 2006 version?? I have the 2006 version, and am wondering if the 2008 version shows roadbeds, old bridges, railroads, that kind of stuff?? Thanks.

Are you guys talking about the Navionics Premium with the 3D imagery or just the straight maps. It seems like the $200 dollar one has less maps than the $150 one. I am getting ready to buy one of these and want a "I've used it" opinion.

I believe the one I got was the Gold version. It was I believe $149 at BPS. If the premium is $199 thats not the one I got.

Launcher, I've only been out a couple of times with my 08 version and the biggest difference on mine that I've noticed is the contour lines are at 1' intervals instead of 5' intervals. Also there are alot more lakes that are hi-def and enhanced which "I think" means it shows sunken road beds, etc. I can't say for sure though.

Talk to the guy at Bass Pro he said he likes the Hot Spots better, said it show the trees,brush piles, road beds ect, but Navionics had better contour detail 1 ft contour lines. What about Hot Spot anybody tried that one. Thanks

Hot Spots pro is preloaded on my LCX28. I just got the sonar this week and haven't put it it yet. Any one have any experience with Hot Spots?

Comparing all these maps is like comparing apples and oranges.Some lakes are better on Hot Spots-some on The Lowrance free downloads and some on Navionics.I like Hot Spots on Choke;but not Amistad.On Amistad I like Lowrance to quickly locate an area;but due to the widely spaced contour lines I use Navionics with it's 1 foot contour to find an exact spot.Lowrance will show a hump in the middle of the lake;but Navionics will show a small finger on that hump.The only way to see which is best on your home water is to study the map and see if it has what is important to you.I have and use them all depending on the lake.Charles