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Recently I removed a combo Lowrance HDS5 gen1 unit from my boat and installed a newer FF. I kept another combo unit installed Raymarine A57D. The Lowrance unit used an HotMaps SD card but won't fit in my A57D which takes a CF card. My newer unit Raymarine Dragonfly 7 Pro came with a Navionics card which is a micro SD, so it's good. I know I can upgrade my older HotMaps premium west SD card but can anyone tell me if the information at time of upgrade can be transferred to a CF card if I go thru with the upgrade? I don't need a SD card but an CF-compact flash card. Units that are now being manufactured from the different companies have gone universal to either SD or micro SD card slots. Also there are warnings on the Navionics package about trying to either backup files or add information to the HotMaps may cause damage to card info.
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After 2days trying to get a live person at Navionics I found that since I do own a Navionics card I can purchase the update on the correct card I need from any dealer who carries it and activate it using my old card no matter card size. The cost is $99 for the update vs. buying a new card with complete setup for about $200.
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Thanks for the info Roger, I think the reason you got no response to your post is that few members use Navionics, I could be wrong but I've read very few if any post about them. Sounds like you figured it out and got the better deal with the update. Where did you go to find a dealer that carries them?
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Curt, A few dealers are in our own backyard such as Cabelas, West Marine, Sportsmen's Warehouse just to name a couple. I ordered mine straight from Navionics.com which is the same price as others and free shipping. Most dealers don't carry the format I need in compact flash card or CF. Even Amazon carries it but in SD or micro SD with adapter. I like using the hotmaps because of the contours and depths shown in lakes. HotMaps Premium are no longer broke down in regions such as west, east, north, and south as once purchased. It is now all incorporated into all United States & Canada. Many of us won't use a fraction of the mapping but there is no cut deal on any selected lakes you want to fish. Its either all or nothing, your choice. The best way to determine if you want to see what it looks like on your GPS is see if someone would loan you their card to insert in your unit. The card is transferable from one unit to another providing it is same format which most units are being manufactured as universal today. Get the most out of your combo units is what I can suggest.
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