Chip for HDS8

[jackhammer]

Can someone tell me if a Navionics Dec 2004 chip will work in an Lowrance HDS8 unit? Thanks in advance.

[bigrod]

It will but why would you use such an old chip on a new unit? It will look like $hi#. That is a high def unit and you need to get the proper chip or just use the basemap that comes already on the unit.

[jackhammer]

I understand that some of the new chips do not have as much detail on Ky Lake as the older chips. For instance, roadbeds, railroad tracks and so on.

[bigrod]

If you are referring to a classic chip you are better off not using it.

[Skeeter Man]

When I got my HDS 8 back in the winter, I bought the newest Navonic Prem chip out there for this region. It was absolutely terrible for our lakes. I sold it for a loss a week later. After reading all the different discussion boards out there the majority of folks had the opinion that Nav best chip for KY lake was a 2005 or 2006. I bought a 2006 Navionics hotmap east chip from a fellow in Louisville that had it for sale here. Well, those other guys were right. That chip shows 10 times more lake detail than that new Nav chip did. I was very pleased, especially the detail of KY lake.

I don't know if a Classic chip will work in your unit or not but I can tell you, for sure, I wouldn't spend the $140 - $200 on a new Nav prem chip. I'd either get the LEI FHSP chip for this region or the new LEI Insight chip or a 2006 Nav East chip. Good luck.