FAQs

Memory Cards

Our memory cards include Lowrance^® files ready to import into your unit. All new models accept our chips! For any unit older than 2016, check your user guide to confirm your unit accepts SD cards and what is the maximum size it accepts. Our fishing and diving chips for Lowrance are microSD memory cards stored inside an Adapter, so you can use our chips on any unit that accepts standard size SD chips or microSD chips. 

 

GPX Files

2016 or newer models can read GPX file format so our memory cards and GPX dowlnoads will work with newer units.

IMPORTANT! If your unit automatically recognizes the chip, EXIT out of this screen to the Main menu then select menu's mentioned below for your model. DO NOT import from this shortcut screen, it will wipe out the data on the chip.

3 things to consider if you plan to import GPX files on your own. Find this information in your user guide.

1. Chip Style: Modern GPS units for the past 15 years have used SD and microSD chips. If your unit does not have an SD chip slot, you will not be able import data.
2. Chip Size: Most manufacturers did not support anything larger than 8GB until about 5 years ago. Currently the maximum chip size any unit can accept is 32GB. Purchase the smallest chip you can find, 2GB or larger.
3. Maximum Waypoints Your Unit Holds - Most units accept 3,000 up to 10,000 waypoints. Be mindful of how many waypoints are on your unit and how many are on the file you plan to import, ensuring the total is less than your units capacity.

Older Lowrance^® Units with the large CF card cannot import our waypoints; if you have one of these units your only option is to manually enter waypoints from our PDF file lists. Please do not purchase our files, there is no way to get them on your unit.

 

Can't See Waypoints on Your Maps?

Your unit may not be setup to "show" waypoints. To show them overlaying your maps, go to the Waypoints Menu, select Edit > Show

 

Importing with HDS Gen3 Models

On the main menu, scroll down the left side until you see Files

Select Files

Select Memory Card > then the file to import. We suggest importing the xxx-county-ver3.USR file as it has depths.

 

 

HDS Gen1 Models

1) Make sure you latest update HDS GEN 1 4.1 from Lowrance

2) Insert our chip then turn the unit ON

2) Go to Pages and scroll to Tools (pic of wrench)

3) Open Files tab

4) Import county files containing .USR - select 1 USR file, the ver2 file works on most units.

 

Software for Managing & Merging Waypoints

Insight Planner^TM is a Windows^TM desktop software sold by Lowrance^® for chartplotters and is sold separately. You can download this software from their website. Here is a link to the Insight Planner^TM User Guide

GPX Files

Most Lowrance^® units prior to 2017 cannot read GPX files directly - you need software to converts GPX files. Many of the newer models do read GPX files, so please check your User Guide or call support to verify before purchasing our files as downloads.

You need the correct card size for your unit to read data from the card. We list above the maximum card sizes units accept.

New Lowrance® chartplotters can easily import .gpx files and merge them with existing data.

1. Backup your current data to a memory card and put in a safe place (or copy to your computer to keep it safe).

2. Save new .gpx data file to a memory card that fits your unit. Most units require a 2GB card.

3. Use your GPS units menu items to navigate to Waypoints > Memory Card, then select the .gpx file to import.

Backup your files in both .usr format and .gpx format (yes, twice). The .usr is your units proprietary format and the .gpx format is universal so you can use it with other brands of GPS units or software.

Customer Dave imported our GPX file download into his Lowrance HDS-7 as follows:

“I put the SD card into my unit, clicked on Pages, then chart, then hit the back arrow until I got to waypoint, trails and paths then select the sd card and and directory you want to backup your waypoints to, then click on backup. Then I took the SD card to my computer and copied the GPX file to it. Took it back to the boat and clicked on the same as above until i got to the directory with the gpx file in it. once i clicked on the gpx file it asked me if i was sure i wanted to load the waypoints, i clicked on yes and 2 min later the points poped up on my chart. Too easy.”

If you find any information on our list is incorrect, please help us out by entering your models specs on our Survey page.