5
MapCreate map. There is so much detail in our background map (and
even more in MapCreate) that we'll describe their contents and differ-
ences in Section 3,
Basic GPS Operations
, on page 27.
Another portion of the unit's onboard memory is devoted to
recording
GPS navigation information, which includes waypoints, event marker
icons, trails and routes. This lets you look back the way you came. Think
of this data storage like the hard drive memory in a computer or a tape
in a cassette tape recorder. You can save several different GPS data files,
erase 'em and record new ones, over and over again. Like any computer
file, these
GPS Data Files
(file format *.usr) can be shared between
other Lowrance GPS or sonar/GPS units, or even personal computers.
This unit has one more thing in common with a personal computer.
Just as computers have a floppy disk drive for storing and exchanging
files, the unit has a slot for an MMC (MultiMedia Card) or SD (Secure
Digital card) flash memory card. These solid-state memory devices are
about the size of a postage stamp, but can hold data ranging from 8 MB
to more than 256 MB in size. (Compare that to a floppy disk's 1.44 MB
capacity!) The unit uses all that MMC space for two key GPS purposes.
First, you can backup your onboard GPS Data Files by copying them to
the MMC. Since the MMC is removable (like a floppy disk or a cassette
tape), you can store these GPS Data Files on a personal computer
equipped with an MMC card reader. (Or store them on a pocketful of
MMCs, if you don't have a computer.) Our MapCreate mapping software
can save, edit or create its own GPS Data Files, which can be copied to
the MMC and then loaded from the MMC into the unit's memory.
(
NOTE:
No matter where they come from, GPS Data Files
must
be
loaded from the MMC into memory before the unit can use them.)
The other key GPS use for MMCs is storage of special high-detail, cus-
tom maps, which you can produce on your computer with our MapCre-
ate software. These MapCreate custom maps contain much greater de-
tail than the basic background map. These
Custom Map Files
(file
format *.lcm) can also be shared between other Lowrance GPS or so-
nar/GPS units and personal computers. (For example, the exact same
MMC, custom map files and GPS data files can be used interchangea-
bly between your gimbal-mounted GlobalMap 3300C and the hand-held
iFINDER
GPS receiver.)
You make your own Custom Map Files with our MapCreate software,
but you don't have to. We also sell ready-to-use FreedomMaps
. These
custom maps are pre-loaded on MMCs. (No computer work required!).
