User Guide

10
MMCs and SD cards are used in a variety of other digital devices. Most
electronics or digital camera stores sell MMCs and SD cards, and at press
time they are available in 16 MB, 32 MB, 64 MB, 128 MB, 256 MB and
512 MB sizes. Cards with even greater capacity will likely be available in
the future. MapCreate is a powerful tool for your GPS, because it allows
you to match your map's file size and detail level to your card's memory
capacity and your travel needs.
NOTE:
Due to software requirements in the GPS units, MMC or SD cards can
hold a maximum of 32 different files at one time for the Lowrance
iFINDER
®
and 1,000 different files for all other Lowrance or Eagle
GPS receivers. The total amount of information cannot exceed the
MMC size capacity, no matter what the number of files is. For exam-
ple, an 8 MB MMC in an iFINDER could hold approximately one 7.66
MB file, or 32 files, so long as the 32 files totaled 7.66 MB or less.
Other brands of GPS units use direct serial cable connections to transfer
high detail maps from a computer to the GPS device. Lowrance and Eagle
switched from this traditional method to removable memory cards for sev-
eral reasons. A USB card reader can transfer a large custom map to your
unit 30 times faster than a serial cable connection. Removable media means
you don't have to take a computer and cable with you to load a new map in
the field. If the unit is mounted in a vehicle, there is no need to dismount it
and carry it to a computer. The effective mapping memory capacity of your
GPS unit is restricted only by the capacity and number of memory cards you
want to carry with you, up to the five-card limit. This is a handy feature for
long journeys or for users who can't lug a laptop computer along.
Four factors control Map File size: 1. map detail level option settings,
2. the number of map feature categories turned on, 3. the amount of de-
veloped or naturally occurring features in the area and 4. the amount of
territory, that is, the number of square miles or acres in the area.
Detail Level Options can be set to high or medium. The higher the
level of detail, the bigger the file size will be.
There are dozens of Map Category Options that you can turn off and
on. They include natural features — such as rivers — and man-made
items such as roads, businesses or other points of interest. The more
categories and subcategories turned on, the bigger the file size.
The amount of development in an area is something you can't con-
trol. For example, one square mile of city streets will make a larger file
than one square mile of wilderness with a few hiking trails.
The amount of territory you include in a map is a major factor. The
more square miles or acres you include, the bigger the file size.