Just got a Helix 9, looking for advice

I just the Helix 9. First off, it says it has the AutoChart preloaded. Does that mean I do not need to get a lake map chip at all? If I still do, which chip should I get? Seems I read something about the Navionics not be able to be updated with the chart information, that you need a Lakemaster? There are 2 slots, I assume I need a blank chip to transfer data to? The Helix says it will hold 8 hours worth of charting, will the blank chip increase that? Also, I fish around MN and Lake of the Woods, which chip would have both? Both Navionics and Lakemaster sites are pretty vague on LOW coverage.

Thanks!

Sounds like you're in over your head.

Navionics and Lakemaster have nothing to do with AutoChart.
Navionics is a mapping company that has done their own high definition lake surveys, and produced mapping chips with accurate lake contours of certain lakes, built from their surveys. You can find the 'lake list' for each regional card that they sell.
Lakemaster is the same as above, just a different company.

AutoChart allows you to map your own bodies of water, and doesn't contain any depth contours until you boat through an area and collect the data.

Helix 9 has AutoChart Live built into the unit, meaning that you can create your own lake map from your own boat survey of a body of water. You can do up to 8hrs of survey data to internal memory. Beyond that, you would need to buy an AutoChart SD card to save more lake data.

If you fish around Minnesota and Lake of the Woods, your best bet is to buy either a Lakemaster chip or a Navionics chip to start with, since they'd have many of the lakes already mapped for you.

Due to the size of Lake of the Woods and Rainy lake, those are contained on a separate Lakemaster chip than the Minnesota chip.
Lakemaster - Rainy Lake & Lake of the Woods
http://www.humminbird.com/Products/HCWR4/
http://www.humminbird.com/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=5715
Lakemaster - Minnesota
http://www.humminbird.com/Products/MINNESOTA-MSD/
http://www.humminbird.com/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=6472

Navionics
http://www.navionics.com/sites/default/files/coverage/lakes/Navionics_LakeList.pdf
https://webapp.navionics.com/?lang=en#@6&key=oczzFnvsiQ
You can preview the Navionics chip on their Webapp online. Be sure to zoom in far enough to see the detailed contours.

Thank you for the response.  Yes, I am in a little over my head.  The Helix came with the boat, so did not do much research ahead of time.  I am stepping up from a 8 year old hand held Garmin.  

I swear I read some where that the data you get from the AutoChart can up data one of the regular lake map chips?  Maybe I dreamed it.

Any suggestions on a chip that covers both MN and Lake of the Woods?

Thanks

Camohunter, we are all in over our heads when we first start with mapping, Autochart, etc. IT is very confusing and HB webpages on the products are not clear. I suspect like many companies the Marketing people write the info we see. This is a DEFINITE disadvantage to us customers as we generally get an overview from someone who knows very little about the product -- I've seen this many times now.