gps confusion

[all thumbs]

Looking to upgrade gps. Been using garmin72 hand held for boating. This was enough to get me hooked on gps. Now I would like something I can load maps into, inland lakes. I would like a screen that is easier to view, plus something somewhat water proof. So far my choices have been Garmin 172c,gpsmap60cx,and Lowrance h2o. It's a wide range in prices but am thinking if low range does same thing why go higher. Leaning toward the Lowrance, it looks like it has a different hot spots map system. One trade off would be smaller screen but with the color it would be easier to see. Any ideas would be helpful, especially if any one is using one of the above, Thanks ,A T

 

[tommays]

Re: gps confusion

i will be getting a new unit this year i have had a 100 dollar magelen for a while now <br /><br />The Lowrance units have been looking nice to me because even the small iFINDER units in the 170 dollar range will take there chart chips which at 99 dollars seem to one of the best values in GPS charts<br /><br />They seem to have a lot of inland lake and fishing hot spots at good values also<br /><br />

<br /><br />

<br />tommays

 

[JB]

Re: gps confusion

If you use GPS only in the boat (what a waste of a wonderful resource) take a look at the Garmin 162. It is monochrome and has limited memory and you have to load new maps from your PC, but it is a good value with a decent size screen.<br /><br />I would recognise that with GPS there is a special form of "2 foot fever". You will lust for a more sophisticated, bigger screen, color unit pretty quickly.<br /><br />I started out with a Garmin 38. I had to have a chartplotter, so I got a Garmin 12MAP. That screen got too small so I went to the 162. I had dash mounts for all three of them and used them in my vehicle as well as the boat. Well, I sold the boat, so there went my 162.<br /><br />When I started shopping for a new GPS I wanted portable (hiking), street navigation, color and plug in cards. I ended up with a 276C and the auto navigation package. I love it.<br /><br />If I were looking for a boat only unit I don't think you can do better than the 172C or 182C. You are going to want those features eventually, so go ahead and get them now.<br /><br />If you want to navigate your vehicle and navigate your hiking explorations into the wilderness as well as your boat there is nothing on the market that compares to the Garmin 276C. <br /><br />I have high respect for Lowrance sonar products, but Garmin is the one for recreational GPS. Maybe on a saltwater boat you would want Furuno.

 

[cuzner]

Re: gps confusion

If its in your budget buy one with a colour screen. Makes it a whole lot easier to view, specialy in low light. If its only for your boat avoid a handheld model, nothing against them,but wiring it to your battery, and larger screen are a definite plus.<br /><br /><br /> Jim

 

[Boatist]

Re: gps confusion

I have the Garmin GPSMAP 76 and it works very well. Mine is a 1995 model and if came with a decent base map. It has all the buoys and navigation aids built in and I have had no need to buy any maps. Also has all the major roads so good in the car. Hiking it does not include trails but the track back feature will get you back. I would never buy one today. They down graded the base map and removed all the navigation aids. Base maps today so poor you can hardly recognize shore lines. Also the GpsMap 76 unit very hard to see when driving in the car. Even on the top of the line GPSMAP 76 color units no navagition aids an very poor base maps. Units do not come with a car power adapter, you have to buy it at a high price. If you fish inland and coastal you will also need to buy at least 2 maps. I feel they downgraded the maps to force you to buy the detailed maps.<br /><br />Lowrance on the other hand like the IFINDER H20-C Still had a very good base map with all the navigation aids. Weather you get the mono unit of the color the screens and eaiser to see, much brighter. Lowrance also includes a car power adapter at no charge. If you want the high details maps that is extra but at a lower cost. You should also look at a Lowrance M68C, a GPS/Fishfinder with an internal antenna. It has a lot of info not even on the detail maps but it is not portable.<br /><br />Compare units before you buy but make sure you zoom into area you know and see if it shows the Buoys you know are there. Any of them you can set waypoints to find your favorite spots or safest route.<br /><br />All I am saying is go see the Garmin units and their base maps and the Lowrance units and their base maps before you make your decision. Lowrance also has emulator for most of their products you can download for free. It works just like the unit except you use the mouse to hit the buttons instead of you finger.<br />Lowrance color units have much brighter screens than garmin. You can see it in direct sunlight.<br /><br />Garmin in just coming out with some new units that are suppose to have much better color screens also. In fact March 25 they gave away 100 prizes per store to get people in the stores to see their new products. I went to 2 West Marine stores to see the new units but the units garrenteed to be in store by March 25 did not arrive, so got 2 free prizes but did not get to see the new units.

 

[DangerDan]

Re: gps confusion

A little info. on Lowrance iFINDER:<br /><br />I hate it when I get taken. I usually research the b'jesus out of anything I'm about to purchase. I'm never an impulse buyer. This is one time, I didn't read the single sentence, fine print and I'm mad that I made this mistake and was taken. Like I told the guys at Lowrance, they can be sure that I will tell as many fisherman I know about there little profit center so that others in the same market as I, will have a clearer understanding of what their getting into.<br /><br />The Lowrance iFinder, is capable of accepting any capacity or brand SD or MMC memory chips. (even 1GB) The unit comes with simple topograghic mapping of the U.S. but is limited to highways and major roads. Say you buy MapCreate which comes with six CD's with incredible detail that allows you to create a custom map on your PC and download it to a memory chip that you can install into your iFinder. Here's the catch. You have to spend another $30 bucks and buy a Lowrance or LEI chip reader programmer that plugs into your USB port on your PC. You can't format your own reader or download software to re-format your reader to use the MapCreate. It must be a Lowrance reader. Secondly, once you have this reader, the MapCreate software requires you to register your chip within the MapCreate software. You are limited to registering only five chips. But you can change your own chips as many times as you like.<br /><br />So, when your compare models, capabilities and costs, the $30 reader programmer, along with the five chip limit may make a difference in your buying decision.<br /><br />This info comes from a guy on a site I frequent. Myself, I bought a Magellan FX324C last season on clearance and have been very happy with it so far.

 

[Boatist]

Re: gps confusion

Dan <br />Good information. Which model I FINDER did you buy. I am looking closely at the I FINDER H20 C myself. All the ones I have seen Have had good Marine base maps, with all the Buoy data and navigation aids. I think the PLUS Package with the card reader/writer, one small 32 meg MMC Card and the MapCreate software they are charging $100.<br /><br />I not sure I understand about Registering only 5 chips. Do you mean it will only let you make 5 MMC cards for different areas? If you Buy the Plus package and the larger size MMC card can you load a large area where you only need one MMC card for all the areas one fishes? I not sure I even need the Plus package as the base map meet my needs.

 

[all thumbs]

Re: gps confusion

Thanks guys, some great info. Not too sure about Lowrance now, looks like alot of steps to go through to get maps loaded. My computer skills are lacking.I'am looking for something with good contour lines and shore line detail. Trouble that I have is finding stores close buy that can walk me through different units. This is where your help is valuable... JB- I agree its a great resource. I also have a garmin60c I use in the car. No way can I see the screen clearly. I will plot out a course study it then listen for the turn prompts . The 276c might be the way to go but not too sure about it's visibility or standing a day in the rain. Thanks again

 

[PierBridge]

Re: gps confusion

It's not a big deal at all.<br /><br />The 5 card limit is more than reasonable I have had Mapcreate for 2 years and I have used 2 SD card's 1 has the entire state on it the other I use for my custom Maps I would never ever need to use more then 2 cards.<br /><br />The reason they do this is to protect their product from being STOLEN and shared illegally.<br /><br />Once you have Mapcreate and understand what a valuable tool it is you will not worry about having only 5 different SD cards to use as many time's as you want...LOL<br /><br />$100 for the Mapcreate program the card reader and a SD card is a steel and you won't be dissapointed.<br /><br />The I-finder is compatible with the 2 best Lake chips out there Lakemaster and Navionics.<br /><br />Where in the Midwest are you?

 

[all thumbs]

Re: gps confusion

Well I had a chance to look at alot of models at B P. Considering all the different variables I went with the H2oc. I loaded chips of the areas I wanted right in the store and it worked great. Would like a bigger screen but the color made it easier to see. All your input helped, thanks. A T

 

[PierBridge]

Re: gps confusion

Great choice.<br /><br />Did you get a Lakemaster or Navionics chip?<br /><br />$219 is the lowest I've seen for the H2Oc.<br /><br />and $69 for Lakemaster chip.<br /><br />Where do you fish mainly?

 

[Boatist]

Re: gps confusion

Great choice. Why did you like it best. Better Color screen, Base Map, Navigation Aids, Price?<br /><br />If your like me will take several weeks to get setup with every thing the way you want it.<br /><br />With my GPSMAP 76 made lots of changes for the first year.<br /><br />Hope you will come back with a report on how well it works for you and why you picked that model.

 

[all thumbs]

Re: gps confusion

PB,I got the hotspots north chip $99.I'll see how accurate it is on the lakes. Boatist, liked it for the color,price and how it fit the boat. With the chip it shows the lake contour I was looking for.Down side is from where I sit I need to put on my cheaters, younger eyes might work better.Would like to fish some lakes I never been to so it should be a great aid.

 

[whofan]

Re: gps confusion

Im contemplating on wether to get a combo unit or hand held.<br />I have an x75 Lowrace graph should I keep it and mount a H2Oc next to it like all thumbs has? <br /> Would it be better to upgrade to a color graph with GPS?<br />The x75 works well,5 years old. If I keep the graph I wouldnt have to change out the transducer along with the speed senser.<br /><br /> Will a hand held be as nice as a fixed mount gps like a 68Mc?<br /><br /> Im having quite a dilemma with this.<br /><br /> Anyone with the Ifinder H20c like it or regret it?

 

[AMHobby]

Re: gps confusion

The reader comes with the software. The 5 card limit is really not an issue since the total of all of the maps on the 6 cd's is around 3+ gb. They did it to keep you from sharing the maps with all of your friends. Kind of stupid since you can load to 5 different cards and add or remove them anytime you want. The base map is far supierior to the Garmin and you can download alot of free inland lakes maps with awesome detail free at Lowrance's website. I have the iFinder Hunt and am very pleased with it.