Re: Handheld GPS Help
I have both the Garmin GPSMAP 76 and the Lowrance IFinder H2O C.
My Garmin GPSMAP 76 is a older unit and came with all the navigation aids for the USA. The new units even the color units do not come with the navigation aids on the base map. You must buy the upgrade map. You might want to check this as I have not looked at since last summer when I was looking for a better unit.
The unit works perfecly and is very accurate, most of the time about 30 feet.
The things I like better than the Lowrance unit is the batteries are easier to change.
The things I do not like is the screen is very dim. In the car if driving must get the unit in direct sun light or you can not see the screen and read in the time you have to take your eyes off the road. If you are a passenger you can find an angle where you can see the screen and have time to look close.
At night with the light on it is easy to read.
Also the unit is very slow to redraw the screen any time you turn in track up mode or if you zoom in or out.
If you want a lighter power cord it is $35
The Lowrance IFinder H2O C
The things I like better about the Lowrance unit is in the car or in the boat under the top it is bright and easy to read with the light on.
The screen redraws at least twice as fast because it has a dual processor. It also finds a postion faster but that is not a big deal.
The unit has all the Navigation aids for the USA on the base map and the base map is more detailed than the Garmin.
When I bought my H2O C last year I took two batteries with me to verify it worked before I left the store. I put them in while at the register and the unit found a 3D position before the clerk finished ringing me up. I did not think too much about it as had a glass window acrossed the front of the store.
When I got home found the Wife and got the old Garmin GPSMAP 76 and the new Lowrance Ifinder H2O C and sat down on the bed next to her to show her the new unit. I turned both on to show her the difference in screen brightness as that was the main reason I wanted to buy another unit.
To my suprise the Lowrance found 4 Satellites inside the house and has a 3 d postion. The Garmin found no Satellites.
The Lowrance Ifinder H2O C comes with a FREE lighter power cord.
Next I took both units outside in the yard where I have a big tree and since it was june and hot I stood in the shade of the tree. The Lowrance found a position right away and the Garmin finally did also but only saw half as many satelites and form time to time would say lost postion. I moved out from under the tree in full sunlight and both units worked good. The Lowrance has 16 channels for satellites also and the garmin has 12 which I think is plenty.
Another thing I like about the Lowrance is when setting a waypoint you can set quickly just like the Garmin or you can set where it takes as many samples as you want to wait for. Lets say you wait for 15 postion samples, then when you set it averages all the samples together so you get and even more accurate location.
The Lowrance unit Has a place for a SD Card as well.
The Lowrance is also Cheaper but the batteries are harder to change.
I did not think I would do it but I bought the Lowrance Map Create 7 DVD and Card reader writer for $89. Also a 1GB SD card for $14 and loaded all the maps for California, and Nevada and it took 450 MB to save to SD card. This map has more information than I need but has some information I wanted. It has local names of places that are not on the paper charts. As an example I always here people saying fishing at Mcclures Beach or Driftwood Beach or Elephant Rock. Well I know where Elephant rock was because you can see it from sea and it looks just like a Elephant, also I knew about where it was. The Map has lots more information than I want like restrants, motel and stuff like that that I will turn off. Also has all the streets for the entire area I set up. It does not have depth readings but does have conture lines. Also has hiking trails and elevations.
The main reason I bought the card reader and map is it comes with a program where your can type in all the waypoints from my old Gps and Loran C insteading of keying in with the buttons on the GPS it self.
Go to a store that has both the Garmin GPSMAP 76 C and the Lowrance IFinder H2O C and compare screen brightness and resoultion, Speed and sensitivy, also base map detail.
By the way both Lowrance and Garmin have units the include more options like a MP3 player, Electronic Compass, Barometic altimeter, ect. For me I find them unnessary and just clutter up the screen.
Electronic Compass some may want that but for me I have a compass on the boat and when hiking the unit will display compass and heading after you take 3 or four steps. both will also give you a steering indicator or pointer.
Barometic altimeter is more accurate if you set the barometic pressure before going out but if you see 4 or more satellites you will get a elevation to within about 100 feet anyway. That more than accurate enough for me.
Have fun shopping and tell us what you buy.
