GPS and VHF Handhelds

[jetwhine]

Can anyone give me the best for the money handheld VHF and GPS radios.
Dont want to load the battery down with hard mount systems that need to be on when engine is not running.
Thanks J.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: GPS and VHF Handhelds

they actually draw very little power. if boating in an area you really need them, you should be running a spare battery anyway. i have garmin in handheld. in my life vest, emergency back up.

 

[Boatist]

Re: GPS and VHF Handhelds

I agree the first radio on board should be a Fixed mount VHF Marine with 25 watts of power. In receive mode uses very little power. If you need it for a Mayday call your chances are much better with and fixed mount 25 watt unit and a good 6 db gain antenna than with a 5 watt hand held with a -6db loss rubber duck. Fixed Efective radiated power is 100 watts. Handheld efectived power is 1.25 watts.

GPS handheld units I have both a Garmin GPSMAP 76 and A Lowrance Ifinder H2O C.
I like the Lowrance unit 10 times better than the Garmin. Both work perfect for finding your position but the Lowrance is better in almost every reapect.

The Garmin batteries are eaiser to change.
Garmin you must buy a 12 volt power cord for about $ 40.

The Lowrance H2O C unit is cheaper and comes with a free power cord.
The screen is much brighter and eaiser to see.
The unit has a dual processor and screen update is seconds instead of minutes with garmin.
The H20 C Has 16 channels and the garmin has 12 channels.
My H20 C will oftern receive 4 sattelites inside my house and the garmin get none.
The buttons are below the screen on the H2O C so do not block the screen when making changes.
The Garmin the bottons are on the top so when you make changes can not see the screen.
The base map on the H2O C much more detailed than the Garmin. The Garmin is very poor. Older garmins had a better base map. I belive they down graded the base map to force more people to buy the upgraded map.

Lowrance base map is much better and you will likely not need to upgrade but if you do there mapes are also cheaper.

 

[JC1933]

Re: GPS and VHF Handhelds

I have a( Garmin eTrex Vista HCx )series the screen is very bright picks up satellite signals very fast
, it will get satellites from my house basement ,it is a one hand operated unit all the buttons are on each side at the top of unit except the little enter rocker key which is at the top left of screen .

Look it up on the Garmin site they even have demo. videos of there units.
I like mine a lot but to each his own I guess.