GPS ??? If you were buying 1st one today

[73psd]

Hey Guys<br /><br />I did a search on gps lots of good info.<br /><br />I know zero.<br /><br />If you had a budget of $450.00 or less.<br />I want something that has Texas Lake info if possible.<br />I know I am not asking the right questions???? HA!HA!HA!<br />Ooppss Hand held units<br />M

 

[JB]

Re: GPS ??? If you were buying 1st one today

Check out the Garmin GPSMAP handheld models, 73psd. There are a bunch of them. <br /><br />Leave room in your budget for a Mapsource "Fishing Hotspots" CD and an unlock code for your area of interest.<br /><br />I used a GPS12MAP for several years with success, but I don't think it is available any more.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[ThomWV]

Re: GPS ??? If you were buying 1st one today

They quit making the 12 series some time ago but I agree with your advice. If I were going out buying one today with that kind of money in hand I'd get the Garmin GPSMap-76 and I'd probably get it in the color model.<br /><br />One thing about your post and its something that I don't think a lot of folks understand about buying a GPS these days. There is no such thing as a beginner's model and an old pro's model. They generally all have the very same set of basic features and abilities. Within the lineup by any particular manufacturer they all work about the same too so if you have run one model of Garmin you have run them all and the same is true for the other manufacturers too. What additional money buys you with a hand held GPS is first screen size, then screen resolution, then memory to hold additional mapping, then color. There are a couple of other bells and whistles, like the barometric altimeter and magnetic compass in one model, but they are really more gymic than anything that you would have any real need for - particularly in a boat.<br /><br />Thom

 

[18rabbit]

Re: GPS ??? If you were buying 1st one today

Excellent post, Thom. Recently Powerboat Reports bumped some Garmin products from the top spot for two reasons; non-water tight seals on their “waterproof” RINO integrate GPS/FRS, and screen size/resolution…other comparable GPS have bigger/better screens. Fwiw, Garmin has the lion’s share of the handheld GPS market, mostly for sales of product used on terra firma, but I suspect they also dominate the market for marine handheld GPS also.<br /><br />NOTE: If you will be connecting your GPS with a computer make sure your computer’s ports are compatible with the GPS’s interface. Magellan requires a serial port, something not found on all computers anymore. I believe Garmin is USB(???).

 

[newhewes]

Re: GPS ??? If you were buying 1st one today

73psd, Check out the Lowrance M68c s/map at http://www.lowrance.com/Marine/Products/M68CSMap.asp Price is 399.00 and has a color screen and GPS. You can not download maps nor does it have the capability to use smartcards of other card but for an entry level fishfinder it does a fairly good job. The website also has a simulator program for this product that can be downloaded onto your computer, which I believe you can see if the areas you are interested in are shown. I live in Northwest Montana and I was amazed at the number of lakes and other information stored on the product. If you can't find this, let me know and I'll go turn on the fishfinder and see what I find.

 

[wgander]

Re: GPS ??? If you were buying 1st one today

GPS12 is still sold by Garmin. http://www.garmin.com/products/gps12/

 

[imported_JD__]

Re: GPS ??? If you were buying 1st one today

I definitely wouldn't overlook the Lowrance line.<br />They are in the process of making enhanced lake maps for their compatible units, available free on line for download. These maps have 4-times the resolution of their previous maps plus depth contours. There are 5 Texas lake maps available now.<br />As in computers, I don't think it pays to buy old technology. I wouldn't buy a unit that couldn't be updated though a memory card/USB/PC.

 

[73psd]

Re: GPS ??? If you were buying 1st one today

It appears a longer wait is in order here.<br />The more I read the dumber I get. <br /><br />It does not look like I can get what I think I want yet.. ..at least in one "box"<br /><br />Oh well <br /><br />M

 

[gator79]

Re: GPS ??? If you were buying 1st one today

JD where can you download these maps?

 

[imported_JD__]

Re: GPS ??? If you were buying 1st one today

gator79,<br />At the Lowrance web site.<br /> http://www.lowrance.com/Mapping/LakeMaps/index.asp <br />You must have Map Create software already installed on your MMC/SD card. Once downloaded and saved to your card it will automatically intergrate with your existing map.<br />JD

 

[praetorian]

Re: GPS ??? If you were buying 1st one today

I have a Garmin 60c with bluecharts for my area, but they aren't very good. I'd definitely try your area before buying any one manufacturer.<br /><br />I just bought a Standard Horizon with C-map. It's a little pricey, but the detail and quality is really there for me.

 

[BMDODGE]

Re: GPS ??? If you were buying 1st one today

i just got a Humminbird Matrix 27 w/ GPS - i'll let you know how it works. I know everyone Dis-likes Humminbird - Bruce

 

[v65stiffie]

Re: GPS ??? If you were buying 1st one today

I have a Magellan Sport Trak Pro and LOVE it. I have had several GPS units.<br />I use it on the water, as well as on my motorcycles, hunting.... it does it all. They make a dedicated marine version also.<br />The unit is VERY easy to use, advanced features are easy to learn, maps are very good. If you know someone with the map software (me) backup copies can be made.

 

[CTD]

Re: GPS ??? If you were buying 1st one today

I have a magellan meridian gold, does everything I want. For serious boating you can get the charts for any area. I only use the backtrack feature and watch to see where I am. I wish it had a place to hook up an antenna though.

 

[gewf631]

Re: GPS ??? If you were buying 1st one today

I have a Magellan SportTrak Map and love it. It's larger in size than the similar Garmin handhelds, but you get a slightly larger screen. I bought the software, a couple mounting bases, and a couple cigarette lighter power cords. All together (after rebates), I'm probably in about $300.<br /><br />But, I got a unit that can float (the Garmin's are waterproof, but they do sink - don't ask ), will store more than enough maps for travel or boating, is WAAS enabled (accuracy down to 10 feet), and is portable - I use it on my bicycle, boat, motorcycle, and 2 cars. Normally, the battery lasts about 10-hours, but that falls-off fast if you use the backlight. The cigarette cords are only about $15, but when on long trips it's nice to leave the unit turned-on all the time (for waypoints and backtrack).<br /><br />I recently rented a car from Hertz (they all have a propriatatory Magellan GPS). Although the verbal instructions are nice, and the color screen is easy to look at, they're strictly for driving, and I can't justify the price of a unit like that for the few times it would come in handy.

 

[ben239]

Re: GPS ??? If you were buying 1st one today

I just bought the Lowrance M56, combination GPS and Fishfinder. Came with the speed and temp transducer. It is grayscale, I don't really buy into the color thing. I live by Sabine lake here in Texas and I find the gps map it came with good enough for my purposes. All this for $299. The simulator you can download is very realistic and functions just like the unit.

 

[rolmops]

Re: GPS ??? If you were buying 1st one today

Garmin came out with "the recreational lakes and fishing hotspots v5 (east ,central and west) " Either cd or chip.So I bought a garmin 182 for $400 a cd for $90 and an 8meg chip to fit in the gps unit. Altogether 500 dollars. what I like about it is that I can sit in front of my computer and study a fishing area,download the area onto the chip and come well prepared to any unknown (to me at least) waters.

 

[BillP]

Re: GPS ??? If you were buying 1st one today

73psd,<br />I use an old Eagle SportNav handheld...the budget line of Lowrance. Lowrance makes excellent products and the Eagle locks on and connects while sitting in my house under a wood roof. No other units have done that for me. <br /><br />Like mentioned already, screen resolution is important and being able to read in bright sunlight is too. I got the Eagle after owning both Magellan and Garmin units because it had large text and was easier to read. Magellan and Garmin data bases were more user friendly though.<br /><br />One thing about handheld screen sizes and maps...there isn't much room on the screen to zoom out without making the pic very "busy". In my mind a map is almost overkill for handheld size units.<br /><br />If you want to find out which unit is the most durable try http://paddling.net/ for great input from kayakers who use handhelds.

 

[sort]

Re: GPS ??? If you were buying 1st one today

Garmin GPS Map76S<br />Great overall unit for boat, plane, car and hiking.<br />Great add on map software but pricey.

 

[nboater]

Re: GPS ??? If you were buying 1st one today

We also have a Magellan Meridian Gold that works great, both on the road and on the water. Can get a nifty swivel holder that it clips into for your boat dash. Only negative, it readily devours batteries. Also requires memory chip to download any needed MapSend maps via PC.