Hand Held GPS

WaterWitch2

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 14, 2007
Messages
545
I need a new hand held GPS. My Magellan 310 took a dump on me (if I do a master reset it works for a while but I don't feel like reentering all of my waypoints every time it acts up). What do you guys recommend for an affordable unit under $400?
 

Pursuit2150

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Dec 3, 2001
Messages
553
Re: Hand Held GPS

IMHO A handheld is much too small screen, look for a larger About 5" ,
A little more cost, but you will not be sorry!
 

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
45,907
Re: Hand Held GPS

What Rick said.

My Garmin 276c serves as a portable as well as an auto/marine unit, but is bigger bux than that at MSRP. There is probably one on ebay for your price.
 

skimmer

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 2, 2007
Messages
186
Re: Hand Held GPS

The garmin etrex legend cx is a good unit hasn't got the biggest screen but it's colour and is easy to read and you can put Auto/ street map software in it.
 

Boatist

Rear Admiral
Joined
Apr 22, 2002
Messages
4,552
Re: Hand Held GPS

I like the Lowrance H2O C that I just pickup this year.
It is much better than the Garmin GPSMAP 76 that I have had since they first came out or about 5 years.

The Lowrance H2O C compared to the Garmin GPSMAP 76.
It is faster with a dual core and redraws maps much quicker.
It has a little bigger screen.
The screen is much brighter.
The tracking trails a lot easier to follow.
The base map has much more detail and all the navigation aids.
it is cheaper
it comes with a power cord free, garmin 76 have to buy for $39.
Buttons are below the screen so can change settings without blocking the screen, Garmins are above the screen.

It has a memory card slot for extra storage and maps.
If you buy upgrade maps the mapes are cheaper.

Lowrance has 16 channels on the H20 C Garmin has 12 on the gpsmap 76.
The H2O C sometines will get 4 satelites while inside the my bedroom and lock on. The GPSMAP 76 never gets a single satelite inside the house.
Out side under my big tree H20 C will lock on is 3D mode and the Gpsmap 76 says lost sattelites.

Garmin batteries are eaiser to change than the H2O Lowrance.
 

WaterWitch2

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 14, 2007
Messages
545
Re: Hand Held GPS

Are "refurbished" units any good? There's a lot of refurbished units on ebay.
 

skimmer

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 2, 2007
Messages
186
Re: Hand Held GPS

Are "refurbished" units any good? There's a lot of refurbished units on ebay.
They should be all right so long as its from a reputable ebayer, and its still under warranty, sometimes you can get one thats never been used, "refurbished" just means its been returned to the factory for one reason or another, most of the time they have had a fault and the factorys fixed it as new.
 

turfman

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Sep 28, 2007
Messages
169
Re: Hand Held GPS

Is it possible to download from a portable to a fixed gps. Say garmin to garmin. I'm horrible at these marine electronics.

turfman
 

LaGaviota

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Aug 10, 2007
Messages
40
Re: Hand Held GPS

Hello WaterWhitch. I just was given a Magellan 310 hand held. I've never used a gps before. I'm wondering if there is someway to download chart information that can help me navigate via buoy markers into this unit or is it just a waypoint finder via a straight line. How can I maximize this 310? Thanks for any help.
 

Splat

Lieutenant
Joined
Jul 20, 2008
Messages
1,366
Re: Hand Held GPS

The best unit I have ever found is a garmin 60cx, or a 60csx if you want the pressure sensor, and electronic compass.

They are water proof, good scrren, light weight, and the memory is expandable. They are also mapping units, so they are good to use on the road as well as on the water or trail

I'vge owned one for several years and never had a problem with it, I use it very often on the boat, for hiking, geocaching, and for findfing addresses while on the road.

BIll
 
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