ICOM GPS

[FreeBeeTony]

Does anybody have any experience with the Icom 270 or Icom 360 GPS systems? They have both been discontinued. I have the opportunity of buying one used and was wondering if there is anything wrong with these units. They are fairly cheap. Any input is appreciated. I am new to gps and don't want to spend alot of money on my first unit. I don't want a handheld unit and I would like a chartplotter, not just a receiver.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: ICOM GPS

I have the 270.. it is absolutely worthless..<br /><br />If you just want a basic gps, not a chartplotter, furuno is a good one... I have the GP32.. like it very much..

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: ICOM GPS

snapperbait, just wondering why is it so bad?

 

[snapperbait]

Re: ICOM GPS

When it did work, it was inaccurate... It's very slow to update the position, meaning that you can overshoot the mark by a long way, very easily..<br /><br />Recalling your list of waypoints and then choosing and entering a waypoint to go to is a royal pain in the butt... If you do get one, keep the instructions onboard the boat.. You'll need em'...<br /><br />Mine's just over a year old and it's already toast, and I pampered the thing... It will no longer pick up satellite signal... Dunno if it's the antenna, or the unit, or what, and don't really care..<br /><br />Generally I have a good opinion of Icom radio's, but they dropped the ball on those GPS's big time..

 

[18rabbit]

Re: ICOM GPS

In the beginning, when dinosaurs roamed the earth... The major players in the GPS market were Micrologic and Tremble. Micrologic had an outstanding product and Tremble was playing catch-up...until Micrologic made the (not unique) corporate blunder of single-sourcing primary components. The source was in Japan. In the early 90’s the Japanese economy lunched, Micrologic’s source disappeared, manufacturing stopped, and there was nothing to sell. Bankrupt. ICOM steps in and purchases the Micrologic technology. ICOM is not a GPS company (and it ain’t a radar company, either!), it did not stay on top of changes in technology and as GPS evolved (became more sophisticated...multi channel, etc.) ICOM’s (a.k.a. Micrologic’s) product was left behind. ICOM’s GPS technology is old (obsolete?) but still functional for basic applications. (FWIW, today Tremble thrives on gov’t contracts, i.e. military applications.)<br /><br />Just as Micrologic was experiencing sourcing difficulties, along comes one more minor detail...the end of the world!!! Well, not really, but the Micrologic GPS units thought so. The primary GPS technology functioned by counting seconds until it reaches one week’s worth of time, then counts the weeks in units. Since GPS was new, it was implimented with something like a 1000 unit limit. (do the math ... 1000 divided by 52-weeks). All of a sudden, GPS units around the world woke up dead. Time had run out. By this time Garmin was entering the marketplace as a major player and included eprom coding that would “see” past the end-of-all-time. Micrologic developed a patch but it was too little, too late.<br /><br />The grumpiest man in the whole world lives in Florida and he bought the remaining inventory when Micrologic collapsed. He also owns the source code to burn the eprom updates for all Micrologic GPS units. Parts and service for Micrologic units will continue to be available for sometime, from him, as well as eprom updates.<br /><br />Micrologic built some extremely robust, single channel GPS units. People that have them seem to love them. That same technology in an ICOM box is hated the world over. I don’t know why. I have both. They both function the same. I depend on neither.<br /><br />My recommendations for GPS (based on quality): 1st choice – Simrad. 2nd choice – Furuno. 3rd choice – Raymarine. All are more user friendly then ICOM. As for support, Simrad is great, Furuno absolutely sucks, and Raymarine is so common that you are bound to find help just walking through a marina, whether you want it or not.

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: ICOM GPS

I am looking for a basic unit that I can use in the bay, it will almost be a toy for me. I do however want to plot a few basic routes and mark a few good fishing spots. The reason I looked at the Icom was the price on ebay. They are discontinued and fairly cheap.<br /><br />18rabbit, can you tell me who this grumpy old man in Fla is?

 

[Offshore22]

Re: ICOM GPS

Yes 18rabbit interesting story, please cotinue!

 

[Offshore22]

Re: ICOM GPS

Tony I like C-Map electronic charts. For low cost Cmap compatable units Standard Horizon or Navman. Remember that you will have to buy the chip (chart) for your area. A lot of folks like Garmin units as well. Remember to figure in the cost of software for any of these units as they are useless without them. <br />Offshore 22

 

[18rabbit]

Re: ICOM GPS

My comment about the “grumpiest man in the whole world” was meant as tounge-n-cheek. In reality, he was extremely helpful and very knowledgeable about Micrologic GPS. I do not know all the details, but it may be an unfortunate scenario of a sole proprietor having to go up against a corporation and it’s resources to protect his investment. He was understandably upset with the situation.<br /><br />If he says it is ok, I will post his name/contact info under a new thread.<br /><br />The ICOM GP-270ML is a regurgitated Micrologic ML-270. The GP-360ML is upgraded with chartplotting. Are you sure it is discontinued? What are they selling for on ebay? (The “ML” is ICOM’s reference to MicroLogic’s technology.)<br /><br />I don’t know if this is important to you, but Both ICOM’s use NMEA v2 interface and are compatible with their new VHS DCS for boats sinking in 2004. <br /><br />Snapperbait – I disagree about the worthiness of the ICOM product. The ICOM’s are GPS only with DGPS available as an option (more $$$). Furuno discontinued their GPS (GP-31) in favor of GPS-WAAS (GP-32) and GPSD (GP-37). You should expect increased accuracy!<br /><br />I agree with your suggestion of a Furuno instead. If looking for a simple GPS to tool around the bay with, save fishing hole coordinates, plot/save course info, the Furuno GP-32 is easier to use and WAAS enabled. Both have 4½-inch mono display. For freebeetony’s application, I don’t think he can do any better than a Furuno GP-32.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: ICOM GPS

Another consideration is compatibility. I consider sounding very important but I do not want displays cluttering things up. Simple, functional and clean. My choice for sounding and GPS backup was a Furuno RD-30 with optional transducer and GPS-WAAS plug-n-play antenna. A totally independent, redundant system with a single display that looks and feels like a GP-32 but with sounding included.