Best GPS on the ice?

[bmc]

Kind of last minute, but I'm heading to Cabela's tomorrow and am in the market for a chip compatible GPS, to use for fishing. I want a hand held and was thinking of the Lowrance H20c, until I've heard about all the problems with them recently. Is there a comparable unit out there on the market???

Thanks,

Brian

[Northlander]

Brian I have had my H2Oc for about 5 years and have had no problems. If you will ever use it hunting I would get the Hunt or Expedition for the compus feature.

I would also call around and compare prices before going to cabelas. Reeds and Marine General had good prices.

[schweady]

This year, the best deals seem to be on the H2Oc and ExpeditionC. Obviously, from the way they've been discounted the past 2 months, Lowrance has upgraded units either out there or to be offered in the near future. In any case, I've been very happy with my ExpeditionC and LakeMaster/Navionics cards for the past 4 years, and although there are some features I wish were better (direct download to computer, better waypoint and trail management, etc.) it does not seem like I'm using an "outdated" unit at all.

[crappieking54]

I used to sell GPS for Sportsmans and I have the Expedition... I have had it for many years and no issues.. spend the extra money to get the better compass so you do not have to be moving to see what direction you are headed

[bigbad401]

I just got the Garmin Oregon 200. I have had Garmin before and I really like their stuff. One of the main reasons for staying with Garmin is their Lakemaster program has almost 3500 Minnesota lakes with contours on it compared to Lowrance which has about 800 Minnesota lakes. All this info is based off of lots of research of each off their websites. Also, from what I hear, the H2O is being discontinued. Lowrance has a new GPS line out called the Endura. They look fairly nice, but bigger than the Oregon unit that I have.

[harvey lee]

My H20 is now a great unit for the ice. I have also used my Lowrance 522C from the boat and that also works very well and has the larger screen.

I like to put the 522C unit on the dash of my pick up when I am driving around the lake.

One can also then use it in the boat during open water season.

[MN Mike]

Kind of last minute, but I'm heading to Cabela's tomorrow and am in the market for a chip compatible GPS, to use for fishing. I want a hand held and was thinking of the Lowrance H20c, until I've heard about all the problems with them recently. Is there a comparable unit out there on the market???

Thanks,

Brian

Not knowing what the Cabelas store handles for Garmins it's going to be tough to tell you what to look for so I'll just throw out some models to look at if they have them, all of these have the ability to add the Lakemaster Chip if you want. You'll probably end up paying a little more for a Garmin but the options for what you can do with these units is much better in my opinion plus they are good quality GPS units to boot.

The Etrex Vista HCx, Etrex Legend HCx, GPSMAP60's and 76's, Dakota 20 and Oregon units are all really nice, you'll see screen size being the big difference plus the Dakota and Oregon's have touch screens.

Etrex Vista and Legend are going to be closer in price to a H20 and the rest will be a little more spendy.

If they have them, just take a peek at the Nuvi's, pretty impressive units, you can purchase a holder that goes on your belt or they also come with suction cup holders too. They will take the Lakemaster chips.

Good luck shopping.

Mike

[KTapper]

I wasn't aware they had any problems with them. I love my H20c and works awesome open and hardwater. I thought I lost mine the other day ice fishing worst feeling but I found it after 5 mins of looking it was inside my bibs where I never put it.

[wildmanp]

garmin oregon---everything is touch screen--a garmin lake master chip. I would stay away from the garmin colorado because to the turn wheel. To get from a to z you have to spin that wheel many times just to spell something.

[Gordie]

I can tell you which one is the best after it was under the ice

[shiltsy]

Do any of these handheld GPS units accept the Navionic's card? I have one in the Humminbird in by boat... it would be great to be able to use on hard water as well.

[jdog]

i know the h20 takes navionics thats the combo i use

[leech~~]

Do any of these handheld GPS units accept the Navionic's card? I have one in the Humminbird in by boat... it would be great to be able to use on hard water as well.

I use Nav, and Lakemaster chips in both my H20 and XOG units.

[croixflats]

Do any of these handheld GPS units accept the Navionic's card? I have one in the Humminbird in by boat... it would be great to be able to use on hard water as well.

Lowrance is the only one that excepts Navionics.

If your using a Hummingbird Navionics chip make sure it will work in a Lowrance unit. I know a Garmin lakemaster chip will not work in a Lowrance and vise versa.

[reddog]

I think Humminbird and Lowrance both run the same Navionics chip. Its the Lakemaster chips that are humminbird or Lowrance specific.

I use my Navionics Premium North in my 522, Hbird 997, and my H20.

[croixflats]

Thanks reddog for clearing that up.

[vikingmeatwad]

I liked my H2Oc until it died after about 3 years of use. Lowrance will do nothing to help me fix besides try to charge me $162.45 to fix a defect?

Sure I have an axe to grind but I will now never purchase another Lowrance product. The boat will be getting a Humminbird in the spring.

[Gator Slayer]

I liked my H2Oc until it died after about 3 years of use. Lowrance will do nothing to help me fix besides try to charge me $162.45 to fix a defect?

Sure I have an axe to grind but I will now never purchase another Lowrance product. The boat will be getting a Humminbird in the spring.

What's the defect that took 3 years to show up?

[DTro]

I think the H20 offers more good than bad. That is why it's so popular amongst us all. It's durable, waterproof, it floats, and it accepts map chips.

What I don't like about it is the poor design of the DC port. I really hate proprietary stuff. Just make it a standard mini usb port. Then when it breaks, I can run to Wal-Mart and buy a new one.

I also think the menus and navigation can be confusing and overwhelming. The user manual is like reading War and Peace.

One other thing is that the horror stories about customer service are not rumors or myths. Good luck not only getting your questions answered, but just getting someone to pick up the phone.

Bottom line, the most important thing to me is that it's durable and it works when I need it too. So far the H20 has fit the bill for me.

[wildmanp]

Garmin Oregon I love it's features:

Touch screen - manuver through different screen FAST

garmin lake master chip

loads pretty fast from off-on

Ability to create different profiles for differnt activites(ex. hunting, fishing, geochaching, etc.)

search where to menu

[Ed Carlson]

Garmin Oregon or the Garmin Rino 530 HCx, depending on if you wish a multi band radio capable GPS unit or not...if not, the Oregon series gets my nod as the best handheld GPS unit on the market today.

[FISHINGURU]

H20C

[walleye365]

i had ifinder pro and that was a gps it worked great for me. well shes no longer with us 250 pieces in a boxs ya bumer. so i got H20 and i dont know if its just me but it dont work as good as my pro did. i did a soft reset on it that seemed to help alittel.

[mnguy152]

so which oregon did you get then? model #?

[bigbad401]

I got the Oregon 200. Then only thing that the 300 has that the 200 doesn't that I would want is more memory. But since you can add maps through the sd card, it didn't matter that much for me. It is a very nice GPS.