Your suggestion on a new GPS

[STORE500]

Hello, I am in the market for a new handheld GPS. I will mainly be using it for ice and open water fishing. Was wondering if anyone has some suggestions on what to get, would like to know the correct one to get before I spend the money. Thank you.

[sticknstring]

I heard the Lowrance Ifinder H20 series is being discontinued and guys are scooping them at half price. It's probably been the most functional and practical GPS for the fisherman the past decade, especially when coupled with a lake chip. Not sure what the replacement is or will be but I'm sure that will be an awesome unit as well.

[jimmyjames76]

I wouldn't buy anything but a Garmin at this point. What model depends on what features you want. 76cx/csx , 60 cx/csx, Oregon, Dakota, Nuvi 550/500 are all good choices for fishing. There are many more too, but make sure whatever you buy will work with the lakemaster chip. I had an iFinder Explorer (H20) and Expedition (H20C), and here’s why I chose to upgrade to a Garmin:

1. Garmin Lakemaster chip: 3500+ lakes with 5 ft or better contours, Lowrance Lakemaster Chip: 770 lakes.

2. Garmin’s (the ones mentioned above anyway) have much better satellite acquisition than any iFinder model.

3. Garmin’s work better with new chips. More data requires faster processors and more memory to avoid screen lag.

4. Garmin’s connect more easily to your PC for upgrading firmware, backing up waypoints, etc.

5. Garmin lakemaster chips work in most Garmin automotive GPS units as well as handhelds.

I loved my iFinder GPS units, but its older technology. Every year a new chip came out my GPS screen lag got worse…more data to load requires faster processors and more memory. The new GPS chipsets in the Garmin’s mentioned above are truly amazing too. My iFinder would lose signal intermittently sitting on my lap in the car, and my Garmin gets full signal sitting indoors in my house. Plus, with 2700+ additional lakes I rarely fish a lake that isn’t included in my maps. The iFinders still work well and if I were a happy iFinder owner I wouldn’t run out to buy a Garmin, but if I were buying a new one that’s what I would buy. The only disclaimer being that if Lowrance eventually releases lake mapping chips for the Enduras they might be a great unit too, but I have been hearing “a couple more weeks” for months now.

[jwmiller33]

another vote for the H20... you can get a heck of a deal on one right now... i just got one a couple weeks ago wit the lakemaster chip and i looove it

[fishnowworknever]

H20 is nice for fishing, if you hunt or want to use it in the woods look else where. You can't find a satellite to save your life in the woods.

I have an H20c and will be selling it this month and picking up one of the Garmin models.

[GrizzlyAdams]

I'll second the Garmin. I have the 60csx and love it. Color units are very, very nice and easy to read. May want to consider the color feature when making your decision. Just a thought

[bobbymalone]

lowrance is going down the carpper. good luck with CS...

no complaints about my garmin 60cx.

[olbaidhh]

Had Garmin's, had Lowrance's upgraded to the DeLorme Earthmate PN-40 Camo with the Navonics software.

Nothing is better... Your GPS has cartoon like backgrounds, points and routes. Mine uses High definition Color pictures. (picture HD Google earth on your GPS) That is how intense it is.

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[sticknstring]

Yeah well mine's bigger than yours!

[olbaidhh]

lol... ya but my dad can beat up your dad...

take a look at the Image link I added to the post.

[croixflats]

Its a hard choice to make on witch model to get. Garmin IMO would be the best brand. While you get a quality product with Garmin you have many choices of models to choose from with customer service that is unparalleled in the industry not that you will need the costomer service but they have come in handy for me helping out with all the great applications like interfacing the GPS to the boat sonar and such.

Another thing about the Garmins is they are able to interface with Google maps and some models you can create your own maps with google, with out buying seperate software, and use them on your gps. I believe the Dakota and Oregon do the costom mapping where the others you can transfer your waypoints and tracks to Google.

[fishnowworknever]

Question :

If I have a lowrance lakemaster chip and want to use it in a garmin, will that work or are they 2 totally different chips?

Do Gamrins come with preloaded lake maps?

[GrizzlyAdams]

They are different formats and not interchangeable.

Don't believe any unit comes with preloaded lake chips. But not completely sure on that.

[magnum mike]

Garmin does not take Lowrance chips. The DeLorme looks like a sweet unit but not cheap @ $500. They appear to take the same chips as Lowrance. I have had my H20 for 4 years and have no complaints in summer, winter, waters or woods. I'm thinking of upgrading and the Delorme might be it but I would like a bigger screen.

[croixflats]

Had Garmin's, had Lowrance's upgraded to the DeLorme Earthmate PN-40 Camo with the Navonics software.

Nothing is better... Your GPS has cartoon like backgrounds, points and routes. Mine uses High definition Color pictures. (picture HD Google earth on your GPS) That is how intense it is.

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Garmin offers most of those features with the Oregon and Dakota and the GPS/map 620 and 640.

[olbaidhh]

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[olbaidhh]

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[bigbad401]

I agree with the Garmin Oregon!!! I bought an Oregon 200 and could not more pleased with it. Way better (my opinion) than the Lowrance H2O. Lowrance has come out with the Endura series that is taking place of the iFinder stuff. My in-laws have an H2O and the Garmin is so much better in accuracy (finding waypoints that were set the prior week), user interface, and the Lakemaster maps. Plus the unit is smaller with a larger screen. Garmin is the way to go.

[bobbymalone]

olbaid, how much you getting paid?

[bigbad401]

A few of them but not the HD ariel images... that is the key.

You can get aerial images with the Garmin. There are a lot of custom maps that you can find with aerial images, plus Garmin is coming out with their own service call Birdseye that you can download aerial imagery.

[olbaidhh]

lol...i cant see why anyone would want lesser quality for the $$$ check out the post 2 above with the cartoon and the images links...there is no comparing the 2

[olbaidhh]

You cant get the ariels yet. and yes they are getting ariel imagery from Delorme.

[bigbad401]

You cant get the ariels yet. and yes they are getting ariel imagery from Delorme.

"The data is collected by DigitalGlobe, a leading global provider of commercial high-resolution world-imagery products and services."

Plus with the Oregons bigger screen it will be nicer to look at than the Delorme.

[croixflats]

The delorme sure looks like an awsome unit. Its great there is another product to chose from though its really going to make our heads spin trying to choose.

[olbaidhh]

Originally Posted By: olbaidhh

You cant get the ariels yet. and yes they are getting ariel imagery from Delorme.

"The data is collected by DigitalGlobe, a leading global provider of commercial high-resolution world-imagery products and services."

Plus with the Oregons bigger screen it will be nicer to look at than the Delorme.

That will be sweet I like the touch screen feature my 400i had. How soon till it comes out? I know i read something that garmin is getting from Delorme.. the processor maybe, maybe just the idea...

[bigbad401]

It is coming out in March. Delorme had the aerial imaging first, but Garmin is not getting anything from Delorme.