GPS

[dukhntr]

OK, experts! I am looking for a handheld gps. I am headed to URL for the opener, and I need an upgrade. I currently have a Garmin E-trex, black and white screen. I am open to all suggestions. I want the ability to use a lake map,( what is best?) preferably with good contour detail. I would also like color display, longer battery life, and multi mode use (hunting, boating,icefishing etc.) I was ready to buy a Lowrance H20C, but I now see it is discontinued?

Did I leave anything out?

Any suggestions?

Thanks for any help.

dukhntr

[fishnowworknever]

From having a H20c and going to a Garmin 76csx, there is no comparison. The 76csx is hands down far superior than the h20c.

My suggestion, look at the big A site for great prices. I found mine for under $300 and then purchase the Garmin Lakemaster (CD). This will allow you to load the map onto your PC and your GPS.

[BobT]

Garmin GPSMap76CSx is going to be my next handheld. I currently have a Rino120 but it keeps on working so I can't justify buying the 76 yet. It will do everything you've asked for and then some. You won't go wrong.

[whitebassman]

Another option,

iPhone 3GS with Navionics app. Just as functional as handheld GPS's IMHO. Plus, one less thing to carry.

[bigbad401]

I don't know when exactly it is going to be released, but the Garmin GPSMAP® 78 is the newest marine hand held GPS. It would suck buying a 76 when the 78 is coming very soon.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Tech stuff is always changing. If one works for you and you want it now, go for it. If you wait for the next great thing you will always be waiting.

I'm going through that now with smartphones. Don't know when I will finally get one because they just keep getting better.

[bigbad401]

I understand that stuff is always changing, but when something new comes out only a couples weeks after you bought a 4 yr old item would suck. GPS is a lot different than phones since the phones change so frequently and the GPS stuff doesn't change all that frequent.

[dukhntr]

Thanks for the replies guys! I am not interested in using an iphone for this as I do not want to be available for telephone conversations when on the lake fishing. Also, I don't think you can use a lakemaster (or similar) on the iphone, which is a must for me.

Thanks to a poster above, I am looking at the Garmin 76 and 60 series. Anyone know what the difference is between these units? Both the 60 and the 76 come in "CX" and "CSX" versions. I note that the CS series does not have the sensors that the CSX series does. Apparently the "S" means that you get an altimeter and a compass sensors. But you also pay about $100 more fot it. Is it worth the $100 for an altimeter and compass?

Thanks again.

dukhntr

[bigbad401]

I don't have any GPS with an electronic compass or an altimeter. So I don't think they are needed, but that is not to say someone else has used them and liked them. You will get a compass on the GPS but you need to be moving in order to use it unless you get electronic compass.

With the 76 series, it floats where the 60 series does not.

[BobT]

The benefits of the electronic compass become apparent when you are hunting or hiking. Without it, you must be on the move in order for the unit to know which way you are facing or moving. Once you stop moving, the pointer can be pointing any direction.

I've become accustomed to using mine without the compass but I know my next unit will have electronic compass.

A friend of mine has used both the 60 and the 76. The problem he noted with the 60 was with the location of the buttons being so clsoe to the bottom of the unit it was more difficult to use one-handed than the 76 without the risk of dropping it.

If you visit Garmin's HSOforum you can select different units for comparison. I just did this for the 60CSx and 76CSx and the basic differences are...

*76 has ever so slightly larger screen

*76 floats, 60 does not (both are waterproof)

*76 handles 128 MircoSD, 60 only 64 MicroSD

*76 usess 256 color transflective screen technology (can be seen in any light level), 60 does not use transflective screen.

*76 provides tide tables if that is something you might use

[bobbymalone]

I have the 60Cx and don't have any complaints.

The electronic compass would be nice, but I get by figuring out directions by moving a few feet. The altimeter is of limited use unless you are monkeying around in the mountains.

The floating thing on the 76 would be nice too, but I haven't dropped it in... yet. I have soaked it in the rain, but it's waterproof.

BobT says otherwise based on Garmin's HSOforum, but I run a 1gb microSD card in mine with lakemaster maps. I think the 64MB card is what comes with it, not a limit on what it can handle.

I do get some glare in bright conditions, but it's not a problem that a cupped hand sunscreen couldn't fix.

I guess what I am saying is that I am glad I saved the hundred bucks on the cheaper unit and spent it on a lakemaster cd.

As far as the iphone craze is concerned they can both tell you where you are but, you can't compare the ruggedness of a handheld GPS to the iphone. try using it in the rain.

[bigbad401]

The SD card is what they come with, if they come with any at all. I know the Oregon series will take at least a 4gb card and heard of some using a 8gb card.

[bobbymalone]

The SD card is what they come with, if they come with any at all. I know the Oregon series will take at least a 4gb card and heard of some using a 8gb card.

unless you plan on running topo maps and lakemaster maps and city navigator maps and store a million waypoints you probably aren't gonna need that much space.

I want to say that the lakemaster maps (which also includes a much better road map for MN than the base map) runs a few hundred megabytes. I have the lakemaster maps and several hundred waypoints and I am well under half my 1GB storage.

[bigbad401]

Originally Posted By: bigbad401

The SD card is what they come with, if they come with any at all. I know the Oregon series will take at least a 4gb card and heard of some using a 8gb card.

unless you plan on running topo maps and lakemaster maps and city navigator maps and store a million waypoints you probably aren't gonna need that much space.

I want to say that the lakemaster maps (which also includes a much better road map for MN than the base map) runs a few hundred megabytes. I have the lakemaster maps and several hundred waypoints and I am well under half my 1GB storage.

I do have topo maps on mine along with lakemaster maps along with city navigator plus a few waypoints and photos (since my Oregon has a picture viewer). Fun, fun.

[kevfish1]

Would the lakemaster chip out of my lowrance h20c work in the garmin76?? I want to get a unit that I can use for lake bottom detail but also that will lock on to satelite in the dense forest. I have trouble locking on in the forest

[bobbymalone]

Would the lakemaster chip out of my lowrance h20c work in the garmin76??

Negative, ghostrider.

[dukhntr]

OK guys, thanks for all the suggestions. I bought the Garmin 60 CsX, and got a smoking deal! $248.00 shipped! It is a refurb, but comes with a full 1 year manufacturers warranty. I also just ordered the Lakemaster chip for it.

Thanks for all the help!

dukhntr

[BobT]

I wasn't aware of the chip size issue. Good information.

I'm not sure you even need an SD card to store waypoints, track, or route data. A friend has a 76CSx and learned this. Maybe the newer ones are more finicky.

dukhntr, I'm sure you'll be more than satisfied with your choice. Good luck!

[bigbad401]

The 60 series is still an awesome unit! Good deal.

BobT, you don't need an SD card to do anything. It just helps to store more maps and such.

[Ed Carlson]

The 60CsX is a good unit.

You will be able to run Garmin, LakeMaster and the MNTRAX converter chips in it. Same chips will also work in a NUVI if you add one for the car/truck...so it is flexible in use.

I recommend you register it on the Garmin site right off, and you will be able to download any available updates, and get free mapping management tools also.

This registration also makes special offers available to you and any warranty or service issues that may pop up will be a snap to deal with right off the web site.

Smart buy at that price.

[bobbymalone]

I recommend you register it on the Garmin site right off, and you will be able to download any available updates, and get free mapping management tools also.

+1

You will have to register the thing for the warranty and if you install any mapping software anyway.

[kevfish1]

so the lakemaster chip will work in this unit? just a different one than what is in my lowrance?

[bigbad401]

so the lakemaster chip will work in this unit? just a different one than what is in my lowrance?

Yes, you will have to get a Garmin chip or CD. But Lakemaster does work in Garmins. Go to either Garmins or Lakemasters HSOforum and they will tell you what GPS units will work with their chips.

[dukhntr]

For those wondering about the Lakemaster chip in a Garmin. I looked into all of this yesterday (see earlier posts under this topic). What I found was that the Lowrance, Humminbird and others use the "SD" chip. This is the one that is about 1"Square. This chip is widely available at Gander and Cabelas etc. The newer Garmins use the "micro sd chip". This one is about the size of your pinky fingernail. It is small. Thus, there is no transferability between a chip used in a Lowrance, and one used in a Garmin.

In order to get a Lakemaster chip for the Garmins, you need to go to Lakemaster direct, or go through Garmin. Be advised that Garmin, while very nice, will try to sell you their proprietary product, "The Inland Waterways". I bought the Lakemaster chip because it was so widely recomended here.

Hope this helps!

dukhntr

[SpecialK]

I would be interested to know whether you could copy the data off the SD card and copy it onto a Micro SD card and have it still work.

Has anyone thought about this and/or tried it?

[Supercrew]

Check with your local computer geek, bet it can be done, I know of somebody, but it may cost ya.