Need a New GPS

[vman11]

Alright - I need a new GPS...

Mine is currently sitting at the bottom of Devils Lake. I lost everything - 2009 MN Lakemaster chip, iFinder H20, and every single one of my waypoints and trails.

I know I know, I'm an [PoorWordUsage] for not backing my data up. I seriously almost cried as I watched it disappear. A little word of wisdom - ANYONE CURRENTLY READING THIS WITH A GPS SHOULD TAKE A SD CARD AND COPY YOUR DATA TO YOUR COMPUTER. I seriously lost thousands of dollars spent on trips to learn some very very valuable waypoints.

Since I lost my previous unit I obviously need a new one.

I need a handheld that surely:

-Is waterproof and floats

-Accepts SD lake maps

-Has option for street/city navigation

Those are my top 3 needs. Any suggestions will be helpful!

[deadeye]

I honestly don't know if it floats but I have been pretty happy with my nuvi 500.

[cam white]

garmin 76csx... waterproof and it floats... trust me!!!

[MN Mike]

I thought one of the selling points of the h2o was that it floated??

Garmin has atleast 7 handhelds that float but I am not sure about the Nuvis.

Mike

[Ed Carlson]

The Garmin 500 Nuvi is waterproof..($299)..don't float though. Great multi use unit, and can run the LakeMaster, NDTRAX/ MNTRAX, and Garmin G2 chips.

[Smoker]

I got the Nuvi 500 too. I also got the Lackmaster CD so I can go to the computer and decide the places I want to try the next day. You can transfer between you gps and the computer and you can save everything on both. It may not float but with a good cradle, you can get a mount to put the thing just about any place. I have one on the 4 wheeler, truck, boat and vexlar. It has gotten wet whill 4 wheeling when the ran came and soaked everyone and it is still working great.

[KG243]

I like my rhino 530 hcx.

[bigbad401]

The new Garmin 78 series. They float and are really accurate.

[ozzie]

H20 are suppose to float but that is without batteries in it.....with batteries they do not float!!

[BlackLabGuy]

I like my Garmin Oregon, the touchscreen is nice, battery life is good, easy to use with 1 hand and better than a bunch of pushbuttons. Don't know if it floats though.

[Acemac]

H20 are suppose to float but that is without batteries in it.....with batteries they do not float!!

well that makes sense just take the battery out before you drop it in the lake...

[jerkbait]

I do believe in the manual for the H2O that it specifies a certain type of battery to use and the unit will still float. I just don't remember what type or where my manual is at this time.

[troutkingmaster]

I do believe in the manual for the H2O that it specifies a certain type of battery to use and the unit will still float. I just don't remember what type or where my manual is at this time.

I have heard that they float with the Lithium batteries. There is a noticeable weight difference between the Li batteries and standard so I wouldn't doubt it. Have not tried it though.

[bigbad401]

I like my Garmin Oregon, the touchscreen is nice, battery life is good, easy to use with 1 hand and better than a bunch of pushbuttons. Don't know if it floats though.

I love my Oregon too, but it does not float. That is why the Garmin 78 series is the best for this guy as it floats...with all battery styles!

[vman11]

I know this unit doesn't float, but I have been looking hard at the Lowrance Endura Sierra gps.

It sounds like they have come a long ways in removing bugs and creating files that allow the use of lake chips.

Another big selling point is the picture viewer and media center - I am finally getting into trail cams and I see this as a big plus for moving pictures from the card to the 4GB internal memory on the gps.

Any other thoughts on these units? I think they were trouble before, but again, it sounds like they've come a long ways.

[Potsie]

The new Garmin 78 series. They float and are really accurate.

I second the 78's. The new 78 is a nice upgrade from the old 76's. Waterproof, floats, accepts micro sd cards and new maps. Unlike the old 76's, which have no built in memory, the 78 has 1.7 GB built in. It also holds twice the amount of waypoints, 4x the number of routes, and 10x the amount of tracks. It meets all of your requirements.

[Acemac]

do they make any that charge like cell phones so a guy does not have to keep popping AA in them?

[vman11]

AA batteries as far as I know

[Ed Carlson]

Many of the Garmin GPS handheld units also offer Lithium Ion rechargeable packs, or are upgradeable to rechargeable batteries. Most also offer the flexibility to use both, alkaline and/or rechargeable Lithium Ion batteries as per your needs dictate.

Cross reference the models your interested in on the Garmin site, and in the accessories description for each model you will see what options you have for the model that best suits your needs.

[pulleye16]

I'd go with a garmin. Awesome features and you can do lots of things with them. Google is compatible with garmins. Some Humminbird sonars are compatible with garmin hand helds giving the sonars GPS. You can get free Garmin topo maps via the web. Dakota 20 bundle is priced super low right now!

[Ed Carlson]

Here is a screen shot of a river channel I snapped off my Nuvi 500 yesterday. Pretty handy in 3-D mode for fallowing contours.

With the LakeMaster chips you generally get far higher detail, depending on what waters your on.

Pretty darn handy, liking it more every day.

[missioncontrol26]

Ed, can you place icons and waypoints on the Nuvi 500 when you have the lakemaster chip in it?

[Ed Carlson]

You can save and post Waypoints, Roughs, and Tracks. Even upload custom icons and boats from the Garmin Garage on the Garmin HSOforum.

They hold 500 Waypoints and 50 routes in internal memory. They do not have a huge internal file to collect a ton on them as you do in Garmin handheld units, but plenty for most trips. You can transfer them to a blank Micro SD card as needed.

It is just as easy to just plug it in to the computer/laptop with the Garmin USB cable (optional cable) when your get home. Or transfer them to micro SD and then upload them to the computer. Get the Garmin USB cable...it's worth it...makes everything much quicker/easier to tinker with data both ways.

You may easily save them to MapSource or even to the free N-Route Garmin program...whatever works best for you.

If you wish, you can upload prior to the trip new points, and/or punch in new concordance manually via it's touch screen keypad, or upload whole new routs you designed or saved from prior trips.

Actually it is a preaty efficient and handy tool for the dash to boat to ice house guy, and darn reasonable. It impresses me more all the time.

FYI: Once you register your new unit on the Garmin web site....you get free 2010/2011 basemap upgrades, if you do it within 30 days. So don't skip doing that, they are worth it!

Garmin user tips on getting the most out of marine maps in a Nuvi unit.

Question: What does limited compatibility mean for Topo, Marine and US TrailMaps mapping?

Answer:

When purchasing Topo, Marine or US TrailMaps mapping for your nuvi, please be aware that this mapping may function with limited compatibility. Customers choosing the Topo cartography will have access to basic information such as terrain contours, elevation information, trails, and rivers. BlueChart customers will have access to shaded depth contours, intertidal zones, spot soundings, port plans, and navaids with view range and coverage. US TrailMaps customers will have access to the basic trail outline and/or limited Points of Interest.

There are certain elements of these mapping products that were designed for use on dedicated Outdoor and Marine GPS products that will not be displayed on a nuvi. If you would like to use these mapping products and experience the highest level of detail and functionality, we would recommend that they be used on a dedicated Outdoor or Marine GPS product.

In addition, when viewing this mapping on your nuvi, please ensure that you have disabled your City Navigator mapping and changed your Map View from the default 3D view to either Track Up or North Up:

1. From the main menu touch Tools

2. Touch Settings (*Note: Some units do not require this step.)

3. Touch Map

4. Touch Info/Map Info

5. Uncheck City Navigator to disable the street mapping (please remember to check this box after use to restore street mapping)

6. Touch Back

7. Change your Map View either North Up or Track Up

8. Press and hold Back to return to the main menu

Your nuvi is now ready for use with Topo, Marine or US TrailMaps mapping.

Question: How do I use Google maps with my Garmin device?

Answer: Garmin has partnered with Google to allow the transfer of addresses and POIs (Points of Interest)1 from Google Maps to the Garmin device.2

For the transfer you will need:

* A computer with Internet capabilities

* A compatible Garmin Product

* A USB cable

* Garmin Communicator Plugin

To transfer a point from Google Maps to your Garmin device

1. Plug your Garmin unit into the computer via USB

2. Search http://maps.google.com/ for the location you wish to send to your Garmin device

3. Click Send

4. Select GPS under the Send To: Menu

5. Select Garmin under the Brand drop down menu

6. Change or Enter any wanted information in the Name, Phone Number, or Notes fields

7. Click Send

8. Garmin Communicator Plugin will search for updates to the Communicator as well as your Garmin device

9. Click USB

10. Click the Box next to the Garmin device plugged in.

11. Click Send to GPS

The address you searched for will now be available in the Favorites list of your Garmin device.

1 - Google Maps does not allow routes to be transferred from Google Maps to the device.

2 - Compatible with the following internet browsers: Internet Explorer, Mozilla FireFox and Safari.

[missioncontrol26]

Thanks for all the information Ed. You answered multiple questions for me.

[MN Mike]

Good stuff there Ed..... That 500 is a pretty neat device, I see they are starting to get down there in price like the GPSMap60's were a few weeks ago, maybe a new model coming?????

Mike