What is the best gps for ice fishing?

[Jimmy from Cottage Grove]

I had a lowrance h20 black and white with a lakemaster chip. I loved it. However I seem to have lost it. I don't believe they make the h20 anymore. So what are your guys thoughts? Thanks Jimmy

[tip_upclyma]

I also had an H2OC back in the day.....gps antenna puked, Lowrance customer service was dogballs to say the least.

Bought a Garmin Oregon 300 with a Lakemaster Chip....AWESOME UNIT!

[turbo5oh]

just from my experience i would stay away from the endura series. it gets better to use every time they have a program update, but at the rate its going it should be as good as the garmins by 2020. had the outback and have the safari. nothing but a hassle since day 1 of owning them.

[deadeye]

I own a lowrance and a garmin and by far the garmin is the better bet. They have much better support for their products and they seem to be built better too.

With that said my H2oc is still running well, the lakemaster chip works well and it gets me where I want to go. Their support has been lacking when I have had a question though.

Last summer I picked up a nuvi 500 and it will be my go to gps when the h2oc checks out. The support from garmin is so much better and the options for supporting software, chips, map upgrades, ect make it a complete deal for me. They have stepped it up and in the process left lowrance in the dust IMO.

[Ed Carlson]

I'm not at all impressed with the Endura line. It's slow, hangs up constantly, constant software conflicts in need of updates. I can't recommend it at it's current performance level. The old H2O has it beat for reliability, by far.

I'm personally apt to suggest Garmin. As they have proven to me to be far easier and faster to use, far more dependable and durable, and highly supported by the manufacturer on all levels. With peripheral mapping widely and readily available.

[Dale_Gribble]

Im rockin' the old H2o and couldnt be happier. With the lakemaster chip it has every feature i need and none i dont. No problems to report, simple to use but as with many units the buttons are hard to press with gloves on.

[herefish101]

Garmin is on top right now. Lowrance screwed the pooch with the endura line. There is one out there called DeLorme that keeps getting good reviews. But when my H2O pukes(still working good though) I'm buying a Garmin Oregon.

[Riich]

I agree with Ed, the Lowrance Endura series are problematic. I just sent in my Out&Back under warranty and they never did tell me what was wrong with it, but they sent me a brand new one in the box, which I haven't opened yet. Anyone want to make a reasonable offer on it?

I'm buying the Oregon series next.

[broman]

I also have a Garmin Oregon 200. I really like it.

[Jack Peterson]

Can anybody give me an estimate for a good GPS/lakefinder unit? I wouldn't mind buying a new one, but have no idea what to look for and how much it would cost me.

[Bottle Fish]

Why doesn't Garmin support Navionics chips? Or vise/versa?

[Far-I]

Can anybody give me an estimate for a good GPS/lakefinder unit? I wouldn't mind buying a new one, but have no idea what to look for and how much it would cost me.

Hey I see that the big "C" chain store has a deal on a Garmin 450T right now for a few days. Almost $200.00 of this unit! Great deal.

[Jack Peterson]

Cool beans!

[PlanToCatch]

Consider taking a laptop (assuming it's not minus 30 in your shanty). Last winter we tested the Contour Elite software with an inexpensive laptop and it worked great. Contour Elite comes with LakeMaster hi-def data, can search the lake data on a vareity of features (or by fish species, time of year, etc.), highlights spots, and lets you view them in 3D. You can get a good gps receiver for your laptop for $30.

[Westsidefishing]

What kind of Map chip do you use in DeLorme GPS. They are priced reasonably, but I can not find any lake maps that are compatible with this GPS.

[Dothedew]

Garmin 450T is awesome. I brought mine 6 months ago... came home and downloaded the lake master software from Garmin's HSOforum. I would recommend getting the birds eye view software too. It's awesome.

[hotrod1]

I am curious how well the touch screens work in the extreme cold.

I was interested in the Garmin 450T but the people at Garmin told me I may end up having problems using the gps in sub zero weather.

Anybody last winter have problems with touch screens on their Gps units in the cold?

[Westsidefishing]

I would like know how touch screen works in cold weather?

[schweady]

Dothedew:

Anything about the Garmin Oregon 450t that you don't like? I am looking at this one to replace my Lowrance ExpeditionC which has started an unpredictable habit of losing my position. I might miss catching the current sale mentioned above but feel that there are bound to be similar offers in the weeks ahead.

So, you went with downloading LakeMaster maps rather than the micro chip? More flexibility, or cost factor, or what? I was looking at just getting the 450 and then downloading free maps like from gpsdepot, etc. but seeing this latest sale price changed my mind.

Can you turn off and on various map overlays, including the included topo that is the main difference between the 450 and 450t?

[Westsidefishing]

I bought mine today online. Rogers cableas is already out of 450T. But the guy at Cabelas told me that I have to either buy chip or download Lake maps from Garmin HSOforum.

[Ed Carlson]

TIP: When you get it, register it on the Garmin web site. You will then get a code good for at least 10% discount on accessories...and/or maps. Use it to buy the chip on the Garmin site, you will save $$.

[bigbad401]

I used my Oregon 200 last year on the ice after I bought it in December. I did not have too much of an issue with gloves as I usually wear smaller gloves. The cold did not seem to bother the unit at all. I bought the Lakemaster CD so I could view the lake maps on the computer. Also, I don't like changing SD cards in the GPS unit, I buy the CD ROM version of all maps so I can load them on to one SD card. I have plenty of free topo maps along with the Lakemaster and the City Navigator maps. A 4gb card will hold a lot of maps.

With the Oregon GPS you can change the profile to get to different maps. I have a profile for fishing which turns on the Lakemaster maps. I have a profile for driving which turns on the City Navigator maps. I have a couple different profiles for the topo maps I have.

[Westsidefishing]

Thanks for the info Ed!

[fatcat45]

I just bought the garmin legend Hcx,and the lakemaster chip.just playing around with it and I cant wait for ice..bought gps package at the big C for$169.00 and the chip on amazon,$85.00..

[stealth3350]

what is birds eye view, and how much is it? i purachesed lamaster garmin, and when i look at garmis sight it shows something called blue chart.. is this what u are talking about!!! buy the way if u look on HSO-Classifieds u can find them theryre.. i bought a oregon 450i barely used with inland lakes preloaded.. shipped to my house for 225.00... used it on sat for firtst time... ten times better than lowrance i love it