Handheld GPS units?

[whitetail_freak]

whats the best in your guys opinions!?

[that_guy]

I have used the H20 and my smartphone. Up until this season I would have said the H20 is the way to go since in my area my smartphone didn't have all the necessary maps for me to fish. I used to have to use both the phone and a map to figure out exactly where I was. Pain in the hind parts.

Now that navionics updated I have most of my favorite lakes. So I really like my phone. One does need to be careful with a phone more than a GPS unit, but I'm fairly cautious anyway.

[Huntin&Fishin]

I have a H2o and wouldnt trade it for anything!...uh maybe a wheelhouse

[Hole Hog]

If i forgot my H20c when headed to the lake,I would turn around to get it..just as important as the vexliar.

[walleye44]

I have a hunt c with lakemaster chip. Works great!

[OnAFly]

Garmin Oregon 450 is what I have.

$50 LM maps

24 battery life

seems accurate so far

I can't complain at all about it and I used to have an H2Oc. Huge improvement.

[elkhuntingfan]

I want to get my kid a gps he can use for driving and hunting/fishing. It needs to speak the directions so he doesn't have to look at it while driving. Is there one out there that will do this and allow him to use the lakemap chips?

[BassFisherman]

Anybody buy or used the new Lowrance handheld?

[fish-a-man]

Elkhuntingfan, my brother has a Garmin nuvi 500 that will work for both. i believe the lake maps are downloaded from the garmin HSOforum instead of a chip.

[dan z]

still using a expedetionC even though it has a cracked screen. have a lakemaster in it, works great when I need it...

[whitetail_freak]

Hey that_guy,

How do you go about getting maps onto your phone? I have a droid x, would that be compatible with the program you are working with? and thanks for the input guys! I have a lowrance H20 and I really like it, but ive never tried any other brand. Looks like I made the right choice! Now i just need an updated lakemaster chip!

[Esox_Magnum]

Lakemaster no longer supports anything but Hummingbird, whatevers on the store shelves is all there is...

[sluggr]

Has anyone had problems with their H2O locking in? I have an H2O that is only 2 years old and has not been used all that much and now it will not lock in at all. I have the casio commando phone and I downloaded the navionics map on that it looks to be pretty nice but have not had a chance to use on the lake yet. It is very simple to download just go to market type in navionics and you will have to choose which map you want. I choose the US and Canada. It is a very good deal for $14.99 just hope it lasts more than 2 years!

[walleye365]

Iv had two H2O's and after both of them not maken it a year i went with the garmin 60Cx and it is flawless. I will never buy lowrance product again i just have bad luck with them

[spotty]

BassFisherman I have the new Lowrance Endura Sierra. I can't say that I've had great luck with it. I originally bought the out and back and had to send it in two times, once because it wouldn't read sd card and the second time it just locked up and wouldn't reboot. Lowrance then sent me their Sierra top model. I like the map alot better, don't care for the mp3 player and camera but after using it for awhile the machine would just restart. Sent that one in and they sent me another. So long story short the unit hasn't been the greatest, but the customer service has been great. Quick respone, no questions asked and I feel with sending the upgraded one they were trying to make it right. Just my two cents

[Sir_Sumo]

Lakemaster no longer supports anything but Hummingbird, whatevers on the store shelves is all there is...

Why does their HSOforum say they still support it? It only says they don't sell via the web anymore but are readily available at retailers. Unless their site is outdated?

To the op, I use an endura out&back, works just fine. I don't hunt so I just got what takes the lake master chip and ran with it. It works great. However when I did buy the gps, I also got the 2010 chip which specifically states on the package that it was endura compatible, which is probably why a lot of guys may have had issues with theirs. Also screen sometimes requires 2 taps to respond, but I like it cuz it doesn't jump around when I accidentally touch the wrong area on the screen, working almost like a "confirm" type deal for me. also has keypad with buttons in case you don't like touch screen.

[Esox_Magnum]

Since Johnson controls bought Lakemaster, and also own Hummingbird, and Minn Kota....

[MNPIKE]

I love the navionics app for the iphone, but I also love my H2Oc. I am not sure how to transfer points to my phone, but its easy from my HDS to the H2O.

[MN Mike]

whats the best in your guys opinions!?

Garmin Oregon, GPSMap 78 ( float ), GPSMap 62 Series or if you have too much money burning a hole in your pocket, the Montana Series.

They all do pretty much the same thing, difference is button location, touchscreen options, and screen size, Garmins got it covered.

Mike

[whitetail_freak]

Hey MN Mike, would I need to go with navionics for lake maps then? Lakemaster is strictly with hummingbird, or do they just not support lowrance anymore?

[MN Mike]

Navionics does not work in Garmins.

The only way you'll find Lakemaster products is if they are still in the supply chain, best to call around and see if anyone has any Garmin Lakemaster data cards left, Garmin and Lowrance are in the same boat as far as Lakemaster products go, what's left in the supply chain is all there is.

Garmin does have the Upper Midwest Fishing Guide lake map data, it's a new product released just a few weeks ago, worth a look in my opinion.

Mike

[splakeshaker]

I'm new to the whole iphone thing so here's my question. If I download the navonics app, do I need to be in cell phone range in order for it to work? I usually fish where there is no reception and not sure if the iphone gps system runs off the satellites or 3G.

[MN Mike]

Splake,

Sorry, I can't really help you out, I don't own a SmartPhone, from what I have heard, you do not need to be in range of a cell tower, most smartphones have a built in GPS antenna that you can turn on and off when you need it and to also conserve battery life.

If I were you I would start a new topic under the Equipment-Expert Information forum, you'll get more accurate results there than what I can give you.

Mike

[dfeste]

You do not need cell reception for the GPS to work. You will have to download the maps for the area you are fishing in advance. The app runs of the GPS antenna in the phone.

[splakeshaker]

thanks guys.