Handheld GPS needs to be replaced

[Random guy]

My old handheld gps has finaly reached the point it is time to be replaced. So who has what and why do you like it?

[DTro]

I was going to recommend a Smartphone + Navionics but then remembered seeing that plow pic you just posted.

But, I have to say, IMO the smartphone will obsolete handheld GPS devices, sooner or later.

Over the air updates, plus community sharing and multiple map overlays are a big bonus, especially if you have the phone in your pocket already.

[Random guy]

Ya know that is a great idea and makes perfect sense...but I had smart phones and I broke three of them in two weeks. Plus I'm not smart, I need a dumb phone. I also have a hard time with touch screens. Between guiding, trapping and minnows my habds are always wet/cold and I can't get the screens to work.

[Esox_Magnum]

I just use my HDS5 off my boat, not as handy as my Expedition was but reliable and accurate... I have Navionics on my phone to but eats the battery fast...

[herefish101]

What was your old unit, or, are you brand loyal? Garmin has the handheld market cornered, I have also heard that the new lowrance units are good after you get all the updates for them.

I need a new one also, my H2O is dieing a slow death, it takes forever to aquire sattalites, which is a common problem for them.

Another problem with the handhelds is the mapping chips.

[MN Mike]

Jonny,

Garmin is going to be hard to beat. If you don't like touchscreens I recommend looking at the GPSMap 62 series or GPSMap 78 series, the 78's will float.

Etrex 20 or 30's are fairly new and will pick up the Russian Glonass GPS signals which people are claiming to be more accurate and powerful.

Garmin does make touchscreen devices, Oregon's and Montana's would be what you want to look at there if you were interested.

Battery life on these devices will be around 18 to 25 hours or more, all are waterproof.

Garmin has a product called Birdseye, it's a satellite imagery program where you can download satellite images to your Garmin, I used it last year Elk hunting in Colorado and it worked GREAT, it's very accurate. $29 per year if you want to do that, far cry from the $80+ per month reoccurring smartphone charge.

No reason to buy a GPS with the TOPO already loaded, you can get that stuff for free from the web for many states, Minnesota included. Hiking trails, Snowmobiling trails and many more are available on the web.

Garmin released the Upper Midwest Fishing Guide about a month and a half ago, it covers 7 states with lake mapping data, much of it identical to the Lakemaster data that has been out there, that cost's $99, maybe cheaper if you shop around.

If you have any more questions, just ask.

Mike

[Random guy]

Now that is what I'm talking about. I liked my Lowrance but to be honest it had a lot of problems so no brand loyalty. I had a Garmin previous and loved it so I may take a look at those. As for me it needs to do two things; bear hunting and ice fishing from the sled. Bear hunting is the most crucial as I get into some tracking jobs that take me to places even my Great Grandfather never seen. Always fighting the canopy for signal and when it comes to bringing out a 400lb blob of fat in the dark of the northern swamps a GPS is the best thing a guide can own.

As for the Birdseye that is a must. To be able to see cuts or easy paths out will be heaven sent. When I did have a smart phone that app proved to be awesome, until I rolled on the phone coyote hunting and busted the screen.

Can I plug my old SD Lakemater cards into these? Not to bash anybody or brand but I am not impressed with the Navi version of Upper Red and swear by the Lakemaster.

Thanks!

[Esox_Magnum]

Pretty sure LM chips are all brand specific and now only avalible for Hummingbirds, you only choices are a used one or hope to find a store with old stock still on the shelves....

[herefish101]

As far as I know, all the new units use micro sd cards now, so if your old ones are the larger standard sd cards they will not fit. I'm not one hundred percent on that but it seems that way in my search for a new unit.

[Random guy]

Thats what Im finding. The Lakemaster no longer available deal is a very sad situation for Upper Red. I'm looking into Garmin and the Fishing guide right now. Might be the way to go.

[schweady]

Right now, I can't think of anything finer than my Garmin 62st and Upper Midwest Fishing Guide micro chip.

[MN Mike]

Can I plug my old SD Lakemater cards into these? Not to bash anybody or brand but I am not impressed with the Navi version of Upper Red and swear by the Lakemaster.

You will not be able to use any previous chip you had for your Lowrance, these Garmin devices take MicroSD cards, so you will need to buy the Upper Midwest Fishing Guide if you want the Lakemaster type data.

Garmin will let you test drive the Upper Midwest Fishing Guide map on their site, it gives you a taste, it is not the full blown product but atleast it gives you an idea of what is covered.

Garmin's HSOforum lets you do a side by side comparison on GPS devices you are interested in, overall, software wise, these units are almost identical, it's the physical configuration you will find different ie. button location, antenna placement and physical size.

I'm currently setting up a Rhino 655T for a friend, looks like a very nice device, they are the walkie talkie, 5w 20 mile range radio combo touchscreen GPS device, this one has a digital camera built in also..

Some of these Garmin GPS devices have 5mp Cameras built in so you can tag GPS coordinates on the spot to a picture of your kill / catch. Look for the C designation on some models ( not all, check the specs )......... if you are interested in that kind of thing.

Mike

[Random guy]

I'm looking at the 62s as I am curious about the better antenna. The touch screens are cool but don't work for me.

Also don't think I need topo as in my neck of the woods its all flat swamp.

[schweady]

I'm looking at the 62s as I am curious about the better antenna. The touch screens are cool but don't work for me.

Also don't think I need topo as in my neck of the woods its all flat swamp.

Mine locks in immediately after turning it on, even in the basement most times. You can always add topo maps, but when I got my 62st, Cabela's was running a special on it for the same sale price (at the time) that they had on the 62s. No-brainer.

[bobbymalone]

I have a 60cx, basically the older model of the 62 line. No complaints other than it lacks a compass and that's standard on new models. If I had to replace it now I'd go with a 62. touch screens make me nervous. they just seem like they want to break, not sure though, just a feeling. and I can work the buttons with bulky mitts on, try that with a touch screen.

But, I have to say, IMO the smartphone will obsolete handheld GPS devices, sooner or later.

I just can't commit until a rugged and waterproof smartphone comes out. I don't want to worry about some bulky waterproof case. My garmin has seen some stuff that would make my iphone blush. not that i don't run navionics on the phone, especially for pre-game scouting on the couch.

and I still don't get how it's so cheap. I dropped $100 for lakemaster on the handheld. I'm afraid of even mentioning how cheap it is, like it's a mistake they haven't caught onto yet

[cavalierowner]

A little off topic, but what kind of realistic accuracy can you get now? My hand-held gps died a few years back and I'm thinking about getting a new one.

[Whopper Stopper]

I know you ruled out touch screens, I wish I would have.

I have the Oregon 45o. If I would have know what a pain the touch screen was going to be I never would have bought it. Also the micro chip set up is terrible. Just putting batteries in the unit is something that needs to be done over the dining room table for fear of that little chip falling out. Are the other Garmin units designed with the same little tin flipper to hold the chip? Really poor!

With the touch screen there is no using gloves, certainly not good for when using on cold days. Also, the screen it hard at best to see in the bright sun. Not sure how the other models are for this. They are right though in that I can be in a room downstairs in my house and it will lock on to the satellites. I am sure the other Garmin units do the same.

WS

[bobbymalone]

A little off topic, but what kind of realistic accuracy can you get now? My hand-held gps died a few years back and I'm thinking about getting a new one.

Mine says +/- 12 feet at best, but if I mark a waypoint and go back to it a week later, when the navigation screen says i'm 0 feet away, I'm standing right on it.

[buzbunni]

I know you ruled out touch screens, I wish I would have.

I have the Oregon 45o. If I would have know what a pain the touch screen was going to be I never would have bought it. Also the micro chip set up is terrible. Just putting batteries in the unit is something that needs to be done over the dining room table for fear of that little chip falling out. Are the other Garmin units designed with the same little tin flipper to hold the chip? Really poor!

With the touch screen there is no using gloves, certainly not good for when using on cold days. Also, the screen it hard at best to see in the bright sun. Not sure how the other models are for this. They are right though in that I can be in a room downstairs in my house and it will lock on to the satellites. I am sure the other Garmin units do the same.

I could not agree more with everything you stated.

[Uncle Boney]

Help.....

Just got a new Garmin 78s and it look lovely.

Downloaded the $99 Upper Midwest Map and it has no/zero contour lines on any of the lakes, just a basic shape of the lake. What the heck is that good for?

Any tips on what I need to get lake contours for serious fishing. Staying on Moose this June for two weeks and need Moose lake, Sucker, New Foundland and especially Basswood. My old H2O had a lakemaster chip that was excellent that I used for Lake Vermilion, but did not cover Moose.

[MN Mike]

Boney,

You will need to enable the map. When you are on the map page press the menu button and go to map setup, when you enter that menu you will see map information, here's where you can enable and disable maps in your 78. Once you enable the map you downloaded you will see the contours.

Mike

[Uncle Boney]

Thanks. I checked and I had already enabled it. I diabled all of the other maps except Upper Midwest, selected most detail. Tried enabling all of them, too.

Still no contours on any of the lakes.

Any more tips? Should I just call Garmin and make them walk me through it? Could it be a bad download?

[MN Mike]

It's possible something happened to the download, I would probably try it again and see if you get different results, otherwise a call to Garmin might be in order. I bought the MicroSD chip and it's smooth as silk in my devices.

Mike

[Cliff Wagenbach]

I'm looking at the 62s as I am curious about the better antenna. The touch screens are cool but don't work for me.

Also don't think I need topo as in my neck of the woods its all flat swamp.

Jonny,

I have the 62s.

Works quite well and is fairly easy to use.

Has topo on it even if you will not need it. Also has a bunch of other useful apps in it.

Will not accept anything but Garmin maps though!

Will not accept the Lake Master maps..

Cliff

[Uncle Boney]

Fixed it. Crazy tech stuff. In the menu, under Marine, I set "fishing". Well for whatever reason, that took away all the details and contours. Set it to Nautical or Off and it works like a beauty.

Anyway, it looks like a beauty now!