Looking at GPS units...All input is appreciated

[Bob Horn]

The Garmin 176c has a color problem in sunlight. When I was talking with Garmin he was telling me about it he said to get the 276 instead. That`s probably why they had a $100. rebate on them.

[311Hemi]

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I have a new Garmin 76CS with the LakeMaster maps loaded, and was trying it out on Mille Lacs this weekend. The ability to see depth contours while on the lake is what interests me, and this package appears to do that well. I was in one of the bays north of Isle, and could see when I was on 9ft, 12ft...27 ft, etc. Checking actual depth showed that the map was correct - this is a nice feature that I think more of us will be using on our GPSs from now on.

There is always something better, though. A local resort owner showed me a big-screen Lowrance unit from his boat that he carries in the winter. It had the ReelBottom chip installed, and he had 1 ft contours. This revealed more about the lake bottom - points, sharp dropoffs, etc. For Mille Lacs, the ReelBottom seems to be a superior map. This resorter places his rental houses without checking depth - the map in this particular bay is right on. The LakeMaster map was also correct in it's depth, though you won't see those points and sharp dropoffs.

I haven't seen a map on the handheld Lowrance units, though, so I can't say how well they display. I believe they are cheaper than the Garmins. Also, Lowrance maps are on chips. The Garmin uses CDs that you download to the unit. I prefer the CD method, but this may be a matter of taste.

Price paid: Garmin 76CS $435, LakeMaster CD $189.

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How do you load the depth contours on to your 76CS. I didn't know you were able to do this. I have the 60CS and have purchased the Lakemaster software also...so I am assuming I should be able to load some sort of contours on to my 60CS? Any info would be great as I was not aware of this!

[dockehr]

311Hemi, Lakemaster puts out a generic cd that will load a number of detailed contour lake maps to your computer. You can download waypoints, trails, and routes to Garmin and/or Lowrance GPS units.BUT, you cannot download lake contours to any GPS units. Lakemaster also puts out Minnesota Lakemaster Promap Data on a cd or a pre-programed data card.The data card will work in larger Garmin units that take a data card. Lake contours will appear on your respective caompatible Garmin GPS unit. The cd is loaded into your computer and from there you can download lake contours, etc up to three separate Garmin GPS units, handheld or larger.The cd "reads" the serial number of the GPS unit, thus preventing the wholesale downloading of this data to unlimited number of Garmin GPS units.

I have a number of GPS units owing to my involvement with Lindy Tackle, including the Garmin GPSMap76cs and the Lowrance i-Finder H2O. While I like the color screen of the Garmin, the number of pre-recorded chips available for the Lowrance units really simplifies GPS mapping. The chip that includes Mille Lacs lake is outstanding.In fact, Lowrance is introducing the i-Finder PhDc which is a color handheld unit.I have used both units using topograhical data for quail hunting in Arizona earlier this month and again found the new data chips for my Lowrance i-finder H2O outperformed the Garmin Mapsource data downloaded to my Garmin GPSMap 76cs. Just my experience. Good luck.

Dr. Roland Kehr

[Red]

I got a Magellan SportTrak Pro about a year and a half ago. Not too expensive and for a handheld it does the job. Works in the boat and when I'm ice fishing. Plenty of memory to upload maps to. It seems to be very accurate and my favorite part is the batteries last long, it's waterproof, and it floats!

[311Hemi]

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BUT, you cannot download lake contours to any GPS units.

Lakemaster also puts out Minnesota Lakemaster Promap Data on a cd or a pre-programed data card.

The cd is loaded into your computer and from there you can download lake contours, etc up to three separate Garmin GPS units, handheld or larger.The cd "reads" the serial number of the GPS unit, thus preventing the wholesale downloading of this data to unlimited number of Garmin GPS units.

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Sorry for my confusion, but are you saying you can load contours to your 76CS? As far as I know that unit does not accept any kind of memory card...correct? I looked at the Lakemaster software that runs around $200 and it says that the 76CS is compatable, along with the 60CS I have. So, just to clarify I cannot have any kind of contours on my 60CS, as you cannot have them on your 76CS? I think they relatively have the same features besides the amoutn of memory...

Thanks for any clarification!

[thaJman]

IMHO, Garmin is a better unit but the maps available for the Lowrance units kick butt and make it more if a usable unit.

I have a Garmin GPSMAP 176 with mapsource. Mapsource is great for road trips and is useful when waterfowl hunting new areas as it shows many small potholes, etc. There is not much available in the way of accurate lake maps.

I also have a Lowrance X-19 with the MN Navionics gold chip. Being able to follow very accurate 1' bottom countours (depending on what lake you are fishing..some are 3' countours) while you are in your boat or walking on the ice is GPS/electronics at the next level. Totally friggin awesome.

I wish Garmin would move away from their lame proprietary mapping policy.

Thats my .02

[PolarBond]

311Hemi, was your question answered? Yes you can see the depth contours on the 76CS (and the 60C, I guess), if you purchase the Garmin LakeMaster ProMap CD and download into the GPS the lakes you want.

LakeMaster sells their maps on CDs for viewing/printing on PCs. You can also create waypoints/routes and push these into a GPS. The maps themselves on these CDs cannot be downloaded into Garmin GPSs, though.

Garmin has packaged some of these same LakeMaster lake maps into a different CD (see the Garmin web site) in their "proprietary" format (MapSource I guess) which allows you to download the lake maps into the mapping Garmin GPS units. Then you can see the depth contours. This CD is called the Minnesota LakeMaster ProMap, and it contains a grouping of the major Minnesota lakes. This can be found at Cabelas and elsewhere.

Hope that clears it up. If you are in MN, the Sportsman Warehouse in Ramsey has people who know these products very well, they can answer your questions (and sell you the product). Also, the LakeMaster folks will also help you out, they are reachable by phone.

[311Hemi]

Thanks Polar B, that is exactly the info I was looking for.

[mntraveler]

I'm assuming you already bout the Legend. I have one as well and can't really say anything bad about it for what I use it for. Ice fishing is fine because you arne't bouncing around in a boat, and hunting is fine for the same reason. However, if you are going to use it in a boat I may reconsider for a larger screen unit. Also, if you are looking for a good way to learn to use it check out geocaching.

[KB]

I just picked up a Garmin GPS III Plus for $150 and was wondering if this is a good deal. It was marked way down since it was last years model. Anybody have any opinions on this unit for what I paid? If it's not worth it, I can still take it back.

[computerboy]

KB,

I'm pretty sure the Garmin GPS III Plus is not WAAS enabled. For that reason (and that reason alone) I would return it. I think the most important application of GPS for fishing is the ability to accurately return to a particular spot on the water. A GPS that is WAAS enabled is 5 times as accurate as one that isn't. You can certainly get by with a GPS that does not have WAAS, but if you're in the market for a new GPS (and it sounds like you are) you definitely want to go with one that is WAAS enabled.

Just my $.02

[Paul Waldowski]

Definately go with something that is WAAS enabled. The III plus is not.

[jepik]

minn.traveler....what should I look for in geocaching ? I am 64 yrs. old and dumber than sack of rocks...I just bought the etrex legend,and the vcr tape for it, I know that I will need all the help that I can get... thanks

[mntraveler]

Hopefully I don't get in trouble for promoting another site. Once you get the basic operations of the unit down, go to www.geocaching.com. This site will give you "missions" and get you to at least believe in the gps for finding spots. If you have more questinos let me know.

[M.T. Bucket]

I have a III+ myself. $150 is a good price for one. I will say that if I had $150 to spend, knowing what I know now I would have gotten a Garmin 72. The III+ is more meant for highway navigation--but trust me, it will get you around the woods and lakes just fine--or geocaching. For me, I would take the 72 because you can use it to figure acreage and it's a little more user friendly with a larger screen. Oh, and it floats.

But don't feel like you got a bad unit--I've used my III+ for everything imaginable for 3 years now.

Although some disagree with me, I don't think WAAS is all that great. It eats your batteries faster. And in Minnesota, the increase in accuracy is minimal compared to what it would be near the coasts. Side by side, my personal III+ takes me to virtually the same location as my work 72 with WAAS. And WAAS is nearly useless in the woods--it won't work under a canopy because the satellites that WAAS allows you to access are located over the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.