Lowrance I-Finder H20 Handheld GPS

[Hemlock]

Who's got one, and how do they perform?

I would be using mine exclusively on LOW, Canada side and I would need the map to be as good as can be expected. I've been very happy with the navionics LOW map on the larger, dash mounted gps, but I am just wondering about the handheld for it's mapping qualities. Thanks in advance!

[hitthebricks]

I got one for Christmas and have only used it on local metro lakes with the Nav. Gold Premium Reg. 10 chip. Seems to be more accurate and easier to use than my Lowrance 480 in the boat, but I've had more time to play with the buttons on the I finder. Its great seeing your position on the lake map and it being exactly right. I think the acurracy is from the WAAS feature. It also is a lot more accurate than my old Garmin 12. good luck HTB

[GoodToGo]

I have one and am very happy with it's mapping quality. I come up into Ontario a few times a year and found that the high quality maps stop at the border. The MapCreate CD's that come with it are for the US. In Canada the background map is all you get. It is still better than nothing, but does not show islands, small lakes, precise shorelines etc. You can not operate the zoom any closer than the 8 mile range or you lose the maps all together. Last weekend I could tell that I was on Pipestone, and the general area, but no detail. Maybe there is a MapCreate disc for Canada, but I haven't seen it advertised. Whatever you get, make sure that the detailed maps cover Canada.

[GoodToGo]

As I re-read your post you mention Navionics. My uncle has the Rainy Lake navionics chip for the ifinder, I thought it was very impressive and very accurate. If you are going to purchase the chip then you'd be very happy with the ifinder on LOW.

[Hemlock]

Thanks guys!

Goodtogo, yes Navionics is the way to go. I've seen it on a larger unit, and it's like having a nav. chart right in front of you. I was more concerned about the H20 Ifinder and it's size of screen while using a detailed map.

I ran into some guys from Wadena last year around Sioux Narrows, Whitefish Bay. I believe they were staying in Snake Bay. Was that you? My wife is from Wadena.

[GoodToGo]

No, it wasn't me. I haven't been to Sioux Narrows in about 6 years, and that was summertime. I trout fish in the Crow Lake area for the most part.

[Mongro02]

I love my H2O, the only thing that I don't really like is when you use the lakemaps, the system is a little slow re-displaying.

Doesn't bother me too much, but a little slow.

[dockehr]

GoodToGo, you should look into Lowrance's Freedom Map chips for their GPS units. I use the Northern Ontario one (includes eastern Manitoba). It shows a surprising amount of detail on even some of the smaller lakes I fly into, that is islands and shoreline outlines.

Hemlock, you should see Lakemaster's new Lake Of The Woods chip. While it covers only the US portion of the lake, you can zoom in to .02mile (105 feet). I also use the topo chips that Lowrance puts out for our quail trips to Arizona.

I use these chips in my I-FinderH2O as well as my Lowrance LCX 18C. Try to get into a retailer that has an assortment of chips. Good luck.

Dr. Roland E. Kehr, Jr.