Best value GPS/Sonar ?

[Bigbartguy]

I'm on a budget and trying to find the best valued combo GPS/Sonar out there. I'd like to be able to load up lakemaps and also mark waypoints on the unit.

Can someone point me in the right direction and give me an a idea of price? I'm definitely on a budget so I'm looking at low-end models

thanks!

[Fish Head]

It would be helpful to give us an idea of your price range. I might recommend the Lowrance 332c. You can get one for about $600. I just purchased one for the bow. It’s color, it has 480x480 pixels, it has all the options you will need and you can use all the latest map chips.

[Shorelunch]

For a color unit, I'd look at the Lowrance LMS-332 (about $650 w/ transducer). You may find last year's model LMS-330 for less. For monochrome, I'd look at the Lowrnace LMS480 (about $550 w/ transducer) or the Eagle 480 (for about $500 w/ transducer). All three take the new Navionics Premium Chip ($200) or the upcoming Lowrnace version ($100).

Good luck.

[Bigbartguy]

I'm looking around $500 or so. definitely at the low-end.

thanks for the input!

[abens1078]

Dad just purchased the Eagle Fish Elite 480. $449 at Cabelas

[Captain B.R.K]

Are there any models out there that take the chip, but don't have the color screens?

Having color ups the price a little bit.

[andy j]

Brandon,

Yes, lowrance has the LMS 480, which is a black and white, 480 pixils and 4000 watts of power. Nice unit, It has a slot for the the Navionic chips. Andy

[slick814]

I'd have to reccommend the Lowrance Ice Machine M68... it's made more for ice fishing, supposedly, but has a flasher, multiple sonar options, and GPS. It also has multiple summer options with different transducers that you can get for it, too. Thorne Bros. was throwing in a summer 'ducer when I picked mine up 6 weeks ago... they might still do it if you go there, or go to their HSOforum. It was about $500, but for the money, you get everything you could want.

[abens1078]

The Eagle Fish Elite 480 unit I mentioned will take the same Navionics chips as the Lowrance unit mentioned by andy j. If you look at both units in the store they look exactly the same except for the name and the $100 difference in price. I know Lowrance makes the better product but the clerk couldn't come up with any real convincing selling points......."Cadilac vs. Chevy, it's all GM" he said

[Captain B.R.K]

What about the Lowarance X-15???? That is non color, bigger screen and quite a bit of power.

[Northlander]

I have a X-15 as do several friends. Great little unit. I have a Navionics chip in it. I will be upgrading chips this year though to the new one. This unit does everything I need it to at this time. Not too long ago it was top of the line. Now its just above average. Electronics get bigger and better every year. If you try to keep up and have the biggest baddest every year you better have a nice job or win the lottery.

[MLaker2]

On the Equipment Forum they were saying you can't put the Premium or Gold chips on the X-15, only the newer models. Be careful before you buy.

[knoppers]

I will sell you my LMS-300a with GPS for around 400 bucks. it was 1000 bucks when I bought it, but is getting outdated. still works like new. they just seem to get better every year, and if you wait for the price to drop, well something better comes out. we will never win, you but it or not.