GPS

[Hydra Sport]

I want to pick up a GPS but don't really know to much about them. I'm sure we have some well practiced experts out there who could give me some tips.

[Fisher Dave]

There have been many topics similar to this recently.. and not so recently.. you may want to review them while people are feeding you new information.

THere are lots of good GPS units out there.

[TonkaBass]

Just buy a lowrance, you'll wan't something that takes chips if you're a fisherman. (Best deal is the Lowrance H2O)

[dockehr]

Hydra Sport,

Take the time to visit a retailer(s) that has a good selection of GPS units on display and the personnel to answer any questions you may have. Armed with a much narrower number of choices follow Fisher Dave's advice and do a search of the GPS topic on this HSOforum.

Then, if there are specific question that you have, there are a number of individuals who can probably answer them.

It's just about impossible to give you input to such a general question without knowing your spending limits, where it will be used, your experience (if any with electronics) and so on.

I just returned from the I-CAST National Fishing Tackle Show in Las Vegas. It was very informative to discuss the evolution of the internet and its effect (mostly positive) on product information dispersal with "leaders" in the electronics and terminal tackle industry who try to answer consumer questions.

dockehr

Dr. Roland E. Kehr, Jr.

Lindy Tackle Company

[Bassboy1645]

DID anyone say a map and a compass???? Gps units are nice, and i wish i had one but i know for a fact that like anything else a gps can fail when u need it most. Unless ur fishing local lakes or somting you should always have a map and compass and now how to use it!!!!!!

[OnTheWater]

Lowrance H20 all the way!

Its the easiest to use, has the best display for a inexpensive handheld, waterproof/floats, gives you the most detail(lakes,rivers,roads,etc.) right out of the box, and allows you to upload lake map data from a chip.

If you get the new lowrance lakemaster chip($99) along with the H20, you will be amazed.

[ZOKU]

I've never seen a Lowrance H2O in action... but have done some reading, it seems to be a solid unit.

[Muddog]

Go to the Lowrance web site.

You can down load GPS sims to test drive.

As of lately my i-finder will read mph as slow as my boat will troll. Very handy this time of year. If you use it to mark a trail you can troll an area and not keep going over the same dead areas over and over and if you catch a fish you can see the jog in your trail. You can turn around and go right back through the ambush point. You can mark the spot with a waypoint and troll through it next year!

After the first trolling run I'm looking at my GPS 95% of the time and my depth finder 5%.

If you fish open water (100yd or so from shore) you are missing out on a lot of good fishing by not having one. If you are always in the weeds, save your money!

After the first season you won't fish with out it.

[burl]

I just purchased the lowrance h20 with the lakemaster chip last week.Its amazing how accurate it is.I dont think i could go fishing without it.Its the best money i have spent on fishing items so far.Burl.

[BIG DS]

Good choice Burl. For the avid fisherman on a limited budget the Lowrance H2O with the Lakemaster Promaps chip is the best choice. The map detail is incredible and the unit itself is easy to use. If you choose the H2O, one thing to keep in mind, when reading the instructions to initialize your unit, use the manual initializtion process. The instructions sent with the unit are for all the Lowrance hand-held GPS units. Yup, they printed one manual and you have to figure out which parts apply to the unit you own. That would be the only downfall I can think of.

[Mongro02]

I have the Lowrance H2O and have been very pleased with the unit.

Also, Lowrance's Customer Service and Service center has been awesome too.

Recently I accidentally dropped mine and the backlight would not come on. I also had scratched the plastic that covers the screen with a key about 3 months ago. And last but not least I cracked the little battery cover.

I called customer service and told them that my backlight was not working...she said to return it 'cause it was still on warranty.

1 week later they repaired the backlight, the plastic cover and the battery cover.

The unit looked like it was brand new. I'm not sure if they just switched it with a new unit or not 'cause all my waypoints were still saved.

All i was expecting was for them to fix my backlight but they went beyond that and repaired the whole unit for me even though it was all my fault that it was damaged.