gps question (chip question)

[jiggin pig]

Last year i received a E-trex Legend, i am not overly happy with it. I am looking for an upgrade for it. Maybe a lake chip. I normally fish winnie and the red wing area. I am just looking for some suggestions any help is great.

[Deitz Dittrich]

JP- I am not all that familiar with the Garmin products... I did a search for your unit. And it looks like your unit is compatable with Fishing Hot Spot maps.. However, I dont think your unit will accept chips.. I could be way wrong on this.. I think you have to download stuff on your computer off the Fishing Hot Spot maps then transfer that information to your Garmin unit. Look in your directions. I think FHS maps do also make chips but your unit has to be able to have a spot to put it.

Hopefully someone with more knowledge of the garmin units can help you out. I have a Lowrance hand held and its quite different.

[hoggs222]

I've got the Lowrance iH20 with the lakemaster chip. I love it! It's got a pretty good number of lakemaps.

[jiggin pig]

yeah there is a small problem with that i don't have the manual. The wife threw the box out with most of the items in it. She didn't know what it was. Man i love that woman. well i will se what i can find for hook ups for it thanks for the help

[Jeremy airjer W]

I'll second that!

I had an oppertunity to get out on the lake with my H2O/lakemaster combo on saturday. All I can say is WOW! I can't wait to get out on the ice.

I upgraded from a garmin 72xl. The garmin was a vital tool but having the lake contours right on the screen will be an invaluably tool. No more guessing where you are using a paper map and waypoints!

The best part is Lowrance is clearancing these units out at a greatly reduced price, making way for the new color unit. Now is the time to upgrade if you are interested at all.

[Paul Waldowski]

Jiggin,

You can download the manual Here

If you do upgrade. I would go with the H20 with the Lakemaster chip. Just my .02

[tashit]

Quote:

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The best part is Lowrance is clearancing these units out at a greatly reduced price, making way for the new color unit. Now is the time to upgrade if you are interested at all.

---

Actually, I emailed Lowrance and this is the response I got...

"Hello Matt,

Thank you for your inquiry.

Both units are available in 2006. The color version is not replacing it. It is

offered in addition to the monochrome iFinder H2O."

From that I'm guessing that this is just the new price for the non-color H20. Although after seeing the pictures of the color version on their HSOforum, I think I'll have to wait for those to come out. If it isn't as good as it looks I can still get that great price on the non-color.

[Jeremy airjer W]

The way they were flying off the shelf I assumed that the end was near for the monochrome. I guess everyone was waiting for the right price and apperantly $169 is the right price!

[tashit]

With that price I thought it would be the end too. I'm glad they're sticking around though because otherwise I would have to make a decision between the mono and color very soon. Now I can wait to see the color in person (and see the price) before deciding. Right now I would bet I'll be getting the color unit.

[Gus]

Garmin has the same lakemaster maps available that Lowrence does. No chip though. Just buy the program and run it on your Computer. Download the maps (all or some) by hooking your gps up to the computer with the cable that came with it (very easy and the software should tell you how). Garmin really makes a darn good mapping program. You can transfer waypoints, tracks, routes, both to and from GPS-Computer program. It's nice to work with waypoints and large maps on your computer screen ahead of time. You can pick out what areas of the lake you want to go to at home and also have the maps on your GPS when you get there. I don't think you need a new GPS just some good software.

[schweady]

I'm intrigued by the idea of a newer gps for the mapping, just not sure if the $$$ aren't going elsewhere right now. And I understand the idea behind the lakemaster maps - either a chip or a software upload - I'm just wondering: Are you limited in the number of maps or area available at one time in the unit's memory? or is just it a matter of popping in the chip or doing the upload and you've got the whole state of MN available?? In other words, am I looking at needing to clear out my LOW maps and waypoints before my BWCAW trip? etc. etc.

[jigginjim]

Guys the lowrance H2O is a tough unit to beat. Make sure check around on prices. Gander had h2o"s for $169.99. And 100 bucks for the lake master chip. I use that chip on all the lakes i fish.

[Paul Waldowski]

schweady,

No need to clear out your memory. All of the maps are on your chip. Inert chip in locator, turn it back on, and you're good to go

[Little John]

I went with the ifinder pro this year and hot spot elite maps, simply because they had all of the lakes on my tourney circuit. I didn't know about Lakemaster at the time. Do the lakemaster maps have greater detail than the hot spots?? Anyway, the ifinder pro with WAAS was a huge step up from the Magellan 3000 that I had previously. It's almost hard to go wrong with any of the new units out there right now. But it's all about personal preference, so do you your homework before you buy and check software/hardware compatibility.

This technology sure does make learing a new body of water much quicker!

[iffwalleyes]

I just ordered the new Lowrance I Finder Hunt C. This is the new colored screen GPS that lowrance is offered. I ordered it from Lakemaster with the LOW chip. It should be a awesome little unit. The color screen will be nice and the hunt unit offers some other nice little features over the H2O model especially if you hunt.

[Jeremy airjer W]

$269 is a smokin deal for a color unit!!! I am not dissapointed with the monochrome unit and the extra money I saved means more fun at the Ice Show!

[schweady]

Since they didn't have the shelters set up yet at Joe's in Roseville, I spent some time playing with the H2O unit with the LakeMaster chip. Put it on my list, Santa!

[jiggin pig]

I am now selling my etrex Legend and getting the H2o. My wife will be happy with this choice. lol. I am going to look at getting the lake master chip for it soon after. I am just debating on how bad i need color or is the monochrome good enough. I appreciate all the help with this one. One more toy for the bag!!!!

[jphersh22]

I have a Garmin Legend and like it. I bought the Garmin Recreational Lakes and Fishing Hotspots CD from Gander Mtn about a year ago. It's nice because it has all the Hotspots lakes but also has good topo maps of smaller lakes that aren't oficially marked by Hotspots. You download the CD to your computer and use the computer connection wire to hook your Legend to the computer. You can then download sections of the map that you want. The Legend holds quite a bit, but you may from time to time have to take some maps off to make room for another. The nice thing is you have everything on the computer and can swap things in and out of the Legend real easily. Plus your waypoints you marked in the Legend can get downloaded to the software on the computer. I bought the Central area CD which had a better coverage area than some of the other brands' maps.

[jiggin pig]

When i decide to purchase it what do i need to do when i buy the lakemaster pro chip for it. do i need to get the plus addition or can i do it with the regular H2O. I am a little lost when it comes to putting it on the gps. I found the lowrence H2O for 144.71 or 141.99. One at Tigergps.com and the other at anchorexpress.com. Is this a good price for this unit or should i wait for the color to come out and see if the price drops more. just curious.

[Jeremy airjer W]

The lakemaster chip will work with any of the Ifinder models. I think the only difference between the pro and the H2O is the H2O is "waterproof" and the pro is "water resistant". If you plan on using it on the water or ice go with the H2O.

All you have to doo is install the chip (under the batteries) and turn it on. It automatically loads itself. scroll to a lakemaster supported lake and the contours will be there.

This unit is an incredible deal at $169. I guy I work with, a.k.a. Napoleondynomite, bought his last week after seeing mine and is just as impressed. I think he ended up paying a little less for his since it was the last one. If your really debating over price just start comparing other models in the same price range. You'll see that they won't compare!