Garmin & Lakemaster

[zelek]

I have been using a Garmin GPS 72 unit for a couple of years and been very, very happy with it. It doesn't, however, have the ability to load maps onto it.

Now...if I were to take the next step and get a unit that is compatible with the Lakemaster chip, it sounds like most of you would recommend one of the Lowrance units. That makes me wonder....are they truly superior to the Garmin units like the GPS Map76 which also appears to accept Lakemaster chips??

[hanson]

zelek-

From my research, I do not believe the 76 series Garmins accept the Lakemaster chip. You can get the CD-ROM and then load the maps back to your GPS. That was the biggest deciding factor for myself, chip compatibility.

With the Lowrance units, you just pop the chip in and away you go.

[zelek]

Ahh....thanks for the clarification hanson!! I'm just now becoming interested in maps and gps together on the same unit--as you can probably tell.

[Hookmaster]

Zelek,

I've had the Garmin Map76 since they first came out, about 5 years ago. It's been a great unit and the background map of the US is nice. I have the Lakemaster maps on CD. I use them to find spots I want to fish and then hand enter or upload them to the unit. This works very well is very accurate and you can mark the spots before you ever set boat on the lake. I rarely use marker buoys when fishing, now I use the GPS and waypoints. This is nice when fishing around other boats. In order for me to get the lake contours on my GPS unit, I would have to buy another Garmin CD for $100. Since the Map76 only has 8 MB memory, I was told I could not get all the maps on the unit at the same time. Most of the 58 promaps but not any others. Now I could probably put most of the lakes that I normally fish on it but I didn't want to invest anymore in "old" technology. So I made us of the Fishing MN deal from Jolly Ann Marine and purchased a Lowrance Ifinder H2OC with the Lakemaster chip. A unit that takes chips is much more versatile. I also got the Plus package so I can make topo maps of the places I hunt, download them to a chip and pop it in the GPS.

[Roberto]

If you want to use the Lakemaster chip, get a Lowrance H20 or the Hunt (depends on what you want to do) but if you get garmin you are paying more for less maps.

The lakemaster chip for lowrance has over 250 maps on it and all the roads in Minnesota and it costs 100 bucks

The lakemaster CD Rom for Garmin doesnt have as many lakes and it costs 200 bucks. Also, with garmin you have to take into account that, unless you have a lot of memory in the unit, you will not be able fit all the maps you want. With the Lowrance all the maps are on the chip

[Gus]

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If you want to use the Lakemaster chip, get a Lowrance H20 or the Hunt (depends on what you want to do) but if you get garmin you are paying more for less maps.

The lakemaster chip for lowrance has over 250 maps on it and all the roads in Minnesota and it costs 100 bucks

The lakemaster CD Rom for Garmin doesnt have as many lakes and it costs 200 bucks. Also, with garmin you have to take into account that, unless you have a lot of memory in the unit, you will not be able fit all the maps you want. With the Lowrance all the maps are on the chip

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Sorry but you are wrong. Here is the price and info right from garmins site:

Version 3 features include:

Detailed ProMap® coverage of 58 of the most popular fishing lakes in Minnesota

High definition depth contours

Underwater structures and hazards

Bottom information

Data created from on-the-water surveys

Detail includes islands, reefs, points, bays, access points, aquatic vegetation and more

Contains general coverage for over 600 additional lakes with information such as improved shoreline, depth contours, boat ramps, and more

General road coverage statewide

Trip and waypoint management function lets you transfer waypoints, routes and tracks between your chartplotter or GPS and your PC

MapSource Minnesota LakeMaster

(includes access to the whole CD-ROM)

Garmin Part Number: 010-10537-00

U.S. List Price: $107.13 (for domestic US market only)

I have found it online for less than $100 and it has the 58 Pro maps plus additional 600 lakes. All of which you can view from both your PC and your GPS once the maps are downloaded to the GPS.

[sparkyaber]

I just bought a garmin legend c hand held and am looking into the software options. I also saw the lakemaster software online for just over 100 dollars, my question is, do they send you a disk, so if your computer crashes you would have a back up, and also I was a sporting goods store and saw the minnesota lakemaster software was 199.99, why so much more, are there different programs out there. (I know of two, Minnesota and central USA).

One last question, is the software (City Navigator 7.0) that has the roadmaps, and the turn by turn direction on it worth the 140 dollars?

I am very confused and need some direction

[Rick]

Go to: http://Minnesota-lake-maps.com it's less money and they are sent to you on a CD .

[TJB]

Quote:

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Zelek,

So I made us of the Fishing MN deal from Jolly Ann Marine and purchased a Lowrance Ifinder H2OC with the Lakemaster chip. A unit that takes chips is much more versatile. I also got the Plus package so I can make topo maps of the places I hunt, download them to a chip and pop it in the GPS.

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What did you pay for this unit, if you don't mind me asking?