GPS Question

[WildBill33]

Hey All,

I am looking into buying the lowrance H2Oc and the new 2007 Lakemaster chip. What i was wondering is if its worth the extra money to upgrade to the H20c plus kit?

WildBill

[nluchau]

It's all about what your looking for. I know it includes mapcreate 6 which is valuable to some and not to others if their not going to use it. I myself am looking to get the H20C (not the plus kit) and a Lakemaster chip.

[Tippman]

What is the price difference between the H2Oc and Expedition? I know the H2O and Explorer are comparable and H2Oc and Expedition are similiar but the Explorer and Expedition have a built in electronic compass so when your sitting still on a lake with the map chip inside the depth contour lines aren't spinning around you. This seems like a nice upgrade to me. I just bought the Explorer online for $115 since I got a good deal on it and already have the lakemaster chip.

[schweady]

WildBill - Personally, I've never missed not having the MapCreate part of the Plus upgrade. Although I am looking at getting an MMC or SD card and a card reader for backing up waypoints and trails, etc.

Tippman - The ExpeditionC will usually run around $20-30 more than the H2OC.

[PierBridge]

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Personally, I've never missed not having the MapCreate part of the Plus upgrade.

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Actually the Lakemaster Minnesota chips base map is Mapcreate you just dont' have the ability to make custom maps.

[schweady]

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Actually the Lakemaster Minnesota chips base map is Mapcreate you just dont' have the ability to make custom maps.

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True. There's just something about the geek in me that wants to try saving my waypoints and trails on my computer within a MapCreate map that looks just like on my small gps sceen, then print them out, etc. At least I think that's what's possible with it... EasyGPS is nice, but no background map.

[CrappieAttitude]

I bought the H20C early this summer and love it. The lake master chip is awesome. I am really looking forward to using it on hard water.

[BigWadeS]

I have heard and read all the posts regarding the H20, I am wondering is there a big difference between the other makers out there? Garmin and Megellan compared to H20? Is the H20 the Lincoln compared to the pinto's? I am wondering because I haven't seen a post yet that defends the other types

[CrappieAttitude]

I am sure that the Garmin and the Magellen are still very good units, but I think that many guys go the H20 route because they have Lawrence units in their boats, and are keeping things in the same manufactuer family. It is very convienient to switch out chips from one to another. (Hand held GPS to Locator) Lets face it Lawrence makes a very good electronic product, why would you go another route?

[BigWadeS]

I haven't gone any route yet, so was just checking, I mean with everything I have read on hear and heard I don't think I would go any route but Lowrence, but just curiosity...

[Northlander]

Being able to take the chip out of my boat and putting it in my handheld is the biggest reason I went to the H2Oc. That and its so easy to use after having 3 lowrances in my boat.

[Hookmaster]

Garmin is the leader in GPS technology, but Lowrance has outpaced them in bringing user friendly mapping software to the consumer. Until a little while ago, Garmin units had mapping software available but you had to use a PC to upload it to the gps. Lowrance gave us SD/MMC cards, just plug and play, and combination gps/sonar units. It is cheaper to get the new technology from Lowrance.

[hanson]

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I have heard and read all the posts regarding the H20, I am wondering is there a big difference between the other makers out there? Garmin and Megellan compared to H20?

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The Lowrance H20 & H20c have been awesome units because they are packed with features at an economical price. The ability to accept the Lakemaster map chips themselves has put them waaaayyy ahead of the competition. However, Garmin now has units that accept map chips too although the chips are different I believe. The playing field is starting to level a little bit.

[DEADhead]

if they would make the Navionics chip for the Garmin units, that would be the hot ticket right there...

[Northlander]

If Garmin would make their units chip compatable.

[DEADhead]

northlander, they've updated their models and are now chip compatible. They are indicated with the label "x", e.g. Vista Cx.

[Northlander]

Wow they finally decided to get with the times? This should help their sales a lot. But why make units for chips if they dont accept the chips available? Are they planning on making their own? HMMMM.

[McGurk]

I bought one this morning for my dad; a Garmin Legend Cx at Dick's Sporting Goods; $200.00 (after $50 mail-in rebate) w/ topo maps, carrying case, car power adapter, data transfer cable and 64Mb Micro disk. Hope it works well for him! Get yours before 2:00 PM, though. Minnesota Lakemaps are $108.00 w/ over 700 lakes on the micro disk from their site.