H2O vs H2Oc

[johnmn]

I've heard that that the H2Oc is harder to see in direct sunlight than the H2O is this true? Just wondering because I want to buy one just don't want to be ticked knowing that I wasted 100 bucks.

[Dabignorski]

Hey i bought a h2o c couple months ago and i feel that it is nicer then the plain old h2o because the viewing of everything seems so much better but in the sunlight it is a little harder to see it but just by turning on the light it makes it just fine to see that i've noticed

[Tinkhamtown]

I just got an H2O C with the new Lakemaster chip at Ice fishing show and I am truly impressed. If sun is shining on the screen it is hard to read. I just moved so the back of H2O C is toward the sun and reading isn't a problem.I don't go any where with out it. Tink

[Fish&Fowl]

There really is no comparison in my mind that the coler is the way to go. My buddy had the black and white and once I got mine, he sold his to buy a color. Readability and detail is much better.

[schweady]

There are some subtle color shading differences used like public land areas, or swamps, or changes in water depths, etc. that make the color unit easier to read. I feel that it's worth it.

[johnmn]

Thanks that's what I kinda thought but didn't know for sure. I was just going by what I saw one day on a forum and just wanted to make sure. I'm gonna but the H2Oc.

[nluchau]

Schweady,

Got to open my xmas present early. Got the H20C. Tried the lakemaster and it works perfectly. Wow what a difference the lakemaster makes.

One question about the H20C. Can you use it without the light on? Seems very dark without the light.

Thanks

Nick

[Big Pine Walleye]

You can use it with the light on--it will wear down your batteries at a faster rate---but it is so much easier to read with the light on. I ended up buying a AA battery charger and four rechargeable batteries and that way I always have two that are off of a fresh charge! Just my two cents.

[schweady]

Merry Christmas, Nick! You will definitely enjoy. Yes, it is dark without the light. Some have said that it has to do with the waterproof quality, but I have noticed that the color unit is harder to read than the B/W without the light. My ExpeditionC is the same way. But like BPWalleye said, using either rechargable batteries or external power for nearly all of the time it's in use makes this whole battery consumption/light on-or-off question pretty much moot. Times when I'm most concerned with battery life, like a week-long BWCA trip or something, I'll make sure I have a supply of ultra duty AA's and not fiddle with the thing so much so the light isn't always on. And most of the hours out canoeing I'm not so concerned with looking at the display every paddle stroke anyway, just wanting to have it record my trail...

[Fish&Fowl]

Gotta love those batteries. Just thought I'd mention the Energizer rechargable batteries, which I use in both my H20c and my digital camera. They last a long time compared to one-time batteries, and charge rather quickly. Just plug 'em in and the light will be on, a few hrs. later when the light is off they are all ready to go again.

[Augusta]

I did the same thing, went with rechargable batteries, works great for me and alot cheaper in the long run.

[augernaut]

Here's a question for the H2Oc users out there. Right now, I have an older iFinder, just the basic mapping model - I'm looking at the H2Oc, and I see that instead of the LCD screen, it actually has the TFT screen (just like the Ice Machine sonars) - have you noticed if the cold weather performance of the H2Oc is better than a standard LCD GPS? I know LCD units get really slllloooowwwww in the cold. I'm assuming (bad thing to do) that it is better due to the TFT, but I'm hoping for the opinion of someone who has had the thing out in cold weather to see.

thanks!

[Ralph Wiggum]

I can't speak for the H2Oc, but the screen on my X67c never slows down in the cold.

[ameyers41]

Upon multiple recommendations, I got the Expedition C. I would have bought the H20c, but I got a deal. I have noticed no big issues with the TFT screen, but I haven't had it much colder than about 20 degrees. I usually use the backlight anytime I'm using it and have had no problems in daylight or night. LOVE IT!

[nluchau]

Thanks Schweady and Merry X-mas to you also. I have learned thus far to just use the light at all times. I love the H20C and Schweady's old lakemaster chip.

[schweady]

Quote:

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Upon multiple recommendations, I got the Expedition C. I would have bought the H20c, but I got a deal. I have noticed no big issues with the TFT screen, but I haven't had it much colder than about 20 degrees. I usually use the backlight anytime I'm using it and have had no problems in daylight or night. LOVE IT!

---

It's getting difficult for any of us to recall much of anything being colder than 20 degrees this year!

Actually, I was a little careless the other night and my ExpeditionC lay on the ice for some time and I hadn't turned it off. Displays refreshed just as quickly as they ever do.

[augernaut]

Thanks for the info - Ralph, I know the X67 does very well in the cold, even despite the rumors that people attempted to spread when they first came out :-) I'm just curious to know whether the H20c functions the same - I'd imagine it does, but wanted to verify it! And yeah, have we gotten below 20 this year more than a couple times???GRRR!!!

Thanks all!

[Ralph Wiggum]

Quote:

---

Thanks for the info - Ralph, I know the X67 does very well in the cold, even despite the rumors that people attempted to spread when they first came out :-) I'm just curious to know whether the H20c functions the same - I'd imagine it does, but wanted to verify it! And yeah, have we gotten below 20 this year more than a couple times???GRRR!!!

Thanks all!

---

I would expect the same--same screen, same function, eh? The problem with cold will be battery life. Some batteries are better than others in the cold. I know the NiMH batteries from my camera don't handle the cold very well at all.

[Tippman]

I have the Explorer and am looking to upgrade to the Expedition for color. There is two questions I have though.

1.How much more accurate is the 16 channel receiver vs. the 12 channel (I'm guessing not much.)

2.Can I transfer my waypoints easily into the new unit somehow without manually entering them all.

Thanks, I'm guessing schweady knows answers to both these.

[schweady]

16 v. 12? I'm just gonna guess here, but more always seems better, eh. I'll bet it does improve accuracy, but where you'll probably notice it is how much quicker you pick up a reading, or under tougher conditions, like inside or under heavy cover. It's been a while since comparing side-by-side with a buddy's B/W H2O, but seems like the color units were quicker to pick up where we were. From the ExpeditionC's manual: "Since the unit has 16 channels, it can dedicate one channel per visible satellite."

Saving waypoints? When I sent in my ExpeditionC for replacement, I saved my waypoints for transfer very easily by using a spare MMC (or SD) card and following the directions in the manual under "Transfer Custom Maps and GPS Data Files," page 38 or 39. (Manuals are online at the lowrance HSOforum if you've lost yours.)

[quickcast]

What is the difference between the Ifinder Explorer and the H20. Is the Explorer a glorified version of the H20? I received an Explorer for x-mas and was wondering if it uses the lakemaster chip and works like the H20?

[Paul Waldowski]

The explore has a built in compass and a couple of other features not found on the H2O. It does take the LM chip and has all of the functions of the that unit.