Ice Fishing GPS, what's best handheld unit out there?

[RoyBoy1256]

I use the Lowrance LMS 522 igps on the open water and I use the most recent LakeMaster chips, for both MN, and Canada. Question is, what make and model of the handhelds is best with these chips for ice fishing??? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I can use the 522 in the car on ice, but needs a battery and unit is kind of big on the dash.

[ozzie]

lowrance H2O...........but you should get the ice fishing set-up for your 522 and use it for the gps and ice fishing graph......it would be cheaper!!

The 522 has the built in GPS antenna correct? How do you like that unit....i am trying to decide between the external or the internal GPS/Locators from lowrance

[PerchJerker]

I use the most recent LakeMaster chips, for both MN, and Canada. Question is, what make and model of the handhelds is best with these chips for ice fishing???

It needs to be a Lowrance GPS to use the same chips that you're using in your 522c. The iFinder H20c is the most popular model and works great, although some people like the extra features in the Expedition. You can check them out HERE

[aanderud]

I used an Lorwance H20 handheld in the past, black and white version. I now use an Expedition handheld in color version. Both are good units with their plusses and minuses. They come from the same iFinder series, so they're fairly similar. The Expedition has a barometric altimeter (not extremely useful while fishing) and an electronic compass (so you can tell which way you're facing without walking around). Here are my experiences:

The color versions of the iFinder series have really poor daytime viewing unless you have the backlight on, in which case you almost have to be plugged into a 12 volt source. Batteries just don't cut it when the backlight is being used. If you do a lot of daytime exploration, and you don't plan to have a 12 volt battery handy with you (walking around on the lake while ice fishing, hiking through the woods, etc), then I suggest you get the black and white version. If you will always have it with a boat, 4 wheeler, snowmobile, or other device that has 12 volts handy, or if you're only going to use it at night, then color works fine.

Also, the color series that I have used (H20 and Expedition at least) will not accurately display ground speeds of less than 1 mph, while the black and white model will. So, if you like drifting or trolling slow while lindy rigging, and you need to know your speed, you should seriously consider the black and white model. If you don't care much about your speed, the color model works fine.

Finally, neither of these models comes with a SirfStar III chipset, which is almost the de-factor standard in GPS navigation units. The result is that they take longer to acquire a GPS lock and will lose it easier, and the older GPS chipsets drain more battery.

[ rant time - skip paragraph if you want ]

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These downsides really add up to quite a poor showing, in my opinion. It's pretty weak considering you can get a mobile unit geared toward automobile navigation from TomTom, Garmin, Magellan, etc that will have three times the battery life and a sirfstar III chipset in them. I guess it's pretty standard for companies like Lowrance and Vexilar to sell "high tech" electronics to sportsmen without really upgrading any of the features for years on end (or decades). How is it that consumer GPS models have MORE features for LESS money every year, yet in outdoors electronics we always pay MORE for the added features...

[ end of rant ]

Anyway, back to the point - The chips you have should also work with the XOG, another Lowrance model that is quite different from the iFinder series. If offers navigation features that put it above and beyond the iFinder series for automobile road navigation. It also has a touchscreen. The downside is that the XOG is only supposed to be "water resistant", rather than the theoretical "water proof" H20/Expedition models in the iFinder series (I say theoretical because they really aren't waterproof, their battery cover prevents that from being a reality).

Finally, if you order any of these models, buy a spare 12 volt power cord. They always quit working eventually

[Sandmannd]

H2O gets my vote.

[katoguy]

There are a lot more automobile units sold than hand-helds, too. It brings the manufacturing and engineering/programming costs down per unit.

[croixflats]

I would stisk to the Lowrance models Like PerchJerker suggest and I think you will be happy because I here lots of good about them and your chip will work in them as PerchJerker said.

Here comes the twist.

Now if you want upgrade your Lowrance 522 to a Garmin Fish finder/chartplotter like I did they also make awsome hand helds witch I also got. 76cx is the hand held I got the visibillity is great and I get 20 to 24 hours of use out of rechargebles and it does float, tested it myself.

And both were bought through ProFishingSupply cant go wrong with Dave and you will be happy.

He handles Lowrance also.

So many to choose from

[Esox_Magnum]

My vote goes to the Lowrance Expedition. I love having the barametric graph at my fingertips. Run Litiums or Rechargables in it and you'll see much more user time per set of batteries.

[josterbauer]

No one uses the Garmin out there? I have the gpsmap 76. I love that thing. Have the mapsource on the computer, upload and go.

[PerchJerker]

No one uses the Garmin out there? I have the gpsmap 76. I love that thing. Have the mapsource on the computer, upload and go.

Garmin makes a great GPS, probably the best one on the market in my opinion. And now that Garmin can take LakeMaster maps I think you'll see more and more of them being used around here.

But ..... RoyBoy asked about using the map cards he already uses in his Lowrance 522c, and you can't use those chips in any Garmin unit.

[katoguy]

Garmin makes a great GPS, probably the best one on the market in my opinion. And now that Garmin can take LakeMaster maps I think you'll see more and more of them being used around here.

Economic reasonings again. Garmin sells so many total GPS units (auto, marine, & aviation) they haven't worried about the small markets of fishing and boating until recently.

[L_Cappo]

i would have to say h2oc.its very simple to use just 1 click of the thumb.

[Northlander]

I have the H2Oc and love it but there are times I wish I had the Expedition for the compass.

[paceman]

I just got the h20C last summer and I think it is the best thing since sliced bread. It works great for both summer and winter fishing.

[maros91]

H2Oc

[RoyBoy1256]

Hey Ozzie, Lowrance LMS 522 can't be beat, awesome unit, and yes, it has the intenral reciever.

[RoyBoy1256]

Darn guys, great posts and thank you all so much. Did a little online research and also found the Colorado 400t, anyone have one? The H20 has been the frontrunner so far.