GPS selection help

[deshet]

I am looking at buying a GPS unit for the V20.

I want a color unit.

I think I want a built in antenna.

I have been looking a the garmin 172C

and the lowrance LMS-334C.

I want to spend under $500. I like the idea of having a Fishfinder and a GPS unit together.

I just want to know if you guys can recommend any other GPS units.

I also want to know if getting a combo Fishfinder/GPS is a good idea.

I plan on buying the extra chart the add more detail for my area.

I live in VA, and mainly fish the Chesapeake Bay area.

Ebay seems to be the Cheapest place that I have found for the GPS units.


thanks

[brianct12]

I think you could find a good buy (that meets your wish list) on EBAY over the winter. Also, keep a constant eye on Boaters World and West Marine (maybe others too) - they may have some super deals on discontinued models - that wont last long. I cant recommend a model or brand though - as I just bought my very first GPS/FF myself (Lowrance) a few months ago. Good luck.

[Hammerhead]

I hava Garmin 182 I bought at boaters World. It's not color but works A-OK. Does get me thru the dark'o'night real nice....not to mention to fav fishing spots.

[willy]

I have the Lowrance 3500C , it is a GPS only, I have the separate flush mounted non color fish finder/sounder. I have used the units with both on the same screen and did not care for them with my eyes. Having the 5.5" screen for each side by side helps me. Plus there is redundancy in that it is unlikely both units crap out. In my area I fish having a depth finder and a paper chart along with a compass I can get myself about anywhere. If the finder craps I know the depths by my GPS charts.
Everyone is different though and some guys like having the split screen and or toggling back and forth. I would suggest you go and look at a few at a dealer like West Marine or a boat show. I bought Lowrance and Garmin but from what I have seen lately the graphics and display quality on the Nav Man equipment would make me look again that is for sure.

[macojoe]

I have a Garmin 162 Chart plotter B&W I love the thing! I will use till it breaks, then I would like to get a color that I can see in the sun light

[reelapeelin]

Look at the Lowrance 334 ...

[Airslot]

I'd look at Navman as well.

Airslot

[Franco]

I have a NAVMAN GPS/Chartplotter, it does an awesome job, and its color

[reelapeelin]

I'd look at Navman as well.

Airslot



Navman's what the Grand Pubah of the Norton Snagger Fishing Team uses ... ;) ... pretty good endorsement I'd say 8) ...

[deshet]

I have been looking at the Navman on ebay what models do you guys have?

Do they have their own form of blue chart?

I am also kinda of confused.

Some people say chartplotter/sounder and some say
dual Frequency Transducer.

I just want someone to explain the difference and tell me what I need.

[willy]

Chart plotter sounder is the combined unit on one screen, you toggle back and forth or have them both displayed with half the screen each.
The dual frequency refers to the transducer having the ability to work at the optimum frequency for the area you fish, depth wise. The unit will allow you to set it in menu for whichever you are fishing in.

[Airslot]

I run a Navman 5500x chartplotter that uses C-Map chips. I also have the optional fuel transducer. For the money, the unit can't be beat.

Airslot

[Franco]

Thats the same one I have Air, it's a bad mammajamma

[THEFERMANATOR]

I only have an old GARMIN GPSMAP76 hand-held, it's black and white but works great. Another thing to consider is product support. You hope you never need it, but I can vouch for GARMIN being A+++ in the support department. And everybody I've known with GARMIN has had great support and response from them. LOWRANCE also makes some very nice equipment as well. My dad who was a commercial guy for awhile swor by Si-tex though(FLORIDA company). There a little pricey, but make some of the best equipment out there for repeatable accuracy.

http://www.si-tex.com/

[Airslot]

Navman support is ther as well, on fact, they are in the same building as northstar.

Airslot

[deshet]

I don't want to sound stupid but what is a sounder? is that the fish finder portion?

thanks

[reelapeelin]

"Sounder" comes from the fact that fish-finders work off SONAR (SOund Navigation And Ranging) which bounces sound waves off of objects in it's scope ;) ...

[deshet]

reelapeelin

thanks,

Know I just need to pick one.

[willy]

Oz you are so smart, who would have thunk ;D

[turbinedoctor]

I just bought the Lowrance LMS - 334 and I love it. I had the Lowrance H20C hand held before but wanted a larger screen and sounder in one package. This fit the bill. I also had the Lowrance Natic path chip for the hand held and it works in the LMS 334 also.

Go to this web site http://www.lowrance.com/Marine/Products/LMS-334CiGPS.asp
and download the Product Emulator for the LMS 334 and play with it. Enable sonar and gps simulator and its just like your on your boat with it. You can travel and steer with the simulator, make waypoints, back track and every thing you can if it were mounted and on the water.

This is a great idea Lowrance has about letting you try out a product before buying. Did I already say I love mine.

Got mine from Gander Mountian in Salisbury Md for $549 plus tax. Full warrenty and is returnable as long as its not been mounted yet and no shipping.

Hope this helps.

Turbo

[deshet]

this is the GPS I went with I hope it works out.

Anyone know of a Cheap place to buy the Garmin detailed maps?

The guy is offering a extended warrenty for 3 years for $44. I usually don't buy extended warrenty should I buy it?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=016&sspagename=STRK%3AME WN%3AIT&viewitem=&item=260072688977&rd=1&rd=1

thanks

[Airslot]

Looks like a nice unit. Enjoy. :)

Airslot

[macojoe]

Good Luck!! I love Garmin, yours looks like the B7W version of mine.

[deshet]

I went to bass pro shop an saw the unit I bought in action.

It is not as nice as the Lowrance unit that it compare to. The lady at Bass Pro Shop said that would exchange it for store credit if I wanted a lowarance unit.

The lowrance map was alot brighter and had more details.

[turbinedoctor]

I would consider trading up to the lowrance. Spending this much money whats another $50 or so. Just make sure you are not settling for it. You will kick your self in the butt for a long time.

[wellcraft_20]

i have the 498c w/the built in blue charts i saw today they are on sale at west marine. very easy to use

[Sean]

I have the same unit, got my map @ westMarine for almost $200.00 :P Worth the $$$$ very detailed @ least for my area...

I love the unit but the only problem I had was the screen ended up getting all blurrie and smudged from eel juice, squid slime and god knows what else!! :-X
I called them let them know and they told me just to send it back in and they would take care of it.. Know that I think of it I need to do that soon..
Good luck, you cant beet that unit for the price

[Blue_Runner]

I have been looking a the garmin 172C

I have a 172C and its done everything I've asked it to do and never talked back to me (more than I can say for the wife).

I personally like separate units, so I went with a Garmin 250 (black and white) Fishfinder unit. *Side by side they are the same size and look like they were made for each other.

I'm pleased.

The 178C isn't much different besides the addition of the FF. I think you'll like it.

[reelapeelin]

Turbo!!...THANX for postin' the Lowrance Emulator...I recently installed a 337 and have been diggin' the Emu. ...that's a BLAST ;D ...and you got a great price on yours, but you already know that ;) ...

[shicks007]

I would rather have the Garmin unit myself. The garmin units are very user friendly and have the built in tide charts, which are great. When I compared the Garmin against the Lowrance(comparable priced model), the "redraw" process when it switches screens was alot faster on the Garmin, (we were looking at the 172C).

[turbinedoctor]

Your welcome RAP. I have downloaded it to my laptop and sit and play with it while watching TV at night. Do a lot of poking and proding that I dont want to do to my real unit. Dont have to worry about messing any thing up and I get to learn how to use it better, Pratice makes perfect.

[bassarama]

Deshet

Buy the best fish finder you can afford plus some, once you get it you’ll be proud and happy to have something that does the work YOU WANT ( detect fish). If you want to see the bottom of the lake/ocean than a cheap unit will do, but that’s what you will have, a cheap fishfinder.

If you’re serious about fishing you have to buy a serious fish finder.
IMO; from all the fishing electronics, a fish finder is one of the most important tools on a fishing boat.

Remember, affordability is mostly related to prioritization.

I’m also on the market for a fish finder and after reading from and listening to the serious fish catchers, it’s imminent that I’ll get a good one.

Two brand names that I'll pick from; Furuno and Raymarine...

I want to be able to see the color on the fishes eyes ;D

[norsechild76]

I have the GPSmap 172 on my current boat. Internal antenna is ok, external is better, higher gain. The controls are pretty intuitive...sometimes I wish for a bigger screen when running split screen...I usually flip back and forth between pages. Definately get the dual freq transducer. Also be advised if you are new to GPS...if you don't use it all the time, let it sit and aquire a good constellation of satellites without moving the boat...if you are underway and haven't used it in a while, the unit will forget where it is and won't be able to reaquire. The 172C is obviously the same unit but in a color screen...are they really down below $500 for the color? Try Froogle.com for a good price...I got mine online from Boater's World with a military discount. The 172 can also be set up to facilitate DSC with your VHF if it is able, though you'll probably need a tech to hook it up. The Icom 302 is a good base VHF with DSC...a good all around com/nav package for $600 or so.

[reelapeelin]

Your welcome RAP. I have downloaded it to my laptop and sit and play with it while watching TV at night. Do a lot of poking and proding that I dont want to do to my real unit. Dont have to worry about messing any thing up and I get to learn how to use it better, Pratice makes perfect.



Yeah, THAT'S the coolest thing about it...can't mess anything up ;) ...

[turbinedoctor]

RAP have you tried a simulation trip using the steering with the arrows. When you run a course you can try different methods of back tracking, Highway or map screen. I like the map screen better.

[Airslot]

Bassarama....I've got the Furuno 600L and it's the best sonar unit you would need to put on a V-20. I've run the 582L as well on the Albe, but the V can't reach deep enough water to need the added power.

Airslot