GPS and TOPO maps (the great debate)

[Knoodles]

Well the new ice season is upon us.  I am looking to buy a GPS for reading topo maps. 

My questions:  I have a Garmin legend that is accurate as hell.  I can mark a 4 x4 crib in the lake and walk back within 5 feet of it.  I love the accuracy of the Garmin (but of course my unit is old and does not take lake chips). 

I have read the Lowrance H2o is not as accurate and has trouble with acquiring satelites on occasion.  H2o users, your thoughts?  How accurate is the H2o, are you able to mark a spot and get within a few feet on return?

I would go with a Garmin that reads maps, but looking to get Navionics and Garmin does not read these.

Also, if anyone has another GPS they love and is not much more that 250$, feel free to offer up your model, etc.  I am in the market and just looking to get the best GPS for a decent price.

[icejunky]

If you like you Garmin Legend, then you will love the Garmin 60CSX, it is 10x more accurate and faster then my old Legend. I recently purchased a lake chip for it and took it out on the water this past weekend, worked great. these are made for extreme conditions

[DasRottweiler]

I have a Garmin Legend also, the most important thing ya can do is get the software for it. US Inland Lakes V3 is good , has the bigger lake and state park lake map contours . I also have US Topo 24K National Parks East V2, and Topo US 2008. Having the ability to pick spots and set routes to them while at the PC is much easier . You also can switch from map view on PC to Satelite view and see structure and weedbeds in some cases. Verify if creeks are inflowing or outflowing, check out the ramp location and parking lot size , set waypoints etc. right ftom the warm confines of your house. Buying the unit and not getting the software , you are only getting the most basic uses out of the unit.

[Cheeks13]

I use the Garmin Venture HC. I think it goes for about 170$ now. You can get the mapping software from Garmin Mapsource for whatever you need. (topo, depth contours). And like DasRott. said, you can do all the same things by connecting you unit to the PC with the provided USB cord. The unit also comes with Mapsource Trip and Waypoint Manager software. I love mine and use it year round in the mountains and on the water. Cheeks out!!! 8)

[Airs24]

I have a Garmin Vista HCX.  It works great and is pretty affordable considering everything that it can do.  I would make sure that if buy a Garmin, that it comes with the high sensitivity receiver!  You wont have to worry about not picking up a signal if it's cloudy or if you're in the bush under some tree's.

[Knoodles]

Thanks for the info on Garmin.  Wondering if there are any Lowrance users out there?  Are you able to pin point a marked spot with the H2o?

[SkeeterJeff]

I have an iFinder H2Oc that I use for our trips to Canada on soft water and for ice fishing.  In Canada I can get the boat within a few feet of the original waypoint with no problem.  Same on the ice.  The error is about 12' if I recall correctly.  Accuracy is better with the external antenna. 

Hope that helps.

-Jeff

[Knoodles]

Just an FYI for fellow fisherman.  Cabelas has the color H2o on sale right now for 189 bones.  Plus they have a coupon for 20 dollars off if you spend over 100$; so the long and short you get a color H2o for 169 bucks. 

The price got me so i just ordered mine on line.  We shall see how i like it?

[esox_magnum]

Been running an Expedition C Lowrance now since they came out, I can set a waypoint and come back to within a couple feet of my old holes. Every day is different depending on how they have them set for the day of course. I run an Eagle GPS on the boat and they both show the same thing day in day out. Yes sometimes they take more time than they should to aquire, not sure why. Sometimes turn them off and back on they aquire right away on the restart. This maybe happens 2-3 times a year not every time. Since buying my Expedition I have never felt the want or need to switch.

[sonar man]

The gramin 76csx is better then the 60csx and a + is that it floats 

[Sinnian]

Delorme PN-30 or PN-40 ~ they COME WITH the topo maps, and use the Navionics chips as well.  Check them out:

http://www.delorme.com/

Some really good prices now!!!!  (PN-40 is same price as the PN-30)

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=delorme+pn-30&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=2934559341&ref=pd_sl_45ipaql2ev_e

[E.C]

why is the 76csx better than the 60 besides the floating feature

[caddy084]

Another vote for the Garmin etrex Vista HCX. I use mine on the Water, Ice, in the Bush and in the urban jungle/ w the city navigator chip set. You also will have to buy the TOPO software separately. I get satellite reception with mine in my living room, super sensitive receiver. And best of all they have them at Walmart.com right now for $175.00.

[IceNomads]

I love the H2o. It takes a while for it to pick satelites but mines holds just fine. Mine eats navigation chips for breakfast and you can save a lot of waypoints. I have about 260 into mine with the chip and GPS and that was at full price and the color is 189 smacks at cabelas right now and i only have the black and white

[Knoodles]

I love the H2o. It takes a while for it to pick satelites but mines holds just fine. Mine eats navigation chips for breakfast and you can save a lot of waypoints. I have about 260 into mine with the chip and GPS and that was at full price and the color is 189 smacks at cabelas right now and i only have the black and white

Yea as i mentioned above I just bought mine today from Cabelas; saw the great deal.  They had the unit for 229 just yesterday.  I was debating on the Garmin or Lowrance but the 189 price and the 20 off coupon sold me.  Figure if i dont like the unit i can probably sell it on ebay for 200 bucks and make 20.

[Skipper]

why is the 76csx better than the 60 besides the floating feature

They have pretty much the same features except the 60 series has a super sensitive external antenna, and the 76 series floats.

[xeon]

I use a Garmin Colorado 300 loaded with Bluecharts G2, New Topo Canada, and City Nav. You can buy the unit for about 300 and you will own a much nicer unit than the h20c, that accepts way better maps, and way more of them. And if you like touchscreen than garmin has the new Oregon series for about the same price. Its also waterproof, and has longer battery life, has much more features and is backed by better customer support. Also it comes with mapping software for your computer where you can load all your fishing spots and keep track of where you caught fish on the lake, at what time ect. Its christmas, treat yourself.