GPS mapping vs. non mapping

[MXFISHER656]

I have been looking in to buying a GPS for a little while now and wanted to get some unbiased opinions on the subject. I was just about set on buying a Garmin GPS 72, I thought it was exactly what I wanted and seeing that it's water proof and floats it would be perfect for fishing. 

Then I begin reading about mapping GPS. I'm not sure I totally understand the "mapping" part of it but I gather that you can buy maps load them in and "see" where you are on the map/screen. Does anyone have a mapping style GPS that they use for fishing? Does anyone know if maps of lakes (New York fingers lakes especially) are available. I believe there are marine maps available, I was wondering also if marine maps have things like water depth on them. I realize that a GPS is not a replacement for a flasher or fishfinder but water depth would be nice.

Side note, I fish both soft and hard water seasons, and have a boat for the summer. My intentions for my GPS unit would be fishing first (like life) and any other time I would use it would be a bonus.

Does anyone have a GPS they really like or really hate?

Anyone have the Garmin GPS 72?


Any advice for this GPS newbie would be appreciated. Thanks



656

[Fishin Fireman]

I have a Garmin Etrex Legend, have map source topo for it and metro guide. I love it. Would not go very far off the beaten path in Alaska without one. Garmin also has a Blue Chart for water, go to www.garmin.com to find out if they cover NY.  I take mine along to map good spots when I find one and how to get there if I go by snowmobile.

The Metro Guide and Blue Chart are completely useless here unless I used the marine maps on the coast. No Lakes or rivers anywhere inland. Someday maybe Garmin will get their act together and develop a blue chart to include remote and interior Alaska.


God Luck

[Bluefinforme]

MAGELLAN MERIDIAN MARINE

that's the only name you need to know

it floats, is loaded with maps, and is deadly accurate

[tommyboy]

MX,

I have the Garmin GPSMAP60C.  It can accept additional maps that will allow you to see contours and fishing hot spots on the bigger finger lakes, just contours on the smaller finger lakes and many contours for medium sized lakes in New York.  The small ponds and lakes are all up to you mapping it out yourself.

You can see the coverage at http://www.garmin.com/cartography/mapSource/reclakesEast.jsp# (then click on the mapview link in the upper right corner)

I would highly recommend the 60C, mainly for its ease of use, long battery life, as well as many other features.  My father in law has two Magellans (the better one being their top-of-the-line Merdian platinum), and it usually takes him about 10 minutes just to mark a waypoint.  Me, I just hit the mark button and the enter button and the waypoint is saved.  I can go back in later and add any additional information I want to, either on the unit itself or on my computer, which I just download to the GPS.

The one thing that bothers me about the GPS 72 is the low amount of memory (only 1 MB).  That may cover more than you would need, but it's really not that much.  For comparison, the 64 MB units usually can hold an area about the size of the State of Georgia in topo maps.  I don't have the lake maps yet, but I would assume the storage requirements are similar for them, you might be able to fit a few lake maps on it at once.  It could be a pain if you travel a lot and want to be able to look at different maps.

Also, another thing to consider is just waiting.  Garmin will be coming out with several new models in a few months that offer expandable memory.

[Bluefinforme]

MX,

  My father in law has two Magellans (the better one being their top-of-the-line Merdian platinum), and it usually takes him about 10 minutes just to mark a waypoint. 

okay    I have a meridian....takes 3 seconds

[tunein36]

I have the GPS12 and have never felt really comfortable using it. Setting waypoints is tedius and there are too many different screens to view information on. I am always getting confused and either end up with too many waypoints or none!!

I keep hearing about the etrex models being easy to use and with the higher end ones you not needing to be moving for it to read sound like it might be a better fit?

[MXFISHER656]

Thanks for the replies, I still would like to know What the difference between a mapping and non mapping GPS is?



If anybody can explian it real quick it would be apprecated, don't need a novel just a "Lameman's terms tpye answer"


656

[PigShanks]

Plain and simple. Non-mapping gives you your latitude and longitude reference only. A mapping gps shows your co-ordinates in relationship to the particular map that you have loaded into your GPS.

[fallsonice]

I own the Garmin GPSmap 76C  It is absolutely amazing!  Check it out on the Garmin site. 

      Steve  ><,))'>

[billybono]

Plain and simple. Non-mapping gives you your latitude and longitude reference only.

altitude also 

              billybono

[PigShanks]

altitude also 

              billybono

Ah, yes!!!!!!!!! I stand corrected.

[bigredonice]

I have the e-trex venture...non mapping...no basemap.  I don't use it anyway.   This GPS has been through some crap! I got it in the spring of 2003, and since then it has been through some ungodly torture.  Still works at -20F everytime, and puts me EXACTLY on my spot everytime.  I have a 3' diameter hole in the weeds as one of my waypoints.  It puts me right there everytime.  I could not ask for anything more from a GPS.

[MXFISHER656]

Thanks for the info everyone, I just purchased my first hand held GPS unit. After spend a few more hours looking and learning online I decided to go with a Magellan Gold.

Tommyboy, thanks for bringing up the memory issue. I was unaware of it until you brought it up. Yes maps do take up a bunch of space and I plan on buying lake maps. 1MB would have gotten me no where. The Gold I purchased comes with 16MB of maps loaded and has 128MB total internal memory. It also accepts SD cards which basically makes it unlimited memory.


Bluefinforme, thanks for suggesting Magellan, though there website is a little difficult to navigate (no pun intended) I went with a Magellan because they include more feature at cheaper prices.

If anyone else is looking into buying a GPS check ebay, there almost giving them away. I got mine over a $100. cheaper than they were selling it on Magellan website and I bought it from a legitimate business brand new.




Thanks again for the info.

656