Author Topic: Hand held GPS (Read 13420 times)

74redone · « **on:** Feb 22, 2011, 10:51 PM »

What the best hand held GPS on the market for the money? I'm looking for one that will be able to do the lakes and hot spots maps. I want to be able to take it with me fishing and be able to mark spots that I find are good as well. I have never owned one of these yet so I need a path to not one that has a lot of features I'm never going to use. I looked at Bass Pro and they have a new one out by Lowrance that does the lakes,but is that a good brand for a GPS? Any info you can give me would be a great help!
Thanks!
Matt

joemich1911 · « **Reply #1 on:** Feb 22, 2011, 11:21 PM »

Check out Garmin, they have several models that accept lake maps and they have a custom map option that allows you to import paper maps to your device. Pretty cool!

Fontona19 · « **Reply #2 on:** Feb 22, 2011, 11:39 PM »

I have the Garmin 60csx. Great piece of equipment. A+++

xjma · « **Reply #3 on:** Feb 22, 2011, 11:47 PM »

Lowrance is top notch. You'll probably get a hand-held garmin though, as they have (I believe) probably the largest selection of different hand helds. Never used a lowrance hand held, only built in units. There are a million different ones with different resolution, wireless capabilities, and all sorts of other stuff that you may or may not ever use.

Two suggestions, go with one that is water-proof if you can and I don't like the touch-screen ones....but that's just personal preference.

iceman_phil · « **Reply #4 on:** Feb 23, 2011, 06:32 AM »

I too am looking for a hand held GPS....I am not interested in all the bells and whistles....I just want one that is very accurate and simple....I want it to be able to "X marks the hot spot" and then be able to get back home in a snow storm....I don't need all the mapping features for the lakes I fish.

Phil

elkguide1107 · « **Reply #5 on:** Feb 23, 2011, 06:46 AM »

I use a Garmin GPSMAP 60CSX, you can get one for like $250 now because theyve come out with some new models but for about 10years the 60CSX was pretty much the industry standard for hiking/hunting handhelds. As far as handhelds for hunting/hiking/fishing go, do not buy anything except Garmin, you will regret it - if you don't believe me, buy another brand. If you really wanna be upset with yourself, buy a bushnell GPS.

Sinnian · « **Reply #6 on:** Feb 23, 2011, 06:51 AM »

Buy based on where you live!

Meaning that Garmin map chips are better for some parts of the country, and Navonics map chips are better for others.

Delorme or Lowrance would be the GPS device that take the Navonics chip.

I live in Maine, and for the North East the Navonics is better, so I have that with a Delorme.

littlehead · « **Reply #7 on:** Feb 23, 2011, 07:20 AM »

i have a very basic garmin it doesnt show lake maps or contour it just shows the outline of the lake in blue and where you are on the lake but it works just fine for this purpose of finding your spot again

geo315 · « **Reply #8 on:** Feb 23, 2011, 07:30 AM »

The GPSMAP 60CSX by Garmin is by far the most accurate. In my opinion. I use it for Geocaching and am usually within 4 to 6 feet of the cache. I have used it to find spots that I have marked in open water to ice fish also. Thats my 2 cents. lol. Geo..

firegems · « **Reply #9 on:** Feb 23, 2011, 08:18 AM »

I have been using my old Garmin E-Map for about 7 years now...The screen is larger so its easy to see my waypoints and tracks. I know there is more accurate units because of the "WAAS" system, but if it gets me within 20' of structure I am happy, i will pinpoint it from there.
I download fishing hotspots for contour lines of lakes and public launches and then replace with topo maps for hunting (all of noth america). The only feature it doesnt have is road map directions.

icepollack · « **Reply #10 on:** Feb 23, 2011, 08:48 AM »

Does the Garmin GPSMAP 60 CSX read the Navionics Lake Map chip? Thanks.

geo315 · « **Reply #11 on:** Feb 23, 2011, 10:39 AM »

Dont know/ Check with Garmin.

www.garmin.com

good luck Geo.

tommy-n · « **Reply #12 on:** Feb 23, 2011, 01:56 PM »

Quote from: icepollack on Feb 23, 2011, 08:48 AM

Does the Garmin GPSMAP 60 CSX read the Navionics Lake Map chip? Thanks.

no

Capt.Dana · « **Reply #13 on:** Feb 23, 2011, 03:02 PM »

I have a older marine version Magellan. It works OK! It is a battery hog, has trouble in extreme cold and has trouble near areas of high mineral content. Most of my best spots tend to be near high minerals, underwater springs. The Garmins are way better. I have learned, from buying cell phones and laptops, that battery life can sometimes mean the most.

mjmeyer · « **Reply #14 on:** Feb 23, 2011, 03:06 PM »

I have the DeLORME PN-40 with a Navionics. I really like it. I use it to walk to spots I've marked during both open water and hard water fishing trips.
You can follow contours on the map and be fairly sure of the depth. I've drilled a series of holes up a drop off and followed up with the sonar. The chip also fits my Humminbird 385ci, but I usually carry the PN-40.

browning13 · « **Reply #15 on:** Feb 23, 2011, 03:44 PM »

I also have the Garmin 60csx with lakemaster and I love it, would definetely recommend

muskydg · « **Reply #16 on:** Feb 23, 2011, 04:53 PM »

Delorme PN-40 for me. Got 1 this year and love it. Better than the new lowrance endura's. They have the solunor calendar built in and also barometric pressure. Can't beat this unit

74redone · « **Reply #17 on:** Feb 23, 2011, 06:06 PM »

I was looking at the PN-40 and the Lowrance Endura Safari. This Safari does have the barometric pressure gauge. The Safari comes with the Fishing Hot Spots pro chip for $349. The PN-40 is also on sale right now for $299. Has anybody used a Lowrance before?
Thanks
Matt

Quote from: muskydg on Feb 23, 2011, 04:53 PM

Delorme PN-40 for me. Got 1 this year and love it. Better than the new lowrance endura's. They have the solunor calendar built in and also barometric pressure. Can't beat this unit

muskydg · « **Reply #18 on:** Feb 23, 2011, 06:28 PM »

i bought the endura first and didn't like it right off. If you are planning on using navionics map chip you can't overlay the map with trails and icons. Something to do with lowrance. i sent it back and got the delorme. great piece of equipment. sorryy about no caps had surgery on my arm. little hard doing 1 handed and also the wrong hand.

Oldbear · « **Reply #19 on:** Feb 23, 2011, 08:38 PM »

Have the Garmin 60csx also. Its more user friendly t han a Magellan 1500 I had earlier. Bass Pro had them for $219.95 At Christmas time.

GaryF · « **Reply #20 on:** Feb 24, 2011, 06:27 AM »

I picked up the Garmin Nuvi 550 and can't give it enough praise. It does both duties as a car and handheld unit. I punch in the co-ordinates to any place and it will take me there the quickest way and straight on out to the spot on the lake. Best of all it talks to you to tell you if you are going astray on the ice so you can focus on the driving not the screen.

SGM · « **Reply #21 on:** Feb 24, 2011, 06:49 PM »

I'm with Browning13, have a Garmin 60CSX with Lakemaster and it works great. I paid big bucks for mine and now you can buy them under $200.00.

74redone · « **Reply #22 on:** Feb 24, 2011, 06:54 PM »

How detailed r the Lakemaster maps on the GPS? Does it let u mark spots on the map and store them on that map? I have never used a GPS so this is all new to me.
Thanks
Matt

SGM · « **Reply #23 on:** Feb 24, 2011, 08:18 PM »

To be honest the only lake map I've used in my GPS is the Lakemaster for MI. I think it's great but other maps could be just as good or better. When you mark your spot you can go back to it on any map you have in the unit. The lake map chip shows contour lines and depths on most public lakes.

Sinnian · « **Reply #24 on:** Feb 24, 2011, 08:47 PM »

74 ~ where are you fishing, i.e. State. That makes the biggest difference on the lake map chips, thus GPS recommendations.

74redone · « **Reply #25 on:** Feb 24, 2011, 09:05 PM »

I'm fishing in Illinois,Iowa,and Kentucky(soft water).
Thanks
Matt

Quote from: Sinnian on Feb 24, 2011, 08:47 PM

74 ~ where are you fishing, i.e. State. That makes the biggest difference on the lake map chips, thus GPS recommendations.

s10xr · « **Reply #26 on:** Feb 25, 2011, 05:45 AM »

i have a lowrance ifinder pro. no color here. just 18 shades of gray. i have the topo map fishing map east also for it. absolutly love it.

Chris Gatley · « **Reply #27 on:** Feb 25, 2011, 07:20 AM »

Navionics charts do not work in Garmin units, sorry.

DeLorme and some Lowrance hand helds currently. Right now, I am in Manitoba. It seems that the DeLorme and magellan are big out here. But, most of these guys are installing GPS plotters in their 4x$ trucks for fishing Lake of the Woods and Lake Winnipeg etc...New to me but still taking things to a greater level. Gotta love it.

Chris Gatley
Navionics Manager

Sinnian · « **Reply #28 on:** Feb 25, 2011, 07:49 AM »

Quote from: 74redone on Feb 24, 2011, 09:05 PM

I'm fishing in Illinois,Iowa,and Kentucky(soft water).
Thanks
Matt

List of lakes for:
Garmin LakeMaster Iowa-Illinois: http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/lakemaster/coverage_pdfs/Iowa_Illinois_lake_list.pdf

Garmin Inland Lakes Vision — North Central (Includes freshwater lakes in North Dakota, South Dakota, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin, as well as full coverage of lakes that extend into neighboring states. Bull Shoals, Norfolk and Table Rock lakes in Missouri and Arkansas and Pymatuning Reservoir and Shenango River Lake in Pennsylvania and Ohio are covered in their entirety.): http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/inlandvision/Vision_Lakes_List.pdf

Navonics HotMaps® Premium North (for Iowa): http://www.navionics.com/LakeList_HMPremium.asp?RegionID=1

Navonics HotMaps® Premium East (for Illinois and Kentucky): http://www.navionics.com/LakeList_HMPremium.asp?RegionID=3

filetandrelease · « **Reply #29 on:** Mar 02, 2011, 06:33 AM »

Quote from: muskydg on Feb 23, 2011, 06:28 PM

i bought the endura first and didn't like it right off. If you are planning on using navionics map chip you can't overlay the map with trails and icons. Something to do with lowrance. i sent it back and got the delorme. great piece of equipment. sorryy about no caps had surgery on my arm. little hard doing 1 handed and also the wrong hand.

thats why i didn't get the endura ,to me it was useless ,i have an old h20 that works great with an nav 08 chip ,but i chipped my lowrance 113 with a 2010 chip big difference but the old h2o didn't have enough room , i'm hearing really good things abot the pn-40

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Author Topic: Hand held GPS (Read 13420 times)