GPS units????

[jdevoid]

Could anyone give me some info on GPS units- it seems there are 2 million brands with 6 million models. I am looking for a lower end unit maybe 5" screen. Are there brands to stay away from- others with great service- maybe one that gives you best bang for the weaking dollar?  I want a GPS only unit. Garmin 440- Standard Horizon 180i- ???

[MarshMarlowe196]

If I can give any advice on this, I would buy a new unit, not used or previous models.  My Garmin GPSmap 492 is a little over a year old now and one day it stopped detecting satellites.  I've done everything recommended by Garmin and others who have owned Units like this (592, etc) including software updates, and nothing works, so now I'm stuck with an expensive console ornament.  I'll have to send it in to get it repaired for around $160, that's if they can repair it.  

Not saying Garmin is a bad company because most people I know with Garmins haven't had this problem, but I've never heard of anyone having any real issues with Lowrance.  

As far as what to choose on a new GPS, I would get one with the depth/sounder built in, and pay attention how detailed the preloaded maps in the unit are.  My unit would stop plotting once I traveled a certain distance upriver (I found this out in the middle of the night in an unmarked channel).  I'll have to buy some add-on software for around $100 to fix this.  I don't know what kind of Aquasport you own, but mine being a bay boat, this was very annoying and inconvenient as I spend half my time on the water in lakes, up-river, shallow creeks, etc.  Not a big deal in the daylight, but almost a must-have after dark.

[jdevoid]

Thanks for the insight. I will be out on the bay-sometimes  ocean during the daytime. I wonder how essential the GPS is my situation- COMPASS anyone? South shore Long Island is straight forward. GPS seems like a lot of headache that enatails one to spend more $ to get more gadetry- sonar- sirrus radio etc.

[Capt. Bob]

I'll add that a GPS is a nice tool when drifting (using the bread crumb mode).
My Garmin 180 was a monochrome DGPS receiver that ran (still does) for 13 "lucky" years.
It took buying the map chip to get any worthwhile charts but it worked well.  

I just updated to the Garmin 440. Color but with a smaller screen. Have no idea how long it will last.
I was disappointed with the preloaded maps so again I sprung for the chip.
Cost almost as much as the unit itself. Hope mine last for longer than a year but nowadays you never really know.  

I have a separate (Lowrance) sounder.

GPS is a nice tool for scouting in back country (Ten Thousand Island area) that I used a lot. It's also nice in crappy weather offshore for finding your way back to a nav. marker. Most have a lot of gimmicky tools that I don't really use but hey someone must.
Maybe a portable (handheld) is what you need.  

Good luck.

[RickK]

I ran my 170 without anything but a compass for about 18 out of the last 22yrs I've had her. Once I put a GPS Chart/Plotter on her I realized how little I knew about the area I grew up in    The chart plotter tells you so much that you'll ask yourself how you ever lived without it and GPS. I think if you're on a budget I would look for a "Discontinued" model - That's what I did 4 years ago and I have ZERO complaints.  I saw a Standard Horizon (I think that is the brand) GPS/chart plotter combo (with fish finder) on sale recently for <$350.  At that price it is brand new...

[MarshMarlowe196]

I ran my 170 without anything but a compass for about 18 out of the last 22yrs I've had her. Once I put a GPS Chart/Plotter on her I realized how little I knew about the area I grew up in    The chart plotter tells you so much that you'll ask yourself how you ever lived without it and GPS. I think if you're on a budget I would look for a "Discontinued" model - That's what I did 4 years ago and I have ZERO complaints.  I saw a Standard Horizon (I think that is the brand) GPS/chart plotter combo (with fish finder) on sale recently for <$350.  At that price it is brand new...

I have to agree with Rick; ever since mine conked out, I've missed it dearly... If you do decide to go with a discontinued model, I would suggest steering clear of a Garmin, as the problem I've described above has been a fairly common complaint on THT and other sites, and it's not just with my model Garmin.

http://www.thehulltruth.com/marine-elec ... Satellites

http://www.thehulltruth.com/marine-elec ... Satellites

http://www.thehulltruth.com/marine-elec ... stion.html

http://www.thehulltruth.com/marine-elec ... Satellites


http://www.thehulltruth.com/marine-elec ... Satellites

That's the few that I could find briefly...

[jdevoid]

So after I purchase a unit, for say $500, I still have to spend $200 for a chart chip? Sort of like I'll take the car and here's another $2000 for the other 4 cyclinders. What a crock of

[MarshMarlowe196]

So after I purchase a unit, for say $500, I still have to spend $200 for a chart chip? Sort of like I'll take the car and here's another $2000 for the other 4 cyclinders. What a crock of

Most likely the unit will have enough preloaded maps to satisfy your needs.  It's only when you get far enough inland (several miles) that you might have problems.

[RickK]

Ditto - I was gonna say I thought the new ones came preloaded.

[thennutts]

Get the Garmin 4212, thats the one im getting for my boat. Just messin with you, but seriously, if you do dive into another unit, get it from west marine(yes i know they may be retail), they are like wal-mart, they take ANYTHING back no questions asked, if you get buddy buddy with the guys in there they will let you slide past the return date i.e. I had a CD player in my old boat that I brought back 1 1/2 years later, out of the box, rusted, no receipt,face plate missing and walked out of there with a brand new one 5 minutes later. Just a little hint for everyone!   8)

[wingtime]

I just bought a Garmin 440s chart plotter/sounder combo.  So far I love it.    Make sure you buy the right unit for your use since they come with three different preloaded chart options.  Coastal, inland, and none!  I have a coastal unit and the preloaded charts for the Tampa Bay area are great.  I played with a entry level Lowrance ($399) and a Humminbird at the stores and the charts were not even close to the Garmin unit.  Granted the new Lowrance HDS units are sick but out of my budget.  Also I bought mine at West marine.  Best price and I bought the extended protection plan.  I saw protection plane not warranty cause even if I break it they will replace it!

[Capt. Bob]

WT,
I have the 440 also (couldn't bring myself to spend double for the 5" screen).
Mine is the CP only.
When you run split screen, is the info clear?
My biggest fear (with my bad eyesight) was that it would be too jumbled for me.
The color is nice though

[John Jones]

I have to agree with Rick; ever since mine conked out, I've missed it dearly... If you do decide to go with a discontinued model, I would suggest steering clear of a Garmin, as the problem I've described above has been a fairly common complaint on THT and other sites, and it's not just with my model Garmin.

http://www.thehulltruth.com/marine-elec ... Satellites

http://www.thehulltruth.com/marine-elec ... Satellites

http://www.thehulltruth.com/marine-elec ... stion.html

http://www.thehulltruth.com/marine-elec ... Satellites


http://www.thehulltruth.com/marine-elec ... Satellites

That's the few that I could find briefly...

I could quote 10 times that many complaint threads about Lowrance, especially their customer service.
All I will say is every one that I know personally raves about Garmin and their customer service.  I have 2 Garmin marine units (one six years old), 2 Garmin car units, and a 9 year old hand held.  The only issue I have ever had was the hand held quit after 3 years.  I sent it to Garmin and paid a small fee and they replaced it.  Now at 9 years old, the internal battery is dead and it will not hold data if power is off.  I think I got my money's worth.

[RickK]

The discountinued model I bought is a Garmin GPSMap 188c and I've had no problems with it.  I at first bought it with the pre-programmed card for my area but returned the card and bought the blue seas  kit with software and blank card/programmer so I could make my own and upload/download trips/waypoints, etc.  No complaints.  
I also own a Garmin iQue 3600 PDA/GPS - bought it in 11/2004 and haven't had any problems except the battery which I changed/upgraded.  Automobile GPS were not commonplace back then and I had to make the maps myself using their software - I made one SD card with the maps of the Eastern timezone and one with all the other timezones on it and popped in the one I needed .  Garmin really missed the marketing on that "tool" - if they would have marketed it "at all" I think a lot of the techs in my field would have bought one because it was a PDA first, having all the functionality of a PDA and then you could route to an address out of the address book or calendar. No one has created another PDA/gps since - they let it die  :(  When I used to travel a lot I used it instead of paper maps and was way ahead of the times.  Still use it too, used it last weekend on a trip. Now you can buy an automotive GPS for $49 with preloaded maps. Garmin "Rocks".

[John Jones]

I forgot about my Garmin iQue M3.  Full fledged Windows Mobile PDA with Outlook, Word and Excel.  Mine was new enough that it came with City Navigator NT, their complete North America detailed maps.  I bought a wireless SD card for it so I could get email as well.  The only thing wrong with it now is the battery will not hold a charge and I have not taken time to check on getting a new battery.  Yes, as far as I know Garmin never made much of an effort to market their PDAs.