Favorite GPS?
Moderators: bman, Chalk, Tom Keels
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Speardivertampa
- Posts: 82
- Joined: September 23rd, 2004, 2:16 am
- Location: Tallahassee/ Tampa
- Contact:
I would go with a garmin gpsmap 76s or 76cs. Make sure you know how much memory the maps you want to load require. A gps 76s has 24 mb of memory, others are lower. The 76cs has about 124 mb of memory a daytime veiwable colour screen price at http://www.thegpsstore.com/ 419.00 with $ 50.00 garmin rebate. 369.00. thats without blue charts @$100.00 for the unlock if one of your buddies can burn you a copy.
I've been wanting to get MAP76 as my old 12XL is on its last leg.
Thanks for sharing the special. My wife just bought me unit,
marine mount, video and power cord for Christmas.
I'm sure she'll be pleased when she finds out!
Merry Christmas to me.....
It may be that my sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
O.K.
Here's a KIA/SA jab!
Granted marine GPS ain't cheap. Neither are boat, trailer and fishing gear when added-up (tens of thousands).
SA question: Why go with around a $300-$400 hand held when for around twice that much you can get a Garmin 276C (portable, auto nav. capable, battery operated, with cigarette lighter power cord or boat battery connector) for about $700, including Garmin BlueChart, but not auto nav. and have a very nice unit that is more in a reasonable price range compared to the other big bucks you got invested?
There is a slight problem with marine handhelds in that when they are handheld and you combine boat movement with hand movement, satellite fix can often be much less accurate than you'd want.
I mount the 276C w/BlueChart on the hand rail of CCs with an excellent RAM bracket and run it (internal battery pack is good for around 15 hours), to the cigarette lighter plug that most boats come with, or do a simple installation of a cigarette lighter plug-in). The GPS comes with CLP & permanent power cord for boat battery connection.
276C screen is only a little bit bigger than a true handheld, but that little bit really helps. If you want a bigger screen, there are several Garmin permanent mounts that are excellent for not much more money.
276C has flash memory (Garmin's memory chips that are a little more money than the garden variety, but not too much, so). The P.C. to Bradenton region on the N.O. to Bradenton region on this single unlock BlueChart ($110) is only a tad over 1MB so a small 16MB memory chip (about $40) will do.
Anyone thinking about Garmin should give: gpscity.com a look. I have no connection with them other than to have been satisfied with their Garmin line and their good service. Their prices are close to the lowest, but they have excellent tech help, fast shipping and a very wide selection of accessories for most Garmin GPS.
It may sound like a SA comment, but going cheap isn't always the best way to go. Sport fishing just ain't cheap although you can usually get a good deal on good equipment if you look around and consider what you already got invested. Good luck!
Here's a KIA/SA jab!
Granted marine GPS ain't cheap. Neither are boat, trailer and fishing gear when added-up (tens of thousands).
SA question: Why go with around a $300-$400 hand held when for around twice that much you can get a Garmin 276C (portable, auto nav. capable, battery operated, with cigarette lighter power cord or boat battery connector) for about $700, including Garmin BlueChart, but not auto nav. and have a very nice unit that is more in a reasonable price range compared to the other big bucks you got invested?
There is a slight problem with marine handhelds in that when they are handheld and you combine boat movement with hand movement, satellite fix can often be much less accurate than you'd want.
I mount the 276C w/BlueChart on the hand rail of CCs with an excellent RAM bracket and run it (internal battery pack is good for around 15 hours), to the cigarette lighter plug that most boats come with, or do a simple installation of a cigarette lighter plug-in). The GPS comes with CLP & permanent power cord for boat battery connection.
276C screen is only a little bit bigger than a true handheld, but that little bit really helps. If you want a bigger screen, there are several Garmin permanent mounts that are excellent for not much more money.
276C has flash memory (Garmin's memory chips that are a little more money than the garden variety, but not too much, so). The P.C. to Bradenton region on the N.O. to Bradenton region on this single unlock BlueChart ($110) is only a tad over 1MB so a small 16MB memory chip (about $40) will do.
Anyone thinking about Garmin should give: gpscity.com a look. I have no connection with them other than to have been satisfied with their Garmin line and their good service. Their prices are close to the lowest, but they have excellent tech help, fast shipping and a very wide selection of accessories for most Garmin GPS.
It may sound like a SA comment, but going cheap isn't always the best way to go. Sport fishing just ain't cheap although you can usually get a good deal on good equipment if you look around and consider what you already got invested. Good luck!
In a land called, Perfect, sea grits grows on the beach dunes in patches next to those of sea oats!
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Chalk
- Moderator
- Posts: 11996
- Joined: March 9th, 2002, 8:00 pm
- Location: 30° 13' N, 85° 40' W
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I wouldn't call spending 300-400 cheap, maybe your in a higher tax bracket.....But can you take a 276 and put it in your pocket and go hiking? I seen Tom Keels and Tincan both use there 76s to pinpoint accuracy on some fine spots out of sight from land....I guess it depends on what you want in a GPS Light Chop, to me the 76 series is the best you can buy in a hand held. I initially liked the Lowrance better because it had a higher memory rating....but their saltwater maps suck.....
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Saltwater4me
- Posts: 173
- Joined: August 9th, 2004, 6:02 pm
- Location: Thomasville
I have been fishing with a Garmin 76 for the last three and a half years and love it. I have run other machines of all kinds (fixed and hand held) the 76 is by far the best for the money for recreational fishing. I have never marked a spot that I couldn't return to with no problem and that is even fishing over things as small as a trash dumpster.
"Support the country you live in OR live in the country you support!!!!"
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Saltwater4me
- Posts: 173
- Joined: August 9th, 2004, 6:02 pm
- Location: Thomasville
Oh yea the "hurricane picked it up and moved it adjuster" on those GPS's don't work so well
Come with me anytime on my quest to find the missing bottom structure. There is probably a rock ledge out there somewhere with more junk piled on it from the hurricane than you could ever fish!!!
Come with me anytime on my quest to find the missing bottom structure. There is probably a rock ledge out there somewhere with more junk piled on it from the hurricane than you could ever fish!!!
"Support the country you live in OR live in the country you support!!!!"
Cheap is as cheap does!
I'm on Social Security! Don't come any cheaper!
I'll admit it depends a lot on your financial responsibilities at the time, and your attitude, perspective and values. My take is, I'm cheap, but research a lot for value in what's available at the time.
For your enlightenment, I actually can put the 276C in my pocket (it's offered as a handheld, 15+ hours running time at low backlight settings) and take off hiking. It ain't all that much bigger and heavier than a 76, but kicks butt with flash memory (I got Garmin Topo U.S. to load if I want to use it on the trail, since BlueChart ain't all that useful in the boonies).
The 76 series is a fantastic GPS and I'm not about to say they aren't!
My (and my son's) hiking GPS is a Garmin eTrex Vista, but it ain't marine grade water proof and isn't color. The kid, who's done the 2,273 miles of the Appalachian Trail, likes the 276C, better, so that answers your question about using it for hiking!
Also, the 76 sure ain't, ". . . the best you can buy in a hand held . . ." as you say. For the price, yes it is!
I repeat my major point -- maybe considering the relative investment in a GPS, compared to the other investment in fishing equipment might well be worthwhile when shopping a GPS.
Well?
I'm on Social Security! Don't come any cheaper!
I'll admit it depends a lot on your financial responsibilities at the time, and your attitude, perspective and values. My take is, I'm cheap, but research a lot for value in what's available at the time.
For your enlightenment, I actually can put the 276C in my pocket (it's offered as a handheld, 15+ hours running time at low backlight settings) and take off hiking. It ain't all that much bigger and heavier than a 76, but kicks butt with flash memory (I got Garmin Topo U.S. to load if I want to use it on the trail, since BlueChart ain't all that useful in the boonies).
The 76 series is a fantastic GPS and I'm not about to say they aren't!
My (and my son's) hiking GPS is a Garmin eTrex Vista, but it ain't marine grade water proof and isn't color. The kid, who's done the 2,273 miles of the Appalachian Trail, likes the 276C, better, so that answers your question about using it for hiking!
Also, the 76 sure ain't, ". . . the best you can buy in a hand held . . ." as you say. For the price, yes it is!
I repeat my major point -- maybe considering the relative investment in a GPS, compared to the other investment in fishing equipment might well be worthwhile when shopping a GPS.
Well?
In a land called, Perfect, sea grits grows on the beach dunes in patches next to those of sea oats!
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Wil
- Dive Boards Moderator
- Posts: 200
- Joined: December 12th, 2001, 8:00 pm
- Location: Crawfordville
- Contact:
Late reply here- Stay away from the Garmin eTrex series. Between me and a friend of mine, we've had two fail due to flooding, even though neither of them have been submerged (moisture due to rain, etc). The 76 model (map or non-map) that has been mentioned about 500 times in this thread is awesome, and I've never heard of one flooding. The eTrex series is $100-150 cheaper than the 76, but you'll end up hating it. Definately worth the extra money to get the 76.
Also, I've had the chance to use a few Magellan GPSs, and I'd steer clear of them as well. Difficult user interface (compared to the garmin 76), and they seemed a bit cheap (quality-wise) as well.
Wil
Also, I've had the chance to use a few Magellan GPSs, and I'd steer clear of them as well. Difficult user interface (compared to the garmin 76), and they seemed a bit cheap (quality-wise) as well.
Wil