Best GPS for the lake

[Shreddy]

Originally Posted by Dave R

That model is not listed as compatible with LakeVu HD ultra. You may be able to update the charts that are in it. The Garmin website will tell you how.

I have no clue what's on there now as I don't really use GPS. I've familiar with most of the lake having boated there for 20+ years but there are still areas it would be nice to have GPS instead of pulling out the chart. I wonder if I can just download something from Bizer that would be pretty decent.

[Phantom]

Originally Posted by Shreddy

I have no clue what's on there now as I don't really use GPS. I've familiar with most of the lake having boated there for 20+ years but there are still areas it would be nice to have GPS instead of pulling out the chart. I wonder if I can just download something from Bizer that would be pretty decent.

Shreddy - I like you have 90% of the Lake chart in my head (still a few area's I like to pull the Bizer and refamiliarize) ……… BUT - a GPS comes in damn handy on one of those "Black", overcast, moonless nights.


.

[ishoot308]

Well I guess everyone has their favorite brand and I am partial to the Lowrance line of gps plotters and fish finders. Their ease of use, clarity, available options and durability make the Lowrance a great product. I currently have four of them and one is 10 years old and gets used Year round including ice fishing so it is subjected to temps from -20 to the heat wave we had a few days ago. All have been bullet proof! Add a Navionics chip and you have a pretty unbeatable unit!

Dan

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Well I guess everyone has their favorite brand and I am partial to the Lowrance line of gps plotters and fish finders. Their ease of use, clarity, available options and durability make the Lowrance a great product. I currently have four of them and one is 10 years old and gets used Year round including ice fishing so it is subjected to temps from -20 to the heat wave we had a few days ago. All have been bullet proof! Add a Navionics chip and you have a pretty unbeatable unit!

Dan

Our rinker has a 2005/2006 vintage lowrance globalmap 3500c and I cannot find cartography anywhere. None of the new ones these days willl work.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by codeman671

Our rinker has a 2005/2006 vintage lowrance globalmap 3500c and I cannot find cartography anywhere. None of the new ones these days willl work.

Navionics maps should work on that unit as stated here... http://www.jollyannsales.com/GPS/low...lmap_3500c.htm

"Compatible with optional plug-&-play Navionics® Gold, Classic and HotMaps™ electronic charts including Hotmaps Premium."


Dan

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Navionics maps should work on that unit as stated here... http://www.jollyannsales.com/GPS/low...lmap_3500c.htm

"Compatible with optional plug-&-play Navionics® Gold, Classic and HotMaps™ electronic charts including Hotmaps Premium."


Dan

The older machines only take a card up to 1gb in capacity. The newer cards are 2gb and larger. I have a navionics from one of the premiers and it does not recognize it.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by codeman671

The older machines only take a card up to 1gb in capacity. The newer cards are 2gb and larger. I have a navionics from one of the premiers and it does not recognize it.

On some of the older MFDs, if you update their firmware, they can support larger cards. Of course, you need a small card to install the firmware update, and need to check the release notes to see if this is one of the 'fixes' included in the firmware update.

Myself, I like Navionics charts. They do a great job on the lake, take updates and fixes from users, and you can see their chart before you buy, or use it online in a web browser at anytime.

Garmin purchased Navionics, so we can only hope that in the future, Navionics charts will be an option for current Garmin devices. At this point they will only say that they are 'thinking about' adding Navionics support to the Garmin devices. We don't know if they will add Navionics support to future yet to be released MFDs, or if they will support Navionics charts on their current devices.


I have an older Garmin GPSMAP 431S that I use as a backup. It has the Bizer chip in it. It's setup on a cigarette power connector to allow it to be used on almost any boat. It was used for less than one season on an older, smaller boat, but works great. I keep thinking that I should sell it.

I much prefer the Navionics charts, so if I ever replaced the MFD on my current boat, I'd go with something that supports the Navionics charts.

[JonLevis]

I love my Standard Horizon CP180i with the Bizer card but...coming back from Meredith after the fireworks with no moon, I switched the screen color to "night" and it was just as bright as any other mode. I could not use it and maintain my night vision. I ended up putting a hat over it and took it off for brief moments to double check my position

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by JonLevis

I love my Standard Horizon CP180i with the Bizer card but...coming back from Meredith after the fireworks with no moon, I switched the screen color to "night" and it was just as bright as any other mode. I could not use it and maintain my night vision. I ended up putting a hat over it and took it off for brief moments to double check my position

Once powered on you should be able to access the light dimming adjustment by hitting the power switch once quickly. This should bring you to the contrast and light dimming adjustment...

Dan

[Shreddy]

Originally Posted by Phantom

Shreddy - I like you have 90% of the Lake chart in my head (still a few area's I like to pull the Bizer and refamiliarize) ……… BUT - a GPS comes in damn handy on one of those "Black", overcast, moonless nights.


.

Exactly why I'd appreciate having the updated GPS. Would be very nice on some rides back from dinner. I know the model is old, but the thing still works, just a bit dated on the map. I don't go to Alton much anymore and was thinking of heading there for lunch Sunday and chose to head toward Meredith bc I was too lazy to navigate the chart