need help selecting a hand held GPS

Waytogo · 11-24-2006, 08:03 AM

Give an old salt a hand at selecting a hand held gps.must be able to run on dc boat power plus batteries in a pinch. have been looking at lawrence, garmin & magellon. whats the consensus out there. This would be a backup to my standard horizon.I will be waiting for suggestions . Thanks--- Mike --WAYTOGO

Orca · 11-24-2006, 08:40 AM

Some info:

http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?p=1276629
http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?p=1287790
http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?p=1160795
http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?p=1160811
http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?p=1039435

...

A search for "handheld GPS" will turn up these and more.

Waytogo · 11-24-2006, 07:38 PM

Orca,thanks for the threads they will be a big help.--MIKE--WAYTOGO

El-Kabong · 11-25-2006, 08:24 AM

Garmin GPSMap 76s (or the color version) and the BlueChart maps. If you hike/hunt/camp get the Topo Maps as well.

EK

fishtales · 11-25-2006, 10:05 AM

Mike,
I have a Garmin hand held for a back up and I like it very well. You can add the chart chips and get extremley good detail.
Dick

Tinman · 11-25-2006, 10:22 AM

My Garmin handheld is 6 years old, and has been used for business and pleasure around the world. I have no complaints, and I think Garmin's operating system makes a lot of intuitive sense.

Chug · 11-25-2006, 10:32 AM

Yep, I agree, on the Garmin!
I had the etrex summit for many years, thought it was nice unit. Used it for S.A.R. missions in the deep dark Timber. Just Few month back bought the Garmin 60CX. WOW. I Can Program all streets Of the US, onto a chip. OR plug in the TOPO chip for all of Oregon. Will keep good SAT lock, in the deep dark timber. Few times it lost its track. BUT, re-locks real fast. I have not used in the Deep dark Timber, under a Snow storm yet. Winter is just starting. :-)

I am sure they make the marine maps for it, that would be real handy on coastal areas.

Garmin 60cx is good unit.

Leadball · 11-26-2006, 12:08 PM

Here's a Garmin story. Bought and eTrex Legend to take on a bike trip in 2001. The joystick control died about four years later and I gave up on the unit being out of warrantee that long. Just figured I'd buy another one. Went to the sportsman's show at Portland Expo center, something like February 2005. Stopped at the Garmin booth and asked what to do. They honored the warrantee and sent me a brand new unit, FREE. Now that's a good company. Can't speak for the others, but Garmin sure treated this guy nice.

m.t.wallet · 11-26-2006, 07:47 PM

One other feature the Map 76s has is its ability to float. This is my GPS of choice, deployed with me twice in the box.

miike · 11-27-2006, 08:15 AM

I also agree that the Garmin 276C is a great unit but I havent used any others. It has many programmable options. I use the chip with it on the water and I have no land maps but I only use it for geocaching occationally. Check out the land maps if you're going to use them.

16/0 Circle · 11-29-2006, 06:45 AM

Cabelas in Boise has the 76CSx for $349.00 in store only, if your going that way or no someone overthere that is a great price, I think it is through the 3rd.

Chrome Bumper · 11-29-2006, 08:57 AM

I like my lowrance expedition color plus. THe plus is topo maps on 6 CDs and the 12v cord. You can buy a 1 gig mmx(sp?) chip for it anywhere and down load maps(the chip that comes with it is smaller). 16 channel, often lock on satelites while inside. Hi rez color screen. Wifey likes it for highway travel. I will be getting some marine charts to load on it. Got it at a internet store. Has the barometer/altimeter but the electronic compass is super handy.