There are a lot of options out there. I have owned a Garmin E-Trex Vista for the past 4 years and it has worked great. However, It is starting to go into the electronics graveyard. It has a case of electronic enchantment in which it shuts off at the worst possible times and given the abuse taken by it, the time has come for a new one.
I want to get a new one in the next month but I don't know what to get. I hate to go to a store and be sold stuff, I would rather hear what people have to say.
I want one that has a decent topo map, as I do use it for hunting and have mapsource on my current garmin. But, I have been intrigued by the h2o series and the ability to put a lakemaster chip into it for fishing. I am just wanting to hear what people got to say. I would like one that would do dual duty for fishing and hunting.

Life would be simpler with the old map and compass, but its so easy and lazy to point and click to find the spot.

There are a lot of people including myself who use the H20. There have been a lot of threads about the various GPS units. If you do a quick search you should be able to find more than you ever want to read about them. Good luck!

I use my H2O with LakeMaster chip in MN for ice fishing and for grouse hunting - the LM chip does an awesome job of marking roads, trails, streams, etc. that really helps make sure you don't get lost. The Lowrance iFinder Hunt C is another option. No topo features though.

If you want topos on a Lowrance unit you can do it with MapCreate, which is Lowrance software. I haven't used it myself but I know it's popular with a lot of guys that go out west.

When I've been hunting out West I've used my Garmin with MapSource files and left my H2O at home. I've never had topo maps in my Garmins but have been very happy with their road and trail maps.

The Garmin Colorado series is becoming very popular and has a lot of neat features. I haven't used one myself. I was just notified today that there is a $50 rebate on Colorado units. I don't have them listed on my website but can get you pricing on them if you want.

I hope that helps get you pointed in the right direction. You can see these products and prices on my website if you want. And if you have more questions I'd be happy to try to get them answered for you.

Well, I tried to do the search function and nothing shows up for gps. I tried putting fishing into the search and it came up with nothing too, so I think its broke...
Anyway, I got to look at all of them and check them all out and I kinda like the gpsmap 76csx. I really like the big, bright screen on the H2O but they said the garmin would be faster and more accurate,(not that the H2O probably isnt better than what I had anyway) and it will take my mapsource maps that I already have on my computer now, saving me some dough. I guess that I have gotten too acustomed to having the detailed topo maps too go without. Im still on the limb about what to use but its good to hear from people who have used them.

Deadeye,

Try following the advance tips:



I put in H2O* and get last 120 post's that has H2O in it. If you want to narrow it down some, go into the Advanced Search and cut down the time.

Good luck!

deadeye I to am looking for nice hand held and have done a little research on them and the Garmin 76 series I like also. One thing to keep in mind with the 76 csx is that it has a an electronic compass and I guess it takes some juice from the batteries. The only difference from the electronic compass and the gps compass is you don't have to be moving with electronic compass tp point the way. The 76cx is the one that has the gps compass, The only differance between the 2

Check out pro fishing supply he has the H20 and the garmin listed and with descriptions

I think Garmin makes a great GPS, overall probably the best gps. Great receivers and great processors, so maybe a bit faster and more accurate. But I think the differences would be minor at the most, probably not even noticable in day to day hunting situations. I just mention this out because I wouldn't put any weight on a sales pitch about "faster and more accurate". To put it another way, I wouldn't let that statement alone steer you away from a Lowrance unit if you like them better.

I agree 100%... The quality and performance are second to none!

Couple questions...

Does the Lakemaster chip work in a Garmin?

After creating waypoints on a Garmin can you easily transfer them to a Lowrance GPS unit?


I wouldn't have any qualms about switching to a Garmin as I know they make good GPS handhelds, but if they won't run a lake chip and/or I can't easily transfer waypoints to the Lowrance units in my boat it'd be a tough switch to make from the H2O.

Garmin has chips with LakeMaster maps which work in some of the Garmin units. The chip is proprietary to Garmin and will only work in Garmin units, it won't work in Lowrance etc. and the chip that works in your Lowrance won't work in a Garmin.

All of the Garmin gps (either handheld or permanent mount) that I sell at Pro Fishing Supply will take the Garmin LakeMaster chip. And I have the Garmin LM chips available too.

Well I bit the bullet and got one today. I ended up getting the Lowrance H2Oc. I know that either one (garmin or lowrance) would work great but I did more digging and the chick at cabelas was wrong about the lowrance, I guess it is a 16 channel vs. 12 channel in the garmin. It also has dual processors and from the little that I have played with it, it makes it look like its going at light speed compared to my Etrex Vista. The screen is also much bigger and easier to see.

I was thinking about it and with the money I saved, I can get the lakemaster chip and mapcreate and be ahead of where I would be with the garmin.

It doesn't have a electronic compass in it which is fine by me since I never once used the one on my Vista. I always carry a silva ranger with me as backup anyway. I figured if I actually needed the gps to get me out trouble the thing would run out of batteries or something. I think taking a compass and knowing how to use it is crucial to being safe out there. I didn't have a gps until 2005 and I got around just fine without. It just took more brainwork on my part.

Anyway, thanks for the advice!!!

Thanks PJ.

Congrats on the new GPS deadeye! You'll enjoy it.

Has anyone used a Magellan? I was looking at a Triton 300 model. It looks like they also have lake map software with a ton of MN lakes as well as other surrounding states.

I have a gift card for wally world and that is why I am looking at this model. It is only $140 bucks there. Pretty cheap for a color screen hand held.

Opinions on this manufacturer please!!!! I am seriously in need of a unit and would like to know if this brand is any good.

Thanks.

-Chris

I dont know much on Magellan but through my research Magellan had the best accuracy and they are rated up there with Garmin. I'll be going with the Garmin because I already have the lakemaster chip for it.

Take a look at the new Garmin Oregon 400i.